I've lived in New Zealand and after coming back to the U.S. I've had the privledge of taking groups back and I highly recomend this book for anyone traveling in NZ. It is better than most guide books although a little large as a guide book. I'd gladly take it because this books gives in detail information about almost every town in NZ from historical information to economic background. Gives places to see and where to see them. Now if they could shrink it you could through away the Lonely Plant book and Fodor's. For a photographer it is a must to read before traveling there. Both great writing and photography.

Jack and Lindsay Cupper's 'Hawks in Focus' is the first comprehensive photographic record of Australia's birds of prey. A compelling combination of natural history, photography, and anecdote, the book is not only highly readable but also generously peppered with descriptions of the authors' techniques for achieving their insights and photographs. Of particular interest is their pioneering work with grey falcons and letter-winged kites, achieved in some of the harshest, most isolated conditions on the Australian continent. The Cuppers never play up the danger of their endeavours, but the photographs of their incredible home-made aluminium telescopic towers, used to reach heights of eighty feet and more, are worth the price of the book alone. Rarely do naturalists write so well, achieving a book that is both ground-breaking natural history and hair-raising adventure. Without a doubt this is my favourite bird book.

Its really good to know that we have an amazing country with amazing people. I am glad to be living in such a country.

This is a very nice, somewhat abridged edition of "Heart of the Antarctic." Compared with the Carroll & Graf trade edition, this does have some bits edited from the expedition preparations and the account of the Furthest South journey, but, unlike the Carroll & Graf edition, it has Professor David's account of the march to the South Magnetic Pole and an account of the Northern Party journey and so is overall a better text. The selection of pictures is decent, although there is one photo that I suspect is from the 1912 Scott expedition (of a tracked motor-sledge; the Shackleton expedition had only a car with it). The story of the British Antarctic Expedition is just as exciting as the doomed Endurance voyage, and I would highly recommend this edition to everyone interested in Shackleton and his adventures.

Guy Bransby seems to me to be more typical of the British gentleman-adventurer officer of the 19th Century than of the national servicemen and the time servers in obscurity so common in the last fifty years and in today's service. He spent most of his serving time in the "backwaters" of empire as a light infantryman and an advisor. He was seconded to Vietnam with the New Zealanders, served on the NW Frontier, in Yemen, and on attache duty. Newly returned to England, newly married, and seconded to the RAF Regiment as a trainer.(for those of you who are not familiar with this unit, it's composed of "blue men in khaki togs", and is light infantry, combined with local air defense) tasked with keeping bad guys (Spetsnaz and SAS types) off the flight line and out of the hangers. Now Bransby as a long-service officer is taking orders from some others twenty years younger.And he is content to fill out his time. But, due to his facility in Latin American Spanish gained as an aide to a Uruguayan general, he is chosen to head a team of interrogators in the Falklands. This is the story of his adventures and mis-adventures. Well told tales and with a wry humour which serves him well. If you like tales of interesting service this is for you. Carter Rila

Richard Harris' updated third edition Hidden Baja covers everything from beaches and lodging to outdoor adventure travel in Baja, providing details on a wealth of outdoor activities for those who are oriented toward adventure travel. Lesser-known byways of the region are the focus in a title packed with tips on travel through the region.

I bought 4 books on the French polynesian islands and this was the best by far. I love his detail, his points of interest and his enthusiasm. After reading this book I couldn't wait to go there! This will be the one book I bring with me, it has everything. Where to stay, where to eat (like what native fruit to try), customs, phrases in polynesian and french, and much more.

As one of the co-authors of this book, I naturally rate it highly ;-) But honestly I think it will be of interest to many people - from academic colleagues with an interest in how higher education systems develop and change in the light of changing circumstances to the more general reader who wishes to understand why there is so much fuss about a name (university vs polytechnic/college) in higher education circles.

The chapters making up the three system-specific sections are written by authors with different perspectives - one from the government/system level and two from the institutions' perspective in each section. These are well related to each other and the general theme of national higher education reform by the editor Prof David Teather in his introduction and conclusions.

I commend the book to anyone interested in how university systems develop and the responses of governments and institutions to demands for change and reform in higher education.

Hilda Rix Nicholas: Her Life And Art is the biographical survey of a truly remarkable artist and her unique artistic achievements. She held several solo exhibitions in Europe and Australia, and in 1926 was elected an associate of the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. Yet despite being a phenomenal painter, she has been virtually ignored by western art historians and either excluded from or marginalized in the annals of Australian art history. That sad omission is now superbly remedied through this magnificent edition detailing her life's work and accomplishments. John Pigot documents & profusely illustrates the enduring talent of remarkable artist who refused to comply with the restrictive role socially, culturally, and professional imposed on other women artists of her time. The challenging nature of her work and her unwillingness to accept a subordinate position within the artistic hierarchy made it virtually impossible for her to achieve the kind of recognition that she so richly deserved -- then or (until the publication of this fine art history) now. Hilda Rix Nicholas is enthusiastically recommended reading for students of art history and 20th Century women's history studies.

Then you should read this. As a result of an argument, a whole class stays back from the annual town picnic to help their teacher find aboriginal paintings in a nearby cave. While in the cave, a violent storm breaks out and the group get stuck in the cave. When they come out they find their teacher and classmate have disappeared and their small town of Hills End has been devastated by floods. Their fight for survival in a devastated town where no adult is around, their experiences and the things they learn about each other makes a book that you will not forget in a hurry. This is one of the best books I have ever read. You won't regret it!