Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (1373)

Fast paced, educating account of extreme mountaineering
Mr. Krakauer's account of the deadly trip to the top of Mt. Everest has a credibility to the story that many other action filled, non-fiction works have.Due mostly to the fact that Mr. Krakauer was a reporter who was there, a member of a team who witnessed the way the disaster unfolded in one of the most unforgiving environments in the world.His book is a chronicle of the things that went wrong with the expedition, things that were red-flags to those there but were not heeded.Some of the book deals with the commercialization of Everest, where if you have the money, you can find a guide that will risk your life, his life and others lives to get you to the top.Some of those who died were Everest guides, people who knew the signs of things going wrong, yet they still made the fateful decision of pressing on for the summit.Part of the book, about Beck Weathers is amazing and does give some hope to the extents and abuse the human body can take with a certain frame of mind.Albeit, it cost him his hands and part of his face, the fact that he survived is amazing none-the-less.
Read "The Climb," too...
I give "Above Thin Air" 5 stars because it is a magnificently written work about Everest, but Krakauer's venom towards Anatoli Boukreev was and is inexplicable when the facts of that night are laid bare.
Non-Fiction at Its Best
I couldn't put this book down. To be honest with you, I rarely enjoy non-fiction, yet the way with which Krakauer creates tension - something that most likely is not that difficult as Everest on its own is a formidable place - is as effective as some of the best fiction writers out there. I was also impressed with how he was able to situate the expedition and the characters involved within the rich tradition of Everest mountaineering. His descriptions of Hall and Fischer are remarkable and he has immortalized them for the general public as they have been immortalized with climbers for years. I also like the way with which Krakauer is honest about what he is and is not sure about concerning his account. Being above 26,000 ft. makes it very difficult to be sure of what took place. Overall, I was quite impresed with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    4. Krakauer, Jon    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineering accidents    7. Mountaineering expeditions    8. Specific Groups - General    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Editorial Review

Writer Rinker Buck looks back more than 30 years to a summer when he and his brother, at ages 15 and 17 respectively, became the youngest duo to fly across America, from New Jersey to California. Having grown up in an aviation family, the two boys bought an old Piper Cub, restored it themselves, and set out on the grand journey. Buck is a great storyteller, and once you get airborne with the boys you find yourself absorbed in a story of adventure and family drama. And Read more

Reviews (70)

A delightful read
This was a book that I bought in a bargain section and it turned out to be quite the bargain. It is a heart-warming tale with adventure and humor for everyone. The language at times was a little much and for this reason I would not recommend to young children. I don't think the author was necessarily attempting to make this book a comedy but he had me in stitches several times. I don't usually re-read books but this is one that I am looking forward to reading again and again in years to come.

Mixed feelings
The experience of two teenagers flying coast-to-coast is an exciting tale that deserves to be told.As long as the storyline focuses on the actual travel adventure, it makes for an interesting read.On the flipside, the author's lengthy description of his rather dysfunctional family situation gets tiresome before long.From a pilot's perspective I hope that the irresponsible, at times outright dangerous acts described in the book will not encourage the next generation of flyers to follow suit.Sadly, the book's supposed highlight, crossing the Rockies between two mountain peaks at high altitude in gusty wind conditions is the result of a blatant navigational error.By diverting 10 miles to the south and to lower terrain, this dangerous situation could have been avoided altogether...

If you come from a flying family, you'll love this book!
With a father, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, a niece, and several nephews who fly or have flown or soloed, and a few hours toward soloing myself, this book had instant appeal for me. Brother Jim's wife, Chris, recommended it to me and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Rinker Buck does a grand job of telling his story; the whole story not just the mind-boggling, spectacular flight across the country he and his brother, Kern, took as teenagers. The book is well written; easy and absorbing to read. This is not a book you will want to read quickly. I have not finished it and am in no hurry to do so. The story is to be savored; parts read and re-read. There are some photographs included which always adds to the appeal of a story about real people. (Two of my brothers soloed at 16. With a ten-year age difference between them, the older one soloed the younger one. It made all the local papers.)
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. 20th Century Description And Travel    3. Adventurers & Explorers    4. Aeronautics    5. Air Transportation    6. Aviation - General    7. Aviation - Piloting & Flight Instruction    8. Biography / Autobiography    9. Biography/Autobiography    10. Buck, Rinker,    11. Essays & Travelogues    12. Flights    13. Transcontinental flights    14. Transportation    15. Travel    16. United States    17. Buck, Kernahan    18. Buck, Rinker    19. Journeys    20. Transportation / Aviation / General   

Editorial Review

The events of September 11 have seemingly been covered, analyzed, and discussed from every angle imaginable. So the subject matter alone of Jim DeFede's Read more

Reviews (49)

A Story About the Truest and Kindest People on Earth

Interesting Subject but Poorly Written
I found this book to be extremely interesting. It tells of a true story unknown to many. However, while the subject was excellent, the quality of the writing was poor. I would not conider this book a final product. It is similar to a draft, with words spelled incorrectly and improper grammar. The publishers should be ashamed for printing such a poor quality manuscript that had not been proof read.

The Best ofHuman Nature
If you ever wanted to read a book that took the best part of human nature, you've found it.The people behind 9/11 were expecting the worst of humanity to come about, instead the result was the best humanity.The people of Gander captured my heart and I would love to meet those wonderful people who took strangers in from around the world.This book will move you to tears and astound you in ways you never thought possible.The spirit of kindness is alive and well in Gander, Newfoundland.I love the United States, but we could learn a thing or two from these wonderful in what to do in the event of a tragedy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial    2. Air Transportation    3. Air travel    4. Canada - General    5. Canada - Post-Confederation (1867-)    6. Current Affairs    7. Gander    8. History - General History    9. International    10. Newfoundland and Labrador    11. Passenger traffic    12. Political Discontent And Violence    13. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    14. Politics/International Relations    15. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    16. United States - 21st Century   

Reviews (30)

Take it with you on your next flight
I've been flying ever since I can remember but never understood why the cabin crew ask you to open window blinds prior to landing.
A must-read for anybody who likes to travel
Kudos to Patrick for writing a very accessible, funny, and eye-opening account of what happens at 30,000 feet, and all the steps along the way. His stories about the old days of flying will entice anybody who still gets excited about airplanes and airports (in a good way). It's refreshing to hear such an articulate and empathic voice come from inside the airline industry. No doubt he's going to be attacked by the many things he says, as he's written one of the most impressive and clear-headed accounts of post-9/11 security hysteria and what it has done to the industry and our country as a whole. This book should be given to all air travelers in lieu of pretzels and headsets. It would do a ton of good.

Answers From The Pilot
Upset stomach, sweaty palms, nervous knots.What was that?!?That noise, what was that?!Oh my God, we are going to crash!That clunking noise had to be something bad.That isn't a normal sound.Sound like you?On alert the entire flight listening to all sounds, thinking that the next one is going to bring upon a horrible death.I can relate.That was me times six.I had created my own answers to the "what was that?" questions.They were consistently that a part must have been malfunctioning or had fallen off (for such a substantial noise to have occured, it had to be a MAJOR part too).This part was essential to my living or dying.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial    2. Air travel    3. Aviation - Commercial    4. Aviation - General    5. General    6. Reference - Guides (General)    7. Travel    8. Travel - General    9. Travel / General   

Reviews (12)

Great writing!
This book was a good choice to read after recently finishing "Crazy in the Cockpit." I confess I skipped/skimmed through the more technical aviation-related sections, concentrating on the travel narrative aspect. Makes for good bedside reading.

What a way to go!
I loved William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways" describing his travels on the back roads of America.Now Mariana Gosnell has done an aerial version of it and has done it equally well.I had two childhood dreams.I'll never be a cowboy but, even at my advanced age, I can be a pilot.Until then, please take me with you on your next odyssey Mariana

wonderful yarn about flying across the United States
The Luscombe isn't my favorite lightplane, but it is Gosnell's, and she writes about it with such affection that I'd like to fly one. The trip evidently takes place in the late 1970s, because Jimmy Carter is president. (She visits Plains GA and the largest peanut-butter factory in the world.) Gosnell is a journalist, so she goes out of her way to visit unlikely places and meet interesting people. (Among them is the crew of the man-powered Gossamer Condor, whose record-breaking flight she is on hand to document.) I feel sorry for the lad who quit reading on page 10. He missed a wonderful yarn, and one that deserves a place on the bookshelf of any lightplane pilot. -- Dan Ford ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Air travel    2. Aviation - General    3. Description and travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Gosnell, Mariana    6. Travel    7. Travel - General    8. United States    9. United States - General    10. Voyages and travels    11. Women air pilots    12. Journeys    13. Transportation-Aviation - General    14. Travel & holiday guides    15. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    16. Travel / General    17. Travel-United States - General    18. USA   

Reviews (11)

Great book...
This was a good, easy read. A little frustrating for this more experienced pilot, but for lesser-experienced pilots, and especially women pilots, you will really enjoy it.
Moving story, beautiful images
There are a lot of things wrong with this book, as noted by other reviewers, including:
Fascinating!
This book is not only extremely entertaining but also a great collection of beautiful color photographs of different spots "South of the border...WAY South."Read more

Subjects:  1. Air travel    2. Central America    3. Cessna aircraft    4. Description and travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Latin America    7. Piloting    8. South America    9. Special Interest - Adventure    10. Travel    11. Travel - General    12. Travel writing   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial    2. Aviation - General    3. Science/Mathematics    4. Transportation    5. United States    6. AIR TRAVEL    7. Travel / General   

Reviews (7)

Selling Corporate Aviation!!!
I read the first half of the book and during the entire course of the book, all the author does is "See Corporate Aviation". I would not recommend this book to anyone seriously wanting to get insights into the working and economics of corporate aviation. I guess the author wrote the book to popularise corporate aviaiton.

NBAA Guide Expansion
There are a very few books covering the Corporate Aviation Management topic.I had been waiting for some corporate aviation material for a while, because the existent texts were not updated with the new facts and changes of the business aviation since the 9/11 events.
Excellent Reference
This book was the best reference I had while preparing for the NBAA Certified Aviation Manager's exam in 2004.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics    2. Air Transportation    3. Airlines    4. Airports    5. Aviation - Commercial    6. Aviation - General    7. Business / Economics / Finance    8. Entrepreneurship    9. Local service airlines    10. Management    11. Management - General    12. Reference - General    13. Transportation    14. Aerospace & air transport industries    15. Business strategy    16. Transportation / Aviation / General   

Reviews (10)

First Rate Book on Aitrline Economics

Academically Rigorous, Yet Comprehensible
This is the best introduction to the fundamentals of airline economics that I have ever read. Doganis, an analyst and teacher these days, is able to take all his years in industry (including a stint as CEO of Olympic Airways of Greece) and distill it into a useful text full of real world examples. The third edition is updated to include new developments like Internet ticketing, and was written post-9/11, so that sections dealing with issues such as security are up to date.
Great overview, at times too basic
Having worked in airports for the past 10 years, and now moving to the airline side, I wanted a broad overview of airline economics. The book did a first rate job.Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics, Commercial    2. Airlines    3. Aviation - General    4. Business & Economics    5. Business/Economics    6. Industries - General    7. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    8. International - General    9. Transportation    10. Aerospace & air transport industries    11. Business & Economics / International    12. Reference works   

Reviews (18)

High performance relationships - the key to Southwests success
The book is about how although Leadership, culture, strategy and co-ordination have been critical for SW's amazing performance uptill now the hidden factor is the high performance relationships that permeate the organisation. One person working in isolation does not deliver customer satisfaction. Only a group of people working as a single unit with no friction, hidden agendas or dysfucntional incentives can do that. Above all a group of people with outstanding relationships.
Good Material!
When Gittell wrote the book, Southwest Airlines had thirty-one consecutive years of profit, and its market value was greater than that of all other major airlines - combined!(Since then its profitability has continued.)The "easy" explanation - its workers are non-unionized - though widely believed, is not true.Gittell provides data showing Southwest to be as/more unionized as any other American airline.(In some cases, however, they have been paid less than other airlines.)
More hearsay than fact.
The Southwest Airlines Way offers little applicable business process knowledge.Instead the author provides a steady diet of amibiguities and generic case studies.Drucker this is not.I was particularly interested in the relationship between unions and Southwest management.What I expected was a discussion on the management side of the economic value added of union involvement and on the rank-and-file side a discussion of the reasons unions were needed in lieu of employee empowerment programs.What you get is "we're all in this together".I recommend this only for those readers who know little about the airline's history and seek a basic primer.Buy it used. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Air Transportation    2. Airlines    3. Aviation - General    4. Business / Economics / Finance    5. Business/Economics    6. Corporate & Business History - General    7. General    8. History Of Specific Companies    9. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    10. Leadership    11. Management    12. Southwest Airlines Co    13. Southwest Airlines Co.    14. Transportation    15. United States    16. Business & Economics / Human Resources & Personnel Management    17. Management & management techniques   

Editorial Review

The Mediterranean light hits the Greek islands in a special way. For thousands of years authors have been trying to describe it, and Yann Arthus-Bertrand's sumptuous photography brings it alive. The 102 color aerial photographs in Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautiful and brilliant!
This is a truly unique book. These aerial photographs are masterful artwork. The photographer has captured some of the most enchanting spots in Greece with expert use of natural light. Strolling through this book over and over again makes me see a land that is even more beautiful from the air than from the land; makes me see a beauty that previously I could only feel. The photo of the Skiathos fisherman in his boat suspended in the sea is absolutely magical! Going through this book after you return from Greece takes you back. Reading it before you visit impels you to go. Exquisite!

Beautiful bird's eye view of Greece
Whether or not you've been to Greece, a breeze through this book gives you a feeling of being there, taking you to the country's most popular and beautiful sites from a perspective unavailable to most. Although the colorsand uniqueness are difficult to portray, this comes very close. The photoof Zakynthos made me cry, and the photo of a village wedding stirred mysoul. It is a beloved addition to my collection, and an album ofunderstanding for those who have never seen it in person--simply lookthrough its pages and see Greece. Absolutely mind-bogglingly beautiful photos
I have never in my life seen such absolutely incredible photos. If you want to see Greece at its absolute best, nothing else can compare. There are a number of photos here that by themselves are worth the price of thebook. I can never recall having a book that is as captivating the 100thtime I look through it as the first time. The picture of the fisherman inhis boat seemingly floating on air is just simply the most amazing photoI've ever seen.Read more

Subjects:  1. Aerial photographs    2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    3. Europe - Greece    4. Greece    5. Greece - History    6. Photo Essays    7. Photography    8. Pictorial works    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/Europe    10. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    11. Exhibition catalogues and specific collections    12. Photography & Photographs   

Editorial Review

Many dream of traveling the world, but few actually do so. If you've decided to put your money where your fantasy is and save for the trip of trips, Edward Hasbrouck is your travel guru. He's circumnavigated the world twice, and coordinates a travel agent's around-the-world department. He explains why you ought to chose (and stick to) your route in advance but needn't start and finish in the same city, and above all why you ought to take the travel plunge. He shares hard-won truths about saving money--and in Thailand or Bali $100 saved earns an extra month of freedom. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

waaaaaayyyy too much information
This book is exhaustive to the point of being exhausting - and as such isn't really useful for anyone who's traveled at least once overseas. The book is divided into sections on choosing destinations, surface transportation (100 pages!), air transportion (140 pages!), travel docs, safety and health, baggage, practicalities, the bottom line, and resources.Some of the information was useful - such on how to take advantage of open jaw airline tickets - but so much of it is a rehash of what every traveler knows.I mean, I didn't need to pay $22 to learn that I should use a credit card when making travel plans.
Excellent Resource for Around the World Travel
My husband and I are currently traveling through Asia and used Edward Hasbrouck's book in preparation for our trip. It is a comprehensive book, that explores every aspect of around the world travel. He covers everything you need to know and more, from preparation of paperwork to interacting with people along the way. He is a expert in this field -- one of the best, and he generously shares his knowledge in this book. Travelers are fortunate to have such expertise in their hands, what it would take years for an individual to acquire is shared here. His compilation of fact and opinion is well-balanced. He also includes an excellent resource section, with many books and websites for further research. Starting your research with this book will save you a lot of time and effort -- it's all right here.

Best Practical Planning Book For Long-Term Travel

Read more

Subjects:  1. Air Transportation    2. Aviation - General    3. General    4. Reference - Guides (General)    5. Reference - Tips    6. Travel    7. Travel - General    8. Travel Guides    9. Reference works    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (9)

This book brought me relief!
I had never had a fear of flying until about five years ago. A bunch of occurrances...forgetting my husband't suit for a wedding (and having to run back home, and back to the airport with three minutes to spare), 9/11, a few very turbulent flights, being tired and dehydrated (which made me ill) before getting on a plane all added up to a paralyzing fear. Not only did I have a more than subconscious fear of a plane going down, I had a fear of forgetting something important, and of getting sick. The getting sick (yes, throwing up...a lot) was a vicious cycle, because I'd be nervous about getting sick on a flight, and I'd get so nervous that the nerves made me sick! I was a mess and my life was controlled by a fear of flying. If I had a flight planned, I'd wake up terrified (and ill) in the middle of the night with uncontrollable anxiety weeks before the flight. Just the thought of getting on a plane sent me into an emotional and physical tailspin (pardon the pun). I too, knew that it was irrational, but the fear was so viceral and so out of my control, I finally sought help. A therapist suggested that the anxiety and subsequent vomitting was due to an overdose of adrenaline, and that is about all the help she could offer. I bought this book after reading the other reviews on line. I read it in a day, and over the next three flights I took after reading it, each flight became easier and easier. The last flight I took I genuinely enjoyed and I didn't need to take any anti-anxiety medicine. The book teaches you that the noises you hear a plane make are the noises it *should* be making. I always used to fear that the planes engines were failing upon ascent because you could hear them "loose power." I had no idea the pilots had that much control over the engines and that sometimes, for example, they just need to slow down the planes to comply with neighborhood noise ordinances!The book teaches you about weather conditions, and turbulance, and how planes and pilots have astounding abilities to handle them both. Sure, I still might sometimes (only sometimes) get a little jittery before a flight, but I feel that, like anything else, fear stems from the unknown, and when I educated myself on how planes work and how flying works, my fear went away. This book really, really made a huge difference in my life.

Knuckles No Longer White
Having experienced an aborted take off, a collision whilst taxiing and a drop in altitude which left a stewardess in tears, I feel I'm well equipped to comment on this book. Not a Whole Lotta Help
Although not an uninteresting exploration of many of the aspects of flying, this book does not seem likely to truly alleviate many of the fears of the uncertain flier. It is one thing to understand the mechanics of flying, but quite another to get detailed descriptions of emergency procedures when something goes wrong. Those of us who suffer or have suffered bouts of unnecessary white-knuckled flying want to know how the plane stays in the air, why it is unlikely that something will go wrong and what all those noises and sensations are that may set us off. We also want to know what is going on in the cockpit during a normal flight, since most of us realize that once we've landed, we've once again experienced a normal flight...There are much better books than this one if you want to conquer any fear of flying....END ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Air travel    2. Applied Psychology    3. Aviation - General    4. Fear of flying    5. General    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Psychological aspects    8. Psychology    9. Reference - Tips    10. Self-Help    11. Stress (Psychology)    12. Stress Management    13. Stress relaxation    14. Aircraft: general interest    15. Coping with personal problems    16. Popular psychology   

Reviews (4)

Have The Antacid Standing By
This is one of the least pleasant learning experiences I have ever been through. I used this book and associated software (which you must download) in a graduate Aviation Route Planning class, and this book takes every opportunity to disappoint. New 4th Edition...on it's way
Stay tuned folks, the new and improved 4th edition is scheduled for publication during the third quarter of this year!

Where's the rest of the simulation? It's important!
The manager or student who does not have the assistance of an 'airline-experienced' professor, the computer software and the additional training material makes this simulation process much more difficult tocomprehend, understand and complete. If the publisher and the writer wouldinclude the extra material plus the computer software, this could be agreat training tool for many airline managers and others.Read more

Subjects:  1. Airport Management    2. Aviation - General    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Computer Engineering    6. Computer Simulation    7. Entrepreneurship    8. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    9. Strategic Planning    10. Transportation    11. Aerospace & air transport industries    12. Business & Economics / Systems & Planning    13. Business strategy    14. Management & management techniques   

Reviews (15)

More than a flying book
The Cannibal Queen is actually a 1942 Stearman open cockpit biplane and the book of the same name by Stephen Coonts is his story of flying it around the 48 continental United States. It's a great flying book, which is not surprising as Coonts is an ex-Navy fighter jock and the author of four best sellers, including 'Flight of the Intruder.' What got me about the book, however, is a very small sub-plot, namely the author's relationship with his ex-wife and three kids. Right at the starthe has a vacation with the ex at DisneyWorld in Florida. Then later he has another get together with the ex in Washington state. Both events are painted as routine when in fact they're more surprising than anything that happens up in the air. disappointing
As a licensed private pilot I have often dreamed of doing just what the author did, i.e. rent a vintage airplane, take a whole summer off and fly around the entire United States. So, when I saw this book I bought it immediately and settled in for a vicarious thrill.
Update on Cannible Queen, the aircraft
Attended an airshow in Millville, New Jersey on May 11, 2003.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. 1981-    3. Air travel    4. Aviation - General    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Coonts, Stephen,    8. Description and travel    9. Historical - General    10. Journeys    11. Murder - General    12. Special Interest - Adventure    13. True Crime / Espionage    14. United States    15. Transportation / Aviation / General    16. Transportation-Aviation - General    17. Travel-Special Interest - Adventure    18. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (1)

An Eyeful of African Beauty!
This book is packed with stunning shots of aerial views of the countryside, the wildlife parks, the mountains, (e.g. the Mt Longonot crater) and the lakes & islands. Even for one like me who was bornand bred in Kenya, the clarity, angle and panoramic view of the shots issimply stunning and taught me that there is amazing beauty all aroundme...I'm just not tall enough to see it all! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Photo Techniques    2. Africa    3. Kenya    4. Photographs: collections    5. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Reviews (1)

Too much, too little, need more -- focus
The title is misleading. I searched through every chapter to decipher how to make a profit with passenger, cargo, and/or other areas of air transportation. It covers a tremendous amount of information like aircraft configurations and technical designs. Unfortunately, and all so common, lots of problems given about aviation; but few solutions offered about profit strategies!Read more

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics & Astronautics    2. Aeronautics, Commercial    3. Airlines    4. Airport Management    5. Aviation - Commercial    6. Business / Economics / Finance    7. Cost of operation    8. Engineering - Industrial    9. Finance    10. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Strategic Planning    13. Technology    14. Transportation    15. Transportation Economics    16. United States    17. Aerospace & air transport industries    18. Budgeting & financial management    19. Technology / Aeronautics & Astronautics   

Editorial Review

One of the most beautifully crafted books I have ever read, with some of the most poetic prose passages I could imagine, such as the following, resonating with a stately and timeless quality so absent in our modern life: Read more

Reviews (97)

FEMALE AFRICAN BUSH PILOT IN THE 30's GIVES INSIDE VIEW
Beryl Markham's book West with the Night is a true story of how she lived and worked in Africa as a push pilot back in the 1930's -- almost amazing for a woman...what an experience alone-- what an adventure-- but her writing -- ahhh that's something amazing in itself....from dealing with the Blackwater Die to the lion who almost ate her to search for a Libyan port and a fallen colleague-- a beautiful book...each chapter is written almost like a true short story....she's a beautiful writer and to think this is a piece of our women's past that is here to still cherish-- belongs on the shelf of every women's studies office...great for a young woman to read....especially great gift to a chick going off to college.

Beautifully Written
West With the night is Beryl Markham's memoir of life as a bush pilot in 1930s Africa. The beautifully written prose paints evocative pictures of the Serengeti in the reader's brain, and each paragraph is dense and satisfying. A wonderful read, especially for fans of Out of Africa - and some of the same people are mentioned in this book.
Probably the most beautifully written book I have ever read.
The exceptional wordcrafting in West With The Night brings Africa alive and makes it almost a personal experience. Beryl Markham was a most interesting individual and her life growing up in Africa is the beautiful background for this book. I have only reread one book in my sixty-some years and this is it. I enjoyed it at least as much the second time around.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa - Kenya    2. Africa, East    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Description And Travel    7. Historical    8. Horse breeders    9. Markham, Beryl Clutterbuck    10. Women    11. Women air pilots   

Reviews (2)

Pretty worthless
This book provides little enjoyment and offers no new insight.I would not recommend it.

So very funny!
I love to laugh, and after a serious day, this book was the perfect remedy.I was crying from laughing so hard at several different times in the book.It's a fabulous book, and it doesn't matter if you love to fly (as I do), or if you detest the experience.I think you'll enjoy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Form - Jokes & Riddles    4. General    5. Humor    6. Motivational & Inspirational    7. Travel    8. Humor / General