This book is a revelation. Imagine a memoir written by a 30-year-old; nostalgic & informative, yet hip and witty. After reading this book, I am on the lookout for John Kelly in a big way. This is an author who can tell the honest truth about an often-hard way to grow up, and make it truly funny without taking anything away from the struggle. Without question one of the most all-around satisfying books I have read in a long time. To Mr. Kelly, if you're out there - keep writing!!

I have almost every copy of Coop's Maps and I just love them! They're informative, easy to follow, and I love their look. I've given them to friends as gifts, too, & they're always a hit. I use these maps for travel, I also just like having them around for fun.

I found this cookbook not only easy to follow, but that it did not require any special ingrediants. All that is required in the recipes you can find in your own cupboard, which is helpful, especially if you want to whip something up spur of the moment. I also found the recipes to be very tasty and easy to make. Family and friends really enjoyed and complimented me on the meals I whipped up for them from this recipe book. I highly recommend this book to anyone, not just to someone whose husband is an avid hunter. I have substituted beef for the wild meats and found that the recipes worked just as well. A delightful cookbook to have and use.

If you are thinking of a cruise on the Erie Canal, ChamplainCanal, Oswego or Cayuga-Seneca Canals in New York State this year orin the future? We think that you should take a close look at The Cruising Guide to the New York State Canal System guide/chart book published by Northern Cartographic for the New York State Canal Corp. In the summer of 1997 my wife and I circumnavigated the Adirondacks (Lake Champlain, Champlain Canal, Erie Canal, Oswego Canal, Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River, Richelieu River, and back to Lake Champlain). We both wish that this new chart/guide book had been available then - it would have been the perfect companion for the NY canal system.

This is a true chart/map product. The mapping detail is excellent. Road layout for major highways as well as local streets is precise. All major roads are labeled, and secondary roads as well as city, town, and village streets are clearly defined if not labeled. In addition to the usual waterway information, the guide has restaurants, parks, historic sites, the canalway trails, and other points of interest are shown with the same level of geographic accuracy. This detail extends up to three miles from the canal. The legends, information boxes, and tables are clear and easy to read, and well organized. The size is a very convenient 11 by 15 3/4 inches. The paper quality and color printing are excellent.

We think that the New York State Canal Corporation has done itself proud on this guide. We do feel that the binder could be improved and a waterproof front and back page would be a welcome addition. If this product was available in 1997 we'd still be on the canal. END

David Zeisberger was a Moravian missionary who immagrated to England's North American colonies in 1740 and became one of the first white men to live among the Indian tribes of the Old Northwest. He spent many years living among the Delaware in western Pennsylvania and Ohio, founding the famous "Praying Indian" towns at Salem, Shoenbrun, and Gnadenhutten in the years just before the American Revolution. Zeisberger worked tirelessly to convert the Indians to Christianity for many years on the frontier when it was a hostile and dangerous wilderness. This book is translated from Zeisberger notes made while living among the Delaware in the period 1780-81. They describe in great and accurate detail the lifestyle and culture of the Indians. It details all aspects of religion, hunting, social structure, foods, medicine, clothing, etc. of the Delaware and the eastern woodland tribes in general. It also gives an overview of the flora and fauna of the Ohio Country in the years prior to white settlement. "History of the Northern American Indians" is a valuable piece of 18th century literature and should be read by any student of frontier or Indian history.

Two years ago I took my first vacation all by myself. I had a brand new car, a little money, and a lot of time. I found this book while browsing and bought it to take it on my vacation. Each night, I selected a different trip for the next day, highlighted the route, and studied the points of interest I'd be most interested in taking. This small amount of planning gave me great confidence to strike out alone on my vacation.

One year ago, I took a similar vacation, this time with a very special friend. We repeated some of my favorite trips of the previous year and we planned a few new ones. Again, we would spend the evening marking maps and studying points of interest.

"Roaming the Backroads" was so useful on these two trips because the author gave maps, historical information and points of interest along the way. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to explore Northern California and who wants to get off the major highways to do it. Now the book lives on my coffee table and we still pick it up to plan a day trip or to remind ourselves of the pleasures of past trips.

Highly recommended if you have any interest in the timber industry's history. Book includes commentary on the results of some poor management practices and the attempts to farm clear-cuts. A good history of logging and the lessons learned. Lots of interesting characters and stories, as well. Obviously a well researched book.

Napoleonic enthusiasts are very fortunate that George Nafziger and Marco Gioannini have presented this little-known subject matter so thoroughly. The book is superbly researched. And the material, along with the maps and extensively detailed appendices, combine for not only an able presentation which forms an understandable and enjoyable reading experience, but also a valuable reference book as well.

Anyone interested in the Napoleonic wars needs this book in their library. Do not flinch at the price; specialty books such as this one, with the wealth of information contained therein, are rare. As such, it is a bargain at twice the price.

Scott Bowden (...)

I didn't realize that this little book was published by the National Park Service until coming to the end, where there is a section of brief descriptions and photos of a few of our national parks named after early explorers. These include deSoto National Memorial in Florida, Coronado National Memorial in Arizona, Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico, and Cabrillo National Monument in California.

The first part of the book is a synopsis of the explorations of these conquistadores, all from Spain, who searched the New World for riches, in particular, gold. What they encountered were Native Americans, some friendly, some ferocious. Although the Spaniards suffered physically through hardships of difficult terrain, shortage of food, and battles with natives, they also inflicted injustices on the native peoples.

This book offers a brief but important understanding of the history behind the names of places we often take for granted. It is the history of the U.S. before the English arrived and created the colonies. The Spanish were here first, and as maps show in this book, traversed much of the land. Unfortunately for the Spanish, they were disheartened about the lack of gold, and did not pursue its other natural resources. How different the U.S. might have been if they had not given up.

This little publication deserves a 5 for fulfilling its purpose of bringing awareness to the history that created these national parks. It can serve as a springboard for other research, as well as create interest in including these sites in one's vacation plans.

This Book, as is Peter Berresford Ellis's Dictionaty of Celtic Mythology, is in my opinon deserve 6+ stars, not 5. "Irish Mythology" is not really covered in his "Celtic mythology book, Celtic Mythology is really a continuation of of this book, covering a much broader scope. I have over a dozen "Dictionaries and Encyclopedias of Celtic Mythology, Legend and Lore" and the scope and breadth of the information covered by Mr. Ellis is excellent. As you look up each entry, a full explanation is given, and if your curosity is peaked, it is easy to look up all other referances that are mentined in the text. Stories of Irish mythology, that I didn't fully grasp before, are very clear and understandable.