Travel Books

Perfect for carrying around for quick reference to the DC area. It is sturdy, and won't rip apart. Having the metro map is a huge plus.

This map is very easy to read, and a great tool for getting around DC. The laminated cover keeps it durable, and the size makes it easy to pull out and look at anywhere. I recommend it highly.

This is a nice map because it is plastic coated. It is normal map size which makes it a bit big to carry but has all the landmarks noted pretty well.

We used this guide everyday of our trip to Washington, DC. The subway guide was especially useful. I never felt lost, and didn't waste any time trying to figure out where to go. It was such an important thing to have each day, we double checked each time we left the hotel to make sure we had it. I highly recommend it.

This was the best source for helping us maneuver through the maze of buildings, monuments, and memorials in Washington, DC. The map is very functional. Flip it one way and you see the Metro, flip it another way you see the mall, still another and you have a DC area map. Since it's laminated, I kept it in my pocket while walking around and didn't worry about it getting sweaty or damaged. I really like the detailed names of the buildings and monuments near and around the national mall. Metro stops and streets are well marked. The next best thing to GPS.

This book was exactly what I was looking for. It not only has great recipes in it but also explains the whys of baking. Want to know WHY you don't stir muffins or brownies too much? Want to know WHY your bread dough sometimes doesn't rise right? This book has it all. A great read along with the recipes. Plus, it was $10 cheaper through Amazon than from King Arthur itself.

If you haven't taken time to look this one over, if you're a serious baker, you're missing out on some of the best recipes and information about quality baking! I've been baking for more than 30 years and this is a terrific addition to my cookbook collection that I'll use frequently!

I love my cookbook that I received. It was what I expected it to be and more. It came in a timely manner.

A culinarys arts teacher highly recommeds this King Arthur book. It shipped quickly and was packaged well.

I received this book as a gift this past Christmas, and it is by far the most-used cookbook I own. I have a special penchant for baking, but am only still learning (before this cookbook, I'd only ever really baked cookies).

I can say, then, that this cookbook is excellent for the learning baker. This is the book I used to learn to bake bread (like their delicious and easy Vermont Maple Honey Bread, and the much more complex but oh-so-worth-it Crostini with Basil, Chevre, and Sundried Tomato), and bagels, and the Simple but Perfect Pancake.

The only possible criticism I can muster is that sometimes I cut down a little on the salt and sugar (I don't like things very sweet), but I think with every cookbook you have to learn the writer's taste so you can adjust them to yours.

I LOVE to bake, and I love that just about anything I could want is contained in this book -- along with extremely detailed commentary so that you understand what you're doing, instead of just following directions.

It's those very clear directions, interesting facts, and the indispensable elaboration on specific ingredients in the back of the book that make this a book from which you learn not just recipes but actually how to bake.

So good job, King Arthur Flour -- I'm incredibly grateful I received this book!

As good as a journalistic effort can get...

Like Orwell's Down and Out in London and Paris, times TWO!

Should be on the shelves of anyone with an opinion on immigration, pro or con.

Should be on the shelves of and journalist to teach them what it is all about.

Thanks for this seminal work.

God Bless Humanity and this Earth

I purchased this book for my book club, and although I was a bit perplexed by the choice (living in New England where the immigration problem is not so obvious), I was actually pleasantly surprised.
The topic is one that should be on everyone's mind with respect to the immigration problem in our country.
However, this fresh, personal perspective does give us a "birds eye view" of the life of the Mexican immigrant culture, and how difficult and complex it is. I especially found the book interesting having grown up in California, and observing first hand, what a complicated economic and social problem immigration really is for the immigrants and natives alike.
Although a bit slow in parts, it did give a refreshing insight to the culture that may not have been captured by a mere casual observer. On the other hand, I found the chapter set in the airport quite fascinating and entertaining!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Hispanic immigrant culture.

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in the immigration debate and particularly those hard-liners who would exoriate the Democrats for their solutions that give a measure of "amnesty," or Sen. John McCain for saying, "These people need some of our love and compassion."
This book seems to become only more relevant with time. Ted Conover, as well, is one of the best contemporary journalists, if not the best book-length writer of journalism in this era. He writes from the margins of society with great insight and compassion. You won't be disappointed in anything he's set to paper.

This is one of a handful of books recently written where the author joins a group of undocumented workers crossing the border in attempt to gain employment in the United States. The interesting twist here is that the author, though apparently fluent in Spanish, is white. He also attempts to work in the fields himself, as opposed to simply observing and writing about the work of others. This leads to a number of unique experiences and observations on race relations that are rarely discussed in this context. It also allows the reader to better understand what life is like for many undocumented workers in this country. Kudos to Ted Conover for making a sincere effort to better understand the lives of those that would not otherwise be recorded.

This story rivets the reader to the writer's acceptance (guarded) by poor Hispanics as he seeks to be an Imbed with them when they cross the border at a couple of different sites. There was the interception by Mexican border police and their payoff; then life beyond the border on the way to nearby farms serviced by Coyotes (travel guides and job finders) and potato fields of Idaho (serviced by the same dependable families year after year).
It gives many glimpses of that struggle to pass on a better life to the kids.

The writer may influence many who would become investigative reporters.

I loved it. Nothing was bad. I liked it when Jack and Jim became friends.

This book is about two main charactor, named Jack and Annie, and every day they ask if they can go out side to play, but they actually go out to this tree house that is full of books, and they find a book they like well in this book they found a book with tornadoes in and they decided to wish to go into that book and it took them
there and in the story Annie becomes a teacher who work in a wooden place that had one room and they called it a school. So these funny looking shapes start to appear in sky made out of clouds that looked like
cones and then they started coming down to the floor. If you like old histoy, school and/or tornadoes than I would sujest that you read this book.

This book is about two main charactor, named Jack and Annie, and every day they ask if they can go out side to play, but they actually go out to this tree house that is full of books, and they find a book they like well in this book they found a book with tornadoes in and they decided to wish to go into that book and it took them
there and in the story Annie becomes a teacher who work in a wooden place that had one room and they called it a school. So these funny looking shapes start to appear in sky made out of clouds that looked like
cones and then they started coming dow to the floor

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

The book Twisters on Tuesday features magic, danger and history. The magic is the tree house. I bet you're saying huh? Read the book to find out about this magical adventure.
The main characters of the story are Annie, Jake,Ted and Morgen. Annie is Jake's sister. She likes danger and Jake likes to study.
Ted is a featured charactar in this book. He starts out as a human and changes, into a dog and the story's plot is how Annie and Jake help him. I recommend this book to people who like magic and history in their books.
- Moises

I'm sure I'll see Las Vegas in a different light after reading this book. You can't help but be fascinated by these larger-than-life characters. Steve Wynn is without a doubt the most interesting character in the book, but viewing the city as a competition between titans is something I've never really comprehended on trips to the Strip before. It's a great easy read, with lots of interesting facts. I agree with some reviewers who had problems following the (hazy) timeline, but it didn't diminish from the overall enjoyment.

I just visited Las Vegas and loved it, it was much better than I expected it to be after having toured all around Europe! I bought this book at the airport book store in Vegas as the assistant said that was the book everyone had been asking after. It was a fascinating and entertaining read, with particularly inside information on how Steve Wynn approaches business and also how it contrasts with that of Kirk Kerkorian and Gary Loveman at Harrahs.

I couldn't put it down and recommend it to anyone who has visited Las Vegas and is wondering how it go to be the town that it is today.

Binkley presents an insightful and lively account of some of the players who operate in a world where nothing succeeds like excess. It is a world that the author knows well from her years of having covered the industry as a Wall Street Journal reporter, but, despite being granted unprecedented access to Las Vegas' movers and shakers, she remains a detached observer. From backroom deal-making to outsized egos to glitzy spectaculars, Binkley covers it all with a sprightly writing style, providing insights into what makes men like Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, and Gary Loveman tick.

It was a world I knew nothing about other than a few business trips to Las Vegas, but I found the book highly entertaining and learned a lot about how about how three very different visionaries plotted a path to success. I will enjoy my next business trip to Sin City much more having read this book. I recommend it highly.

A great summation of the last 15 years of Las Vegas, the influences that made it what it is, and the big personalities that rule the land. One negative comment I have is the movie is really two stories in one, Wynn/Kerkorian their deal and influence, and how Loveman/Harrahs elbowed its way from a smalltime operator to major player.

The majority of the book is about Wynn and his influence in Las Vegas and how it developed from the Mirage to the Bellagio to the Wynn. And of course the big occurrence is the buyout of Wynn's operation by Kerkorian when he senses the stock weakness caused by Wynn's lack of management skills. A very fascinating story!

After completing the acquisition the book slows down somewhat as it tells the tale of middle market Harrah's and how it busts into the big time by acquiring Ceasar's. This book explores the mathematical focus at Harrah's and how it increases profitablity. While it's interesting reading how a glorified math professor rises to casino president while retaining his old lifestyle, this section is the least interesting at least for me.

In summary this is a fascinating read of a fascinating city. Just a walk down the strip let's anyone see every part of American culture good and bad as Las Vegas is the mecca of most Americans at some point in their lives.

The Wall Street Journal reporter Christina Binkley was that paper's lead reporter in Las Vegas for 10 years. In "Winner Takes All" she pulls together that experience - both the knowledge and her contacts - and delivers a compelling, enthralling narrative of Vegas' transformation over that period.

The book's sub-title says "Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman and the Race to Own Las Vegas." Binkley posits that a series of mega-deals have apportioned Vegas into three controlling companies: MGM Mirage (headed by Kirkorian); Wynn (Steve Wynn's eponymous new post-Mirage venture); and Harrah's (helmed by ex-Harvard prof Loveman). Binkley appears to have had little access to Kerkorian, (no one does, but read Bill Vlasic's classic Taken for a Ride: How Daimler-Benz Drove Off With Chrysler for a better peek at him) but ample access to his lieutenants. She obviously had developed a cordial relationship with Loveman. What stands out is her relationship with Wynn and wife Elaine. It's extensive, to say the least. She's clearly enchanted with the guy.

In fact, that relationship leads me to my major problem with the book - it simply lacks credibility to leave Sheldon Adelson - Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sand Corporation (Venetian, Sands Convention Center, Palazzo) - out of the story. He, as much as anyone, set the pace for Vegas during Binkley's years of coverage. And, he made the leap to Macao ahead of any of his Vegas peers. It's blatantly obvious from the text that Ms. Binkley has a history with Adelson. Yes, he's famously dyspeptic and probably has little use for her. But Adelson has also feuded publicly and nastily with Steve Wynn. Wynn uses Binkley here quite transparently to take a number of gratuitous slams at Adelson. She's little more than a water-carrier in that regard. That's sad because it detracts from the overall excellence of the book in a very distracting way.

A tale of the tape:

p. 89 - Adelson described as a "would-be mogul" who "irked Wynn"

p. 93 - Adelson is "warring with Wynn"

p. 209 - Adelson described as Wynn's "nemesis and neighbor"

p. 250 - The "eccentric" Adelson takes Sands public and is "catapulted from obscurity to number 19 on the Forbes 400" (Hello?? COMDEX, anyone? This guy was hardly obscure pre-Sands; his success was far from the luck and accident implied here).

p. 271 - 272 - Wynn takes a moment to "pity" Adelson...'It's too bad he's not in better health and able to enjoy it more. He's in a wheelchair.' That's cold, man.

p. 276 - "Loveman lost the Singapore bid to Sheldon Adelson." Adelson didn't win it, right? Loveman lost it. It's like Adelson and team had no role and won by default. Hardly.

I've not cherry-picked the negative references - those are the ONLY references! Juvenile stuff. What a shame.

Probably your best bargain in the ufo category written by a physicist once employed (through civilian contractors) by the Air Force. Despite what the nay-sayers have written here, this is your best buy on the subject, from a no-nonsense researcher.

Mr. Friedman summarizes the best cases, though providing many resources for you to look up on your own. He explains in detail the fallacies of arguments against these best cases. In fact, he encourages you to read the original sources and so follow in his footsteps.

I admire this man for his courage to speak out when to do so, brings censure and derision. Good work! And a very good buy for you.

For the best of the subject, I heartily recommend this book and the following: Night Siege: The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings, by Hynek et al, Interdimensional Universe by Imbrogno, Dark Mission by Hoagland, and Alien Agenda by Marrs.

Finally a book on Flying Saucers/UFO's that gets away from the old genre and brings us into the 21st century. Stanton Friedman's handling of the subject is befitting a man of his education as a scientist and stature as a life long researcher and believer in the phenomenon. This should be required reading in every news room across the globe. Let every empty talking/writing head who ever made fun of the idea or derided those that reported the sightings take a sobering look at themselves and the matter. I hope I live long enough to see this government 'give it up' and open up their UFO files to the world. Best work yet on this issue.

Readers looking for a scientific appraisal of the UFO phenomenon or even a coherent overview of the subject should look elsewhere. Friedman's rambling polemic achieves neither objective.

The author spends the first third of this rather slender volume rehashing a number of reports issued decades ago. He presents no new evidence and basically insists that a careful reading of these old documents will prove that some UFOs are alien spacecraft.

The remainder of the book is largely dedicated to claiming a government cover-up and rebutting his critics, many of whom are dead. Ironically, he denounces the critics for making unwarranted assumptions about the motivations of a reputed alien civilization, then proceeds to do exactly the same thing himself. For instance, he suggests that one reason the aliens don't reveal themselves is that they would want little direct contact with beings who spend vast amounts on armaments while permitting 30,000 children to starve to death each day. Moreover, they might avoid landing on the White House lawn because it is in a "no fly" zone and heavily defended.

Apart from its superficial content, the rambling and repetitive text has the feel of a compilation of dictated notes. For example, Friedman informs us at least five times that the stars Zeta 1 and Zeta 2 Reticuli are only 1/8 of a light year apart from each other, and he repeatedly notes that 300,000 documents in the Eisenhower Library are still classified. Numbered points that promise a concise examination of some issue frequently drift into petulant asides or long lists of irrelevant facts. Someone named Kara Reynolds is identified as the book's editor. She must have been on holiday when this book passed muster.

This is a poor effort, especially for someone who has spent a lifetime investigating the subject.

Stanton Friedman does UFOs as a profession, lecturing, writing so my question is how can he research this topic in an objective manner? Also, it seems stranger than the topic to continue to use the old term "Flying Saucer" I think the material in this book is too one sided.

Just because you have a degree in science (masters in physics) doesn't automatically make everything you do scientific. In fact, very little research that Stanton Friedman has done recently could truely be called scientific, historical maybe, but not scientific. He speaks with the most authority when discussing exotic propulsion systems based on his record of employment decades ago, but he seems to have lost the concept of science since then. It is highly unlikely that memories of an abduction recovered via hypnosis would even be accepted as evidence in a court of law and it certainly couldn't be considered scientific. In fact, Mr.Friedman may be slightly paranoid on this point because he spends a good deal of print blasting those who think differently than he does.

I am an aspiring photographer. I was actually in the book store the other day just browsing and I picked up this book as well as the other 2 in this series (which are on there way). I was very impressed so I came home and got on Amazon. I got mine used (in great shape) for 10 bucks shipped...How can you go wrong there.

The reason I purchased this book is because I think it is really good to see what has made it to print and to get a feel for what a huge magazine deems good for print in it's pages...that alone is worth studying and again 10 bucks shipped, is a killer deal!!!!!! Also another great thing about this book is that it has photos from 80 years ago and for those photographers wanting to gain that feel in their photos, it offers a great place to reference to see how it was done in print (not on some tute from the internet).

Another great aspect to this is that if you ever entertain and have this on the coffee table it is great for guests, creates conversation and also makes you look very well versed! ;-)

Fast shipping, love the book, but the front cover was tattered on the edges. Thanks!

For such a large book, the images that are exceptional are few. I was disappointed, given the huge assortment of excellent NG photos from which to choose, that these were deemed "greatest." Worth the $20, but not much more.

I came across 3 National Geographic photo books while doing some Christmas shopping. The first one a found was In Focus, which is a history of portraits. I also found this book and the Wide Angle book. After carefully researching the reviews and looking at them in a bookstore, I bought IN FOCUS. I agree with other reviewers that this book and Wide Angle are too grainy, not top quality photos. Wide Angle was actually boring photos with no information in the captions to help romanticize the photos. IN Focus has better quality photos. It will make a great gift for someone who loves National Geographic but may not impress the aspiring photographer. The captions aren't fantastic, but if you love National Geographic, you don't need someone to spell out for you what the beauty of each picture can show. My complaint is that the caption isn't always on the same page as the picture. You may have to flip forward or backward to find out what you are looking at which is some what distracting to the flow. Point is, it is a coffee table book. Would make a great book for a lobby of a business where people have to wait and need something to look at.

We were highly disappointed in this book. The photos were grainy and certainly not National Geographics greatest! We have seen absolutely stunning shots from them in the past and not one was included in this book. It was a great disappointment.

This book may disappoint you a bit if you are used to Bryson's other books. It contains the characteristic marks of Bryson's books, but it isn't as well done as the others. Something is missing. Maybe the brief format or more serious subject matter tempered things a bit? I don't know. Oh well, this book was done for a good cause. And I applaud that effort.

Loved the book, which is written with Bryson's characteristic humor. With a very detailed account of his short trip to Kenya, I could see what Bryson was seeing and feel what he was feeling all along the way. I would highly recommend the book for giving an eye-opening glimpse into the lives of people in Kenya. The proceeds from the book's sale go to CARE.

this book was short, but what can you expect when he only spends a week there? he brings the reality of africa and kenya and all of the proceeds go to CARE.

As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time in the country of Kenya, I enjoyed reading Bryson's thoughts and comments about the sites and sounds of East Africa, many of which I have observed myself. I just would have like to have heard more. Great read for someone who has been there because the allusions and humor definitely hit home.

Bill Bryson is the funniest travel writer working today, I believe, and even when he takes on what is an unpleasant task - visiting one of the most depressed areas of the world in order to raise funds for CARE, he does it in a hilarious way.

In this short little book, Bryson not only shares with us his (by turns) funny and heartbreaking journey, we also get to meet some amazing people. The lady who works twelve-hour days in order to get a profit of some $7 or $8 - the farmer who has made a fantastic farm and is very proud of it - the villagers who come out to welcome the visitors with open arms because of a well that was built, eliminating the need for the women of the village to make a seven-hour roundtrip journey to the nearest water source. This is what it's all about - this is the magical work that CARE does with the funds that are donated.

Bryson is his usual, witty self, freely confessing that the homework he did in preparing for his trip was watching Out of Africa numerous times, and he thought that he was going to be on an estate being served coffee for most of the trip. The reality was somewhat different, but still far afield from what he expected. That I not only laughed out loud but insisted on reading choice bits aloud to my husband is a testament to the talent and humor that Bryson brings to everything he does.

The one thing I dread about traveling is dragging my heavy luggage around. I appreciated the author's solid tips on packing lighter. I'm going to try her bundle packing method in 2 weeks and believe it will work just great. I appreciated her lists and pointing out the things I probably could leave behind. She also listed many websites where I could review and buy luggage and packing accessory items. If I follow her advice I think my next vacation will be a little more pleasant than previous ones. Thanks!

I got this book used, so for me it was a good value. I read it in a day, at least the parts that pertained to me. I did get some useful info. and have dog eared at least 20 pages for my upcoming travel, she mostly talkes about carry on, but it would be helpful to read if you check your bag too. I travel usually 3-4 times a year and each time have slight packing anxiety, what am i forgetting ect. and end up bringing way too much. A helpful guide book.

Provided excellent help to my wife as she prepared for a trip to the Holy Land

First, decide you're ready to travel hassle-free (or as close to it as possible). Next, visualize your perfect carry-on travel wardrobe. Author and packing expert Judith Gilford makes it all a breeze in this readable, oddly interesting handbook. She includes specific lists to jumpstart your thinking about packing for business, vacation and special itineraries - adventure, business or cruise travel, for instance. She offers great tips, from how to pack a layered bundle to keep your clothes wrinkle-free to the best practices for stain removal. getAbstract recommends her guidelines if you want to be able to travel light and still have everything you need upon arrival.

All my life I have yearned for some unknown knowledge. Feeling incomplete, I began at an early age to selfishly take in as much information as possible. I read everything I could get my hands on, encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, but nothing could quench this thirst. That is until I found this book. I still remember the day fate brought it to me. Opening its crisp pages I began to take in its glorious advice. Immediately captivated, I read the book uninterrupted from cover to cover, twice. Hours later, as I reluctantly closed the book, I breathed a sigh of relief. My soul at rest, I put down "The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler".

I truely was surprised how much information was available and delighted by the travel possibilities to corners of Hawaii that I never thought of visiting. I found the itinerary planning part of the book most useful and interesting. The photos blew me away and tempted me to call United for a flight to the Big Island.

This book helped me chose Kaua'i for my recent trip and I couldn't be happier. Highly recommended if you are going to Hawaii for the first time and aren't sure how to plan your trip. I think its usefulness is limited to planning though. I left it at home once I decided on Kaua'i.

We loved this colorful guide with all its photos of all the Hawaiian islands. If you want to experience Hawaii's outdoors from more than a car window this is the resource to use. Superbly organized with a spark of humor and wit. A sane approach for tackling your vacation itinerary. We take it down from our shelf often and dream away. Next stop: Kauai.

My boyfriend and I just returned from Hawaii and spent one week on Maui and two weeks on the Big Island. We easily decided to visit these two islands after cruising through No Worries Hawaii.

The guide sections off every island for you and highlights what's hot and holds your hand getting through the reservation system so you can get the best deals. Knowing the location we wanted to stay proved important and how to ask the right questions helped so much. Upper floor, end unit, away from the pool was right for us.

Plenty of pictures, plenty of practical advice sold us over and over. I'm sitll wondering how they got so much good stuff inside in such an organized fashion. I guess because they have already plenty of experience writing guides for each island for 20 years. Read them, they know what they're talking about.

This guide with its inviting cover arrived on my birthday in January, a present from my wife who had been wanting to visit Hawaii for years. We planned every aspect of our vacation with it and are glad we did. These authors are a rare combination of experienced travel writers and athletes so you get to the heart and soul of the island from the ground up. All the practical information inside paid off when we made our reservations and being able to review each island and compare, compare, compare made it a cinch to plan our itinerary.

The No Worries doesn't just stick to the places tourists congregate. Instead it draws on all the islands and completely circles each. If you want a thorough education on what Hawaii is all about or a complete photo tour, you'll find both inside.

Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive
Hawaii The Big Island Trailblazer: Where to hike, snorkel, surf, bike, drive