Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?

Book Description

At a year-end publishers' party at the zenith of the roaring 1990s, the editor of a "laddie" men's magazine asked his newest staff writer to pitch him the wildest, most over-the-top idea for an adventure travel piece that he could think of. "You name it, we'll do it!," the editor promised. Remembering his childhood fascination with the Kazakh S.S.R. and its description in National Geographic as "the most remote place on earth," Ted Rall proposed a reckless headlong plunge into the belly of post-Soviet Central Asia. "I'll drive the Silk Road from Beijing to Istanbul," Rall said, "via Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey. I won't do research. I'll just show up and see what happens."

Five years after having been cut loose by the imploding Soviet Union the Central Asian republics—colloquially known as the Stans—were reeling from an identity crisis precipitated by economic collapse. Citizens of a great superpower woke up to find themselves in Third World anarchy. Closed societies were opening up for the first time. Guards at the Chinese-Kazakh border detained Rall for hours at one checkpoint after another; they still faxed Moscow for advice on how to handle him. They had never seen an American passport.

What began as a lark yielded a stunning series of revelations. Elderly people were starving to death in nations sitting atop the world's largest untapped reserves of oil and natural gas. Looters were cavalierly ambling around in flatbed trucks loaded with disinterred nuclear missiles. Statues of and slogans by crazy dictators were springing up as quickly as their corrupt military policemen could rob a passing motorist. And on the main drag in the capital city of each of these profoundly dysfunctional societies, a gleaming American embassy whose staff was quietly calling the shots in a new campaign to de-Russify access to those staggering energy resources.

CIA agents, oilmen and prostitutes mixed uneasily and awkwardly in ad hoc British-style pubs where beers cost a dollar—a day's pay and more than enough to keep out the locals. In an extreme case of the "oil curse," wealth was being pillaged by U.S.-backed autocrats while their subjects plunged into poverty. Meanwhile Taliban-trained Islamic radicals were waiting to fill the vacuum.

It was a volatile mix. But did anybody care?

Rall's magazine account of his 1997 misadventures through Central Asia, "Silk Road to Ruin," was soon followed by a feature he launched on his Los Angeles radio talk show. "Stan Watch: Breaking News from Central Asia," was intended as a send-up of Americans' disinterest in foreign affairs. Again, the joke turned serious. "Stan Watch"'s obscure news stories about the world's most remote countries, which many Americans couldn't even pronounce, became wildly popular. NPR and the BBC simulcast it. A 1999 assassination attempt on Uzbek president Islam Karimov became a subject of intense speculation. Americans, it turned out, were interested in the outside world. They just couldn't read about it in their local newspaper.

Soon, no one knew more about Central Asia than Rall.

Transformed by what he saw being done in America's name and eager to sound the alarm, he became an expert. He returned to visit the region's most rural mountain villages. He brought two dozen ordinary Americans on the bus tour from hell. He went as a rogue independent and as a guest of the State Department. He returned to cover the American invasion of Afghanistan after 9/11, then went back again. Capitals moved, street names changed and the economic fortunes of entire nations turned on a dime from year to the next, but those changes merely reinforced Rall's firm belief that Central Asia is the new Middle East: thrilling, terrifying, simultaneously hopeful and bleak, a battleground for proxy war and endless chaos. It is the ultimate tectonic, cultural and political collision zone. Far away from television cameras and Western reporters, Central Asia is poised to spawn some of the new century's worst nightmares.

Customer Reviews:

FASCINATING!!.......2007-09-29

Ted Rall travels to Central Asia - Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. He traveled a few times by himself while he was doing a radio show in LA. Then he went on behalf of the U.S. state government to Turkmenistan and on his own to Afghanistan via Tajikistan to cover the 2001 Afghan invasion.

The book goes into the history, current political situation and culture of this region of the world which we do not know much about. We read about a world where there are military checkpoints, not much development, corruption and different cultures. We learn that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have vast amounts of untapped oil reserves which the United States, Russia and China are all vying to get. Since 2001, the U.S. has also opened military bases in these countries.

He details environmental problems such as Kazakhstan is Russia's Nevada and Russia does nuclear testing there. He goes into Central Asia's versions of 9/11 and Tiananmen square. Also we learn about some customs and interesting games played by people in Central Asia. The book has some enlightening and funny comic strips in it. Rall has a genuine appreciation of the history and culture of these regions.

Rall's conclusion at the end is that when democratically elected leaders such as Askar Akayev from Kyrgyzstan are toppled by U.S. backed revolutions and dictators who bow to the U.S. are instilled; this will lead to a repeat of a 1979 Iranian style revolution in these countries. That is one conclusion, the other one is that countries are turning a blind eye to gross human rights violations like murders of political opponents or boiling dissidents while at the same time cozying up to dictators to gain favor and eventually access to oil. This will create resentment in the long term. He says if people in the United States don't care about these countries, that is fine, as long as we withdraw from the region completely. Another conclusion is that foreign aid is pouring into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan since they have proven oil reserves. Meanwhile Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are borderline failed states. Rall states these countries are a "package deal" and if one or two countries remain volatile, it will affect neighboring countries. Silk Road to Ruin is a must read book to learn about this underreported part of the world.

Reveals American Contempt for Central Asians.......2007-09-05

Ted Rall's book is worth reading, for a damning self-portrait of an "ugly American" version 2006--huckster, radio host, cartoonist, coldly cynical, thrill-seeking, slumming Ivy Leaguer, brimming with smug condescension and contempt for those he encounters on various tours through Central Asia over the past decade.

Rall waltzes through some of the most violent and tragic regions on earth apparently in search of laffs, thrills, and chills. He gets them. A form of 21st century slumming, adventure tourism is the theme, including a brief kidnapping by the Taliban. Yet lives of ordinary Central Asians apparently matter little--he boasts of paying thousands of dollars in bribes to bump Central Asians from reserved seats on an airplane in order to escape with his tour group from a potentially violent attack. Despite claiming that the Central Asians were in no danger (if so, why were they leaving, and why had they bought tickets?), his message is clear: "I'm number one."

Although Rall clearly has talent as a writer and cartoonist, as well as determination and guts, he apparently lacks human compassion for the people in the region he exploits in his business ventures.

One word: JUNK.......2007-06-07

Ted Rall offers his usual ultra left-wing bias in this work. It is hard to read through such a book when the author cannot be trusted to give an objective opinion.

Dictators and Diarrhea.......2007-03-02

This book is a winner for both armchair travelers and those with a serious interest in international geopolitics. Intrepid journalist Ted Rall has become an expert on the obscure lands of Central Asia. This vast but little-covered area covers the five former Soviet republics known collectively as the "Stans," plus parts of Afghanistan and non-Chinese far-western China, all of which are strongly integrated in culture and history. Here Rall reports, with both journalistic insight and a brutally engaging writing style, about his extensive trips through the region. In an often rip-roaring read, we learn about the various horrors of traveling in Central Asia (the corruption and diarrhea there are both among the worst on Earth), while also gaining knowledge on the region's complex politics and infighting. Rall also provides enjoyable coverage of some of the region's offbeat personalities, locations, and culture - such as Turkmenistan's incompetent dictator Turkmenbashi, or a bizarre sport called buzkashi in which many meatheads die painfully for fun and glory.

Central Asia will soon be a world quagmire that will make the Middle East look like a hissy fit. Age-old ethnic tensions, corrupt dictators, irredentist meddling, and the hangover from Russian and Soviet brutalization will all soon combine with the worst of energy politics, as Central Asia's immense fossil fuel resources attract money and influence from power players. Ted Rall usefully clarifies what's really happening in Central Asia from the ground, and points out the geopolitical disaster that will occur if we merely view the region through the lenses of terrorism (i.e. everyone who disagrees with America is in league with Al Qaeda) or petropolitics (i.e. nations are given benefits or sanctions based merely on how much fossil fuel they can offer). Overall, this book is held back a bit by Rall's occasional tendencies toward hyperbole. His political points become repetitive as the book rumbles along, and the later chapters on energy and military matters get bogged down in simplistic conspiracy theories. Meanwhile, Rall's graphic novellas about his journeys add a great amount of fun to this book, but his regular four-panel political cartoons just aren't really that enlightening. Finally, the book is very richly illustrated, especially with candid photos of Central Asia's regular folks - but the maps are cramped and incomprehensible, which is a real problem if you like to see the precise locations of all the interesting places Rall talks about. [~doomsdayer520~] ]

Ted Rall is one smart cookie!.......2007-02-12

Ted Rall is best known to me for his inciteful and incendiary cartoons. I had no idea he is also an intrepid traveller and perceptive and wildly funny observer of human behavior. What a great, funny,interesting and depressing book.

Average customer rating:

The return of Dortmunder
I'm not sorry that I read this book, but on the other hand, this is nothing to write home about
Funny. But dated thinking. Monroe would have his accounts and passwords somewhere.
Dortmunder - underdone
The Downward Road

The Road to Ruin (Dortmunder Novels)
Donald E. Westlake
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 044640022X

Book Description

John Dortmunder as a butler? Well, he's not really a butler; he's just playing one at the heavily guarded estate of crooked tycoon Monroe Hall. A corporate pariah surrounded by loot, including a fleet of priceless vintage cars, Hall soon finds his needs-from driving to cooking-eagerly fulfilled by Dortmunder and his gang. Dortmunder's plan: to change in one fell swoop from loyal servants to merry robbers, and drive off with ill-gotten plunder. There's just one problem. Monroe Hall has as many enemies as antiques. Before Dortmunder can go from serving to stealing, Hall disappears and the cops are knocking on the door. And after a violent crime is committed, Dortmunder is in the worst place possible. For as everyone knows, whenever there's mischief in a mansion....the butler always did it!

Customer Reviews:

The return of Dortmunder.......2006-07-07

There are a lot of writers out there that I enjoy, but there are a limited few who I consider extra special. Getting a new book from one of these writers is a special treat, and since such treats are limited, I need to space them out over time so as not to use them up to quickly. Donald Westlake is such a writer, and the latest treat of his that I've read is The Road to Ruin.

The Road to Ruin is the eleventh novel featuring hard-luck thief John Dortmunder. Dortmunder is a gifted "planner": he's the one who can come up with the plans for the great caper. Unfortunately, no matter how great his scheme, fate always seems to conspire against him. In this novel, the target is Monroe Hall, a Ken Lay-ish sort of scheming billionaire who has avoided conviction but lives in solitude in a New Jersey mansion. Hall has ruined many with his sly bookkeeping, and now he needs to stay out of the public eye. It's even hard for him to keep household staff.

Hall has a collection of valuable cars that is the target of Dortmunder and his gang. Since security is air-tight, Dortmunder decides the way to get in is to become employees. Andy Kelp becomes a private secretary, hulking Tiny Bulcher becomes a security guard and Stan Murch becomes a chauffeur. Dortmunder is the new butler. Everything works brilliantly. They've got the jobs, they have access to the cars, a place to stash them and a way of getting cash for them. There's just one problem....

Hall has ruined many people and some of those people want revenge. Mac, Buddy and Ace are some blue collar employees who were laid off when Hall's company went under; Mark and Os are investors who lost a lot of money when the stock collapsed. They team up with the intent of kidnapping Hall and forcing him to transfer money out of his "secret" off-shore accounts. But unlike Dortmunder and his crew, these folks are strictly amateurs. They do eventually develop a plan of their own, but the execution of their plan will create havoc with Dortmunder's own plot.

Westlake's Dortmunder books are always a delight, and this book is no exception. Although crime rarely pays in these books, Westlake is hardly moralizing. Actually, if there is a moral to a Dortmunder story, it's a rather cynical one: you can work hard and plan well and still, something can come out of nowhere and louse things up. But that's probably reading too much into Westlake's intent; this book should be strictly read for the great entertainment it provides. The Road to Ruin is a fun and funny read.

I'm not sorry that I read this book, but on the other hand, this is nothing to write home about.......2006-05-16

The Road To Ruin is a fine book. If you've read Westlake before and enjoyed the Dortmunder series in the past, this page turner wont let you down. However, like every other Dortmunder novel, this is pretty much the same as the rest. From the laugh out loud scene you will be expecting in the bar that the gang meets up in (the regulars discussing world events) to Dortmunder once again showing his human failings in a very appealing way, this book is like a soothing balm of familiarity.

In this book, Dormunder and his gang are after a slew of exotic autos. Monroe Hall is an enjoyable foil for the group to go up against. Time and again Westlake uses Hall as a very funny foil. Hall is about as irritating and unsympathetic as a boob can get. What transpires starts off as a little more complicated a plot than you will normally find in a Dortmunder book. Westlake pushes together three groups of crooks who make an effort to get some of the ill gotten gains of Hall's away from the man. And they clash in a predictably comic manner.

The only thing really missing is a satisfactory ending. Westlake introduces a truly unsavory character into the mix and that story line peters out. The whole end feels like Westlake kind of got tired of this story and wrapped it up as quickly as he could. `Road to Ruin' had the potential to be perhaps the very best Dortmunder book that I can remember, on a stage with many of Elmore Leonard's classics. But it is not.

I am giving this book four stars. It might not deserve quite that. I would recommend Leonards books or some of Ross Thomas' novels well before this one. But if you liked previous Westlake/Dortmunder books in the past and want more, this one will fill the bill.

Funny. But dated thinking. Monroe would have his accounts and passwords somewhere. .......2005-08-06

I found a big hole in the novel to be that Monroe Hall was supposed to have kept all his passwords and bank accounts in his head.

Guarantee you - nobody with a lot of money overseas would do that. They would hide the numbers and passwords somewhere. Too much risk of losing them.

Most likely place to hide them would be in an encrypted datastore on Monroe's computer, and there would be a CD with the file in a safe deposit box somewhere.

Also, with such a famous guy, the bankers would possibly notice, even overseas. They watch CNN also. They would contact next of kin. Or, they might wait until Monroe dies. But probably they would track him down.

I liked having all the subplots and different characters. It was not so boring as most plots.

Dortmunder - underdone.......2004-12-05

I have enjoyed several of the Dortmunder books. This is just barely a Dortmunder book. Dortmunder is in it, but not much. If you know the Dortmunder gang, you might find some humor in the first half of the book. Otherwise, there are way too many new characters to make it interesting. When I finished the book, I felt cheated. My guess is that a young editor didn't feel confident enough to say to the money-making author: This is at best a first draft of the first two-thirds of a Dortmunder story that needs more Dortmunder.

The Downward Road.......2004-11-12

John Dortmunder's stock in trade is coming up with dazzlingly brilliant robbery schemes which then proceed to fall apart for completely unexpected (and usually very funny) reasons. In "The Road To Ruin", unfortunately, Dortmunder's plan isn't all that brilliant, and the way it falls apart isn't all that unexpected.

Book Description

Route 66: Lost and Found conveys the spirit and the times, not quite like any other book. Arizona Daily SunFor several decades, Route 66 was the nation's main east-west thoroughfare, pointing Middle America toward all the promise California seemed to hold at various times, whether permanent refuge from the Dust Bowl or a temporary escape from the drudgery of everyday suburban life in prosperous postwar America. As such, America's Main Street once teemed with activity . . . bustling centers of commerce that evaporated into the vast American landscape like the jet contrails overhead and the heat rising from the Interstate asphalt. This engaging look at the "Mother Road" takes 75 locations along its 2,297 mile route from Chicago to Santa Monica and shows them first during their halcyon heydays through black-and-white photographs and period postcards, then on the facing page as they appear today, from the exact same angle and also through vivid black-and-white photographs.

Customer Reviews:

amazing book .......2007-08-06

this is a great book in my opinion i love it very informative nice pictures and comparisons from old-new of most photos of places .. i have been on bits of 66 over the years i may never drive the majority of it but reading this book made me feel like i did wonderful is all i can say

Lost and Found.......2007-07-24

Both volume one and two are very interesting and well researched books.
I traveled Route 66 a couple of years ago and reading the book was fascinating- now I know how many locations I went sailing past without a clue!
When I next get a chance to do a repeat journey, I shall certainly re-read the books very thoroughly and travel slower so as not to miss such historic scenes.

Lots of Memories.......2007-07-14

I love this volume and number two. As a child in the fifties whose father was an Air Force officer, I remember the thrills and excitement I had whenever my father would be posted to a new base. My sister and I would be in the back seat and we always drew an imaginary line on the seat which delineated our respective domains.
We would love the nighttimes because when we drove through the towns, there were all these brightly lit signs for drive-in movies. We would usually stop for gasoline and have lunch in some greasy spoon. It seemed like each restaurant booth had a box on the wall that would beckon one to play five songs for a quarter from the jukebox.
As an Army officer myself in the 60's and 70's, I traveled Route 66 with my own family. The thrill was still there up until the 70's when it became more expedient to use the interstates.
These aforementioned books continue to bring back very fond memories.
It is readily discernable that the author spent numerous hours researching his information for each of his photos. Where possible, it appears that he shot the modern versions of the subjects from the same angle as that shown in the archival photos.
I hope there will be a volume III and volume IV.

Interesting book, room for improvement.......2007-05-19

First I have to admit being a bit envious of anyone who hast the time and lifestyle that lets them drive around seeking out these old ruins. I bought this book because I already had the other volume and enjoyed it. I think it would be improved if the 'now' photos were really sized and shot to compare more readily with the 'then' photos; some of them are hard to visualize that it's the same place due to changes in perspective between the photos. Also I would really like to see a few interior shots of the ones which are still standing, abandoned or not, vs. possibly anything available of what was taken long ago if any such pictures exist. I did enjoy the book however; there are lesser efforts out there.

Great book to compare what Rt 66 was to what it is today........2007-04-12

Basically my subject line says it all. This is a unique book on Rt.66 in which it pretty much gets down to details on the buisness establishments and attractions that exist(s)(ed)on the entire run of Rt.66.

The author compares each structure (or attraction) and shows a picture of what it looked like in it's heyday, and what it looks like now.

What is amazing is how many business's have not changed much or have been restored when the comparison is given.

The book is very well laid out and is hardcover, so it could be a nice reference book or even a coffee table book that could be put out to stir up conversations.

This book is NOT a guide on how to get to certain attractions on Rt. 66. Nor does it explain the full history pf the road.

If you are planning a Rt. 66 road trip, you can use this book to find out what you want to see, but then I recommened getting "Route 66 Adventure Handbook: Updated and Expanded Third Edition" by Drew Knowles.

If you want to read up more on the history of Rt. 66, then I would recommend "Route 66: The Mother Road" by legendary Rt 66 historian, Michael Wallis.

Between these three books, one could easily plan a trip on Rt. 66 and be very well informed of its past as well as current history.

NOTE: The only reason why I gave this book 4 and not 5 stars is that not all of the Rt.66 attractions are covered. In fact quite a few of the more well known attractions are not in this book. However, this book is a second volume and there is obviously a volume 1.

Valentines and the Road to Ruin (Signet Regency Romance)

Average customer rating:

1/2 decent if unremarkable & 1/2 truly wretched
This Book was a Delight!
A mixed bag

Valentines and the Road to Ruin (Signet Regency Romance)
Margaret Evans Porter , and Barbara Metzger
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451211359
Release Date: 2004-02-03

Book Description

A lovely collection of three heartfelt stories, all about Valentine's Day, by Barbara Metzger, and one story of danger, devotion, and desire by Margaret Evans Porter.

Customer Reviews:

1/2 decent if unremarkable & 1/2 truly wretched.......2005-02-21

The two stars is for Road to Ruin only!! It's a decent story although somewhat slow. A fake marriage of convenience, a false charge of murder, and a trumped-up scandal -- plenty to work with here.

Metzger's 3 short stories, however, are abysmal. The first is mildly entertaining only becuase if the hero's terror of losing his hair. The second is fairly interesting even though the reader can sense what's going on from the very start, until the the end when the revelation of the truth makes absolutely no difference. The third story is so ridiculous that I can't even discuss it. One word will suffice--Elvis! Egads! All 3 equal a big fat zero.

This Book was a Delight!.......2004-03-22

Barbara Metzger is always a treat! Her stories are fun and full of wit, not to mention lovable (and believable) characters. If you haven't read her yet, may I suggest "The Diamond Key". It was my first B. Metzger and turned me into an instant fan!

This was my first by Ms. Porter but most definitely not my last. She writes in the style of Ms. Putney, only with more attention to detail of the period. "The Road to Ruin" was very well written with a beginning that draws the reader instantly into the story, characters that you immediately fall in love with, dialogue that is very well written, and secondary characters that you definitely want to know more about. The "Misunderstanding" was a bit drawn out, but I found it very difficult to put this book down and once it was over, I missed it. A true test of an excellently written book and an exceptional author!

A mixed bag.......2004-02-28

In "Bald Lies," the first Metzger story in this compilation, Audrinna Rowe wants to save her beautiful cousin from a terrible fate. To do so, Audrinna needs to find a husband for her cousin--and she sets her sights on Lord Blanford. But Lord Blanford has other plans... This was my favorite story of the 3, and it was the sweetest. Lord Blanford's struggle with baldness was a charming focal point of the story, and you just had to love his hairpiece. I give it 4 stars.

In "Last Valentine," faux widow Martine finds herself getting a Valentine every day of the week. She just KNOWS they're coming from her ex-lover, the man who abandoned her several years ago. But... was she right to assume they are coming from him? ...This story was odd. It was an interesting concept, but it was just too short. The characters were silly. The whole story seemed kind of pointless, actually. I wish Ms. Metzger would have elaborated more on a good idea. 2 stars for this one.

"In Love and Tenderness", newlywed Senta has just made a muck of her wedding night with Lord Maitland. But it's not her fault. She was frightened by a ghost, who, unfortunately, has lost his memory! Now Senta and Lord Maitland must reunite, and the "ghost" is there to help them. Also, Lord Maitland must solve the mystery of his brother's death. This is the longest story of the 3--it's more like a novella. By far, the ghost is the star of the story. It's not hard to figure out the identity of the ghost... but when you do, it's a riot! I liked this story, but it would have been even better had there been more of the ghost, less of the "mystery", and more interaction between Senta and Lord Maitland. I give it 3 stars.

This compilation also includes a reissue by Margaret Evans Porter. I read "Road to Ruin" over a year ago, so I don't feel confident enough to review it at length. The book is about a man fleeing from a duel. On the road, he meets a pretty young lady--and they take part in a scandalous arrangement. "Road to Ruin" is a much darker counterpart to the light-hearted Metzger stories, which makes me wonder why they were tacked together. If I recall, Porter's novel was good, but slow.

Overall, it's an interesting assortment--definitely worth looking into.

Average customer rating:

Tristate Indiana Jones

Twenty Years of Knowledge

Response to comments about maps and difficulty ratings

Bring a Map!!!!

Human interest hikes needing accurate maps

Hiking the Road to Ruins: Day Trips and Camping Adventures to Iron Mines, Old Military Sites, and Things Abandoned in the New York City Area...and Beyond
David A. Steinberg
Manufacturer: Rivergate Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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AMC's Best Day Hikes in the Catskills and Hudson Valley: Four-Season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails from New York City to Albany (Appalachian Mountain Club)

ASIN: 0813540356

Book Description

In this user-friendly, beautifully illustrated, and occasionally eccentric guidebook, David A. Steinberg blazes the trail to more than twenty unusual landmarks and hard-to-find destinations--all within a two-hour drive of New York City. Geared for the experienced hiker or camping adventurer, the book includes hikes to a variety of urban ruins, including a World War II-era air force base, a vacant dairy farm, pine plantations, abandoned quarries, tunnels, cemeteries, and iron mines.

Each chapter contains detailed directions, a hand-drawn map, suggestions for the optimal time and season to visit, and GPS coordinates to specific sites. Bringing fifteen years of experience as a leader of hikes, Steinberg leaves no part of the trip unplanned. He even suggests ideal conditions for the outing. An overcast day, for instance, sets up the haunted atmosphere appropriate for visiting a water tower in Mountainside, New Jersey, that has links to a murder-suicide in the 1970s.

For less experienced hikers, the guide also includes a chapter on equipment and safety, detailed instructions on how to program a hand-held Global Positioning System receiver, and a glossary of terms.

Both a practical guide and a creative chronicle, this book is bound to please hikers and history buffs alike.

Customer Reviews:

Tristate Indiana Jones.......2007-10-05

For the armchair adventurer or for the weekend woodsman, this book is a must. It is full of historically interesting sites that probably most people don't know exist in the tristate area. This book contains a nice assortment, from iron mines from the 1800's to abandoned missle sites from the cold war era. Good Stuff!

Twenty Years of Knowledge.......2007-09-13

In this book, Steinberg has collected twenty years of hiking, exploration and historical knowledge with the end goal of giving other people a good time. The small handwritten maps, by their very nature, are bound to be fanciful (you can't fit reality into a 3 x 4 inch space) so you need to buy your own map. This book can take you places that you would never find on your own, so go for it.

Response to comments about maps and difficulty ratings.......2007-09-13

Allow me to defend myself here!

The back cover states that the book is "geared for the experienced hiker or camping adventurer", which is not to say casual explorers are not welcome; indeed, I'm glad they're coming aboard, but they need to plan carefully. Maybe they should start out with the easier hikes and build up experience for the more challenging ones.

Sorry some folks are having problems with my maps, but the drawn maps are not for trail navigation, and I make a point to mention that in the text. I tell people, and I'm telling you now, to pick up the "official" maps (such as NY/NJ Trail Conference maps) that I clearly endorse at the beginning of the chapters. May I quote myself from the "Preparation" chapter: "The personally rendered hand-drawn maps presented herein are for general location purposes only. I would not rely on them for navigation. Pick up the maps listed in the chapter introductions."

Regarding Doodletown, if you picked up the blue trail 25 yards south of the trail then you didn't read the text carefully: "pick up the blue-blazed trail near the sign for the merry-go-round (at the Bear Mountain Inn) to the right of the brook." The trail you used was to the left of the brook.
Much more interesting? First, I submit that's in the eye of the beholder, and second there are no features on that trail (unless you count the Cornell mine sites way up on Dunderburg Mountain) that would be included in the book.

The Pergola hike is rated as "moderate, with some steep ascents and descents" and I later mention the "arduous ascent to the top of the cliffs" and trudging up 500 feet to the top. Is this not accurate?

The FRONT cover promises "...adventures in the NYC area...and beyond" and the text further qualifies "within a two hour drive of NYC in most cases". Did someone really think that Boston, the Adirondacks or DC was two hours from NYC? That's the "beyond" part, and before you go on any trip anywhere you ought to do some homework. The lions share of the hikes are distanced as promised. The rest are added because I think they are unique, interesting, and worth the trip.

Regarding Island Pond, yes, it's a goof and will be corrected in later editions.

I welcome feedback, comments, and indications of errors at www.TheRoadToRuins.com.

Bring a Map!!!!.......2007-09-11

Two hikes and two WOEFULLY inaccurate maps and descriptions of landmarks. I give this book more than one star because I love to hike and I believe Mr. Steinberg's heart is in the right place, but the book is SO inaccurate that it does a real disservice to the casual hiker. Case in point #1..... Doodletown: it is very easy to get on to the "blue trail" about 25 yards south of the blue trail he describes. Problem is it is a different but MUCH MORE INTERESTING trail. You will eventually catch up to the area he describes, but it will give you a much different impression. Trail was rated as "moderate".

Case #2 is the "Pergola" trail in the Palisades. Another very inadequately described trail, but what was especially disturbing is that this trail is MUCH more challenging than Doodletown, but given the same "moderate" tag. My wife and small dog have still not forgiven me.

Steinberg has picked some decent destinations (BTW MANY of which are nowhere near the "within two hours of NYC" the back cover promises), but the descriptions are lame, the writing style is amateurish, and the maps are USELESS!

If you use this book as a resource, do yourself a favor and get a second opinion before taking one of his recommended hikes. The hikes are good. The info is bad.

Human interest hikes needing accurate maps.......2007-09-03

Hiking just for a walk in the woods is certainly not for everyone and this writer addresses that issue by featuring walks in the woods that lead to the remains of culture, whether civil or military, now long abandoned. However, the trail maps provided by the author should be checked against reliable sources which the author references. For example, the map provided for the hike to Island Pond shows the parking area on the wrong side of the road in relation to the hike - an error that could send the novice in exactly the wrong direction and into disappointment. Use this guide for choosing a walk and as a guide to sites, but get a good map and take the author's recommendation seriously - bring along a compass.

Average customer rating:

Road to ruin
A. Q Mowbray
Manufacturer: Lippincott
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Traffic & Safety | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Clueless?

The Road to Romance and Ruin
Jon Lewis
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0415904277

Customer Reviews:

Clueless?.......2001-05-05

While this book was very interesting, in a sense, there wasn't enough about actual teen films. The youth culture bit was detailed and very involved, but as for the relation of this to teen films, there was only a few chapters which were really helpful. As I'm presently doing a university dissertation (10,000 wd. thesis) on youth culture and teen films, and this is one of the few books written on the topic, I of course found it useful. Though many of the ideas helped me through my work, at the same timee, I kind of finished using the book wanting more. Perhaps this is because it appears so out of date being over a decade old and as a result many of the new films entering the genre have been missed. Despite this, at the end of the day, it was useful, just not as fun as it could have been.

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Road to Ruin (Signet Regency Romance)
Margaret Evans Porter
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Signet Regency Romance | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books

Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0451175085

GERMANY'S ROAD TO RUIN, THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM II

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GERMANY'S ROAD TO RUIN, THE MIDDLE YEARS OF THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM II
Karl Friedrich Nowak
Manufacturer: MacMIllan Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VGGZVQ

Germany's road to ruin;: The middle of the reign of Emperor William II,

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Germany's road to ruin;: The middle of the reign of Emperor William II,
Karl Friedrich Nowak
Manufacturer: The Macmillan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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