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 (39)

Good fun!
I simply don't get the poor reviews! This book is absolutely HILARIOUS! The title, naturally, is a parody of "A Year in Provence" (right down to the font style, I believe.)
It's not Merde, that's for sure.
I bought this book awhile ago, inexplicably moving it to the bottom of my unread book pile in favour of other books. I just never felt in the mood for it. Rather interesting book outside my normal genre of reading. So, this weekend when I was bored out of my skull, I finally decided to give it a try.
A little tedious after a while
I guess I didn't get it.Parts were funny then it got a little tedious.Read it if you think you'll get it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. British    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - General    5. France    6. General    7. Humorous fiction    8. Paris (France)    9. Tearooms    10. Travel    11. Travel / Europe / France   

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 (6)

A fine primer, but flawed
If you're looking for a step-by-step-hold-your-hand-guide to ArcView then this is your book. However ...and this is a big However... you'd better learn each lesson thoroughly as you go along, because there is no index. Let me repeat... no index. Oh, sure there's pages and pages of ESRI software license agreement, but no index. That being said, it is a fine reference and a good place to learn the basics.

Best GIS book!
If you want to learn GIS, this is the book for you. It teaches you how to use ArcGis and ArcMap very effectively. I have bought and used this book to learn GIS and by the end (about 3 months) I was very comfortable doing my own GIS analysis, without needing the book in front of me. The examples and tutorials in the book which guide you through the material, are easy to follow but challenge you to learn the material, which is the goal.The assignments at the end of each chapter reinforce what was taught in each chapter very well.They are very applicable and after completing all the assignments I consider myself very capable at using this complex program. I have tried to learn many programs from books and found that, although GIS is probably the most powerful and complex program i've tried to learn, this book teaches you better than any other. It makes it very easy to learn GIS and apply its powers.The CD provided is adequate to learn the program as well.The book also can serve as a reference when doing other GIS work, as key commands and concepts are well organized throughout the book and are easily referenced.I wish all other programs had a book which was this easy to use!
Caveat Emptor
This is a text designed at the third grade level for Bryman/ITT Tech and the like. The Workbook is a picture book of examples, little of which relate to the assignments at the end of every chapter. Note there is neither index nor glossary. The CD's that come with it require validation and are timed to expire after 180 days. ESRI is proud of this book, but without justification. It lacks any sort of professional documentation for the ArcGIS and ArcMap programs and questions to workbench-support@esri.com are ansered by "see the book." They vary the theme a bit, but this is always the reply. But "the book" doesn't have the necessary data to acomplish the assignment.
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Subjects:  1. ArcView    2. ArcView (Computer software)    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computers    5. Computers - Other Applications    6. Data Transmission Systems - General    7. General    8. Geographic information systems    9. Miscellaneous Software    10. Computers / Advanced Applications    11. Geographical information systems (GIS)   

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 (6)

Can pay for itself
We took a cruise that stopped at 5 islands listed in the book and found the information provided helpful to interpreting the cruise line's descriptions and deciding which land tours to take.We were able to by-pass several expensive tours yet see the major sites on our own.

Love the DK travel guides!
The DK books are my favorite travel guides and even though I've never been to Greece (yet!) I still like to page though the book. The pictures and diagrams are gorgeous and I like how the authors always bring the culture and history of the area into the discussion.

A beautiful, classy, picture journey!
This is a portable, soft cover, coffee-table book!It is beautifully crafted, with exquisite pictures, maps and diagrams of ancient buildings and modern towns. The book takes you on a cultural journey through Greece and its history.If you haven't visited Greece, it's a motivator.If you have, it brings back wonderful memories.This book is a broad sweep, you will need supplemental information, but it is unique in providing a visual overview of a beautiful and enchanting land! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aegean Islands (Greece and Turkey)    2. Europe - Greece    3. General    4. Guidebooks    5. Ionian Islands (Greece)    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Europe / Greece   

Reviews (69)

Hike on!
As a somewhat outdoor type (ski regularly, backcountry camp about once a year) I found this to be a pretty fascinating look at survival that comes at it from many different perspectives.It is not a survival guide per se.It is not an in-depth account of the survival stories that it tells (most of these stories can be found more detailed in more exhaustive accounts like "Touching The Void".)What this book is (as the cover indicates) is a look at that profound question of why some survive and others don't and what drives us to risk our lives for thrills.Like the systems he describes, even this question has many factors.There is no one way to survive, or one factor that makes somebody a survivor.All too often, the greatest "survivor", doesn't.And realizing and accepting that fact seems to be a big part in giving the best effort to beat the odds.
Compelling journalistic account about the moxie of survivor-adventurers
Elements of "Deep Survival" were quite memorable, especially the story of the ill-fated sailing venture where one incredible woman managed to survive unbelievably difficult circumstances.The work did remind me "The Perfect Storm" at that point.However, I agree with another review that the lengthy summary of Joe Simpson's ordeal on the West Face of Suila Grande WAS lackluster in comparison with the actual narrative in "Touching the Void.As a long-time climber, I found Gonzales' account of the tragedy on Mt. Hood realistic and compelling. Those of us who have survived mountain accidents can certainly identify with the stories related by the survivors of the fall down the ice field and with Gonzales' handling of that horrible event.My hands started sweating as I recalled some of my more harrowing adventures in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada.He's clearly a journalist/adventurer a la Jon Krakauer, not a scientist, so anyone reading the book should read the technical passages about neuroscience, etc. in that context.

Enjoy but beware of the wilderness.
Wilderness is so-called because it instills an element of fear and awe to those who live by the predictable rhythms of urban and suburban life (of course, there is also such a thing as urban wilderness; same rules as spelled out in this book may also apply).Wilderness is there to appreciate by those who should also be cognizant of its risks and any unforeseen circumstances.
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Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Social, group or collective psychology   

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 (65)

Unchristian
Dalrymple's 1994 reenactment of the 6th century Christian spiritual journey of John Moschos and Sophronios is fascinating, and its author a compelling writer. There, the value of this book ends.
A book transcending itself
A trip through the Middle-East is most of all getting to know the Muslim world. The part of its' history from Byzantine times, meaning the presence and history of Christian settlements,is easily forgotten or at least figures in the background only. After having read this book the Middle-East will never be the same to me again. With the exception of the Armenian genocide,I was hardly aware of all tragedies which happened but most of all: which are today still happeningto the very old Christian communities of these countries. Not only are they in permanent danger of being killed, often with no punishment of the perpetrators from the authorities, and have they already been driven out of places where they lived since a 1500 years, also their ancient buildings, art, manuscripts, possessions of huge historic meaning, are being destroyed. As these communities and their material heritage represent much of the roots of Western civilization, this loss is a huge loss for the history of mankind. What's going on is a complete annihilation of the wonderful mosaic of different civilizations this world once produced. As since many years but now more than ever the Middle-East is the focus of world politics,"From the Holy Mountain" should be read by a much wider group of people than lovers of good travelogues or lovers of these countries only. A most important and readable study, implicating a plea for tolerance and respect, it should be a must-read for all politicians in the world.
Zeal For Ecclesiastical Arcana
Yes! My title nabbed from the Amazon reviewer. Dalrymple's journey through the middle east, retraces the Byzantine traveller-monlk, John Moschos, author of, The Spiritual Meadow'. In the late C6th, accompanied by his pupil, he set to gather the wisdom of the desert fathers from Mt Athos, to Kurdisatan, then south through Syria, the Lebanon, Palestine, and on up the Nile. Dalrymple's trip in the early 90s was frought with tensions which today would cause an angel trepidation. The book was a revelation to me, filling in considerable gaps about the foundation and correlations of so many parties in the fermenting region. Muslim fundamentlists provide stiff opposition to Dalrymple's historical and current enquiries. But they are not unique in this. His evocation of place is crisply poetic and touched with memorable detail. His feel for people is very sympathetic. A work justly applauded. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - Greece    2. Ancient - Rome    3. History - General History    4. Middle East - General    5. Religion    6. Travel   

Reviews (28)

Sets the record straight
Everyone knows this event was controversial.It is the tasting that allowed premium U.S. wineries to begin the meteoric rise in quality (and price) that we see today.Arguably, it is what launched the globe's infatuation with the "New World Style".
Great story of an event that changed the world of wine
This is the story of the wine tasting event that put California and Napa Valley on the elite winemaking map.For those who don't know, in 1976 a British wine merchant stage a blind tasting of elite French wines against California wines.The judges were all French and expected to judge in favor of the French wines.But, the California wines scored much better and suddenly French dominance of winemaking was being questioned everywhere.George Taber was the only journalist at the event and wrote a small article for Time magazine.This is his story of what happened that day and the impact it had on the world wine industry.
Excellent read for winos
Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Business/Economics    4. California    5. Cooking    6. Cooking / Wine    7. France    8. History    9. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    10. Paris    11. Wine And Wine-Making    12. Wine industry    13. Wine tasting    14. Cooking / General   

Reviews (4)

Photos too small to be of any value.And the Empire is dead .
Mr. Barber was apparently so taken by the idea of putting together a collection of his favorite maps that he forgot that: 1) there are already more map books on the market than you can shake a compass at and a bigger book of maps is not automatically a better book, 2) his book, like all the others, was inevitably going to suffer from the same defect, namely reproductions of maps so reduced in size as to be unreadable, and 3) putting the primary focus on maps relating to the defunct British Empire may be patriotic to his countrymen but only serves to amuse the rest of the world.
Absolutely worth the wait... finally arrived and it's stunning!
This book just arrived in the mail yesterday!Wow!I never thought I would be saying this about ANY item that takes almost three months to arrive (we are in the 21st century are we not?), but it was worth the wait.The breadth of this book's coverage is amazing - the organization by year is really interesting - you can see the progression of maps (and the dozens upon dozens of invented uses of maps).Many of the maps featured in this book seem to be rare gems.And the paper and print quality are top-notch.Best of all, this book tries to educate while it's busy pleasing the eye, asking its readers thought-provoking questions (like showing a composite satellite image and asking "is this a map"?).
Better to behold than to read
This sumptuous volume of maps covers the topic from a broad perspective.The illustrations are many and pleasing to the eye.But the book seems meant to be displayed on a coffee table as it is almost too heavy to hold and read comfortably.The writing is pedestrian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cartography    2. Historical Atlases    3. History - General History    4. Maps & Road Atlases    5. Travel    6. World - General    7. Reference / Maps   

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