North America Books

We have been reading and collecting books about trees and wood for quite some time now, so Forest Giants... caught our attention. We do visit `trees' from time to time, so the opportunity to call on familiar trees once again was intriguing.

It seemed the author's intention to create a useful guidebook, thus he has done a marvelous job of locating and describing the trees. The addition of the lovely, hand drawn portraits makes the book quite personal and reveals Mr. Van Pelt's great love of the trees. The photos also seem homemade and have not been overly processed, so they have a `snapshot-for-the-scrapbook' look also. Together with the rather prosaic text, they draw the reader into daydreaming about the trees and being with them. We liked that aspect of the book very much. The author's enthusiasm will be infectious to some; we hope that this book will inspire the preservation of these incredible living individuals. (Yes, it's possible we were once Druids.)

The softbound cover was a great disappointment in a $30 book. It deserves a hard cover and so we will most likely make a hard slipcover for it ourselves, since Forest Giants... will go into our library.

This book rocks! It inspires as well as informs! The line drawings are especially amazing. Van Pelt selects specific angles for each drawing, such that he captures the unique qualities of each individual tree. These renderings are beautiful and accurate. Each one can be studied for hours. The photographs could have been a bit more creative, but he follows an effective strategy by showing a human in most pictures. This allows the reader to understand the immense size of these giants. The text provides an excellent natural history, conveying to the reader an intertwined tale of ecology, history, and discovery. Lastly, I was especially impressed with the fact that Van Pelt included so many tree species and individuals. By doing this he has allowed us to truly appreciate the diversity, beauty and uniqueness of these amazing trees.

This is an awesome book of personal accounts, illustrations, and photographs of magnificent individuals of Pacific coast conifers. Van Pelt knows these trees like no one else, having journied to, measured, and stood in awe at each of the giants depicted. His writes with witty reverence and from a deep understanding of the ecology of giant trees. Featured in the book are the author's beautiful line drawings of the trees, which capture the amazing structural complexity of their crowns in a way not possible with photographs. This book is a must for all tree lovers and those interested in coffee table adventuring into the last great forests of the Pacific coast.

This is a must see, must read book about "Forest Giants." If I had the loot to RV this would be a road map to follow. As a nurseryman I appreciated the detailed information about each species, the beautiful handrawn representatives of each major tree of the group -- be it Incense Ceder, Fir, Spruce etc.

Despite 35 plus years in horticulture, this book had much I could learn from. It is wonderfully written and illustrated.

I cannot think of no better book I could have gifted myself for my Christmas yet to come.

Secateur

This book affects people deeply. Certainly it did me. It is a simple and absolutely passionately beautiful account of giant trees, how they're discovered, how they're measured. Van Pelt's drawings are amazing. I think this book is a classic and I think it will live in print for many, many years.

Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation opened my eyes to the whole picture of our origins. First, I hadn't read the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution since college. And, the original draft of the Declaration by Jefferson? It was never mentioned in high school or college, so I missed its relevance altogether!

Then there is the Treaty of Paris which I know see in a whole new light - it's the formal recognition of our country after all. And, I had never read the full text of George Washington's farewell address until Founding Character; what an eye opener!
The significance of a peaceful transfer of power every four to eight years now seems trivial, but it really isn't.

But, the most eye-opening part of this book is the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms; written a year before the Declaration of Independence, this resolution from the Continental Congress called for armed resistance to the crown. I had completely missed this in my history studies.

This is much more than a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the additional content, this is a complete picture of the character of our nation at its founding.

If you are tired of the tiny pocketbook edition of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and want a version with more substance, then Founding Character: The Words and Documents that Forged a Nation is the book for you!

Not only do you get the Constitution and the Declaration (both final version and Jefferson's original version), but you also get the Articles of Confederation, The Treaty of Paris (a very important document where the United States are recognized as a nation by England!), as well as the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (never included in other books, but oh so important!) - a document from the Continental Congress that predates the Declaration by a year!!

This is a book that I have given to each of my teenagers as well to take off to college!

I found this book "Founding Character:The Words and Documents That Forged a Nation" to be outstanding. In todays climate of Red States vs Blue States and the Division that the last election has wrought, it was uplifting to read the words that
formed our nation.
I highly recommend this book for every American whether they are liberal or conservative. It gives you pause , makes you think and appreciate what we have today.

I really like this book. It almost has everything you need. If the editors had included "Common Sense" it would have been perfect. Still, though, it is the best all-in-one reference I have found.

Found this book while doing a search for the Constitution and was pleased to find that it had everything in it I needed for my American History class. Saved me from having to buy a couple other books.

Went to Bermuda to celebrate 10th anniversary and purchased this book to guide us to the best dining and sights. It was right-on with all recommendations. We got a great taste of Bermuda out of a 4-night trip thanks to this book. On our last day there, in the airport we talked to another couple who had just spent 4 nights there as well. They had no idea about Ginger Beer, Dark and Stormy drinks, Fish Chowder, or Wahoo - Frommer's made sure we did not miss the essential elements of Bermuda. Highly recommended. We'll be using it for our next trip there.

I have read several books on Bermuda in preparing for our upcoming trip, and this one is by far the most helpful--and most thorough. It has a good combination of background info/history and travel info/tips. The detachable, fold-out map if the islands is particularly nice. I wish I'd bought this travel guide first (I've purchased several)--it would have saved me a good bit of time and money, since now I don't feel like I need to buy another!

This was a great guide for visiting Bermuda. The hotel section was accurate and current enough to plan most of the logistics before I arrived. The guide also had a lot of current suggestions of quaint places to visit that only a long timer would know. Well worth the small investment in improving your trip.

Travel tip - Although the cover of the guide shows sun and beaches, be careful about the timing of when you go. Bermuda is in the Atlantic, not the Carribean, so the water won't be so pleasant in the winter.

I have often wasted money by buying several travel guides for my trips abroad. This time, I wanted to buy only one for my four night trip to Bermuda. This Frommers guide turned out to be an excellent choice. It provides all the needed information about getting from the airport to your hotel/resort, getting around the island, places to stay, beaches, golf courses, the sights, restaurants, bars, shopping and everything else you could need to know for your vacation. It also has a very useful detachable map of the whole Island, including detailed maps of St. George and Hamilton. This book should truly be all that you need for your trip to Bermuda.

This book is great for anyone going to Bermuda for their honeymoon or for a vacation. I found all the top beaches and my husband found exclusive details on all the top golf courses. With exact prices and candid reviews on hotels and restaurants, we were able to make a budget for the entire trip.

I am a biologist that has been working in the Galapagos as a Naturalist leading tours there for the last 6 years. Michael Jackson's book is the "Bible" for the beginning naturalist and certainly more than adequate for the casual "ecotourist". Jackson covers all major aspects of the history, geology, ecology, and biology of the islands. In the "biology" section, he gives a clear, concise, but thorough group-by-group treatment of all major taxa including plants, reptiles, land and sea birds, mammals, and a brief section covering marine life. While there are other guidebooks available, none come close to the accuracy, clarity of presentation, and logical format of this book. Of particular usefulness are the many photos, tables, and graphs which provide a visual representation of many of the topics discussed and a synthesis of large amounts of data.

Every naturalist guide in the Galapagos has this book. They also sell this book at the Charles Darwin Center in Santa Cruz, and it is a must read. It explains how the islands came about and what makes them so unique. I highly recommend this book!

My wife and I bought Jackson's book in preparation for a trip to the Galapagos. The book served us well; when we arrived at the islands we felt that we were almost on a first-name basis with all the fantastic creatures and plants that make the Galapagos such a fascinating place. The book is considerably more than just a field guide; it includes information on the islands' history, their environmental and ecological setting, and the conservation efforts being made to preserve this truly unique place. And, as the title indicates, the book provides a lot of natural history, not just a brief summary of bare facts about each animal or plant. Not only is it a fine guide, it is a most enjoyable read.

I just recently returned from the Galapagos Islands, and the book that guided me throughout my journey was this book by M.H. Jackson. Very easy to find the animal you are looking, and also helps to discover more creatures to look for. Helped explain things further from what the guides had said. Also helped me in answering many people's questions about different creatures. A Great book! A must for all travelers to the galapagos in search of unique wildlife.

I would imagine that most visitors to the Galapaos are not naturalists. For those without a strong background in natural sciences, I would highly recommend this book. The book is easy and fun to read, detailed without being tedious. The photos are amazing and the author's passion for the islands is evident. If you only have time to read one book, this is one I would advise a Galapagos visitor to read in advance of their trip.

It is salty, sultry and seductive and it is always cause for a celebration."

Rowan Jacobsen knows his oysters, and this wonderful one-subject book can make you an expert too.

He focuses on taste. "Different oysters suit different occasions and different people. If you haven't yet been wowed by oysters, you may well have been dallying with the wrong ones." One of the most useful sections urges you to discover what kind of taster you are; Jacobsen then recommends the types of oysters you should try.

For example, I personally enjoy oysters with wine. "For the Wino: Those potent, briny, musky oysters are as overblown as an Australian Shiraz. You like to savor oysters with wine, so you want subtle mineral flavors, not metal and salt and mud.

"Kumamotos are Sauvignon Blanc's best friend; their clean melon flavors bring out its fruit. Westcott Bay Petites and Stellar Bays are both creamy and mild, not too salty, with no clashing bitterness. Eastern oysters are tougher matches for wine, but buttery Watch Hills have a full-bodied flavor that can be terrific with sharp, flinty wines, and Rappahannock Rivers bring out the minerals in some white wines. Beausoleils have a supreme lightness that is heaven with Champagne."

He makes specific suggestions for other types: the Shrinking Violet (or beginner), the Brine Hound, the Sweet Tooth, the Grail Seeker (or most adventurous), the Connoisseur, and six other types.

He describes many different types of oysters and where they are found. His list of 12 oysters you should know include: Beausolei, Belon or European Flat, Colville Bay, Glidden Point, Kumamoto, Moonstone, Nootka Sound, Olympia, Penn Cove Select, Rappahannock River, Skookum, and Totten Virginica. (These oysters and many more are described fully in his book and also on his website: Google " oysterguide " to find an extraordinarily rich source of oyster information.]

Jacobsen has sound arguments for observing the "R Rule" of eating oysters because oysters from warmer water do not taste as good and can be a health risk when not cooked. Those who resist the notion of eating a living creature should remember: "Left in their natural environment, most oysters would be eaten by something: why shouldn't it be you?"

Virtually all oysters are now farm raised. Jacobsen is eloquent on why oyster farms are ecologically friendly. "Oyster farms are thriving in Virginia, New York and New England. On these aquaculture operations, billions of oysters spend one to three years in metal cages that function as artificial reefs. They filter water. Their shells provide habitat for numerous species. Sport fishermen have learned that striped bass, shad and other species congregate around them.

"Aquaculture has a bad name. We picture fish farms with tons of feed being dumped into the water, creating the same algae-promoting conditions as pollution from cities and terrestrial farms. But the situation is reversed with oyster farms, because oysters are little filters. The farms provide far more water-cleaning benefits than all the government programs put together, don't cost taxpayers a cent, and support coastal economies. They also make better oysters: a farmed oyster is plumper, sweeter and prettier than its wild cousin." [From a piece on "The New York Times."]

Jacobsen provides excellent advice on shucking oysters. "The New York Times" recently alerted me to "a new protective glove knitted from a polyester fiber used for bulletproof vests. It provides a nice cushioning and a line of defense when gripping a craggy oyster and inserting a knife. It is made by Microplane Cut Resistant Glove, the company known for its graters, and is labeled as ''cut resistant.'' I liked it for opening clams, too."

For further reading (or not), Jacobsen discussed three books in an interview with "Seven Days". Oysters: A Culinary Celebration by Joan Reardon "is a cornucopia of the worst oyster dishes imaginable. Oyster mousse, oyster pancakes, oyster croque monsieur." Consider the Oyster by M.F.K. Fisher "is the classic". The Oysters of Locmariaquer by Eleanor Clark, "which won the National Book Award back in the '60s, is the best."

Jacobsen provides a couple of dozen recipes, much oyster lore, and an enormous amount of pleasure in these pages. You don't have to be a connoisseur to enjoy this excellent guide to oysters.

Robert C. Ross 2008

Jacobsen has turned the art of eating oysters to a higher level.

You can't wait to finish the book so you can start trying out his great recommendations. Whether you're an oyster novice, blindly feeling your way around the oysters beds, or, a seasoned connoisseur, this book is a must read. Great work Rowan!!

This book was one I bought as a potential reference book, however once i picked it up I just kept reading it. This is far from a dry review of oysters it is funny and insightful. My oyster vocabulary has blossomed.

Three friends have requested that I stop talking about oysters and buy them a copy for their birthdays.

It tells about the oysters and then how to get them delivered to your door for dinner. I love this book.

I love oysters. I don't know why, but I just do. Every now and then I get strong cravings and I just have to have them. I also have a lot of books about oysters because of it. "Consider the oyster" a great book, and others. But they are all mainly cook books with very little detail about the oyster, where it comes from and it's history.

This book is incredibly well written, witty at times and very informative. You can learn how oysters are farmed and their various techniques. Things I didn't even find on wiki. I learned how they get to harden those shells. I purchased some Carlsbad Blondes, and those shells would just snap in half. Terrible oysters. I know why because of the book.

I'm not sure how the author did it, but it seems he has had the incredible opportunity to sample a great many oysters. I can see his tax return $1000 spent as "research" for his book. What a great way to do research. Upon one of the authors great descriptions, I ordered three dozen Hama Hama's. They were fantastic.

The author picks five or six farms and gives incredible detail about the location, the owner/farmer and his/her history and the oysters themselves. This is a book to own now, because it is relavent now with the current oyster farmers listed. It is a chance to learn about the worlds best and to learn how to sample them.

The only thing I would have loved to see in the book, would be a travel guide on how to visit the various farms the author so nicely listed. That's one of the things I plan on doing is to travel up and down the coast visiting oysters farms along the way. I would have loved this book to have a guide like that.

There is a section on "what kind of oyster" person are you? But I didn't find that very useful or informative. A very minor drawback for an incredibly informative book on oysters. Every connosieur(sp?) should have a copy. A book for oyster lovers by an oyster lover.

"A Geography of Oysters" is the guide that I've been looking for. I love raw oysters, but they have a mind-boggling number of names and farming methods that I never could sort out. The people selling them are of limited help. I've read books about oysters, but they said little about particular species or origins. Now Rowan Jacobsen has made sense of it all in this practical guide to oyster eating in North America. Like European wines or single malt whiskies, oysters taste like the place they come from, so Jacobsen takes us all over North America to learn how and where 132 common oysters are farmed. Although there are some recipes in the back, "A Geography of Oysters" is primarily dedicated to raw oysters, so this is for those of us who like to slurp the slimy things out of their shells.

The guide has three parts. The first, "Mastering the Oyster", tells us about the 5 species of oyster that are cultivated in North America, explains the life cycle of an oyster, oyster harvesting, farming, and hatcheries, how different methods of cultivation affect texture, taste, and shelf life, how and why season and place affects taste, and how modern aquaculture has created an environmentally beneficial, diverse oyster industry. It's a solid introduction to oysters. The meat of the book is the second part, "The Oyster Appellations of North America". This is where we get an ostreaphilic tour of the continent. For each region, state, or province, Jacobsen provides a history of oysters in that region, followed by how, where, and other particulars for the major oysters in that area.

The final section, "Everything You Wanted to Know about Oysters but Were Afraid to Ask", gives advice on how to choose an oyster, storing oysters, shucking oysters, serving oysters, wines that go well with oysters and those that do not. Jacobsen prefers his oysters raw but offers 21 recipes -which will presumably be reserved for those unfortunate occasional bland oysters. There are several recipes for mignonette to top your oysters, oyster stew, and oysters roasted, baked, fried, pickled, and even drunk. That's followed by notes about safety, nutrition, and a helpful list of oyster bars, festivals, and growers that ship direct. As the man says, we don't eat oysters because we are hungry. We eat them to experience them. "A Geography of Oysters" will help you experience more oysters.

I have been blessed not only to read this book but to have met the author. She is both fascinating in person and in printed word, and her story is enlightening, educational, and entertaining. If you have any interest in Native American history, you'll be glad you read this book.

I truly enjoyed reading the book and learning of my Aunt Alma's point of view. I have grown up hearing of Pretty Shield and truly am blessed with having an aunt that shares her story and pictures.

Grandmother's Grandchild,Alma Snell, shares memories of one of the first recorded Female Indian Elders..Pretty Shield. Pretty Shield was written about in the 1930's when women were too often overlooked. Pretty Shield saw the buffalo leave and the reservations begin. Alma shares the experience of making the transition to Reservation life with Pretty Shield by her side. This book is a refreshing and deeply personal life story that manages to state facts without undertones of judgement. BEAUTIFUL! READ IT!

I truly enjoyed this book. It was written in plain language and seemed very personable to me. It is a true story about Alma's life growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana and how she was deeply influenced by her grandmother Pretty Shield who taught Alma the old ways...she was a grandmother's grandchild. Pretty Shield was pretty smart I think. She had an appreciation for the natural world not seen too much anymore in our modern lives. I found these "old ways" interesting. This has influenced Alma for sure and she is able to reconcile this as well as the hardships of life with her deep Christian beliefs. God Bless you too Alma!

A wonderful book! While much of the poverty and oppression of Indian people is painful to read, one can see the wonderful connections between families in Ms. Snell's book. The love and care for Indian children by extended families is probably one of the greatest reasons the Indian people and traditions have survived. We in the "dominate culture" could learn much to change the disintigration of American families by learning more about Native American people.

In this superb second volume on Grant's war-time service, Bruce Catton shows how Grant devised and executed the grand strategy that ensured we'd be one country.

Beginning at Chattanooga, Catton chronicles Grant's successful battle to save a beleaguered federal army there and his selection as head of all of the armies of the Union.

The strategic plan, the overland campaign, the investiture of Petersburg and the finale with Lee at Appomattox are chronicled well.

What Catton does very well here is focus on Grant the General-in-Chief. We see how Lincoln and Grant are drawn toward each other through a shared and fundamental understanding of what it would take to win the war and the will to do it -- incredibly a trait Lincoln could find in no other General selected to head the Army of the Potomac.

The actual management of the Union's armies and efforts is given great attention. Even the Civil War devotee who knows a lot about the battles of the war will appreciate this focus on grand strategy, army management and the particular and singular attributes possessed by Grant to manage the affair to a successful conclusion.

A wonderful book, as is it's predecessor, "Grant Moves South."

This is a well-researched account of the last two years of the Civil War (1863-1865). The harsh realities of the battles and living conditions are especially given great detail here. The final days of the war and the surrender of General Lee are extremely poignant as the author examines the tattered remains of the once invincible Army of Northern Virginia. The exchange between the victors and the vanquished at Appomattox is the highlight of the book. The author also takes pains not to overlook any of Grant's military blunders such as Cold Harbor and gives an even-handed viewpoint throughout. I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the darkest days of our nation's history.

It is almost amazing that even after nearly 40 years, this book still stand the test of time as one of the best studies of General U.S. Grant's tenure as the military commander of all Federal forces. The book starts off from the Chattanooga campaign in late 1863 and moving on to his promotion as overall commander and his attachment to the Army of the Potomac for the rest of the war. By this move he clearly determined that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia will be his primary target and a key to overall victory for the Union. Bruce Catton does a wonderful job in narrating each event in a clear and colorful way that make this book a joy to read.

Best part of Catton's writing is the way he make individual characters stand out in a way that most pertaining to the event at hand. We understand how Lincoln and Grant bonded so well, how even Meade and Grant worked well on surface and why Grant kept his eye on the ball when grinding Lee down to earth.

This book is a follow-up to Catton's earlier work, Grant Moves South which was published 7 years prior to this book and captured Grant's military activities from the beginning of the war to end of the Vicksburg campaign in 1863. As part of the two book set, Bruce Catton continued to captured the essence of Grant's military chronicles with clarity and understanding that any reader can appreciate.

For anyone interested in the American Civil War, this book is sure to be part of your mandatory reading material and the best part is that its really is a great reading book.

"Grant Takes Command" is the second of two volumes by Bruce Catton on Grant's Civil War service and the third volume of a trilogy on Grant's military career (beginning with Lloyd Lewis's "Captain Sam Grant"). However, this volume can easily be ready by itself. Catton picks up the story in the fall of 1863 with Grant's successful raising of the siege of Chanttanooga, following which President Lincoln picks him for a third star and command of all the Union armies.

Grant is the latest in a long series of Union commanders, most of whom have been badly beaten by General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia, and none of whom have been able to bring superior Northern resources effectively to bear on a slowly weakening Confederacy. In fact, as Grant takes command, the war has not yet been won and could still be lost.

Grant will be the commander that Lincoln has long sought. Lincoln's telling exchange with an aide, repeated by Catton, lays out why. Grant is the first general to take the supreme command who will work in harness with Lincoln and in full acceptance of Lincoln's constraints as President of a democracy in the midst of a civil war. Grant is prepared to take full responsibility for the conduct of the missions of the armies, and without setting up an alibi in advance for possible failure. And as it becomes apparent in the course of Catton's absolutely superb narrative, Grant understands the terrible math. Lee and his army are too proficient to be easily beaten; great persistance will be called for. Grant grasps the essential truth that Lee's army is the Confederate center of gravity, and the corallary that Lee's requirement to protect Richmond ultimately limits his ability to maneuver. Further, Grant is able to cause the Union armies to work at a common design, denying Lee the ability to reinforce Virginia by drawing on other theaters of war. The result will be a long, grinding, and exceedingly bloody campaign stretching from 1864 into 1865, as Lee's army is slowly bludgeoned to death.

Catton's narrative does not spare Grant his errors; in the 1864 campaign, Grant underestimates both Lee's abilities as a general and the difficulties of conducting campaigns on such a huge scale. Grant has to learn the job of Army commander in chief on the move; the unnecessary casualties of Cold Harbor and the repeated failures to flank Lee out of position in Virginia are proof of the learning curve. But Grant's great gift is his refusal to be deterred from his objective; he pins Lee at Petersburg and uses the Union armies of Sherman and Sheridan, among others, to destroy the Confederacy's means to make war.

"Grant Takes Command" was first published in 1960, and the details of the history of the Civil War have evolved since then. However, Catton's prose has stood the test of time. This is a truly magnificently told story on an epic scale and a highly recommended treat for the Civil War enthusiast and the casual reader alike.

A change in Focus--Grant takes the Reins

Until 1864, the Army of the Potomac had never won a campaign. Each Union attempt to capture Richmond drove south, was repulsed, withdrew to Washington, found a new general, and tried again. After his successes at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, Grant came east to a promotion, to general in charge of all Union Armies.

Grant brought a different focus, and Catton defines this superbly in this book, drawing on many of Grant's memoranda to other officers, as well as President Lincoln. Catton captures the essence of a Grant campaign: hold on to the enemy, grasp and retain the initiative, and always move your logistics aggresively forward.

Catton also tries, albeit weakley, to show that Grant was not a "pure" attritionist. He offers examples of Grant's desires to push west and sever Richmond from the Shenandoah. Catton explores the political reality of uncovering Washington to a Confederate thrust, while attacking the logistics that sustained Confederate armies, while Sherman simultaneously attacked Atlanta and its strategic railhead. Catton states that after the battle of Cold Harbor Ggrant's numerical superiority was at its lowest level, but he does not provide the hard math to support this stance. On the other hand, Catton shows well the manuever warfare used by Grant to slip away after Cold Harbor, steal a march, and get across the James River before Lee, stripped of his cavalry, could discover the move and react.

This book does a very solid job of capturing Grant's determination, his unyielding efforts to impose his will on the leaders and staff of the Army of the Potomac, and to integrate the political realities of volunteers, political appointee generals and a presidential election with the cold hard reality of constant campaigning.

A good read not just for students of the martial art, but for any leader who must address the Sisyphean task of invigorating old "we've always done it that way" people with a new ethos and drive.

For horse racing fans like me, this was an astounding book. Two things stood out: (1) horses ran two-out-three heats at four miles for each race and (2) the size of the crowd (which would not be topped for another 100 years in America for ANY sporting event!).

It was interesting to find out what the horse racing world in the early 19th was like and author John Eisenberg gives us an informative-and-fun to read report. The culture is so different, obviously, from today that it makes for fascinating reading.

It's also very suspenseful. By the time the author gets to the famous May, 1823 match race between Eclipse and Sir Henry, you can barely stand it, wondering who would win. The stories about the jockeys, alone, is worth the price of the book. The atmosphere at the race track is incredible, too.

Not just horse racing, but people who enjoy a good read about American history should come away smiling after reading The Great Match Race.
Eisenberg also wrote another excellent horse racing book about "Native Dancer," and that's highly-recommended, too.

This book resurrects the long forgotten story of the first national sports event in the new United States. After the race, Sam Purdy was as famous as anyone in America. He was never again allowed to pay for a cab ride in New York and was buried with honor in the Churchyard at St. Paul's Chapel on Wall Street. His son, who went on to become California's first elected Lt. Governor, recounts the familiar story of the race years later in his biography. Although Mr. Eisenberg appears to take some liberties with the thoughts and emotions of the principals (and it would be nice to know how much is based on the record and how much is artistic license), it is a great story well told. The significance of the event in the America of 1823 is beyond doubt. The huge wagers and the systems of flags and riders to carry news of the outcome back to the City reflect the enormous public interest in the race. Although many have noted the rivalry in the North-South match races prefigured the Civil War, at the time the race caught the public's imagination not because of what it would lead to, but for the same reasons that national sporting events do today. John Eisenberg brings us back to the rail of the Union Course and captures all the excitement of the great race.

It is May 1823 and an early volley in the Civil War is about to be fired. Not through militant action, but rather in a Thoroughbred match race with the best runner of the North matching strides against a Southern challenger.

Author John Eisenberg brings to life what was more than just a race from the start, as 60,000 fans jammed into a New York race course to watch the best-of-three series - each race a grueling four miles - featuring Eclipse (North) against Henry (South). There is more riding on the race then hefty bets and prize money; the winner will bring a major public relations coup to the economic and social standards of one region.

Slavery is a primary focus, as it is the blood, sweat and tears of those in bondage who enrich the southern plantation owners, which gives them the financial resources for stables of Thoroughbred runners. It is also slave grooms and jockeys who are responsible for the racers, with the consequences oftentimes very severe if they don't bring home a winner.

Eisenberg weaves the story through the horse owners, jockeys & runners, the business interests which pushed hard for the race and the controversial early years of Thoroughbred racing in this nation. He does an outstanding job in explaining the nuances of racing and the historical dynamic of the times.

The book is a classic exploration in the storm clouds that form when sports meets politics and the consequences which no pundit could have predicted.

The Great Match Race is a pleasing combination of a compelling, little-known story in the hands of a gifted writer. John Eisenberg immerses the reader in the early 19th century, long before spectator sports were in vogue. This is truly a story where truth is more powerful than fiction. A Hollywood script writer would be hard pressed to come up with a better story. There are enough plot twists and suspense to keep most readers totally engaged. You don't have to be interested in horse racing to enjoy this book. Eisenberg said he used his author's license to fill in some of the blanks pertaining to the events surrounding the race. He has, however, seemingly done so with restraint, which I believe makes the book better. This book deserves more recognition than it has received.

This is a terrific book, it has all you want; excellent horseracing history, create characters, fast-pace, edge of your seat urgency, and great historical background. These two horses ran the equivalent of NINE Kentucky Derbies in ONE AFTERNOON! It's really unbelievable, when you consider how pampered the breeding industry has made our thoroughbreds now. I bought five copies of this- will give it to horse fans, history fans, AND my Dad for Father's Day!

One of the major materpieces of American historical writing. The two volumes are a continuing delight, far better than any historical novel. Scene succeds scene, filled with movement, passion and unbelievable heroism. Won the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prizes for History, and is considered the greatest history of the Rio Grande from pre-Columbian time to mid 20th century.

To read a book numbering 945 pages of fine print is a luxury these days. It took me such a long time to read the Fourth Edition of Paul Horgan's wonderful, Pulitzer-Prize-winning "Great River: The Rio Grande In North American History" that sometimes I felt as if I were experiencing 10,000 years worth of history in real time. At the tail end of the epic, when President Wilson hesitates to send troops across the river to pursue bandits, citing his personal shame regarding the United States' "invasion" of Mexico during the Nineteenth Century, I felt able to "remember how it actually happened" - how U.S. fear concerning France's courtship of then independent Texas coupled with its distaste for Mexico's ethical transgressions (e.g., mistreatment of Texan prisoners of war) made U.S. annexation of Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico seem almost righteous.

The Preface to the Fourth Edition is dated 1984. But the book, initially authored in the Forties, reflects the philosophies of its times. Written well before the feminist era, the book, whether dealing with Pueblo peoples, Spanish Conquistadors, Mexican revolutionaries, or American generals, mostly follows the pursuits of men and ignores women. In Pueblo times, one glimpses Pueblo women washing garments in the river. Centuries later, several pages focus on Maud Wright, an American frontierswomen who must have been ferociously brave to have endured unspeakable horrors at the hands of bandits yet survived to provide U.S. troops with knowledge that was "valuable to know." And yet, passive adjectives describe her - "helpless" or "thankful to be busy" - before the narrative again turns its attention to colorful male warriors, raiders, politicians, navigators, or thieves.

Similarly, the book displays a Forties-style awe of "machine technics." Technology, it explains, had a positive effect on river cultures, liquidating "all indigenous aspects of the river's three [Indian, Spanish, Mexican] societies." Half-a-century later, it seems a day doesn't pass when "you Rio" isn't in the news, whether sporting a new, angry-looking border fence (to hold back hordes, who wish to ford the river and flee a still troubled Mexico) or failing to reach the Gulf thanks to global warming. Alas, technology, as Henry Adams feared, is proving to be the river's enemy.

One can't reverse the course of a river, but one can reverse the course of policies made in the heat of whatever political moment. This book should be required reading on both sides of the border.

The level of detail amassed by Horgan for this book is nothing short of incredible. Roughly half the book is dedicated to historical events; the other half covers culture, the role of religion, native living conditions, and a hundred other nuances of day-to-day living by peoples (both native and the later Spanish/American cultures) along the Rio Grande.

Readers who want a VERY in-depth history of the Rio Grande can't do any better than this book. However, readers looking for a more general overview of events might want to consider other sources.

I probably fell into the latter category; I found myself skipping 2-5 pages at a time because I just wasn't that interested in knowing every single detail of (for example) how the Indians dressed and meticulously prepared bits of food for a ceremony to welcome the growing season. Or details covering 5 pages of how Spanish missionaries held a typical mass in the settlements in 1650.

That said, I recognize that this book is about as complete a works as could be published. I'd much rather skip over detail than have an account which isn't thorough.

This book is the best ever written on the history of the southwest along the Rio Grande. Horgan manages to capture the shared history of New Mexico, Texas and Mexico as no other historian/writer has ever done. This one will be around as long as readers want to understand history in the borderlands.

This two-volume series was my inroduction to Paul Horgan who became one of my favorite authors. It is interesting to note he and Frank Waters ('the Man who Killed the Deer') died recently just two weeks apart. They were both 92, and among the greatest authors who dealt with the Rio Grande. Mr. Hogan's dedication to detail set him apart from Willa Cather whose fame rests upon her book 'Death comes to the Archbishop,' using Lamy as her subject. She rejected the aproach of Paul Horgan who at the time was writing his own history, 'Lamy of Santa Fe.' Willa Cather was a novelist; Paul Horgan an historian, and of the two I prefer the truth. Anyone interested in the history of the Rio Grande will be delighted with Paul Horgan's two-volume introduction to it.

Filled with black-and-white photographs and a brief insert section of color plates, Guide To Rock Art Of The Utah Region: Sites With Public Access is a singularly comprehensive, illustrated, informative, and descriptive introduction to Native American rock art, as well as a thoroughly "user friendly" travel guide to the viewing of rock art found in Utah that has endured since before written history. Chapters cover not only the artwork found throughout Utah, but the accessibility of sites and proper etiquette and conservation that traveling viewers should observe. Highly recommended for students of Native American studies, rock art history, armchair travelers, and people with a simple zest to visit Utah and see these amazing drawings for themselves.

This is the best and most responsible guide to the rock art of Utah I have seen. It is well written and researched, the maps are excellent and so are the directions. It's a winner.

I'm not easily satisified with guides, but this one appears to be an exception. It fits the need of those of us who enjoy and appreciate indigenous art and the wilderness that typically accompanies it. There are numerous maps, excellent directions, a section of color pictures, and good insights.

This is the best and most responsible guide to the rock art of Utah I have seen. It is well written and researched, the maps are excellent and so are the directions. It's a winner.

Usually when I buy a book, I feel I get my money's worth as long as I can get something out of it. It is very rare when the entire book becomes an invaluable resource. This is such a book. This book contains excellent maps and directions and includes numerous B&W pictures and illustrations. There is also a color panel in the middle. When I say detailed directions I mean DETAILED. The author tells you what landmarks to look for, what exit to get off, how the road winds and breaks the distances down to a tenth of a mile. It is also written in a very easy to follow and understand text. The highlight of the book for me is the detailed breakdown of Nine Mile Canyon. I was not intending on doing nine mile canyon due to a shortage of time and thinking I would need a guide to find many of the sites. The book describes the trip in such detail you feel like you are on a tour. Besides Utah, the author also writes about some sites in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. Before I purchased this book, I thought I would only get to see a few rock art panels at the more popoular destinations. After reading this book, I now know that there are many more sites I can visit. Hopefully, those who are intersted in this book will also heed the authors plea to be respectful of the sites. His book speaks about way to many instances of idiots vandalizing these treasures and destroying them for the future generations. Bottom line is that this is a must have for anyone serious about seeing rock art in Utah.