I recently purchased three new books on birds, and I did not buy them from Amazon and I could have saved a bundle, but I am an impulsive book buyer... One of my new books, WHERE THE BIRDS ARE, was published by the National Wildlife Federation--you know Ranger Rick and the other backyard buddies--and I do live near the NWF headquarters, and they do have a gift shop.... WHERE THE BIRDS ARE lists the 100 best locations for watching birds in North America outside your own backyard. Amazingly or otherwise, the NWF lists places to watch birds in every state, as it turns out two of them here in Virginia. One of these places is Great Falls Virginia, just up the street. Guess I'll look more closely next time we visit. Each section of the book contains a description of the site including a little map, visiting hours, and other entrance information as well as the types of habitat to be found at the site and the kinds of bird life. At Great Falls Virginia, we can observe Robins and White Throated Sparrows as well as vistors on the Eastern flyway such as the Northern Parula. In fact the book says 34 types of warblers have been spotted in Great Falls. Since the NWF book does not show any other species than the three I've named, you may want to invest in a book with a more comprehensive listing of birds which brings me to one of my other purchases -- BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA from the Smithsonian. I've been a Petersen devotee for years, and love the Petersen Field Guide, but the Smithsonian book is quite good too. It contains photos and other information which will help you identify the birds you sight after you follow the NWF guide and locate your bird site. For the curious, the third book I bought is THE AUDUBON BACKYARD BIRDWATCHER and yes, I have spotted the Robin and White Throated Sparrow in my own back yard as well as a few of those confusing fall warblers Peterson lists. Still, our yard abuts National Park land which forms a contiguous chain with the Great Falls nature preserve. So, it's not surprising we should be able to spot some of the same birds.

A must for every family.

"Where The Birds Are" is yet one more delightful installment of the seemingly eternal "Where's Waldo?" concept.

On every page you get to scour the scenery for the birds of America. Question "Where's the Red-Crested Twaddle?" Resposnse: "There it is!" Yes sir! No sooner are you about to give up all hope than you find him tucked away in a cute little baby stroller, misguidedly trying to regurgitate the morning's catch. Darling!

And the scenes themselves are as smart as they are colorful. Whether it's a gritty crime scene in New York or a babbling brook in Ontario (I've never been but I hear Ontario is lovely and probably looks a lot like the picture, but, again, I can't really speak first-hand) or a mesa somewhere in New Mexico, there's something for everyone.

It's fun for all ages, except for the really, really old with poor eyesight or the really, really young who might not grasp basic concepts like "birds."

I highly suggest buying this book, even if you must skip a meal in order to afford to do so. Maybe being light-headed from skipping a meal might even let you enjoy the book more. Who knows? There's only one way to find out.

Whenever I travel on business or for vacations, I try to see the local highlights that interest me. Over the years, this has helped me to enjoy many museums, concerts, gardens, golf courses, and national parks. As an early riser, I often find myself with nothing to do before 10 a.m. on business trips. I am consciously aware that very few places I visit offer good bird watching, of the sort that I know how to find near my home. This volume is a perfect addition for me. I can now plan bird watching excursions as part of these same trips. This will add enormously to the enjoyment I will gain from my travel.

Can you name 100 outstanding places to watch birds north of Mexico? If you are like me, your list is pretty short. This guide now gives me places to look in every region of the United States and Canada.

Each site contains a brief overview, a description of the habitat, the birds you are most likely to see (which includes some fine color photographs to help with identification), a description of the bird life in the area, suggestions for visiting, and highlights of seasonal events. In addition, you get the basics about how to get to the site (driving directions), hours, cost, whether camping is available or not, ways on get more information by telephone and on-line, and the availablility of local motels, hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns. I checked out several places where I had been before, and found the information to be accurate and appropriate. For those who want to make more detailed plans, you will probably want to do more research before you visit, using the references here.

There is also a micro mini-field guide in the back for the birds you are most likely to see. But you will want to bring your own field guide, I'm sure. That's almost as important as a good set of binoculars and broken-in walking shoes. If you are new to bird watching, the introduction also contains useful information about how to prepare.

Conservationists will be pleased to see that the book contains much information about how not to disturb important nesting areas.

Whether or not these are the 100 best birdwatching places from your perspective, I urge you to get this book and use it to extend the range of your viewing. If you are a retired person with the health and resources to travel, this book could add a great deal of happiness to your life.

After you finish reading this book, I suggest that you plan a bird-watching trip to take advantage of this information. Then, go on to think about what else you like to do which might be seen on the same trip. Do some research, and add those activities to your trip. After all, the best bird-watching is often over by 8 a.m.

Enjoy the world we inhabit with our animal friends!

Elizabeth Daniels Squire's new Peaches Dann mystery, Where There's a Will, has everything: the beauty and danger of a high mountain setting in western North Carolina; a hazardous trans-Atlantic voyage on the fictional British luxury liner, the Ocean Queen; and a motley cast of newly made multimillionaires, one of whom may be out to murder the others. To this mixture is added a baffling plot with more twists and turns than a DNA helix. The result is an exciting adventure in mystery reading, especially the climactic scene in which Peaches, at the risk of her own life, solves the murder of handsome, charming Wingate Scott. When you start reading Where There's a Will, be prepared to read it straight through to the end, because you won't be able to put it down.

If you haven't met Peaches Dann, an amateur detective with a memory problem, you are in for a real treat. I would, of course, suggest that you pick up the first books in this series as well. When an reclusive multi-millionaire dies and leaves his fortune to various members of the family to the tune of fifteen million each. Deaths begin to occur even though it seems each member of the family is satisfied with the portion received. A friend of Peaches asks for her help in uncovering the killer. The family must make a joint trip to England to satisfy the terms of the will. When Peaches' friend is almost killed, Peaches flies to England to come back with them on the ship. This is no "Love Boat" cruise. Attempted poisonings, near misses on pushing members of the party overboard and a most humiliating, but hilarious, attempt on Peaches' life add to the non-stop excitement and fun of "Where There's a Will." This is a must-read for all cozy fans.

Suffering from a terrible memory, Peaches Dan takes lessons to learn a few tricks that will help her survive in the everyday world. She writes a book, How To Survive Without A Memory, to help others with similar afflictions recall critical things. Surprisingly, Peaches also solves murder mysteries by using her tricks to help her recall the clues.

Marietta, a high school friend, asks Peaches to investigate the death of her brother Winston, who allegedly jumped off a cliff. Marietta insists her sibling would never venture near an overhang because he deeply feared heights. Money could be a motive as Winston and his relatives recently came into a $15 million inheritance each. On a trip to England, someone tries to kill Marietta, who immediately persuades Peaches to join her. On the luxurious return trip by sea, several other murder attempts occur, including one on the sleuth. Peaches knows she must identify the culprit rather quickly before someone else dies at the hands of the unknown assailant.

Elizabeth Daniels Squire has created a near perfect sleuth in Peaches. The middle aged person with a faulty memory refuses to allow her ailment to stop her activities. WHERE THERE'S A WILL is a who-done-it loaded with misdirection cleverly executed by the author. Anyone who reads this novel will search for the previous five books in this humorous series with a deep message.

Harriet Klausner

Recently I had the opportunity to travel to the Eiger's North face. While in Grindelwald, I came across a copy of "The White Spider" and simply had to pick it up. Harrer's sensitivity toward the mountains that were his life and to his peers is unparalled. This sensitivity is intertwined throughout the book in not only his own first ascent of the face, but the subsequent successes and tragedies that occurred there. An incredible, heartfelt and wonderfully written book made even more fantastic when you can witness where it all took place.

I read this book 28 year ago. I have since been to the N. face of the Eiger to look at it and reflect on this book. It is a great book involving the will of man and his determination to overcome obstacles. Over my life time, when I have thought that things were going rough, I have thought of this book and the story of these men. I am now looking for a copy of this book and have an open order with Amazon. I highly recommend this book to all parents of teen age children. It will be well worth reading to all of you. The specific situation is less relevant than the more global significance of the lessons of commitment, loyalty and endurance.

I find it hard to believe this book is out of print considering Harrer's coming back into the vogue with "Seven Years in Tibet" on film. So many people are reading "Into Thin Air" and the latest mountain climbing spectaculars. I urge you to go back to the basics and read this book which is the best of them all. "Harrowing" best describes this history of the North Wall of the Eiger.

I have been looking for a guide like this for years. This book shows great pictures of all the bigger moths of North America including their caterpillars. Loaded with maps and drawings of the cocoons this book is a must have. Don't let the price scare you away.

Very impressive coverage on the Wilk Silk Moths of Noth America. Most known species are shown in exellent photographs,some in the larval stages also. Good range maps and detailed text make this the laymans best friend when exploring and learning about the habitats and life histories of some of our most magnificent moth species. The best book I've seen on the subject period!

For each moth there is a color picture of last instar caterpillar and one or more pictures of the moth. There is also a range map and detailed descriptions of each stage of the life cycle with notes on rearing.
This is a well-written, well-researched, easy to read book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in these largest and showiest of the U.S. moths.

The combination of compelling anecdotes, history, and practical information will make this classic book stick around a long time. What really got me, is how someone could put so much information and photographs and readable narrative between two covers. Like 50 Classic Climbs, the book is a must have for all riders, skiers and mountaineers, and made the perfect gift for my husband.

Just talking about the beautifully reproduced photographs alone, without the text, this would be an awesome coffee table book. But we like to ride too, and now that we've enjoyed all of the routes in Colorado, we're looking at Mt. Shasta and Alaska.

Wild Snow is the most inspirational, well written, complete book on backcountry skiing I've seen. Each chapter has concise and interesting details on some of the greatest ski descents in North American.

lou dawson's book fills an important need in north american ski mountaineering, in that it both inspires the novice and tantalizes the seasoned outdoor buff. the trail guides in this volume are enough to keep anyone busy for a lifetime of off-piste adventure. we need more books like this.

This guide is a necessity if you travel in Wisconsin. Our family has rediscovered old childhood haunts and discovered some of Wisconsin's natural treasures that were otherwise unknown to us. This book shares in-depth information vital to state park campers, such as electric sites, beach, nature programs, etc. You can really plan a tailor-made state park vacation based on the information in this book!

In Wisconsin's Outdoor Treasures, Tim Brewer showcases practical and informative field guide information for 150 of Wisconsin's most interesting and unique natural destinations ranging from the Mississippi River bluffs and backwaters to the forests of the great Northwoods, to the glacial hills and valleys hallmarking Wisconsin geology and topography. Wisconsin Outdoor Treasures offers the Wisconsin visitor, tourist, as well as born and bred native resident a wealth of places to hike, canoe, kayak, bike, backpack, camp out, enjoy the wildlife, and more. Here are scenic drives, cross-country ski and snowshoe suggestions, as well as the resource information for enjoy the simple solitude of waterfalls, lakes, scenic bluffs, and deep forests. From National and State parks and forests, to county parks, private natural preserves, wild and scenic rivers, and Wisconsin wildlife refuges, Wisconsin's Outdoor Treasures is a comprehensive, authoritative, occasionally inspiring compendium of places to go and things to do in the Badger State, spring, summer, fall or winter.

This book summarizes natural places in Wisconsin - I have found it most helpful with campsites. I am a beginning camper and it was great to see - at a glance - what resources and activities were available at the different campgrounds. I especially like that its chapters are based on sections of the state, making it easy to find a close location for a quick day trip or a destination farther away to take a longer vacation. It even includes contact information for the places listed, so you can call ahead to find out about special activities. Great book!!

I reviewed this book for "Sacred Journey" and was amazed at the simplicty of Pym's explanations.I always Buddhism was an extremely complicated religion and found that most books about it were difficult to understand. This book breaks everythign down into the most simple terms. Pym utilizes fantastic parallels to common everyday things and provides a sound, yet easy to understand introduction to Buddhism. His writing style is lively and entertaining, keeping you turning pages and moving forward through the book.

I had never heard of Jim Pym (nor he of me, I'm sure), but when I found this book while browsing, I couldn't believe it. I had FINALLY found an introductory book on Buddhism that covered all the bases while accenting the aspects of this wonderful Way that I most believe in--practice, compassion (including vegetarianism, although he touches on this very lightly, so don't be put off), and self-discovery. Just an amazing book, and one of which I will buy many copies. I wish I could buy one for every person in the world; it would go a long way toward helping alleviate the hatred and suffering that has gripped our planet. Thank you, Jim Pym!

I had never heard of Jim Pym (nor he of me, I'm sure), but when I found this book while browsing, I couldn't believe it. I had FINALLY found an introductory book on Buddhism that covered all the bases while accenting the aspects of this wonderful Way that I most believe in--practice, compassion (including vegetarianism, although he touches on this very lightly, so don't be put off), and self-discovery. Just an amazing book, and one of which I will buy many copies. I wish I could buy one for every person in the world; it would go a long way toward helping alleviate the hatred and suffering that has gripped our planet. Thank you, Jim Pym!

It seems to me as if stories about the U.S. foot soldier in Vietnam abound, but the Vietnam War was also a war Americans fought fiercely in the air. It stands to reason then that the chronicle of the F105 fighter pilot, who flew the most harrowing missions and suffered the greatest losses, is one of the more significant, albeit under-appreciated, tales worthy of telling. As such, Ken Bell's 100 Missions North is an excellent place to dig in to the subject to appreciate a unique, by-gone perspective. Bell's first-hand account of the 100 missions he flew as a Thunderchief pilot over north Vietnam in 1966-67 provides a superb, three-dimensional picture of his life at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base north of Bangkok, Thailand, one of two primary facilities for F105s during the war. Aside from the fact that Bell was a major at the time and thus missed out on the opportunity to live dorm-style in a hooch with lower-ranking officers, his story in many ways typifies the life of an F105 pilot of this era. Although his is not the only first-hand account of the F105 pilots' experience, it may be the most satisfying.

Thud Ridge, Jack Broughton's account of his tour, for instance, although essential as a piece of F105 fighter pilot history, is not a straightforward chronological account of his experiences. Instead, Broughton picks and chooses subjects for each chapter, so although there is something of a running narrative, the text skips around a bit. Not a big problem but it can be confusing unless you've been a member of a fighter wing. Therefore, I would also say Broughton seems to be writing more to a limited audience, the fellow fighter pilot as well as the military enthusiast; hence, although a good book regarding its subject, Thud Ridge is more for those already with a base knowledge of air war and squadrons.

Another top-notch book but with a broader appeal than Thud Ridge is G.I. Basel's Pak Six. Basel's book is quite an enjoyable read. He turns a nice phrase, recounts interesting stories, and is easy to follow and understand. Basel also has a good sense of humor that helps the outsider appreciate the F105 fighter pilot mentality. Why then is Pak Six not the first book to pick up on the F105 pilot experience? Length! Pak Six has about half as many pages as 100 Missions North. In spite of the fact that Basel's book was a pure pleasure to read, and I finished it in about two days, it nonetheless gets into and out of its subject too quickly. It's good to leave the reader wanting more, but I wanted much more.

It was after I read these two books that I came across 100 Missions North. Bell's book is the one I wished I'd picked up first. At 300 pages, it provides a detailed, nicely paced, chronological account of the 100 missions he flew. Although he doesn't literally account for all 100 missions, Bell presents the highlights of his most significant missions and discusses life outside the cockpit as well. Like Basel, he is easy to understand and can tell a good story, and like a seasoned writer, is not embarrassed to confess his fears and mistakes while flying missions. Likewise, he provides honest observations about the world and people around him during his tour.

For anyone interested in this side of the Vietnam War, all three books are a must, and certainly, all three offer something unique that in total present a thorough picture of what it must have been like to be there, a subject of particular interest to me since my father was there too, but he's no longer around to recount his experiences. Of the group, 100 Missions North is the most well-rounded regarding its subject and is certainly a worthy place to begin getting a grasp of life inside the cockpit while flying bombing missions into a region reputed to be the most heavily defended in the history of warfare.

Ken Bell's book describes the life of an Air Force fighter pilot during the combat of the 1960s. Many things have changed since then:
- A pilot had a 50% chance of completing a tour (100 missions over North Viet Nam) without getting shot down.
- Targets were often selected for political, not strategic, reasons. Good pilots were lost going after targets of marginal value.

One thing that has not changed is the bravery of the pilots that fly combat and the professionalism and dedication of the maintenance crews that keep the aircraft flying.

Ken Bell documents all this in an excellent manner. You get the feeling that the F-105 is a two-seater with you in the back seat. He is honest about the problems that he encountered, and how he dealt with them.

I highly recommend this book. As the daughter of a Cherokee-English African-American woman,educator and grandmother I was always taught the truth along with my brothers about this very important holiday/harvest festival. Early on we were taught to share what we had with the less fortunate and to give to others who really needed something. Also my grandmother the late,great Hattie Little-Tabor who was my mom's mother fed homless people who stopped by her home during the Great Depression. This book brought back full circle the fact that we must all strive to work together to overcome greed to serve all in need. I highly recommend this book.

This is a beautifully written and exquisitely photographed book about the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 (according to the Western calendar). The photos were taken during re-enactments at Plimoth Plantation, and are historically accurate as well as lovely to look at. The text gives the Wampanoag perspective on the event with sensitivity and vibrancy. All in a book that is clearly successful in engaging young readers, no matter how much or how little they already know--or think they know--about the history of Thanksgiving.

Travelling by trailer, motorhome, or fifth wheel throughout the United States can be the most exciting, educational, exhilerating adventure possible. But if you don't have the right kinds of information, that travel can also be a big bust. Trailer Life Directory supplies just about all the necesary information you will need to locate any RV park, from rustic campground to palacious resort, anywhere in the U.S. You'll find directions on how to get to a RV park, what that park offers in way of living and recreational facilities, size of RV sites, cost, whether you can have Fido with you or not, if there is a laundry available, etc. The directory also has information on military RV parks (Fam-Camps)in a special section, as well as the location for RV service centers nearby and LP gas sales. Maps of every state, indicating locations of RV parks, is included.

Anyone who enjoys camping MUST have this "bible"! It lists campsites from all over the USA, as well as rates them. It tells you how many sites are available, as well as electric, sewage, and water hookups!

A definite must-have for any camper!