I have found this book very enlightening. Not only does the auther combine statistical fact, but she show various sides of the socioeconomic aspects of miners in this time period. A definitive work. This book should be in everyone's library, especially families who worked the mines mentioned. A very indepth analysis replete with fact and figures of an era gone.

Ron Tyler's seminal work on the Big Bend of Texas is required reading for anyone who plans a trip to the "Texas Outback". This enchanting out-of-the-way part of Texas has invited explorers and adventurers for years and Tyler's historical treatment brings all the mystery and drama of the region to the surface for the modern traveler. The maps and historical photographs blend with the text to give the reader a "sense of place" that separates the Big Bend area from other southwestern landscapes. A must read for anyone interested in the remote lands of North America.

What an incredible journey! Having traveled the Alaskan Highway, I know the hazards of tackling that terrain. The words "Prepare to meet thy Maker" were aptly stated. After hours of peddling over potholes and mountains, a soothing soak in the Chena Hot Springs must have been rejuvenating. Think of the planning that went into Johnson's trip; carrying a laptop computer, yet! What tales the early Klondike prospectors could have recorded if they had owned one. It was a great read!

If you are one of those lay readers who is endlessly curious and not put off by rather intense discussions of "the adaptive value of sclerophylly in mediterranean ecosystems", this book may really be for you. Although I suspect most ecotourists, one target audience, will lack the stamina for it, the book really does a fine job of conveying the excitement of the region in relatively jargon-free prose. The formatting also does much to lure the more casual reader with its adept use of illustrations, boxes, and subheads to break up the text. I was delighted to discover just how much the authors eschewed simple description in favor of spotlighting what is truly intriguing about the Mediterranean ecosystem.

Some of the highlights for me include: the description of the drying up and reflooding of the Mediterranean during the Miocene; the unusual incidence of species endemism and its relationship not only to topographical diversity but to unusual geological substrates; the profiles of curious creatures such as the blind cave salamander and Etruscan shrew; the range of adaptations to diverse environments, such as the case of the Turkish hippo that crossed over to Cyprus 100,000 years ago and dwindled to the size of a pig; the fascinating coevolution of figs and wasps; and most of all, the manifold impact that humans have had upon the region for the past 10,000 years (chapter 8). The authors conclude with a look at what can be done to sustain the biodiversity of this fascinating region.

This book is an all-around treasure, for the beginning birder or the experienced ornitholigist, living in or near the Blue Ridge, planning to visit the Appalachian region, or even simply interested in this world-class region. The first fifty pages constitute an introduction to the Appalachian province and birding in general. The rest of the book profiles the birds of over 300 locations, where to go to see them, and how to get there. The book contains over two dozen maps, and even information about birding spots with handicapped access; an annotated checklist of birds; and a guide to contacts and resources for particular areas. It also features the drawings of H. Douglas Pratt. Part travel guide, part natural history, part handbook, this book is above all a joy.

Well written and a tragic telling of another one of America's disturbing chapters in race relations. Highly recommended.

This is a highly popularized recounting of some episodes which occurred during the turbulent teens of this century along the US Mexican border as a consequence of the spillover of the Mexican Revolution. I have little idea of the sources used by the author but I do know that his tales ring true so far as I, a specialist in the period, am aware of. This book is obviously not intended as final or definitive history. (I had never heard of the publisher until I was told of the book. Nor had I ever seen a review in any publication.) The book's purpose is to entertain. Each story (chapter) stands alone, thus there is a little repetition. The chapters read as stories written for Frontier Times or the True Magazine of the forties and fifties. Taken as it is presented, a remuda of well written, fact-based historical tales intended for the general reader's entertainment (and incidental acquiring of knowledge along with that entertainment) this work succeeds admirably. I enjoyed reading it and I believe you will too. Carter Rila "el cutachero"- the old border runner.

This was one of the first Alaskan books I read when I came to the interior of Alaska in 1982. The author kept me spell bound with the history and personalities of the Gold Rush in the circle mining district. Besides the lore of gold this book is about a true life dog sled chase over mountain summits in the dead of winter for a character which could be described as a gentleman, a gold rush Robin Hood. I wanted so much to share this adventure with others but my copy was stolen and the book has been out of print. This is a cat and mouse story with lots of action and could be made into a wonderful movie. I so much wish to read it again and pass it along to all who venture to Alaska and the interior.

The Border showcases the poetry and lyrical style of Cleatus Rattan, a former academician (he recently retired from the English Department at Cisco Community College) and a Texas rancher (a hundred miles west of Fort Worth near the small Bible Belt community of Cisco). Rattan writes with a robust imagination, a compelling sense of humor, and an artist's eye for detail that readers will find as entertaining as it is thoughtful and thought provoking. In Cisco, Texas: Here, no one comes to visit/to see the sights. In San Francisco,/well scrubbed guests arrive at the door,/bags in hand, sheepish smiles/on their faces, with plans to scamper/in well known directions. Fewer friends/arrive now, but those who come/have no plans, their hands reach/for the dog's head. They see sheep,/mesquite, scrub oak, the smile/on my face, and stars meandering/to nowhere known.

David Perry's photos are very moving. Strong imagery caputured gently. Great text, great concept. Well done. I loved the last book these guys did as well so I am not suprised.