Amazon.com
It's rare to find a travel guide and a memoir joined neatly together in a single, highly readable 176-page volume. But Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, Lullaby) is a writer of rare talent and his home of Portland, Oregon, is a city of rare wonders. In Strangers and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon, Palahniuk goes beyond the AAA handbooks to reveal the places, people, and legends of Portland that have long been known only to locals. The reader learns the location of the legendary Self Cleaning House, where to find the restless ghost of the founder of Powell's Books, and why feral cats are such an important part of Portland baseball. Portland, it seems, is also a highly sexual city and Palahniuk dutifully dissects the specialties of each strip joint as well as discussing Mochika, a zoo penguin with a real fetish for black boots. Along the way, he includes "postcards" from his life in the Rose City dating back to 1981 when, as a 19-year-old, he dropped acid and accidentally ate part of a woman's fur coat during a laser show of Pink Floyd's The Wall. As Palahniuk matures, the postcards reveal the author becoming increasingly a part of the city's scene, culminating with a wild and wooly Millennium Eve celebration at the Bagdad Theater that featured a screening of the film version of Fight Club. Fugitives and Refugees is a must for anyone who may, in their lives, go to Portland. But its appeal should reach beyond Oregonians. Palahniuk's love of the city is so great, and his stories so weirdly wonderful, it makes one want to get out of the house, get in the car, and drive to Portland right away. Just remember to pack the book. --John Moe
Book Description
Want to know where Chuck Palahniuk’s tonsils currently reside?
Been looking for a naked mannequin to hide in your kitchen cabinets?
Curious about Chuck’s debut in an MTV music video?
What goes on at the Scum Center?
How do you get to the Apocalypse Café?
In the closest thing he may ever write to an autobiography, Chuck Palahniuk provides answers to all these questions and more as he takes you through the streets, sewers, and local haunts of Portland, Oregon. According to Katherine Dunn, author of the cult classic
Geek Love, Portland is the home of America’s “fugitives and refugees.” Get to know these folks, the “most cracked of the crackpots,” as Palahniuk calls them, and come along with him on an adventure through the parts of Portland you might not otherwise believe actually exist. No other travel guide will give you this kind of access to “a little history, a little legend, and a lot of friendly, sincere, fascinating people who maybe should’ve kept their mouths shut.”
Here are strange personal museums, weird annual events, and ghost stories. Tour the tunnels under downtown Portland. Visit swingers’ sex clubs, gay and straight. See Frances Gabe’s famous 1940s Self-Cleaning House. Look into strange local customs like the I-Tit-a-Rod Race and the Santa Rampage. Learn how to talk like a local in a quick vocabulary lesson. Get to know, I mean really get to know, the animals at the Portland zoo.
Oh, the list goes on and on.
Customer Reviews:
An interesting look at Portland.......2007-06-26
I was given this book as a gift and did not know what to expect. Though it was not a novel like other Palahniuk books I have read, I found that the quirky and humorous writing style made this voyeuristic romp through underground Portland highly entertaining. Though some of the highlighted attractions have closed their doors or are not open to the public, this is an interesting view into a side of the city that you will not find in the Frommer's guide.
Oregonian loving this book.......2007-04-10
I live in Eugene, OR... and LOVE this book! We take "trips" to our fave town all the time and love the people and places...Chuck does a great job of describing them like a native Oregonian (even though he technically isn't).
Interesting, offbeat.......2006-08-24
This collection is an idiosyncratic and appealing mix of off-the-beaten-path sights for the visitor to Portland, personal anecdotes of the author, and brief essays about the history of Portland and its defining vibes. Entertaining and enjoyable.
a puking bore.......2006-05-28
As he writes in his epilogue, "This is not Portland, Oregon." Just scads of non-site-specific deegradation written in clipped New Yorker prose. Elliptical descriptions of perversion after perversion, spilling over the pages to become one big bore. And on top of all this, there's no index to the places he touches on, so even if you wanted to go there, you'd be hardput. Self-indulgent yet simultaneously unrevealing, as uninteresting a discovery of spirit of place as one can get.
good.......2006-02-02
I couldn't put it down. It's an important book for people who live in and around portland.
Book Description
“[I]n a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our power to add or detract.”
—President Abraham Lincoln
James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of
Battle Cry of Freedom, and arguably the finest Civil War historian in the world, walks us through the site of the bloodiest and perhaps most consequential battle ever fought by Americans.
The events that occurred at Gettysburg are etched into our collective memory, as they served to change the course of the Civil War and with it the course of history. More than any other place in the United States, Gettysburg is indeed hallowed ground. It’s no surprise that it is one of the nation’s most visited sites (nearly two million annual visitors), attracting tourists, military buffs, and students of American history.
McPherson, who has led countless tours of Gettysburg over the years, makes stops at Seminary Ridge, the Peach Orchard, Cemetery Hill, and Little Round Top, among other key locations. He reflects on the meaning of the battle, describes the events of those terrible three days in July 1863, and places the struggle in the greater context of American and world history. Along the way, he intersperses stories of his own encounters with the place over several decades, as well as debunking several popular myths about the battle itself.
What brought those 165,000 soldiers—75,000 Confederate, 90,000 Union—to Gettysburg? Why did they lock themselves in such a death grip across these once bucolic fields until 11,000 of them were killed or mortally wounded, another 29,000 were wounded and survived, and about 10,000 were “missing”—mostly captured? What was accomplished by all of this carnage? Join James M. McPherson on a walk across this hallowed ground as he be encompasses the depth of meaning and historical impact of a place that helped define the nation’s character.
Customer Reviews:
A very good tour guide...not a detailed history book.......2007-08-01
It is important not to mistake this book as a detailed history of the battle. It is not intended as such. If you want a detailed history see the series of books by Harry W. Pfanz. Rather, this is a guide for visitors to the battlefield that is clearly written and directs readers to the major points of interest while injecting a series of interesting anecdotes and thought provoking observations. To this end, it is very well done.
A Short Guide with Substance.......2007-07-24
I read James McPherson's "Hallowed Ground: A Walk at Gettysburg" on my recent trip to Gettysburg. Although my visit was only for a day, the book provided a nice overview of the events of the battle. Although not designed to be a an in depth narrative of the entire three days of battle, it provided details for several events and battlefield sites that left me with a good sense of the important features of the battle. This is certainly a useful book for a first time visitor with a limited amount of visiting time.
Informative, moving, and worthwhile.......2007-05-13
HALLOWED GROUND operates on several levels. First, it is a concise history of the Battle of Gettysburg, describing the strategic and tactical decisions of soldiers during this bloody three-day fight, which claimed 50,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. Second, this is a guidebook, which a reader can use to walk the battlefield, using its hundreds of monuments to identify where units fought and the outcomes of their encounters. Finally, the book offers its explanations for such lasting controversies and legends as Pickett's Charge, the forward movement of the Third Corps to the Emmitsburg Road, and the desperate charge of the 20th Maine.
HALLOWED GROUND also has clear maps and many humanizing anecdotes about ordinary soldiers. It ends with Lincoln's Address at the Dedication of the Soldiers Cemetery, which, while eloquent, seemed like a mere footnote to this terrible event. Highly recommended.
Great Quick Read.......2007-03-23
This book moves very rapidly and includes many of the lesser known stories from the town and battle. Not a precise history of the battle itself it focuses more on the setting rather than the outcome. I get to go on a tour of Gettysburg later this year with McPherson himself, should be interesting!
More than just a walk . . . .......2007-03-18
Every time I read McPherson I think the same two things: he is a national treasure as his research and knowledge of all aspects of the Civil War, military and non-military alike (political, social, economic et. al.) is unsurpassed by any historian, past or present. I also realize what amazing writing skills he possesses as his ability to communicate facts, ideas, theories is apparent in all of his works. If Professor McPherson takes the time to write something, I will always take the time to read it.
Hallowed Ground is no exception to the above. It follows a different format, still enjoyable and informative, in "walks" from the Crown Journeys Series. I was initially reticent about this short read as, while I have read much of the period, my interests do not lie in the military campaigns of the time but in the political and constitutional questions and theory of this period. McPherson quickly dispelled any of my hesitancy as he walked the reader through Gettysburg. His stories of this epic battle are insightful and highly informative. He dispels myths with dispatch and shortchanges no heroics that some of the more modern and commercially successful writings, novels and documentaries seem to have missed. He places the battle in terrific context. He does not get into speculative writing but does ask the questions rhetorically. The reader is left wondering what McPherson's own beliefs are on the many "what if" of that 4 day period in July 1863. But this book is not about answering the questions, it is about a pivotal event in American history and he handles it with excellence.
As others have commented, not only does it leave one wanting to (re)visit the Gettysbury site but also makes one envy his Priceton students who get the finest guide one can imagine for this trip. Another outstanding work, and a wonderfully easy read, by America's Civil War Historian.
Amazon.com
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses is the story of Bruce Feiler's 10,000-mile trek from Mount Ararat to Mount Nebo, undertaken for reasons he did not understand at the outset and accompanied by a companion who was very nearly a stranger. In the book's first chapter, in characteristically understated style, Feiler suggests a viable parallel to his journey:
Abraham was not originally the man he became. He was not an Israelite, he was not a Jew. He was not even a believer in God--at least initially. He was a traveler, called by some voice not entirely clear that said: Go, head to this land, walk along this route, and trust what you will find.
Feiler, a fifth-generation American Jew from the South, had felt no particular attachment to the Holy Land. Yet during his journey, Feiler's previously abstract faith grew more grounded. ("I began to feel a certain pull from the landscape.... It was a feeling of gravity. A feeling that I wanted to take off all my clothes and lie facedown in the soil.") Feiler's attentiveness, intelligence, and adventurousness enliven every page of this book. And the lessons he learned about the relationship between place and the spirit will be useful for readers of every religious tradition that finds its origins in the Bible. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
One part adventure story, one part archaeological detective work, one part spiritual exploration, Walking the Bible vividly recounts an inspiring personal odyssey -- by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel -- through the greatest stories ever told.
Feeling a desire to reconnect to the Bible, award-winning author Bruce Feller set out on a perilous, ten-thousand-mile journey, retracing the Five Books of Moses through the desert. Traveling through three continents, five countries, and four war zones, Feller is the first person to complete such a historic expedition. He crosses the Red Sea, climbs Mount Sinai, and interviews bedouin and pilgrims alike, as he attempts to answer the question: Is the Bible just an abstraction or is it a living, breathing entity?
Along with renowned archaeologist Avner Goren, Feller treks through Turkey, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Sinai, and Jordan, visiting the actual places of some of history's most storied events, from the mountain where Noah's ark landed to the site of the legendary burning bush. He visits the desert outpost in Turkey where Abraham first heard the words of God and faces arrest while camping on Mount Nebo in Jordan, where Moses overlooked the Promised Land. In each Place, he scrupulously gathers the latest archaeological research and sits down to read the stories in their natural surroundings. With eloquence and insight, he explores how geography affects the larger narrative of the Bible and ultimately realizes how much these places -- and his experience -- have affected his own faith.
Both a pulse-pounding adventure and an uplifting spiritual quest, Bruce Feller's Walking the Bible is a stunning and elevating work of courage, scholarship, and heart. It revisits the inscrutable desert landscape where the world's great religions were born and uncovers fresh answers to the most profound questions of the human spirit.
Customer Reviews:
Geography 101-Old Testament Style.......2007-09-22
First my background, 18 years of Catholic school education; mostly all the New Testament. If you are looking for an interpretation of the Bible this book is not for you. Feiler describes the land which Moses traveled through leaving Egypt and finding the Promised Land. His description of the locations are awesome. The travel through Sinai, the desert, St. Catherines Monastary, the people he meets along the way. The people he meets I feel add so much to the book. There are many different views on what this land represents and Feiler seems to have found people with different views but at days end everyone seems to be on the same page. I throughly enjoyed this book and I find my self picking it up and re-reading different section.
One of the sections I found most interesting is on page 404, Feiler meets a man who is both a pastor and archaeologist. This man's view is the Bible has divine activity behind it but does not believe every detail is true (it can't be) but the details are not important but the lessons it teach are important. The family he meets in Jordan (with the land rover), that man's point of view very interesting. Who would not love to visit this part of the world, Petra, Mount Sinai, etc. Many referneces are made to TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and his love of the desert but you can't possess it, Lawrence had to leave so did Feiler. The book has made me do further research other things, time lines, people mentioned, etc. Very interesting book for people who enjoy religion and that part of the world.
A Magic Carpet Ride Through The Bible.......2007-06-13
"Walking The Bible" takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through the lands in which the Pentateuch was acted out. Following his own quest, Author Bruce Feiler tries to identify the places at which the Patriarchs of Israel and their successors down to Moses struggled to follow the guidance of God through their journeys of life. Although a Jew primarily interested in the Books of Moses, he frequently includes references to the places and events of significance in or to the life of Jesus.
Feiler approaches the topic through many avenues. He tries to identify the places, understand the world of Biblical times and learn about the Bible from the people who live on the land, both those drawn there by their interest in the Bible and those who naturally follow the ways of life lived by the Patriarchs. Throughout this journey, Feiler gradually absorbs the truth of the Bible, rather than directly learning them.
Along his journey his companion, Avner, a renowned Israeli archeologist, points out significant points and explains the subtleties which facilitate Feiler's understanding of what he is seeing. Throughout their travels through Turkey, Israel, Gaza, Egypt and Jordan, Feiler and Avner stop and read the portions of the Bible pertaining to the areas being visited.
Throughout the trip, Feiler engages people along the way in discussions about what the Bible means to them and how it affects their lives. Much of the book consists of his own thinking and philosophizing about what it all means. The author is obviously on a search for something which he finds in the land, the people, but most of all, in himself.
I found this book to be fascinating. As a Christian, it helped me gain a greater understanding of the stories of the Old Testament. While it helped clear up some questions, it opened up new ones, like, "How is it that the three great Monotheistic religions all arose out of the same desert area of the Middle East?' That one will take some reflection.
Absolutely fascinating!.......2007-05-22
I couldn't stop reading this book. Bruce Feiler makes it seem as though the reader is there every step of the way. The history is fascinating, the writing is intriguing, the journey is amazing.
Absolutely Beautiful.......2006-11-15
Bruce Feiler writes in a way that pulls you into the story, takes you along the journey of the patriarchs, Joseph, and Moses. He questions a lot of tradition and applies it to himself and all the people he meets along the way. His guide seems to know a great wealth and only adds understanding to the story - a pure joy to read.
I have been waiting for a book that describes the Bible in a realistic sense. After all, these humans are just humans. Maybe a little significant in the least, but just people nonetheless. Too bad Feiler hasn't written for other parts of the Bible! Highly recommended for all scholars and readers of the Pentateuch.
I felt the absence of studied Christians and Muslims..........2006-11-05
Feiler is an American Jew and a journalist who, fascinated by the land involved in the Pentateuch (the first part of the Hebrew Bible), undertakes a months-long trek from Turkey to Jordan (Mount Nebo, where Moses was shown the promised land) at times in the company of a learned Israeli archeologist. He admits that he is not `religious' (in the heavy zealous sort of way) but that he feels a pull to the land of the biblical personages, Moses, Abraham, and Jacob, for example. His trip takes him through the Middle Eastern countries of the bible and he examines for the reading the various aspects of the geography he is exploring and the relationship the geography has with the legends, stories, and archeology of the biblical period.
Although I was keen to read this book, having lived in Jordan, I was a little disappointed with the uneven nature with which Feiler dealt with various people depending on their own religions. It was clever that the Jews he interacted with were generally intellectually religious - basing their faith on study and scientific knowledge (like the archeologist) whereas the Christians and Muslims with whom he interacted were identified as sometimes zealous but without any intellectual base - simple people. He was careful not to mock them but I very much felt the absence of studied Christians and Muslims.
Although his travelogue is quite interesting and some of the historical information he provided was quite thought provoking, the book simply did not move me. It was more like reading someone's diary and since I have seen many of the places he describes, I found that our reactions and experiences were different enough so as to leave me hesitant to `buy-in' to his view of an issue or a place.
Lastly, while a good book for the general American public who is unaware of the rich history of the lands he traveled, I agree whole-heartedly with the reviewer who wrote, "(Feiler) also can't resist flashing an 'Admire Me' sign every time he's been 'enlightened' -- and these breakthroughs occur with rather exhausting frequency."
Book Description
St. John On Foot And By Car is an informative and entertaining guidebook featuring 4 self-guided walking and motor tours of the history, culture and natural beauty of St. John, US Virgin Islands. There is information on hiking trails and popular swimming and snorkeling beaches. Handy field guides help visitors learn firsthand about the exotic fauna and flora of this tropical paradise. Included are guides to local plants and trees as well as to the exciting array of tropical fish and other marine inhabitants of the crystal-clear waters surrounding St. John.
The guidebook is designed to make St. John sightseeing a learning experience that is both adventuresome and fun. The authors, Randall and Rebecca Koladis, are frequent visitors and former residents of St. John. Collectively they have spent many years researching and compiling the information in this extremely attractive and easy-to-read book. Their self-guided tours provide a virtual road map of this unspoiled paradise, where nearly three-fifths of the island has been thoughtfully preserved as the Virgin Islands National Park. St. John On Foot And By Car is divided into several parts. It begins with an overview of this tiny Caribbean jewel, which measures only 21 square miles! There are only about 3,000 permanent residents, but each year the island attracts many hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. There are no shopping malls, no high-rise resorts, no casinos and no traffic lights. But the scenery is breathtaking, the people are friendly and there are plenty of activities and attractions for everyone. The beaches are some of the most spectacular in the world! It is a picture-postcard island on which to escape and relax, and St. John On Foot And By Car is your own personal tour guide to a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Following the book's introduction, the authors include a brief history of the island beginning with the discovery of St. John by Columbus in 1493. Taino Indians, we learn, were in residence at the time of the Admiral's arrival. Tainos were a nation of peaceful Indians who supported themselves by fishing, gathering food from the land, and growing produce.
The book is structured around the 4 self-guided tours, which are arranged and briefly described as follows:
1) WALKING TOUR OF THE CRUZ BAY VILLAGE (2.5 Hours). This tour begins with a visit to the National Park Visitor Center followed by a brief hike out to Lind Battery, where visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of Cruz Bay Village below. Other highlights of the tour include visits to the Administration Building (a former 18-century fortress) and the Ivan Jadan Museum, which houses over 5,000 letters, documents, artifacts and photos related to the life and singing career of Ivan Jadan, a former Soviet dissident and one of the great Russian tenors of the 20th-century, who made St. John his adopted home.
2) NORTH SIDE TOUR (4.5 Hours). Takes visitors to some of the most stunning beaches on St. John. The tour begins at the historic Caneel Bay Plantation Resort, which played a key role in St. John's slave revolt of 1733. Also included are visits to the restored ruins of the Annaberg sugar factory and Cinnamon Bay, where artifacts of Pre-Colombian Indians have been recently unearthed.
3) CENTERLINE ROAD (4.5 Hours). Includes visits to the ruins of the Cathrineburg sugar plantation and Coral Bay Village, the site of St. John's original Danish settlement. Visitors are also guided to the isolated East End community, whose self-reliant residents are known for their skills as stone masons, boat builders and basket makers. Includes stops at popular Salt Pond and Lameshur Bay beaches.
4) REEF BAY HIKE (5 Hours). A full-day hike into St. John's fascinating world of fauna and flora. Hikers visit ancient Indian rock carvings and the abandoned ruins of one of the last operating sugar factories on St. John. This 126-page guidebook is fully illustrated with a lot of color photography. Makes a wonderful gift idea for anyone who has ever been or who might be contemplating a trip to the US Virgin Islands. A must for first-time and repeat visitors alike!
Customer Reviews:
Fun Trip!!.......2006-12-01
I just got back from visiting St. John with my parents. It was a great trip! They gave me this book so that I could explore the island we went to. I liked this book. They let me plan our adventures and I found lots of great stuff, like beaches, weird plants and bugs, and we had a good time. Thanx!
Excited to visit!!!.......2005-11-18
I recently purchased this book because my fiance and I are planning on going to St. John for our honeymoon. We have spent many hours together reading this handy guide, which is informational as well as being filled with anecdotes, facts about plants and wildlife, and historical tales of pirates, slave rebellions and local life. We are both so excited after reading this book that we can't wait to arrive on St. John and start exploring!!!
Splendid book! .......2005-02-02
I came across this book while surfing the internet looking for somewhere different that we could go for our family vacation. I found the website written by the authors which is worth checking out if you want to find out more indepth information on the book and the place. It's: www.islandways.com.
Getting to this lush island is an adventure in itself, but once we arrived, it was wonderful. For once we didn't feel taken advantage of by the many services geared towards tourists. We were able to explore the island indepth and at our own pace. Our children also loved reading this very accesible guidebook and helped in planning our daily activities. My favorite aspects of this guidebook is that it is small enough to throw into a beachbag and bring with you, and also that the authors didn't just list out a bunch of place for us to visit, but that they actually spent the time designing tours for us to truely explore what this unique island has to offer. St. John on Foot and by Car has provided us with a wonderful experience that we will not be quick to forget!!!
A worthwhile purchase!!!!.......2004-09-01
My friends and I all went down to the Virgin Islands over spring break. We were staying on St. Thomas, but got tired of shopping and decided that we wanted to do some exploring. We were directed to take a ferry over to St. John where I found this book in a local shop. We rented a jeep and followed the North Shore route where we visited Annaberg and stopped at Trunk Bay for a swim. What a wonderful little book! It really helped us to learn about how special an island St. John is, and made us feel more like explorers of a tropical paradise rather than some tourists that are shuttled back and forth. I only wish that we had been able to stay longer and visit more of the sites listed in this guidebook.
This is great!!!!!.......2003-06-23
Personally speaking, I find this book to be very detailed and painstakingly accurate. Being from the islands myself, I find that most guide books leave out the history and individual story specific to the place. But this book, gives the islands a history and also a particular humanness. Little tidbits that make the place unique and worth while. This is no tourist deal. You see the care and appreciation for the island in every well thought out fact. I recommened this book, not because I happen to love the great pictures and historic deatils, but because being an island girl allows for me to be objective. This book has it all. Buy it and enjoy its bounty.
Book Description
Twelve well-mapped walking tours help you discover a city with a long history of being on the forefront of architectural innovation. These tours highlight the works of architectural giants including Frank Lloyd Wright, Dankmar Adler, Louis Sullivan, and others who helped revamp the American skyline.
* Updated to reflect new buildings, owners, functions, and landmark designations; the expansion of McCormick Place, and new information on the Prairie Avenue Historic District
* MORE historical facts, background information, anecdotes, architectural details, and additional historic photos of major buildings
* Renovated historic hotels
* Significant skyscrapers
* Major cultural centers
* 275 vintage and contemporary photos
THE WALKING TOURS INCLUDE:
Old Chicago and the Financial District
Grant Park to the Museum Complex
The Downtown Underground Walkway System
The Prairie Avenue Historic District to the Centennial Fountain
The North Branch to the Illinois Center
The Sears Tower to the Merchandise Market
The Michigan Avenue "Cliff"
The Gold Coast
Printer's Row
Customer Reviews:
This is Chicago.......2006-09-11
For those of us who grew up around Chicago and know downtown, this is a great book not just a vague coffee table book. Lots of good photos and history.
I loaned this from the library and am planning on buying it on Amazon.
Highly recommended!
A Great Book for a Great City.......2006-07-10
Gerard Wolfe has produced an inclusive and engaging book concentrating on the area in and around the Loop in Chicago. In a series of walking tours, he weaves history and architecture into a "must see" for tourists, native Chicagoans and armchair travelers, alike.
Great book for the traveler or those new to Chicago.......2000-04-10
I currently live in Chicago and have had a great time exploring and learning about new (to me) places with the help of this book. There is a good amount of info. to give the reader a decent background on many of the buildings in the Loop. It omits lengthy and unnecessary history topics to focus on the highlights of each walking tour, leaving the lengthy history for other books to explore. I've learned alot about my own city by reading this book and highly recommend it.
The best guide to downtown Chicago architecture and history!.......1998-01-07
An excellent set of tours of all neighborhoods of downtown Chicago, profusely illustrated with contemporary and archival photos, with a lively and user-friendly text. Especially helpful for the first-time visitor, although I understand it has been adopted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation as a guide to train its docents who give walking tours. I have not come across any better guide to the Loop and its surroundings, with a crisp style and useful historical facts. Dr. Gareth Shellman (shellman@csd.uwm.edu) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Book Description
Most amateur astronomers yearn to observe more frequently. Many of them, however, live in urban and highly developed suburban areas that are heavily light polluted. Due to this light pollution, they are under the impression that deep sky objects—nebulae, galaxies, star clusters—are either invisible or not worth viewing from home. This book describes the many objects that can be seen in a bright urban sky, and shows the city or suburban astronomer how to observe object after object, season after season.
This book covers the "why," "how," and "what" of astronomy under light-polluted skies. The prospective city-based observer is told why to observe from home (there are hundreds of spectacular objects to be seen from the average urban site), how to observe the city sky (telescopes, accessories, and moderns techniques), and what to observe. About 50% of the book is devoted to describing "tours" of the sky, with physical and observational descriptions, at-the-eyepiece drawings, and photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book for City Dwelling Amatuer Astronomers!.......2007-02-16
Living in the South Florida Peninsula, you get used to light pollution. In 2005, I purchased my first "real" telescope and soon learned how badly light polluted South Florida really is. Although a trip to a dark sky site is only 60 miles away, I live in the suburbs outside of Miami and wanted to take advantage of my decent sized back yard. My sky's limiting magnitude is around 4, the sky towards the north is a grayish white haze where only Polaris is visible and the big dipper if high enough in the sky. The rest of the sky is a little better but after 2 years of limited success in searching for DSOs, I decided to look for help.
The Urban Astronomer's Guide may be the help I require. The book is well written and easy to follow. This book was written where beginners as well as intermediate amateur astronomers would find it interesting.
Part I of the book entitled: Telescopes and Techniques covers everything from the why one would want to observe from the city to the writers experience with types of telescopes and needed techniques to beat the light pollution blues. Mr. Mollise explains the advantages in large and short focal length telescopes and which objects benefit from either type. The author discusses in great detail the differences between the different types of Light-Pollution Reduction Filters, eyepieces, finders, computer software, print atlases, etc.
The book discuses techniques which experienced amateurs may be familiar with but beginners and intermediates may have heard have but not understand completely. Things like the use of averted vision, "jiggling" the telescope to tease out details in faint objects. Dark Adaptation is discussed and it's importance, all invaluable lessons that every amateur astronomer should learn.
Part II of the book entitled: A Walking Tour of the Cosmos is what makes this book a keeper. This section of the book goes over examples of objects that are perfect for city observation. The four chapters as you might imagine are broken up by season, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Each season gives 4 lists of objects that the Author feels are viewable for the given season and time. An example of such a tour is Spring's Tour 1. Objects included in this tour are M94, M51, M106, M63, M81, M82, M101, M97, M3 and the Double Star Cor Caroli.
Each object is discussed in detail with the author's notes from his personal journal. Mr. Mollise discusses the use of filters that can enhance a particular object, magnification that should be used to view certain objects, and what you should expect to see at the eyepiece. The author also includes his personal illustrations of objects he's included in his journals, which gives you a good idea of what you should be able to see in the eyepiece. The illustrations are very good and to me are much more useful than the Hubble type images commonly seen in astronomy books.
The only thing I found a little odd about this book would be the inclusion of such difficult to see objects as M1 and M51. The author even writes: "Sadly, I have to admit that in the city it (M51) is something of a dud." He also writes: "you have to be satisfied just to say you've seen it (M1)." These are just two of several objects the author himself confesses are extremely challenging, if not impossible to view from a light-polluted location. Why not focus on objects that are less challenging? Maybe have one object at the end of each tour that might be a challenge.
This is not to say the book does not reward the reader with some surprisingly easy to see objects. I was recently treated to a "hidden treasure" in the open cluster M46. As it turns out there is a small planetary nebulae (NGC2438) within this semi-impressive cluster that makes M46 a showpiece object in my opinion. If not for this book, I may not have spent much more than 10 minutes viewing M46. I now find myself going back to it time after time just as I do with M42 and M45.
Overall the book is a good read. This book in written for beginner's with some experience and can be useful to intermediate amateurs who might not be getting the most from their telescopes due to light pollution issues within the Urban setting. Part II in particular I've found invaluable and it will definitely keep me coming back for more.
Indispenisble definitive guide for citybound deep-sky enthusiasts!.......2006-09-02
This is a work that has been long overdue. A book on urban astronomy that focuses soley on deep-sky objects, and practical recommendations for how to view them, equipment and techniques. A most comprehensive list, more than any other book of its kind. But by no means the only things that can be seen, there are more than in this book (as I have discovered). But by showing what you can see, you can try for more.
Another quality book from Rod.......2006-07-05
Rod writes with an authority about many subjects at hand, but his style is very approachable and appreciated by us amateurs. His subject matter is applicable to my Miami (Florida) skies and I am proud to display this book among the many astronomy books that I own.
Adam Stuart
Miami, Florida
Outstanding Repeat read value.......2006-07-04
This is an excellent book for anyone who lives in light polluted skies (OK, this includes EVERYONE EAST of the Mississippi river, and a good part of the rest of the civilized world).
Rod's approach and writing style, make this a good book for amateur astronomer's of all levels.
The first half of the book is filled with tips, and ideas, and how-to's that are worth the price of the book alone, all designed to help everyone get the most out of their skies no matter how much light pollution they have. Nothing will make the light pollution go away, so Rod's book is the perfect inspiration for those of us who feel like giving up when we look up and see so few stars from our urban or suburban locations.
The second half holds the key to making this an outstanding book for generations to come, because Rod goes into detail with personal observation's and descriptions about a large number of objects that those of us with "darkness-challenged" skies will still be able to enjoy. All of this gives Rod's book a very high repeat read value, since Rod covers objects for all seasons, and his Southern wit, charm, and humor combine to make this a 5 stars book.
Book Description
The father of our country slept with Martha, but schlepped in the District. Now in the great man’s footsteps comes humorist and twenty-year Washington resident Christopher Buckley with the real story of the city’s founding. Well, not really. We’re just trying to get you to buy the book. But we can say with justification that there’s never been a more enjoyable, funny, and informative tour guide to the city than Buckley. His delight as he points out things of interest is con-tagious, and his frequent digressions about his own adventures as a White House staffer are often hilarious.
In
Washington Schlepped Here, Buckley takes us along for several walks around the town and shares with us a bit of his “other” Washington. They include “Dante’s Paradiso” (Union Station); the “Zero Milestone of American democracy” (the U.S. Capitol); the “Almost Pink House” (the White House); and many other historical (and often hysterical) journeys. Buckley is the sort of wonderful guide who pries loose the abalone-like clichés that cling to a place as mythic as D.C. Wonderfully insightful and eminently practical,
Washington Schlepped Here shows us that even a city whose chief industry is government bureaucracy is a lot funnier and more surprising than its media-ready image might let on.
Customer Reviews:
Buckley interjects humor into what could have been a dull book.......2007-08-03
I've always enjoyed walking through the nation's capital, so
I was intrigued by the premise of WASHINGTON SCHLEPPED
HERE--written and read by Christopher Buckley.
It is a walking tour of Washington, DC, by an insider who has both
lived and worked there for some 20 years . . . ordinarily, I'm not a
big fan of such books, but I had fun with this one and only regret
that I was listening to it when driving to work in Pennsylvania . . . it
would have been so much meaningful to have it in hand when actually
taking the tours that the author describes.
Buckley interjects lots of humor into what ordinarily could be a dull
topic; however, he also gives mini-history lessons that taught
me things about the city that I never knew . . . though he also
presents information about the Arlington National Cemetery,
which isn't even Washington, I enjoyed that part perhaps the
most because of his mention of the fact that Allard
Lowenstein (my all-time favorite politician) is buried there.
Short...but compelling (Review refers to CD).......2005-11-08
"Washington Schlepped Here" is a better then average spoken tour of our nation's capital. Drawing on his experience as a former Washingtonian, Reagan administration bureaucrat and novelist, Buckley gives the listener a quirky tour of many of the special places in D.C. The author's emphasis on the Lincoln assassination sites alone makes this CD a great addition to anyones collection. I expected this book to be cynical and demeaning to various figures from Washington's past. However, Mr. Buckley delivers a city filled with honor, courage and sacrifice. The spoken CD therefore balances idealism with a healthy dose of skepticism. Although it is supposed to be used in conjunction with a tour of Washington, it can be listened to without traveling through D.C. Overall, a compelling, albeit short, tour of many interesting places in and around our capital.
Lots of fun, and some great info too........2005-07-31
I have not read anything by Christopher Buckley before, but I am, as of this book, a fan. Buckley offers a light-hearted romp through Washington, D.C. He's quite witty and a great writer. I also think he does a fine job of passing on some interesting tid-bits of information. It's kind of like a right-wing version of Vowell's "Assasination Vacation." She has more information, but Buckley is funnier.
Buckley being Buckley...always a good thing.......2003-11-30
I am neither ardent Republican nor Democrat. But, I am an ardent Christopher Buckley fan. I've read most of his books and find him to be unfailingly witty and insightful. And, if you've ever seen him doing his schtick in person, you'd realize that he doesn't take himself that seriously.
So, if you scrutinize this book looking for evidence of partisanship, you're surely going to find it. But consider the way Buckley presents it: screaming across the room to get Dick Cheney's attention, he is self-aware enough to acknowledge that his behavior is a source of embarrassment to his children. And as for those who might criticize his penchant for name-dropping, consider the following passage:
"For two years I had a White House pass that allowed me everywhere except, of course, the second-floor residence. One time, hearing that Jimmy Cagney was about to get the Medal of Freedom in the East Room - where Abigail Adams hung her wash out to dry, where Lincoln's body lay in state, and where I once sat behind Dynasty star Joan Collins while she and husband number four (I think it was) spelunked in each other's mouths with their tongues while Andy Williams crooned 'Moon River' - I rushed over from the Old Executive Office Building just in time to see President Reagan pin it on the man who had tapped out 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' and was now a sad, crumpled, speechless figure in a wheelchair. I remember Reagan putting his hand on Cagney's shoulder and saying how generous he had been 'many years ago to a young contract player on the Warner Brothers lot.'"
That's typical of the book and of Christopher Buckley's personal style. Just the right combination of name-dropping, humor and reverence. He's silly when can be, and respectful when he needs to be. His 'Washington Schlepped Here' demonstrates a child-like enthusiasm for museums, an insatiable willingness to learn from Park Rangers and other tour guides, and a respectful reverence for George Washington and (especially) Abraham Lincoln.
And despite growing up in a family where Franklin Roosevelt was known only as 'that man,' he pays tribute to the enormity of FDR's achievements when visiting both the FDR Memorial and the Holocaust Museum.
For Christopher Buckley fans and newcomers alike, this book is a great read.
The Same Old Same Old.......2003-11-10
Buckley's entry in the "Crown Journeys" series is an occasionally amusing, intermittently interesting, and ultimately shallow slim guide to about two of Washington, D.C.'s 67 square miles. His walks cover Union Station, the Capitol, the White House, the Old Executive Office Building, Lafayette Park and Square, Ford's Theater, the Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Vietnam War, and Korean War memorials, the Washington Monument, and Arlington Cemetery (which is not in Washington, but across the river in Virginia). In other words, the twenty year resident enlisted to write this book takes the reader to most generic tourist spots in the city, all of which you will find in any reasonably decent regular guidebook. He does this with sometimes funny, sometimes leaden humor, highly leavened with his strong conservative sentiments.
His walks are littered with cribbed historical anecdotes and tales of his glory days in the corridors of power. Buckley came to Washington to join the Reagan administration, and he's not shy about name dropping and telling you all the neato-torpedo insider stuff he saw and did. All which could be overlooked if he actually went anywhere off the beaten track, or acknowledged in the remotest way that D.C. is a large city with actual neighborhoods where people are born, live, and die. Sadly, he takes the opposite route, and chooses to disparage that large swath of people (the vast majority of whom are black) who live in DC and have always done so. In the opening pages, he quotes Joseph Alsop's self-description as "That sad and rootless thing, a Washingtonian" and then goes on to say that DC natives "would probably sniff at that, but then they sniff at pretty much everything." Well, what DC natives sniff at is not being allowed to vote in presidential elections until the mid-60s, and to this day having to pay federal taxes without having a vote in Congress (that's why DC license plates bear the "Taxation Without Representation" tagline). Buckley is emblematic of a whole cadre of people who move to DC-usually to get involved in politics-and never engage with it, never commit to it, and love being there for all the wrong reasons.
To be sure, the book tells plenty of interesting stories about the formation of the city, and especially its chief designer, Pierre L'Enfant. However, the city Buckley details is one of monuments and ghosts, not people and neighborhoods. It's an annoying approach, because there is so much more to the city that the casual tourist would benefit from hearing about. How about the historic U Street area, which has boatloads of black history? How about the The Awakening statue at Hains Point? How about historic Georgetown? How about the Canal? How about the largest urban park in American, Rock Creek Park? How about the amazing National Cathedral or the equally amazing Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception? How about the most underrated museum, The Building Museum? How about Dupont Circle, the center of gay culture in the city. How about cool walkable neighborhoods like Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, Brookland, and Takoma Park? Nope, instead, we hear about a invitation only party hosted by the Cheney's in the Museum of American History and Arlington Cemetery (which is an amazing place, but ISN'T IN DC!).
For the monuments and all that, this book isn't a bad supplement to a good guidebook. However, if you really want to learn about the city and the regular people who live there, check out Edward Jones' wonderful collection of short stories, Lost In the City, or pretty much any George Pelecanos' crime novels, or the 1994 book Dream City: Race, Power, and the Decline of Washington, D.C.
Book Description
Los Angeles is a great place to walk. Really, it is--don't be deterred by the maze of freeways and pervasive car culture. Set out on foot and you'll be rewarded with the discovery of hidden streets, architectural masterpieces, historical facts, and cultural influences as you wander through the hills and canyons, along peaceful residential neighborhoods, and gritty urban zones. Author and LA local Erin Mahoney is a knowledgeable tour guide to the treasures in neighborhoods dotting LA's hills, valleys, and flatlands.
Customer Reviews:
No one walks in LA...........2007-08-11
At least, I thought that until I read this great book. The walks are fun and give you a different view of Los Angeles. Highly recommended!
Great Walking In A Great City.......2006-04-20
I found this book to be fun to use, accurate, and articulate. Walking is the best way to see any place, you get exercise, see many things you would otherwise miss, eat at out of the way places and generally just have more fun. With this book you can do it with a much better understanding of where to go and what to see. This book gives you great guides to not only walk portions of the city, but also ideas about where to go even if you are riding. Even if you do not plan to see LA by foot I would recommend this book for any resident or tourist. I bet any resident will find this is a great book to use to see and appreciate more of the city they live in. For the visitor this book has so much useful information that other guide books never address. I am buying copies for both friends and relatives. Buy a copy and carry it with you, we just might meet each other carrying the book and walking LA
A must read!.......2006-02-13
I picked up this book in hopes of finding some places to actually walk around LA and enjoy it for more than just what you see when you drive around everywhere. I have only been to one of the spots so far, but my girlfriend and I were blown away by what we found. Not only are the routes well planned, and a nice distance, but the information that comes with each is well researched and makes the walk all the better. I highly recommend this book.
Excellent way to discover the hidden LA........2005-12-22
Very fun and interesting route maps outlining cool things to see in LA that you may have missed. Cool descriptions of things to keep an eye out for on the walks. My wife and I have been going to funky areas and neighborhoods to take walks for awhile. This book takes that to the next level and really points out a side of LA that you may not have seen when passing by in a car. Good stuff!
JOHN H. loved it!.......2005-11-28
I don't do a lot of walking, but because of Ms. Mahoney's excellent book , my family and I have tried a couple of the walks she described, and we were happily surprised at how interesting the areas were, and how much fun it was to explore new neighorhoods. The book is so good we have ordered extra copies for Christmas gifts.
Book Description
France on Foot details exactly how you - along with your friends or family - can combine the pleasures of walking cross-country through the forests, vineyards and villages of the French countryside with the sybaritic delights of eating in good restaurants and sleeping in comfortable hotels. Author LeFavour reveals a well kept secret: the French maintain a system of superb off-road footpaths that you can use to walk on your own for few days, a week or even a month. The Loire, Provence, the Alps, Normandy, the Dordogne - every region has thousands of miles of marked trails that are linked to the trails in other regions. This system is 110,000 miles long making foot travel possible, literally, anywhere in the country.
The book is full of information and strong opinions about France and the French. It offers as well many personal anecdotes gleaned from the author's trips on foot, and these stories will interest the walker and non-walker alike. But at base, France on Foot is a how-to book, the one resource you'll need before you take your own independent walking vacation in France.
Customer Reviews:
You too can walk the GR's of France.......2006-11-04
I have planned a walking trip to France 2 times in the previous 10 years and for reasons of sickness and health and family crisis have had to postpone. This book gave me the encouragement to try again even as a middle-aged woman. The author was entertaining, factual, and helpful. If you are unsure about taking on France's GR walks read this book and be convinced that anybody can do and will be glad they did.
This is an excellent book!.......2006-01-29
I really enjoyed this book. It's filled with very useful information for travelers in France -- on foot or otherwise. It's beautifully produced, with some great photographs.
I'm making plans for my first long distance walk in France as a direct result of this book.
Not only useful, but a pleasure to read.......2003-11-27
I think the other reviewers have already covered most of the points. This book is written by a chef, and it is composed like a fine meal. The pace is wonderful: relaxing, but never boring-- the same way he advocates undertaking a long walk in France. Although a backpacker (I am one) would find this book useful, it is not intended for anyone who has ever spent a night without a roof, nor for anyone who intends to ever spend a night without a roof. What it will do is lead you to an experience that will leave you with a sense of accomplishment after enjoying a couple of weeks of beautiful scenery and fabulous food in the most relaxing and healthy manner possible. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is one of the best books I've ever read.
Practical Advice.......2001-07-22
The other reviews have adequately described this wonderful book, so I will just tell you one or two things about putting it into practice. 1) Get in shape before you go. Prior to leaving, we did a lot of fast walking on flat ground without packs - this was NOT sufficient. Those packs get very heavy going up even a gentle hill. 2) Pack as light as you possibly can, then get rid of half of it. We ended up mailing home or throwing away city shoes, extra pants, makeup, etc.etc. Also, buy a smaller pack than you think you need. 3) Set realistic daily distance goals - the author is a bit too optimistic in our opinion. 4). Always carry water and at least a little food, like granola bars. Some places that look on the map like little towns perfect for lunch are just a group of houses and farm buildings. 5) Try to check "closed" days ahead of time. In France, it is generally not Saturday or Sunday, but some weekday. We walked into a tiny town dead-beat at the end of our first day (a Tuesday) to find it was closing day - not one restaurant, bistro, cafe, ANYTHING open, including the hotel's restaurant. However, all that being said, our walk through the Dordogne was THE single best vacation we've ever had (with the possible exception of Cuba). I love to browse through this book dreaming about our next one, maybe through Provence.
Buckle up your Mephistos!.......2001-01-22
There is no better way to discover the soul of a city than on foot. Whether the city is Helsinki or New Orleans, San Francisco or Paris, Chicago or Berlin, when you walk its streets and see its people face to face and sit next to them while you sip coffee or wine, you come to know the city. Although I have yet to try walking from hamlet to hamlet in France, I fully intend to. Bruce LeFacour and his photographer wife Faith Echtermeyer obviously have the same idea about knowing a land. I have read this book several times and would like nothing more than to spend next summer, in France, walking to all the lovely places.
Book Description
ull of architectural detail, unique advice, and historical anecdotes, Pariswalks allows the reader to do as the Parisians do-take to the streets on foot to discover the secret splendors of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Sonia, Alison, and Rebecca Landes lead the reader through the maze of Paris's hidden back streets and into the tiny shops, secluded courtyards, underground cellars, and serene interiors that tourists rarely see. In this newly revised edition, readers will find completely updated walks covering the most interesting neighborhoods of central Paris, from the Place de la Bastille to the Boulevard St.-Germain, and an all new tour of the Place de la Concorde. Each walk is easily completed in a morning or afternoon and suggests shopping, dining, and cultural stops.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding guide........2005-10-03
This book has been one of the many reasons I fell in love with Paris.
In fact, it taught me how to explore Paris on my own during the 5 years I lived there. Beginning with this book, I learned how much history and cultural wealth is hidden in every corner of the city, ready to be discovered. I learned to explore the building façades, their inner patios that sometimes hide gardens, statues and even centuries old temples. I have explored parkings for outstanding discoveries (like the medieval wall on the underground parking on rue Mazarine), etc.
I learned enough of the city history to get me curious and start reading on my own about the kings of France, the history of Paris architecture, and so much more.
I have both an older edition and the audio guide, which is excelent for use when walking alone. However, I noticed that on the latest edition, the walk on rue Moufetard is gone (at least that's how it seems from the index here on Amazon"). Pitty, because I loved the region and the walk itself.
The only danger is that if you go to Paris with this book, you may never want to leave again, like I did.
Excellent.......2005-08-29
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a much earlier edition of this wonderful little guide to the Paris these authors obviously love. The distaff side of the Landes clan has a keen eye for detail and a sharp nose for the unexpected tidbits that make visiting any city a delight.
Directly as a result of following one of the walks I have found a club that is now, years later, a regular stop anytime I am in Paris. Everyone who has an interest in the quiter, more intimate details of Paris should take these walks. The authors' love of the city and their simple love of city life shines through in each of them.
This latest edition is, if possible, an improvement on the previous ones; adding the perspective of a new co-author has improved the product.
Don't walk Paris without it!.......2000-11-18
This is a terrific "off the beaten path" type tour guide. These tours take you to areas that other tourists just pass through on their way to the Eifel Tower and Louvre. With this book you experience the real Paris, not the tourist's Paris.
At the beginning of each tour (allow one per day), find a bench in one of the many small parks and read the introduction to the tour. While you take in the sights, smells and sounds of the area, you'll learn a bit of history to set the stage for the tour. The walks are slow and intend for you to really look at your surroundings as you read about the history, architecture and people. I wish there were guides like this for every city!
A "Must Have"ÿ.......2000-01-10
I've taken this book to Paris three times. Our local library discarded the book and I was so upset. It's wonderful to use in Paris or to remember my trips. I was so excited to find in newly published. I have already got one, which I passed on to a friend going to Paris, now I'm ordering another.
Fabulous audiotape.......1998-12-14
The Pariswalks audiotape is an immensely entertaining and educational way to wander through Paris neighborhoods. You can, for a change, SEE what the guidebooks are talking about WITHOUT having your nose in the book the whole time. The narration is humorous as well as informative. Because this Pariswalks audiotape is so good,I have given theLondonwalks audiotape on faith for Christmas to someone about to head for London. I will never travel to Europe again without first checking to learn whether an audiotape is available for my destination city.
Books:
- Gentle Willow: A Story for Children About Dying
- Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love: Daily Meditations to Help You Through the Grieving Process
- Grotesque
- Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business (Guerrilla Marketing)
- Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
- Hide
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- How Porcupines Make Love III: Readers, Texts, Cultures in the Response-Based Literature Classroom (2nd Edition)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Foundation: A Great American Secret; How Private Wealth is Changing the World
- Simon Bolivar: A Life
- How to Start and Run a Successful Consulting Business
- In My Mother's Garden
- Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times: The Citizenry and the Breakdown of Democracy
- Managing Customers as Investments: The Strategic Value of Customers in the Long Run
- Nehru: A Tryst with Destiny
- Problem and Demonstration Book to Accompany Principles of Accounting
- Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres
- Woman's Sigh, Wolf's Song
General
| State & Local
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories
Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey
Diary: A Novel
Survivor: A Novel
Invisible Monsters
![Wry Martinis [Bargain Price] [Paperback] by Buckley, Christopher](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000C4SPWE.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
