Reviews (3)

Master of landscape photography
Another stunning book of American Landscape!!
wonderful photos
After seeing these photos, I'm further inspired to visit all the national parks!
First class tribute to our parks
What a beautiful book! Covering all of our nation's National Parks, David Muench's photography is incredible. From the Great Sand Dunes to Canyonlands, from Carlsbad to Glacier, he's captured our nation's most beautiful land. Great quality book--I immediately wanted to hike up a mountain. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. National parks and reserves    2. Nature Photography    3. Parks & Campgrounds    4. Photo Essays    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Photography    7. Pictorial works    8. Pictorials    9. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    10. Travel - United States    11. United States    12. United States - General    13. Photographs: collections    14. USA    15. Zoos & wildlife parks   

Reviews (8)

pretty good- but dated
Need a book like this but more up to date.Very informative though.

Excellent resource for anyone in or interested in "the biz"
I own a pretty sucessful bar in Santa Barbara California and decided (about a year ago) to try my hand in the Restaurant Business. Excellent and Insightful
If you are seeking concrete information into the whys and wherefores of creating and building upon a solid restaurant concept, this is the book for you.It is overflowing with detailed descriptions, practical advice, layouts, menus, square footage, operation costs... much more than I anticipated.Although at first glance it seems to be another glossy "picture" book with a high design value (which is greatly appreciated), it is in fact a true workbook and manual.The numbers are all here, allowing the reader to compare and contrast.If you are working on a business plan, this is ideal, because it is a great aid for making realistic projections.Restaurants That Work is extremely thorough and well worth the price. I am very pleased andmy only gripe is that I didn't purchase this sooner! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Business & Economics    3. Business/Economics    4. Case studies    5. Commercial Buildings Architecture    6. Design and construction    7. General    8. Hotel And Restaurant Management    9. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    10. Restaurant management    11. Restaurants    12. Hospitality industry    13. Interior design   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (20)

Beautiful memoir!
Through this well written memoir you get to learn a lot about Africa, specially about Rwandas history. Rosamund's life story is very interesting, the choices she made, the oportunities life offered to her and that she took. It's great to see all the good deeds she made and the things she achieved inspite of all the caos Rwanda has gone through in the last decades. She takes care of lots of orphan kids and shelters them at her property. She does her best to help these kids become the best they can be even they live surrounded by danger. I enjoyed the book very much and learned more about Africa and about humanity as well.

50 years are artfully packed into this memoir
What a well-written book! It reads like the memoir that it is, and memoirs require special storytelling skills when they cover an entire 50 years.And this is what the book does--covers 50 years of the author's life and Rwandan history.
Fascinating look into Rwanda's history
My interest in Rwanda was spurred by watching the movie "Hotel Rwanda" and reading "The Poisonwood Bible" (which is set in next door Congo).This book follows the life of a young woman that marries an African adventurer and goes there at a fairly young age.She winds up spending practically the rest of her life there, and provides a unique and interesting perspective on Rwanda's history.Watching "Hotel Rwanda" gave me only a snapshot - leading me to think that Hutus were crazy blood thirsty savages going after Tutsis.Well, many of them were, but this book gave me a little of the background as to why the Hutus are so crazy and militant.Rwanda certainly has had a turbulent history.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Carr, Rosamond Halsey    6. Central Africa - History    7. Country life    8. Description and travel    9. Ethnic Cultures - General    10. Historical - General    11. Rwanda    12. Social life and customs    13. Travelers    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Biography: general    17. Travel writing   

Reviews (3)

Beyond The Gilded Age Of The Adirondacks!
From the 'opening' of the Adirondacks in the 18th Century to the present, Harvey Kaiser delivers a premier photographic history of the Great Camps of the Adirondacks.Exploring the architectural history from an owner's whinsey to the details of a porch railing, Kaiser guides the reader through a history of gorgeous excess and an age of bountiful richness that few knew.Camp Uncas (owner J.P. Morgan), Topridge (Marjorie Merriweather Post) and Nehasane (Dr. William Seward Webb) are just a few of the detailed highlights showcased in this volume.Many of the larger hotels and lesser known camps (and castles) are photographed and discussed here at length.This book is not just for the architect, builder or historian.It is a display of architectural beauty build into a unique and mysterious landscape.It is a history never to be repeated and never to be forgotten.

The seminal work on rustic architecture
The discovery of this book made me set aside all the others on rustic architecture.The author does a marvelous job in explaining the beginnings ofrustic architecture and why it has a permanent place in our culture.The mix of social background and the history of the early Adirondack campswith superb photographs provides a designers guidebook. The arguments forhistoric preservation are skillfully written and should be read by anyonein the field.

What's that --- MY HOUSE MENTIONED IN A BOOK!
I'm giving this the best review - but, I admit, I am the son of one of the owners of a house mentioned in the book! The house is Kildare Club. However, I'm unbiast! (SORT OF) Read more

Subjects:  1. Adirondack Mountains    2. Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.)    3. Animal painting and illustration    4. Architecture    5. History - General    6. New York (State)    7. Vacation homes    8. Vernacular architecture    9. Hotel & holiday accommodation guides   

Reviews (30)

Great, general survival text
This book does a great job of covering a variety of survival topics and techniques without seeming disorganized. Sections are divided well, and wording is direct and uncomplicated. This is a good book for serious outdoorsmen in addition to those just looking to brush up their knowledge "just in case".

Great info and a fun read
My 7 year old son loves the idea of being a survival expert. Most of his "survival" involves spending the afternoon in the year eating sandwiches in his tent.I purchased the "SAS Survival Handbook" as a something fun to read with him.
GOOOD
If you want just one book of survival, than this is your best shot. Just by it and than you'll see... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Handbooks & Manuals    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Outdoor Skills    5. Outdoor Survival Techniques    6. Reference - General    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Survival skills    10. Wilderness survival    11. Sports & Recreation / Camping   

Reviews (8)

Very insightful, easy reading, thought provoking resource on cultural norms
This book is an excellent resource for people who are ready and want to learn more about U.S. American cultural norms. This includes people from other countries and people living in the United States (regardless of citizenship). For U.S. Americans, by highlighting U.S. American culture the book also provides insight into other cultures.
Underrated
I don't know why this book has a bad rap here, as I found it easy to read and entertaining as an American wanting to know about unique qualities of my own culture.The author examines a number of aspects of American culture and compares them to other cultures, I couldn't have asked for anything better.Perhaps there are better books on the subject, but this is the first I've read and it was sufficient for my purpose, although I will look into more after this one.
A Good Read!
Gary Althen's richly detailed guide shines a psychological, cultural and sociological spotlight on American customs, values, attitudes and behavior. Organized into 22 chapters that cover just about every aspect of American life, the book hits you with its uncanny insight, accuracy and honesty. Although he doesn't completely avoid stereotyping (and doesn't seem at all bothered by it), Althen presents the good, the bad and the quirky. He explains the "why" behind American attitudes and manners. Even though this is a guide for foreigners visiting, doing business in or living in the United States, we from getAbstract also suggest this book to Americans. It's an eye-opener about the national personality, or the perceived national personality, from na�vete to individualism. As Scotsman Robert Burns wrote, "Oh wad some power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as others see us." Well, here's your chance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aliens    2. Guidebooks    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. History - U.S.    5. Intercultural communication    6. Travel    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. Visitors, Foreign    10. Cultural studies    11. USA   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia - India & South Asia    3. Civilization    4. Description And Travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Mishra, Pankaj    7. South Asia    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Western influences   

Editorial Review

Rick Steves, author of 21 guidebooks and host of the television series Travels in Europe with Rick Steves, has spent 100 days a year traveling Europe, every year, since 1973. If any American knows Paris, he does, and his self-imposed mission is to make the city just as accessible to those of us who don't have the good fortune to spend months there at a time. Read more

Reviews (65)

Bundle with Party London & Paris
What a blast I had. I used my Rick Steve's to do some chill off the beaten path things and then grabbed my Party London & Paris guidebook to have the most fun and social days and nights. What a great combination.

Very helpful
This book is very detail oriented.In this book we found answers to all our questions during our stay in Paris.

Excellent, Informative, and Entertaining, too
It was not my first visit to Paris.I scoured Amazon for guidebooks.I bought three, and the apartment I stayed in had a library of left-behind guides.Steves' Paris 2006 was by far the easiest to use (fantastic index), most interesting to read, and his commentary was exceptionally helpful in making touring decisions.And while my Michelin guide became another addition to the apartment's travel guides, THIS book came home with me.It's informative and entertaining to read at home, too.Supplement it with a good map (the handdrawn maps are great for zeroing in on an attraction, but the colored maps of The Paris Mapguide are essential to be sure you get there). These two, easily-carried items and you'll have a great time in Paris. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. France    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Europe / France   

Reviews (11)

Practically useless!
So we're in BA last week with this guide, and we're trying to go to some of the restaurants this book recommends. But the book is so OUT OF DATE that the restaurants have CLOSED DOWN.I don't know how this book is for the less traveled parts of Argentina, but for Buenos Aires, it is USELESS.

1 US$ is how much?
While the LP guides has a lot to say for them, both the latest and the previous guide book to Argentina+Uruguay+Paraguay share one serious flaw with all other LP guide books - all the prices are in US$, and all the countries in South America they have their own currency.
The value of this guide is found when you leave Buenos Aires.
Lonely Planet has broken down Argentina into nine geographical areas and the guide is at its best outside of Buenos Aires. The guide excels at providing you with insight into the culture, history and uniqueness of the wonderful countryside of Argentina.But, in Buenos Aires it falls short.
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Subjects:  1. Reference - Guides (General)    2. South America    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Argentina    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (34)

perfect coffee table book
I own the beautiful hardback copy of this book.I have had it over a year but I never get tired of flipping through it.It is informative and the photos are amazing.My fiancee and I flip through it and dream of our next adventure.

A close-up view of the world
Every country in the world is listed in this book alphabetically from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.Each country has a double-page spread with colour photos and a brief description of the country, with advice on the best time to visit, what to eat, drink, listen to etc, and a list of 'essential experiences'.Also what to read if you want to know more about the country.There is no favouratism, every country has the same amount of space regardless of size.
Wonderful reference
This book, in fact, is a very like a kind of reference book of geography rather than a travel book but you can use it to give you a rough idea of the countries you want to visit before you are really going to plan your trip.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Pictorial works    3. Pictorials    4. Special Interest - Adventure    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (36)

An Excellent Reference
As an architect, I use this book as a reference tool. The library of photos contained within this book sometimes help when trying to develop the characteristics of a certain style of building.I have even used to with a few clients who say thay want this or that look. I then have them thumb through this book and show them the style they have mentioned only to have then say "No, this is the style I'm talking about" pointing to another style.
And it has a Sears Home inside!!
For many years, I've written about historic architecture and vintage homes and have also written four books on this topic (including "The Houses That Sears Built").
Excellent Primer and Reference
"Field Guide" is the first reading required of all graduate students in at least one highly esteemed university degree program in historic preservation.It is also one of those rare books that serves well as both an introduction to and a reference for its subject.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Description and travel    4. Domestic    5. Guidebooks    6. Guides    7. Reference    8. U.S. Architecture - General    9. United States    10. Architecture / Reference   

Reviews (16)

Bundle with Party Europe
LP is a great book and had lots of awesome ideas. If you really want to have the best time of your life, buy a copy of Party Europe as well. LP tells you where to stay and eat, Party Europe will tell you how to have fun. Great combination. Can't wait to head back to the old country.

Too many countries
The book itself is awesome, lots of useful info.
Essential, perfect for a road trip
I bought Europe in a Shoestring as a preparation for my move from Italy to the UK. The book is an excellent reference for accomodation and eating, plus it gives the essential info on places to see and where to go.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Europe    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

Looking to live somewhere where houses are cheap? Head to Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the average home costs $75,700, and annual property taxes for that home are about $960. Perhaps a good job market is a higher priority. In that case, pick Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; or Riverside, California, as they top the list of places projected to have the highest-percentage increase in new jobs by 2005. Most of those jobs, by the way, are expected to have above-average pay. This and other detailed information can be found in the sixth edition of Read more

Reviews (31)

A city may be "great on paper" but beware!
These books are full of extremely helpful information, but I warn my fellow readers to take a place's culture into account before making a life-changing move. The books will not help you here. My husband and I bought a previous edition of Places Rated and devoured it while looking for a place to relocate from Los Angeles. We settled on a southern capital that seemed to have everything going for it, including consistently high rankings in Places Rated and every other city ranking we could find. Unfortunately, a city that looks great on paper may not be the place for you. Despite having lived in several states, we were unprepared for the surprising difficulties we experienced as "yankees" living in the south. From petty social and work discrimination to routinely being screwed over by one business after another hired to work on our home or car, etc., it became evident that we were identified as "yankees" on sight and treated accordingly. So much for southern hospitality! I assure you that we did our best to fit in and make friends, as we have successfully done in every other region of the country. After 2-1/2 years of this, we sold our home for a loss and got our "unsweet tea" out of there. Perhaps we were naive, not realizing that the yankee business is still such a potent issue in the south, but we will make future relocation choices with this experience in mind.

The best book of its kind.
It's tough to read a book of someone's opinions on where to live as its really a heartfelt decision each person needs to make for themselves. But most of this book is straight statistics, such as weather and crime. The book is big and leaves enough room for each metro area so you can read the climate graphs without too much eyestrain. It's the best book on deciding where to move that I found. I took tons of notes from this book, and it actually helped me pick an entirely new place to live than the ones I had originally thought of! The only section I didn't like was the arts and culture section. I'm into the artsy scene, but the authors rated cities based on number of symphonies and orchestras and operas - who goes to these anymore??

Love this book
This book is just great.I have bought every retirement-places-rated type of book that I can get my hands on and this author is by far the best.The millennium edition is twice as big as the last edition and every subject is covered that anyone would want to know about an area; cost of living, transportation, jobs, education, climate, crime, the arts, health care, recreation.I can't wait for the next edition to come out!We're not retiring any time soon so it's helpful to really be able to study and evaluate where we are going to want to retire. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Almanacs    2. Census And General Statistics    3. General    4. Metropolitan areas    5. North America    6. Quality of life    7. Reference    8. Reference - Guides (General)    9. Social indicators    10. Statistics    11. Travel    12. United States    13. Living & working abroad    14. Travel / General    15. USA   

Reviews (7)

Simply The Best
If you are going to Disney with your kids, this is, hands down, the best guide out there.

my kids (and grandkids) like action
My kids & I used to make a yearly pilgrimmage to WDW in Orlando and now my gradnkids want to do the same. So off I go again. But I wouldn't leave the house (or the car) unles I had Wiley's great guide book in my bag. Everything we need to know is there and the yearly updates make this an imperative take-along travel choice.
Excellent Guide
This is one of the best travel guides that I have used! I took my kids to Disney and this book helped me avoid the long lines (that we all know about!), know where to eat and helped me find a good hotel where my kids could be kids. This is a must if you plan on going to Disney! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family recreation    2. Florida    3. Guidebooks    4. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    5. Orlando Region    6. Orlando Region (Fla.)    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Special Interest - Family    9. Travel    10. Travel - United States    11. Travel Guides - U.S.    12. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    13. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    14. Walt Disney World (Fla.)    15. Travel & holiday guides    16. Travel / United States / South / South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)   

Subjects:  1. Food Industry Services    2. Restaurants    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Pacific - San Francisco    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Italy    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Reviews (1)

Will Stoke a Child's Enthusiasm!
When my husband and I were considering going to WDW for our anniversary, we happened to visit a Disney store in a mall. The manager gushed about WDW (doesn't everybody, really?) and showed us the Birnbaum's 2006 guide for kids. I thought we'd buy it, just to get an idea of what was in the parks and such. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Travel - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    4. Special Interest - Family    5. Travel    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Travel    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. USA   

Reviews (2)

Highly recommendable
I used this book to teach financial management of restaurantes to pupils in a culinary school. It was very usefull and I highly recommend it, especially the chapter where you find the different forms of calculating the price of a dish.

Helpful
This book provides confidence for people out here (like myself) that are considering starting their own business.No other texts on the subject have covered the pertinent issues as comprehensively as I would have liked.Very information and truly helpful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Finance    6. Hospitality industry    7. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    8. Restaurant management    9. Business & Economics / Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    10. Finance & Accounting    11. Hotel & catering trades   

Reviews (13)

A must have for your travel book library
As someone who's outgrown Lonely Planet and Let's Go guides, I found Fay's book to be an excellent guide for those looking for more in-depth perspective and history than simply finding a hostel or looking for the next watering hole. Pictures are gorgeous and one can easily tell a good deal of money went into the exquisite design.A great writer and guide, Kim is someone I wish I had along with me in my South East Asian travels!

Don't understand the fuss
I bought this based on the reviews here on Amazon - and I'm sorry that I did. It doesn't contain any valuable information and the organization is odd for a guidebook. I just don't see the point of this guidebook.

Dreadful guide book
Badly organized, can't find anything quickly...most of the tips can be found in lonely guide for the various counries....in the end was totally useless on our trip to cambodia, laos, and vietnam... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. General    3. Reference - Guides (General)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel - General    7. Travel / General   

Reviews (55)

Perspective from Pluto
As I write this review, scientists around the world are in one more tizzy about whether Pluto is a planet, and exactly what a planet is.
Let's take the first steps
This book really focuses on something I believe is of uttermost importance for human kind: our long-term survival as a species and the essential role of space exploration. Many ideas and facts presented in Pale Blue Dot have already been expressed elsewhere, not least in science-fiction, but here they are collected and presented to us in a formidable way, with the focus on the potentially new era awaiting us where we would finally quit our Earth cocoon and start expanding through the Universe. As a scientist, I believe that this is a realistic view even if it definitely won't happen in our lifetimes. Sagan gives very convicing arguments why it is necessary to take the first steps in this direction: now, without delay!

A great sequel to Cosmos
The title of this book refers to Earth- all that our planet is in the big scheme of things is a Pale Blue Dot, as photographed by the Voyager spacecraft, departing our solar system. It's very humbling. Sagan went before his time, and didn't even get to see the landing of Mars Pathfinder in 1997, but that mission was renamed "The Sagan Memorial Mars Station." Whereas Cosmos talked about the past and future of space travel, this book talks about the future. It's written 20 years after "Cosmos" so builds upon what that book says. It used many charts and interesting pictures and graphs. This is better than "Cosmos" in my opinion, and is my favorite book ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Exploration    2. Outer space    3. Popular works    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Space Exploration    6. Popular astronomy    7. Science / General