Book Description
Travel guides come and go, but the Footprint South American Handbook, now in its 82nd edition and with over 1 million copies sold, holds a special place as the gold standard in the field. With nearly 1,700 pages, this guide contains almost 40 percent more information than its nearest competitor. Footprint South American Handbook 2006 takes the adventurous traveler far from the gringo trail to explore the landscapes, wildlife, archaeology, and folk culture of this vast continent, from the Orinoco Delta to the southern ice fields of Chile and Argentina. Called the "Backpacker’s Bible," this guide covers every inch of South America, including the Guianas and the Falkland Islands. Rigorously checked and updated each year, the book features objective recommendations of great places to stay and eat, from colonial haciendas to simple palm-thatch beach huts; an extensive planning section with tips on how to get off the beaten track; historical and cultural background; and a full-color highlights map.
Customer Reviews:
Still the best..........2007-10-11
This is still the best, esp for all you boomer hippies who hiked the Inca Trail in the '60's and '70's...
Not Delivered.......2007-07-23
This item was never delivered so I did not have a chance to review it.
Comparing Footprint.......2007-03-09
This Footprint guide definitely compares to Lonely Planet. It is laid-out very well and easy to follow. The only thing I miss is the actual prices for accomodations. Even though they change quickly, it is a better way to make comparisons.
Less Budget Accommodations/Youth Hostels than 2003 Ed........2007-01-14
I am a budget backpacker. I owned and used the 2003 S.A. edition three years ago and must say that the 2007 S.A. edition is not as budget friendly when it comes to accommodations. I am in South America for 5 months and left the 2003 edition at home thinking that the 2007 edition would have the same listings along with new listings. Not so. For example, one of my favorite budget hostels in Argentina that still exists and was once in the book is no longer in it. When I asked the hostel why they are not in the 2007 Footprint book they said that one has to pay several hundred dollars to be in it these days. And that's just to have a few sentences about the place. I have just about found each city's budget accommodations (i.e. youth hostels) on the internet during this trip because the 2007 Footprint just doesn't cut it in this department.
Otherwise, the book does have good information in other areas. But I don't know if I'd be carrying this thick book all over the place for 5 months if I had known about its lack of budget accommodations listings.
Footprint South American Handbook 2007.......2007-01-09
Simply excellent! Not only for backpackers but for everyone who need detailed information on travelling in South America. What a pity there is no German edition of that book.
Book Description
Environment, Origins, and Population covers the natural environment of the continent to which Indian cultures adapted in prehistoric and historic times, natural resources utilized by these cultures, current knowledge of the earliest Indian occupation (before 9,000 B.C.), and the human biology of Indian and Eskimo populations, prehistoric, historic, and modern. There are 73 chapters written by 96 scholars from leading academic institutions and research firms. The volume is heavily referenced with a bibliography of 9,600 entries and a detailed index.
Book Description
New Book bridges Ancient Wisdom with Modern Technology!
Dr. Randall C. Jimenez, a San Jose State University educator, and Richard B. Graeber, an engineering documentation specialist, have collaborated to bring the first Technical Manual for the Aztec Calendar ever produced. The book was created to address a lack of clear, concise information regarding this ancient native artifact and to correct inaccuracies as taught in history classes across the U.S. today. By using concise documentation techniques, over 240 sources were compressed into a 100-page book, which includes 150 technical drawings, 230 word native glossary, timeline and a 12-page bibliography.
This unique book entitled Aztec Calendar Handbook, on the surface appears to be about the Sun Stone, but in reality is about of Native American history. Chapters include; the History of the Aztec Calendar, Native American Time-keeping, Keepers of Time, Founding of Tenochtitlan and the Legend of Quetzalcoatl. It is designed as an accessible authority on the Aztec Calendar and the people that had such a profound effect on the shaping of modern America.
By looking at myths, legends & history with an Aztec's perception of God, this new Manual provides needed answers to many important questions.
Customer Reviews:
Tlazo'camati (Thank You).......2007-01-30
Tlazo'camati, my book came nicely packed & secured and in no time I had it in my hands. Great service. Thank You.
clear, easy to understand handbook.......2002-09-11
This book is clear, non-technical, and easy to read and understand. People interested in the subject will find it useful.
Aztec Calendar Handbook.......2002-09-08
Grammatical aside, there is no other treatise on pre-Columbian America and the Aztec Calendar as complete, concise and thought provoking as this one. I didn't notice the grammatical error until the fellow from Tejas spotted it. I was too amazed at having my perception of Native America shattered. After reading many books on the Aztecs, I bought this book and was favorably impressed by the depth, continuity and treatment of the entire subject matter. There is so much information in this book its astounishing. The bibliography contains over 200 sources. Direct eyewitnesses from the 16th century are quoted. The Time-Line is great. I will be referring to this book for years to come.
Book Description
This comprehensive guide provides up-to-date, lively descriptions of Argentina’s hotels, restaurants, bars, and all-important Tango clubs. It offers detailed coverage of Patagonia and the adventure and eco-travel scenes, and features both major attractions and the best off-the-beaten-track spots. Also included is a wealth of information on feasts, festivals, food, fashion, fads, and folklore.
Customer Reviews:
This 2007 / 4th Edition is a great guide for Argentina and an excellent guide for Patagonia. .......2007-02-27
There was a day when Rough Guide and Lonely Planet were the best guides for travelers that sought to leave the tour groups behind and explore on their own. But slowly, year by year, Footprint has improved, and now this 4th edition is one of the best guides for Argentina that you can buy. *Note that this review is for the the 4th edition, other reviews below are probably refering to the 3rd Edition.
I took five travel guides with me to explore Argentina/Patagonia, and I found myself consistently reaching for Footprint first. It is the most current (2006) and the guide consistently listed quality accommodations and good restaurants, some of which were exemplary. The city maps in the guide are excellent. All the restaurants and hotels are well marked on each map. Kudos.
Footprint Argentina's background section (history, religion, culture etc.) is well written, brief, yet informative. There is an abundance of website references throughout the text and a website listing for almost every accommodation = excellent.
I spent five weeks exploring Patagonia and found Footprint to be the best single guide to have. More than 200 pages in this Argentinean guide are devoted to this region, including a section on Chilean Patagonia. If you purchase "Time Out Patagonia" (see my review) you will have the best two guides possible for Patagonia.
On the downside Footprint uses a cumbersome letter system instead of just telling you the price for accommodations (i.e., LL=$200 plus, L=$150-$200, AL=$101-$150, A,B,C,D,E,F etc. -- putting the legend at the back of the book - a serious hassle). It also fails to tell you what is the price range for the restaurants; so at one eatery you could pay $10 for your meal, then have a $35 bill at another. Not good. The descriptions of the restaurants are insipid and verge on being meaningless: "tasty food", "cosy", "very popular", "delicious food". Whereas, other good guides (Rough Guide - also highly recommended - see my review) give you pointers: "best grilled shrimp ever" / "the steaks here are the best in town" etc.
Bottom line: this is a very good guide for Argentina and the best guide for those that are going to Patagonia. Highly recommended
Totally useless!.......2006-05-26
Everything about this book, from phone numbers to accommodation reviews, has been almost laughably wrong. I've never felt compelled to write a review on amazon before, but this book has been so inaccurate I think I should warn people. The only reason anyone should buy this book is to do the exact OPPOSITE of whatever it says. I doubt this author has even been to the places she writes about, that's how consistently wrong this book is. It is impossible to locate a copyright date, and they probably did that on purpose, considering many places have closed and info is obviously outdated. I understand that some places change over time, but I've given this book a chance in 10 different places throughout Argentina and the advice here has failed miserably.
Not bad, but...........2005-12-25
I returned from Argentina just two weeks ago, and I used this book exclusively. I usually use the "Let's Go" guides when I travel, and I didn't like this one nearly as much. Too many superlatives throughout the book - unfortunately not everything can be amazing or fantastic - so after a while there was really no way to differenciate the truly fantastic (the falls or Perito Moreno Glacier), from the just so so things. And regardless of what the book says, unless you love to eat beef and pork every meal, the food is terrible. Very mediocre pasta and pizzas everywhere, and vegetarians are highly restricted. The food was definitely the lowlight of our trip. If interested in hiking and the outdoors - plan on spending the majority of your time way down south. El Calafate, El Chalten, and Ushuaia are all truly amazing areas. And if you can fit the Falls in, they are definitely worth the trip. The prices in the book were pretty accurate, although things tended to be a bit higher. But it is still quite inexpensive. We thought the book did a poor job of letting you know just how difficult it would be to get to many of the wilderness areas without your own car or hiring an expensive guide. Another thing to remember when planning your trip is that it is much cheaper in the North, and the buses are nicer and more plentiful. Overall, I thought it was a good book, but the authors could have been a bit more honest about the shortcomings of the country.
Highly recommended -.......2004-12-03
We travelled around Argentina out of season using this guide and the Rough Guide, and found that we turned time and again to the Footprint Guide for reliable and up-to-date information. I broke my ankle in Salta, but thanks to this guide, we were booked into a fantastic hotel, and later spent a few nights luxuriating in a gorgeous and fantastic value for money estancia in Pumamarca, which went some way towards saving the holiday from disaster. If you're thinking of going to Argentina, go now, and take this guide with you!
A fantastic book.......2004-12-03
We travelled to Argentina recently and used this as our only guide. The information was accurate, well presented and current. My wife particularly enjoyed the writer's excellent and as she herself said, elegant descriptive prose. We had a marvellous time on the strength of some of her recommendations, most particularly the Lake district and Mendoza where we ate enough meat to see us both through to our pensions. Many thanks Ms Dilks!
Book Description
From the publisher of the legendary South America Handbook comes the fifth edition of the most practical and informative guide available to this remarkably diverse country and its breathtakingly beautiful island neighbor. Husband-and-wife team Robert and Daisy Kunstaetter bring a combined total of 40 years of living and traveling in Latin America to their coverage of this tiny equatorial nation, leading readers on excursions both on and off the "banana pancake trail," including Quito, the jungle, the Pacific Coast, the national parks, and volcanoes. Footprint Ecuador and Galápagos also includes full coverage of the islands that inspired the theory of evolution, from the legendary "center of the earth" to the Avenue of Volcanoes. Fully researched, checked, and updated by the authors, this guide includes tips for culture-sensitive travel, advice for women traveling alone, and a comprehensive background section with Spanish words and phrases.
Customer Reviews:
Bang for the Buck This is the Best Equador Guide Out.......2006-02-22
There was a day when `Rough Guide' and `Lonely Planet' were the best South America guides available for travelers that go "off the beaten path." But slowly, year by year, `Footprint's coverage of South America has improved, and now Footprint is the best Ecuadoran guide you can buy.
I have lived, on-and-off, in Peru for 10 years. Being allergic to the fumes of tour buses and the crush of camera slinging sightseers, I seek out South America's extraneous locations. For the past few years I have used my slowly disintegrating car to drive the highways (poco) and byways (mucho), that South America offers. This year I drove from my home, near Cusco, to Equador.
Of the five guide books that I took with me, I found myself consistently reaching for `Footprint' first. The guide listed the best (clean & reasonably priced) accommodations, and the best restaurants, some of which were exemplary. Most important, `Footprint' listed places that the other guides missed completely, and they were great "finds"!
Regarding Quito, the Galapagos and other "must see" tourist destinations, `Footprint' has solid recommendations and very good coverage. FYI - Quito has become one of the top centers for studying Spanish in Latin America, and the Spanish language school section in this guide is excellent. Also, noteworthy is the "Special Interest Travel" section, which includes: Birdwatching, Climbing, Scuba Diving, Rafting, Biking, Trekking, etc.
All that glitter is not gold (so said Pizarro), and the guide does have flaws. `Footprint' continues to use the cumbersome use of letters to tell you the `approximate price' for accommodations (i.e., LL=$150 and up, L=$100-$149, A=$66-$99, B=$31-$45 until you get to my price range - G=$3 and under). The legend is at the front of the book, and, unless you have a good memory for the mundane, you will find yourself flipping back and forth. It would definitely be more "user friendly" just to quote the price in dollars. The city maps are too small, and definitely not as good as most other guides; and the guide has more than 60 intrusive advertisements for hotels & tour companies which causes one to question the integrity of the author's recommendations.
Bang-for-the-buck, this is the best guide out for exploring Equador. It gives you more choices than the other guides and I found the listing always reliable. 4.5 stars
Really Disappointing.......2005-08-11
Having used a couple of Footprint Guides in Southeast Asia, I came to think of them as the best of all guidebooks. So I was really excited to see a new edition of this book coming out a month before I'm due to leave for Ecuador - both the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide were last published a couple of years ago, making the information several years out of date.
The book is a real disappointment for the independent traveler. Descriptions of sights are terse, more on the level of Lonely Planet than Rough Guide's sometimes overly detailed enthusiasms. That would be excusable if the coverage of basic travel information were complete, but it's not. Worst of all, there's a single bus chart at the front of the book, with prices and travel times but not frequencies. Individual cities sometimes have bus schedules, sometimes not, and some bus connections that are in RG and LP simply aren't listed. Does the bus to where I need to go run once a day, once an hour, every 10 minutes, or never? Tell me, dammit...I'm sorry, that's a lot more important information than where to get a great French meal in Quito. (The authors basically say, "There are a lot of excellent luxury restaurants in Quito, so we'll tell you where to find expensive fondue, but we can't be bothered listing inexpensive places." Jeez...)
Astonishingly, there's not even a schedule of when and how often buses leave Quito for other destinations. That's understandable in a Fodor's, but when the much shorter Ecuador chapter in the South American Handbook is of more concrete help in planning a trip than the new Ecuador Footprint, something's wrong.
Used to be that Footprints had compact and reliable hotel, restaurant, and transport information. In this one, the list of Quito restaurants and nightclubs is nearly as long as the entire section on sightseeing. It's not a total disaster, but it's really a letdown. I'll be taking the Rough Guide, too, and if this weren't a lot more current than RG, I'd return it.
Book Description
From lagoon swimming in the Cook Islands to witnessing the race of the banana bearers in the Heiva i Tahiti festival, travelers will find the best of the South Pacific—both popular and obscure—in this guidebook. Moon Handbooks South Pacific provides in-depth coverage of outdoor recreation, with specifics on swimming, diving, yachting, kayaking, biking, hiking, camping, climbing, caving, and horseback riding. Complete with helpful maps, photographs and illustrations, as well as useful advice on practicalities such as food, entertainment, shopping, visas, money, health, packing, and inter-island travel, this guidebook offers the tools you need for a uniquely personal experience.
Customer Reviews:
Moon Handbooks South Pacific.......2007-07-17
Moon Handbooks South Pacific is the ultimate overview for traveling on any of the island groups of the South Pacific. This 1091 paged book is full of detailed travel information but is still practical sized to tuck in a daypack for easy reference. Furthermore, this book has plenty of fairly detailed maps, complete with accurate distance scales, for easy travel planning or reference while you travel.
There are eighteen chapters in Moon Handbooks South Pacific: Introduction; Exploring the Islands; French Polynesia; Pitcairn Islands; Easter Islands; Cook Islands; Niue; Kingdom of Tonga; American Samoa; Samoa; Tokelau; Wallis and Futuna, Tuvalu; Fiji Islands; New Caledonia; Vanuatu; Solomon Islands, and Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on the South Pacific area. This detailed information includes geology, climate, flora, fauna, history, economy, and the government of these islands. The next chapter, Exploring the Islands, contains general information on sports and recreation; entertainment; public holidays and festivals; arts and crafts; accommodations; and food as well as contacts for information and services; health; getting there; and getting around while in the south pacific. This chapter also includes a what to take section. The Resources chapter contains further information on suggested readings and internet resources.
The rest of the chapters in Moon Handbooks South Pacific focus on particular geographical regions, islands, or groups of islands within the South Pacific island groups. The first paragraph or page of each regional section describes a little about the region. After this overview, individual sights, recreation areas, special events, accommodations, food services, information services, and transportation services are depicted in detail. Depending on the size and general amount of facilities in a given region, there may be only one or two entries per category or over a dozen. Each entry contains the location, contacts, costs, and a short paragraph description of the facility or event featured. Several black and white maps and photographs accompany each section, clearly marked with the various facilities described in that particular section.
Moon Handbooks South Pacific is a helpful guide for anyone planning on traveling to any of the islands of the South Pacific island groups. Very complete key information is provided for easy reference while planning or while travel. However, this book may also be just as interesting for the armchair traveler as this book contains ample information about the natural environment, history, and culture on these beautiful islands.
Incredibly Useful Guide.......2005-11-28
As one of the editors of Travelers' Tales 30 Days in the South Pacific, I found David Stanley's Moon Handbook, South Pacific to be an indispensible guide during a recent trip through the South Pacific
Sean O'Reilly
Editor-at-Large
Travelers' Tales
Moon Handbooks South Pacific.......2005-08-21
A great value to anyone planning a trip to the South Pacific! Detailed, informative, educational...what more could anyone want.
An Excellent Guide.......2005-02-23
Brilliant. Over the last couple of years I have become a huge fan of David Stanley guides to the South Pacific. His books have been travelling companions to Fiji and the Cook Islands and this latest edition is informative, entertaining, affectionate and honest. David has an uncanny eye for detail as well as doing 'the hard yards' for in-depth research. I lived in Vanuatu for several years and I even found that section enlightening. I plan to travel to Samoa shortly and know that I will enjoy the in-flight reading because, on my essentials to pack list, the Moon Handbook South Pacific is up there with 'toothbrush' and 'sunscreen'.
Excellent Publiction!.......2005-02-07
I am a Professor of Anthropology at California State University, Chico (using my wife's AMAZON account to submit this review). David Stanley has written another definitive masterpiece on the Pacific! We were in Tahiti last month (for 24 days) and used his TAHITI (& COOK ISLANDS) HANDBOOK extensively: it was current and as up-to-date as one could get in a published item.
I have used a previous version of the SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK as a required text for an anthropology class at my university and it was well-received by the students. While this latest handbook is LARGER than your average paperback it is well-worth the extra weight to carry with you as you go through the South Pacific: with information on anthropology, biology, culture and history, as well as Internet access and a host of other valuable information for the intelligent traveller, the latest Stanley publication is in keeping with his other works: an excellent publication!
Book Description
From the live music in Nashville to Civil War Monuments and hiking in the Smoky Mountains, Moon Handbooks Tennessee is the guide to the best the state has to offer, both on and off the beaten path. Practical information includes suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights, plus essentials on dining, transportation, and accommodations for a range of budgets. Complete with details for binging on the best barbecue, paying tribute at Graceland, and a host of outdoor activities, Moon Handbooks Tennessee gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding Tennessee Guidebook.......2005-11-03
We recently completed a trip to Eastern Tennessee and brought along several guidebooks. After a few days, it became apparent that one guidebook was head and shoulders above the others: Moon Handbooks Tennessee by Jeff Bradley. It is both comprehensive and concise. It contains lots of local color without drowning in it. And it is spot on in its evaluation of sights. (We didn't have any occasion to use it for lodging or food.)
Full credit to Jeff Bradley for a writing syle that is one of the best in the business. He keeps things lively without neglecting the basic facts that need to be conveyed. In almost every instance his entries were more interesting and more complete than other guidebooks, while being about the same total number of words. He seems to know just when to insert a clever turn of phrase or an offbeat tidbit while still writing in a very direct style.
The book covers all of Tennessee. It starts with general information about the state's natural history, settlement history, and culture. It then covers each region of the state. He does a good job of conveying which sights are most worth seeing in each area without neglecting second tier sights. He weaves together a complete tapestry that puts everything in the larger context of the region and the state. Throughout, there is a pervasive sense of the joy of travel in this interesting state. This guidebook is the real McCoy!
Even Tennessee history teachers should use this book.......2005-08-08
You don't have to be planning a trip to Tennessee to appreciate Jeff Bradley's book. If you are, don't leave home without it. Bradley not only tells you what you must see if you have the time, but he frankly tells you what might not be worth a visit, or at least what to be prepared for that you might not expect, such as the bumper-to-bumper, big-city-like traffic in the Smokies, especially in the fall when the leaves begin to change. He also provides interesting facts and historical details you won't find in other travel books. I grew up about 50 miles from Bean Station in East Tennessee but didn't know until reading Bradley's book that a tavern there was the best place between Baltimore and New Orleans to get a bottle of wine back in the stagecoach days. Almost every page is enriched with little-known facts, insights and advice, and the book is organized in a way that takes the frustration out of trying to find what you're looking for.
I once had a job that took me to every one of Tennessee's 95 counties, but I moved away several years ago and my children, unfortunately, know little about this beautiful state that is as geographically and culturally diverse as any in the union. I brought the fourth edition of Bradley's book when I began planning a cross-Tennessee-and-back trip my 22-year-old son and I decided to take this summer in a rented convertible. Taking Bradley's advice, we chose many roads now less traveled (since the interstates were built), visiting places like Jonesborough (Tennessee's oldest town, first capital and home of the National Stortelling Festival) in East Tennessee, Lynchburg (exactly like the Jack Daniels' ads portray it, except for the abundance of shops on the town square selling things Gentleman Jack would never have imagined, as Bradley points out) in Middle Tennessee, and Grinders Switch between Nashville and Memphis, which I had always thought was a figment of Minnie Pearl's imagination. Our trip, thanks largely to Bradley's book, was as much one of discovery for me, a native, as it was for my son, who grew up in the Northeast.
You will enjoy Bradley's book not just for its contents but also for his writing style. As the "About the Author" page notes, this Tennessee boy has been a stringer for The New York Times and taught writing at Harvard, so he knows a thing or two about sringing words together. He writes from personal knowledge of the place with respect but also with wit, honesty and a good measure of irreverence whenever he feel so moved, which is often.
Buy the book or you'll never know how far in advance you need to make reservations for lunch at Miss Bobo's Boarding House in Lynchburg, how to get to the Lovelace Motel Cafe outside of Nashville for the best country ham and biscuits, where to find worldclass white water and bluegrass music in East Tennessee, or that the Talbot Heirs Guesthouse is one of the best and funkiest places to stay in the funkiest part of Memphis, a stone's throw from Beale Street, darn good barbecue and sweet potato pancakes you'll never forget.
Mark Twain Lives!.......2003-04-20
If Mark Twain comes back from the dead to write a guidebook of the state where he was conceived (in Jamestown, as Bradley explains on p. 196), then buy that. But old Sam Clemens would be wasting his time, because in Moon Handbooks: Tennessee, Bradley's already written the "Life on the Mississippi" of Tennessee travel guides.
Like "Mississippi," Bradley's "Tennessee" is so fascinating in in its details and anecdotes that I kept finding myself reading far more than I "needed" to for the travel at hand. And like Clemens, who clearly wrote from a genuine love of the river and the bygone steamboat days that he wanted to capture on paper, all of Bradley's local lore and country cookery reviews and sidebars on everything from roots musicians to the development of the the atom bomb in Oak Ridge...well, these all swirl together to create a sort of love song to the author's native state.
Bradley isn't afraid to criticize where criticism is due--look at his coverage of the outlandish developments near the Smokies. But even then, it's clear his concerns are not based on some disaffected political agenda, but from a genuine, familial concern for a cousin who has lost his way. Consequently, Gatlinburg doesn't "outrage" Bradley, it breaks his heart because of its failed potential. And even then, Bradley doesn't just sneer and proceed into the pristine National Park, shaking Galinburg's dust from his feet. Just as any good family member will make a point of telling you that old yellow-eyed aunt Ruth used to knock 'em dead at the USO dances and can still cook a mean casserole and belt out a showtune, Bradley lingers and explores Gatlinburg on its own terms. He points out its cherished place in many Volunteer hearts (including his own) as a childhood wonderland, and shows that he's not above enjoying the small simple pleasures of a candy shop, or even the more garish wonders of Ripley's aquarium.
If you don't know Tennessee, you won't find a more comprehensive introduction to the entire state. And if you already love Tennessee...you'll find all of the states most endearing qualities captured between the covers--and in the spirit--of this book.
High Expectations Exceeded.......2002-02-21
I have the first edition of this book, and I've raved about it to my circle of friends. I heard this third edition was vastly improved, and I doubted this, but figured I couold always give it as a gift.
This book is going nowhere but to a choice space in my book shelf!
It covers more material, has a format which invites digging deeper into a topic at hand, highlights special topics, has a clearer type face, and is simply loaded with URL's for further cyber digging. I got out my Tennessee Atlas and Gazetteer by Delorme mapping, a topo coverage of Tennesee, my state, and put a "mark" by all the towns and villages Mr. Bradley covered. Not a page without copious markings. What a living history exprience.
He begins in the East as our state did, moves west, and brings out information about people, about the locale, gives historic facts and loads of human interest materal. He covers the Civil War as it progresses in various locations and is in fact more historical than a course or two I've had in Higher Eduction. And READABLE!! His wry, delightful humor graces most every entry. And as you follow this through the topo maps you SEE how history unfolds. Now I know where the Cumberland Gap is, I know where the mysterious Melungeons 'are', I've followed the tragic trail of tears, I know where to find barbeque all across Tennessee etc etc. I know where that terrific meteorite hit Tennessee, where biggie dinosaur fossils are found etc. .
What a book! What a marvelous travel companion, what a history of my state. And I have a store house of "stories and tales" I'll make good use of.
If you have an interest in Tennessee and can get only one book: THIS is it! Hands down. I'm grateful to Mr Bradley for doing it.
Hap Eliason
Best intro to Tennesee on the Market.......2001-11-26
I'm a lifetime Tennesseean, and I couldn't put Mr. Bradley's book down. I know Middle Tennessee and the Smokies fairly well, but as I got into his marvelous book I couldn't believe one author could capture and capsulate so much in such limited space. I've garnered information about my State- so much new to me- that it just blew me away--some info right at my doorstep, so to speak. About locales I know fairly well his presentation is right on target. I especially value the boxes about history, personalities, buildings etc. Don't hesitate. Buy the book!
Book Description
"This book is a timely and important tool for the empowerment of communities facing housing deficits. The Red Feather project is extremely important; it is truly making a difference."—Jane Goodall
For more than a decade the Red Feather Development Group, a volunteer-based organization, has built and repaired straw bale houses for Native Americans. Somewhere along the way—and this was certainly not the plan—they created an architectural phenomenon: This inexpensive, environmentally sound, easily constructed, and downright beautiful form of building has, for good reason, caught the public's imagination. Here, Red Feather provides a step-by-step, easy-to-follow manual for would-be strawbale builders—indeed, they supply everything you'll need but time, energy, and lots and lots of straw. Informative sections on safety, design, tools, and materials, and case studies picked from over thirty-five Red Feather projects give a comprehensive overview to straw-bale building.
But this book is much more than a construction manual. It is also the inspiring story of Red Feather itself, a tale of community action and cooperation that suggests a can-do solution to the growing housing crisis on America's Native American reservations.
Customer Reviews:
Good book.......2007-05-20
This was really a good book and I would recommend it very much.
A great handbook for those considering straw bale construction.......2006-08-20
This book gives an over view of the process to build a home using straw bale construction that is used by the Red Feather Development Group. Modeled after Habitat for Humanity they help tribal members living on Indian reservations achieve home ownership. The book takes you through the building process with many photos and diagrams. There is also pictures and discriptions of straw bale homes that are still lived in after 80 years, showing that sustainable housing is not a passing fad.
Inexpensive and Efficient Housing.......2006-04-07
I first became aware of straw base houses when I visited friends who had built one high in the Colorado rockies. In spite of the bad winters in that location, they reported that they very rarely used any heating beyond opening the drapes on the south facing windows. I don't know what the R-value of a bale of straw might be, but it is high.
They also reported that in the few years they had lived there they had had virtually no maintenance. I had imagined little cracks in the exterior covering and furry little critters living in the walls. But they reported that nothing like this had occurred.
This book is put out by the Red Feather Development Group. They are a non-profit group chartered to provide low cost but efficient housing on indian reservations. They have been developing straw bale contruction for houses over many years, many buildings.
This handbook is not exactly a complete primer on building a straw bale house, to me it is an idea book. There's not much here, for instance on plumbing, heating, wiring and so on. Fair enough, those things are much the same for any house, and well understood by architects and contractors. What this book does is talk about building the house itself, the wall structure, supporting the roof, the things that are unique to building with Straw Bales. There are lots of pictures, illustrating lots of points that you wouldn't think of unless you had been there and done that.
Highly recommended!
More Than Just a Handbook.......2006-02-27
When Red Feather Development Group founded in 1994, its mission was to build and develop affordable and ecological sound straw bail houses for the American Indian community. In recent years, the work of the Red Feather Development Group has drawn interest as many environmental and green building groups have developed.
Due to the increase of interest, the group has released "Building a Straw Bale House: The Red Feather Construction Handbook".
The handbook is a great guide for anybody wanting to better understand the principles of straw bale construction. With step-by-step construction directions and wonderful illustrations, "Building a Straw Bale House" makes the topic approachable and simple to create similar versions of the building technique.
For example, the author provides the reader/builder with numeral step-by-step instructions for constructing the foundation, the correct mix for the interior finish coat, and radiant floor heating diagrams. Everything that may need to be known for constructing a straw house is available in its book, which that in itself is notable.
"Building a Straw Bale House" succeeds in bringing an interesting construction type into the limelight, but the principle of its origin is even more admirable - providing affordable and sustainable housing to individuals.
Great tips, humble, amidst process........2006-01-05
This is an honest assessment of a particular point in a learning curve. And I'd bet that point on the curve is well beyond most of us who've been researching straw bale building. Our troop of friends have taken a workshop put on by the Iron Straw group (ironstraw.org), and although it was informative, this book is a wonderful step ahead of what could be taught in a weekend workshop. Very useful construction handbook, and a worthy cause to be promoting by purchase.
I was the first to borrow this book from our local public library, and even as the borrowed library version is sitting on my desk, I'm buying at Amazon today.
Great photos, tips, and full upfront acknowledgement that the book is a moment in time/written from a particular point in the Red Feather program's evolution in straw bale building.
We'll be building our first straw bale residence the Fall of 2006 in Pend Oreille County in Ea. Washington state. You can bet this sturdy handbook will be on site, somewhere in the straw, and splattered with earthen plaster just like the happy soiling that goes on in when a cookbook is left open for reference in a real cook's kitchen.
Enjoy!
Book Description
From horseback riding between ancient haciendas in the Andes and cruising around the Galapagos Islands to relaxing in a mellow coastal beach town, Moon Handbooks Ecuador is the guide to the best the country has to offer, both on and off the beaten path. Practical information includes suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights, plus essentials on dining, transportation, and accommodations for a range of budgets. Complete with details for exploring the colonial architecture of Quito's Old Town, climbing volcanoes, and hiking, biking, and rafting information, Moon Handbooks Ecuador gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Customer Reviews:
Good overview but get something else to plan.......2006-05-31
I first bought this book a couple of months ago and was really pleased at first. It seemed to give good information on a variety of areas and gave recommendations of things to do that were probably off of the beaten path. Based on the book I drew up a list of the places in Ecuador that I would like to visit and laid the book down for a little bit until I had firmed up my plans some more.
On picking up the book again I started to see some of the glaring errors I had missed in my first reading. There are very few maps of the cities that are spoken of in the book so it doesn't really do you any good to know an address if you have no idea where in the city it is. When there is a map it will label all of the things mentioned in that section on that map. When you're talking about Quito or Cuenca or even significantly smaller cities you have to search the entire map to find the name of a hotel or museum. It would have been so much easier if there was a key to the map where all the locations were given numbers and you could say that Hostal Maria is #5 which is located in square B-3.
This guidebook also wasn't very helpful in planning because it wouldn't give very much information on the transportation section. You could be in a section on the southern coast and it will say that the bus takes 11 hours to Quito. Well, what about Guayaquil or other closer cities of importance? Also, how frequent are the buses? Is it once a day or do they leave every couple of hours? Very few travelers are going to keep going to the capital in between cities. Rather they will probably be making a circuit and it's really necessary to know how long it is between cities in a region.
In addition it will mention towns that are major transportation hubs (like Jipijappa) but doesn't give any additional information like travel times to various places, accomdations if you need stay the night, etc.
One last pet peeve was that frequently they would mention a hotel or a restaurant and just give the name of the place with no address or phone number.
Having said all of this the Moon guide was informative about various places and it was nice that it included pictures in the text, though as usual, more would have been nice. I had bought the Lonely Planet Peru and found it far more helpful in planning for that country. Unfortunately, however, the LP for Ecuador hasn't been updated since Ecuador switched its currency. Oh well.
For sale at any price.......2006-04-14
A travel writer casually speaking of the tour company he touts as having bribed the army for permissions that the environmental agency in the area denied is not someone I would trust on any level.
Whom has he bribed and who bribed him. Would you trust his information? I wouldn't.
Moon Over Ecuador.......2006-02-24
Very informative and as I have used Moon publications before I knew exactly where to go for the things I needed to look at. The index helps finds things faster if you are not quite sure, or even if you know the exact subject matter. It goes in the suitcase first!
Best of the 3 Ecuador books I bought.......2004-06-22
Hi,
I bought three Ecuador guides for my recent trip. Lonely Planet was pretty good but for detail on hotels and restaurants the Moon Guide gave the greatest detail
The best Ecuador guide going.......1999-01-28
Informative, entertaining, obsessively comprehensive--you have to love a guidebook that quotes Kurt Vonnegut and describes Galapagos penguins as looking "as out of place as eskimos at a beach party." Makes you realize how dull most other travel guides are. And all the travel details are dead-on, too. My wife and hiked around Cotopaxi volcano, rafted in the Amazon, and went birdwatching along the coast, and in all cases the information was accurate and complete.
Book Description
Complete republication of a book that has been used by generations of American youths, with copious information on such topics as woodcrafting, camping, sailing, as well as notes on developing self-reliance and good citizenship. A delight for Americana enthusiasts, a treasure for collectors. 219 figures and illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
God bless the Boy Scouts !!.......2007-09-03
I was a Cub Scout, Weblo, and Boy Scout for years. Some of my fondest memories are of times spent with my fellow scouts around the campfire, telling stories, jokes, and just being BOYS. This edition reminds me of the pre-PC and pre-secular Boy Scouts, when scouting was almost a calling for teenage boys, and certainly contributed to their moral and ethical upbringings. In this day of anti-God, anti-anything-as-long-as-it's-secular-humanism, it's refreshing to read a handbook with advice on serving one's God, and that it should be a regular part of one's life. Kudos to the publisher for re-introducing a classic.
Some things never change.......2007-08-09
Superb book. In the world we live in there is constant change, this book demonstrates that somethings are timeless.
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Mexico & Central America, 16th Edition (Footprint Central America and Mexico Handbook)
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South America Map by ITMB (Travel Reference Map)
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