This book serves as a fantastic visual dictionary for all things volcanic. It is a large book, with a simple, straightforward and very useful format . Seemingly every type of volcanic feature is illustrated with large, clear black and white photos. Plus the geographic location of every feature illustrated is noted in the text. There are even photos of the moon! Plus a very nice glossary. This is a great book to have on your reference shelf and will well-serve amateurs to professionals, children to adults. Neat!

Henry Moore is a wise man and it is nice to know that his words do justice to his talent as a sculptor. Musings is too light a term to use for the warm, down-to-earth essays that Moore provides us as he shares his thoughts and experiences with life, art, and aesthetics. With the words are page after page of photos of Moore, his work, along with images of things that have been his inspirations. This is a book about art appreciation, but grounded in the practicality of a working, master artist who is humble and thoughtful. It is hard to imagine how any sculptor who hopes to create works of lasting greatness could not profit and indeed be inspired by knowing this book. But Moore's basic, fundamental philosophies about art and life make this a book of vital inspiration for just about anyone who likes to think of, and operate in the world, along artistic terms. It is a warm, friendly unimposing book grounded with the weight of deep truth and careful observation.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio tape version of this book and wished it were longer. If there was an unabridged version, I would buy it. I kept this in my car tape player for a week or so while doing short errands, and found myself sitting in the car in parking lots listening a little longer when I should have been getting out and getting my errands over with. Frazier is the ultimate dry-humorist with a very humble style, layering facts upon facts, upon observations notebook-style and leaving me chuckling without him ever having "cracked a joke." The tape simultaneously made me want to drive through the Great Plains while also making me feel that if I never do visit the region I have a much better idea of it. I learned about Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, General Custer, contemporary folks, the land, much more. What is particular noteworthy about this tape, is that unlike so many audio books, this one is read by the author himself. While not the sonorous-voiced typical narrator I was expecting, I ultimately found Frazier's voice particularly charming and satisfying, knowing that probably no one else could capture the essence and tone of the work so well. There is compassion in his voice, enthusiasm, wonderment and wry humor. This tape set was fun, humorous, educational, heartfelt, and as open and breezy as the Great Plains. Thank you Ian Frazier!

It's true that this book could get people in trouble. It's also true that there is no better book on hopping trains and there is not likely to be a better book on the subject coming out any time soon. And while this book may encourage some to hop trains who may not have otherwise, for those who are going to do it anyway, this book is very likely to save lives and limbs, and make the rail-riding adventure much more enjoyable, by educating them about the crucial do's and don'ts.

This is no fly-by-night publication. The depth and breadth of detail the author brings to this classic work is astounding and makes it a must-read for any railroad fan, whether they are ever going to hop a freight or not. The author writes what he knows from plenty of first-hand experience, and he conveys his knowledge clearly, in a nice, engaging tone.

You learn how trains and the North American rail system really works from a perspective you aren't going to find in any other book. In addition to answering just about any question you can imagine regarding "riding the rails" hobo style in North America, this book delves into railroad history, explains details about the different kinds of cars, types of track and their components, how to read signals, what goes on in freightyards, hbits and attitudes of railroad workers, etc.

It has a detailed 44-page glossary of railroad terms and slang, a list of the best railroad yards in every state for catching a ride, a bibliography, and a detailed index. And there are a lot of photos, as well.

The author's new foreward in the second editon that came out in 2001, acknowledges one area that could stand to be updated since the book was first published in 1993. Since then a number of so-called "hobo-proof" style freight cars have been added to the rail lines, types that are not covered in the book. But as the author writes, these new inventions are not flawless, and hobos will develop their own work-arounds, and the info in this book can certainly aid those efforts.

But as I said before, whether you ride the rails or not, reading this book is going to give you insights and information about railroading that can otherwise only be gotten by working for years on the railroad or by doing a lot of freight hopping.

Anyone doing critical literary study of Zora Neal Hurston and her writing will find this book a must read. And just plain fans of her work, who happen to have a scholarly nature, will likely find something of interest here as well, if it be only the reprints of various reviews of Hurston's books from the time of their original publication in the 1930s and 1940s. After the 34 pages of book reviews, at the heart of the book are 14 critical essays on Hurston's work from 14 different scholars. Also includes a brief chronology of Hurston's life, a bibliography, and an index. All in all, a lot of perspectives and commentary and scholarship all brought together in a compact volume that would be especially useful for scholars studying American literature, Black Studies, or Women's Studies.

This is a serious, broad, but detailed exploration of the samurai tradition. Lots of information is presented in a readable, handsome format, suitable for casual browsing or more concentrated study. This book is lavishly illustrated and contains detailed history of the samurai. The illustrations include maps, lots of reproductions of Japanese paintings, plus razor-sharp, close-up photos of Samurai armor and weapons. The book is fully indexed, has a glossary of terms, and includes an appendix listing Japanese emperors, empresses, and shoguns in chronological order, with biographical information. The author explains the lives and attitudes of the samurai, their etiquette, armor, weapons, tactics, rituals. History of the samurai wars is also included. This is definitely a worthwhile, quality book, that, while it may not provide revelations for PhD scholars on the subject, it will certainly serve the interests and tastes of the vast majority of people who are drawn to this subject and would like a book that provides a fine overview of the subject, peppered with fascinating facts and details, in a handsome volume worthy of the coffee table or den.

This a fascinating, beautifully photographed, colorful field guide to some incredible creatures that crawl, climb, hop and swim in Hawaii. You'll learn what they look like, where they live, how they live, where they came from, how they reproduce, how to care for them in captivity, and interesting, fascinating facts about each of the species covered. The large color photographs are particularly striking. Includes glossary, bibliography, index and distribution maps. You'll find this book interesting whether or not you take it into the field, and even if you have only a mild interest in the subject. It's easy to get pulled in. Good job!

Here you can read a modern French philosopher's impressions of America. The author writes poetically and impressionistically about his visits to California and New York and points in between. He is simultaneously impressed, charmed, confounded, curious, and intrigued by this big country and its people, in contrast to Europe and Europeans. This is not so much a travelogue, but rather a gentle and thoughtful dissection of American culture, done in drive-by fashion, taking in the architecture, billboards, men and women on the sidewalks, the corner stop-and-shops, the geography, the highways, deserts, even the skies. This is not a book putting down America, as one might eroneously assume, but neither is it a pat-on-the-back. For American readers, it will serve as a mirror that reflects striking realities, both flattering and not, that, nevertheless, have become so common to us Americans that they are practically invisible to us, if not for the insightful light shined by this urbane French writer. Think of this book as a French impressionistic painting of America,--more in the "people-caught-in-the-act" style of Manet, rather than Monet with his lillies and haystacks--where the mundane, the ugly, the beautiful and the grandiose blend into a composition of insight, harmony and even-handed judgement of the particulars.

I love this book. The title is misleading however.This book focuses on bitchen electric guitars, their history, the wild and unusual models, the classics, and specific legendary guitars used by the guitar gods like Hendrix, Clapton, etc.. It's full of photos and great facts, and the lineage of models and history of the manufacturers. What is really neat are the photos of all the odd models made by companies other than the big names like Fender and Gibson. Besides all the fine photos and great layout, there is a lot of interesting information about the influence and use of various guitars on different bands and sounds from the sixties. The layout is really something--not only are there photos of cool guitars, there are also photos of vintage magazine ads for various guitar models, photos of rarely seen album covers from obscure sixties guitar bands, etc. Reading is not necessasary to enjoy this book! But there is plenty to read as well. This is a fun book. Anyone who has ever looked longingly at some old electric guitar on stage or hanging on a shop wall is sure to get a kick out of this book. Great gift.