Books

Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Landscape Wars of the American West

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The Other Reviews Are Not About The Book
People should really learn Yosemite Native American history
A thrilling excursion into the heart of the West
Savage Dreams
No romanticism here

Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Landscape Wars of the American West
Rebecca Solnit
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Storming the Gates of Paradise: Landscapes for Politics

ASIN: 0520220668

Book Description

In 1851, a war began in what would become Yosemite National Park, a war against the indigenous inhabitants that has yet to come to a real conclusion. A century later--1951--and about a hundred and fifty miles away, another war began when the U. S. government started setting off nuclear bombs at the Nevada Test Site, in what was called a nuclear testing program but functioned as a war against the land and people of the Great Basin. Savage Dreams is an exploration of these two landscapes. Together they serve as our national Eden and Armageddon and offer up a lot of the history of the west, not only in terms of Indian and environmental wars, but in terms of the relationship between culture--the generation of beliefs and views--and its implementation as politics.

Customer Reviews:

The Other Reviews Are Not About The Book.......2007-03-02

Wow, take a moment to read the other reviews of this book.

I picked this book up off a bargain table, and months later happened to take it with me when I was visiting Yosemite without knowing 1/2 the book was about Yosemite. That was kind of a thrill.

Solnit's historical and writing skills, her ability to build a world stage of activity and its interconnectedness with her narrative are extraordinary.

As a landscape artist and photographer, I find this book to be a great resource. Understanding the history of Yosemite is frankly consciousness shifting.

As the other reviewer says, nuclear weapons are our oyster.

Indians, big bangs, Central Park, Fremont and the Heart of Darkness. How about that.

People should really learn Yosemite Native American history.......2007-01-10

If people would really read the TRUE history of Yosemite Indians they would find something interesting. First the Miwoks in the area were friends and workers for James Savage and Charles Webber, the founder of Stockton. The Miwoks had a working relationship with both white men and they dug gold for them. The real Indians of Yosemite were Mono Paiutes who tried to fight off the invasion, and not Miwoks. They were allied with the white invaders and they called James Savage "White father". I am a descendent of the original Indians of Yosemite and there is a problem. The defintion "Some of them are killers" for Yosemite was fabricated in 1978 and is not the original meaning of Yosemite. The real meaning was "The Killers" or "The Grizzlies" because the Miwoks were afraid of the Ahwahnees. It was Chief Bautista and Russio, who were helping the Mariposa Battalion, who coined that term "Yosemite" for the Indians in Yosemite Valley which they were afraid to enter. It is because the Miwoks were once enemies of Chief Tenaya and the Ahwahnees. 30 years Yosemite National Park Service hired a person named Craig Bates who was married to a Miwok woman and had a 1/2 Miwok son who created that new defintion. So it is increble that ONE person changed the meaning and defintion of one of the most important and well known parks in the whold world...and no one noticed. The Miwoks were actually the scouts and guides for James Savage and the Mariposa Battalion, but you would not know it because the information was controlled by the "Indian expert" at Yosemite, which causes wrong information to be written...like the actual defintion of Yosemite. For the real story read Lafayette H. Bunnell's Discovery of the Yosemite to find out the truth.

A thrilling excursion into the heart of the West.......2004-05-19

If you have an open and inquisitive mind, no matter what your political outlook, you will enjoy this exploration of western America and our relationship with this unique landscape. Solnit weaves discussions about the settlement of the west by Euro-Americans, native American rights, nuclear testing, and other critical issues, with ruminations about H.D. Thoreau, John Muir, country music, landscape painters, and other intriguing topics. This is an excellent book about an important subject that will delight you if you let it.

Savage Dreams.......2004-01-15

This book is classic eco paganistic 1/2 truths and full tripe. Solnit carries on a dreamy and irresponsible massive 'feel good' opinion piece about the handfull of people harmed by our successfull development of our deffensive nuclear weapons. The author fails to note that our development and limited use of our weapons saved millions of lives.
If you are currently a eco pagan, here is more for your religion. If you want a full account of the history of our deffensive development of nuecs, don't waste your time reading this novel. However, if you want further insight into the basis that drives our planet's new pagan eco religion, then this book will help you to understanding their factualy fictionist journey into politics.

No romanticism here.......2000-02-06

Solnit's juxtaposition of the insidious nuclear poisoning of Nevada to the making of Yosemite National Park (that she shows has been "loved to death" since it was first discovered by whites more than 150 years ago)makes this book a must for all environmentalists. Solnit deals directly with themes of conquest and redemption in historic efforts to both tame and use these lands. Readers gain specific understanding about two places that are, after all, national icons. However, the deeper themes so well-developed in this book are being played out no less dramtically all across the country.

Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Frommers Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 2nd ed)

Average customer rating:

Good for the first few days, light on activities coverage

Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (Frommers Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 2nd ed)
Geoffrey O'Gara , and Geoff O'Gara
Manufacturer: Frommer's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Insiders' Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, 5th (Insiders' Guide Series)

ASIN: 0028636988

Customer Reviews:

Good for the first few days, light on activities coverage.......2000-06-20

Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks good overall guide to the area. It's descriptions of the lodging choices and the dining descriptions were very good although it omitted the Geyser Grill in the Old Faithful area. The descriptions of activities in GT were very good, but the descriptions of activities in YNP were lacking. There were some omissions: the Antelope Creek Drainage area and the Brink of the Upper/Lower Falls trails. Some felt the Norris Geyser Basin highly overrated as was the West Thumb Geyser Basin and Osprey Falls. This book is a great starting point but by no means should it be the only book you have. It's perfect for making your dining and lodging choices but suffers in adequately describing activities (for that check out 'An Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks' by Lisa Gollin Evans).

National Parks of the West: A Complete Guide to the 30 Best-Loved National Parks and Monuments of the Wester n United States and Canada (Fodor's Va)

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National Parks of the West: A Complete Guide to the 30 Best-Loved National Parks and Monuments of the Wester n United States and Canada (Fodor's Va)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679025804
Release Date: 1994-04-26

Book Description

NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WEST
"Exhaustively researched and thorough. You'll find everything you need to know." --Family Travel Times
"An indispensable guide." --Family Fun magazine

The only guide you'll ever need to visit the best parks in the West
Here are all the essentials for touring 33 of the best-loved national
parks and monuments in the western United States and Canada. From where
to find a reasonably priced room and a hot meal to where to hike and camp,
Fodor's National Parks of the West not only describes what there is to see but also gives
you practical information and detailed maps. And you can use it to plan
vacation after vacation, year after year.
All text in this book was reviewed for accuracy by National Park
and Forest Service personnel. Sales of this book help to support the
National Parks.

Great information in every chapter
Driving tours with the most spectacular scenery--from rugged mountains to magnificent deserts
Extensive reviews of hotels, lodges, campgrounds, and restaurants--both inside and outside the parks
The best nature trails, backcountry hikes, strolls on the beach, and picnic spots for refueling
Best-in-one-day itineraries
Tips on biking, fishing, swimming, boating, rock climbing, ski touring, horseback riding, and bird-watching
Detailed information on geology, flora and fauna, weather, historic sites, and local festivals
33 easy-to-follow maps

The West's best-loved wildlands
Arches
Badlands
Banff
Big Bend
Bryce
Canyon de Chelly
Canyonlands
Carlsbad Caverns
Crater Lake
Death Valley
Denali
Glacier
Grand Canyon
Grand Teton
Jasper
Joshua Tree
Kings Canyon
Kootenay
Mesa Verde
Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rushmore
Olympic
Point Reyes
Redwood
Rocky Mountain
Sequoia
Waterton
Yellowstone
Yoho
Yosemite
Zion

Grand Canyon: A Visitor's Companion (National Park Visitor's Companion)

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Grand Canyon: A Visitor's Companion (National Park Visitor's Companion)
George Wuerthner
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Rocky Mountain: A Vistor's Companion (National Park Visitor's Companions)
A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon 2nd Edition
Yellowstone: A Visitor's Companion (National Parks Visitor's Companions)
Yosemite: A Visitor's Companion (National Parks Visitor's Companions)
Park Profiles: Grand Canyon Country (Park Profiles)

ASIN: 0811724921

Book Description

60 color photos 260 color drawings 6 x 9 Grand Canyon National Park draws 5 million visitors from around the world each year. More than 280 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 4,600 feet deep, the Grand Canyon is one of the most impressive gorges on earth. The ecosystems within its boundaries are diversefrom desert to forestand support a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, mammals, and plants. Grand Canyon describes and illustrates in full color each of these plant and animal species and explores the canyons geological history, land use issues, native people, and past explorersat once a travelers guide, field guide, and natural history of one of Americas most popular and extraordinary national parks. George Wuerthner is a full-time photographer, writer, and ecologist.

National Parks of the West: A Complete Vacation in Every Chapter (Fodor's National Parks of the West)

Average customer rating:

Provides solid information and facts
Good Resource
Easily the best national park guide
Great All-Around Guide!
Indispensible!

National Parks of the West: A Complete Vacation in Every Chapter (Fodor's National Parks of the West)
Fodor's
Manufacturer: Fodor's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Park Guides)
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National Parks of the American West for Dummies (Dummies Travel)
National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 5th Ed. (National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States)

ASIN: 0679035095
Release Date: 1998-02-24

Amazon.com

Family Travel Times calls this guidebook "exhaustively researched and thorough," in which "you'll find everything you need to know." Fodor's has collected the essentials for touring 33 of the most popular national parks and monuments in the U.S., including Jasper, Yellowstone, Zion, Banff, Mt. Rainier, and Redwood. Each tour includes a map, driving directions, reviews of lodging, the best nature trails, "best-in-one-day" itineraries, as well as tips on what to see and do in each area. The nitty-gritty includes useful information on geology, plants and animals, weather, historic sites, and local festivals. With this easy-to-read, informative book, there's no excuse for having nothing to do.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Provides solid information and facts.......2001-09-13

Fodor's has put together a solid collection of facts and information for visiting the National Parks in the West, but the avid hiker and outdoorsperson would do well to add other pieces of literature to their collection before setting out. This book provides essential information such as phone numbers, addresses, and directions to the parks. It details options for camping in and out of the parks, as well as lodging in cities. However, I found a number of the prices they listed to be out of date, and some of the phone numbers were inaccurate. These were minor inconveniences, however, and did not overshadow the overall effectiveness of the guide.

As far as activities, the book offers some brief guidelines for hikes and drives around the parks. I found these descriptions to be very impersonal and vague. For example, it lists trails as being "moderately difficult" without explaining what types of difficulties one might encounter. For a hiker, there is a big difference between a steep climb and precipitous footing, but this book does little to detail what one might expect on a given trail. I found the "America's National Parks for Dummies" guide to be much more informative as far as specific trail conditions and wildlife concerns (e.g. grizzly and black bear areas, mountain lions, etc.) Fodor's guide does not address these issues, which are also of utmost concern for most backcountry hikers. Additionally, the editors seem to abide by a policy of "Just the Facts" - they offer little to nothing in the way of ratings or opinions regarding which campsites and facilities may be better maintained within the parks. Most avid campers I know value a firsthand opinion when trying to decide where to pitch their tents - and reading that a campsite is quiet and primarily tents, versus noisy and popular with RVs is extremely helpful information to have in hand.

We used both the Fodor's and Dummies guides on a six-week cross-country trip and found them to be nice complements to one another. The Dummies guide covers fewer parks but in greater detail, and offers candid opinions; the Fodor's guide gives you all the essentials you need for planning a visit to the park. If you don't plan on doing much hiking, this book could be all you need, but I recommend supplementing it with a more descriptive guide.

Good Resource.......2001-08-01

I am beginning my research for a vacation to the South West. This is a good starting place. It touches on most of the parks with pretty decent descriptions and pictures. You can't go wrong with this book.

Easily the best national park guide.......2000-03-06

The amazon.com review and book description are absolutely correct. This book contains the perfect amount of information for visiting the parks--we used it to visit 18 national parks in the sumer of '99, and found the itineraries and best-ofs to be wonderful. Research was solid and presented in extremely easy to read format. Look no further for a national park guide!

Great All-Around Guide!.......1999-12-22

This manual may not suit the requirements of the most ardent of backpackers and thrill seekers, but for an average Joe Camper like myself, it really came in handy through Washington State, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and on up into Banff and Jasper. A most resourceful guide that lists National Park Service information, directions to the Parks, campsites, hiking trails, info on backwoods camping...even tells you where you can shower after the fourth day! My only criticism is that my copy is as beat up as my hiking boots. A great resource to have, whether you're only there for a day, a drive-in camper, day hiker, or backpacker. I highly recommend it. Great job, Fodors!

Indispensible!.......1999-04-23

This book totally rocks! This is my National Parks bible. I use the National Geographic book for maps and pictures and this one for the trails, lodging and other details. The hike recommendations are the best of any national park book I've seen.

National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Southern Rockies (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)

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National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Southern Rockies (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
Gary Ferguson
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Northern Rockies (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Southwest: Nature Adventures in Parks, Preserves, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Wildnerness Areas (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Far West (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Pacific Northwest: Nature Adventures in Parks, Preserves, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Wilderness Areas ... Outdoor) (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Western Canada (NG Guide to America's Outdoor) (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)

ASIN: 079227749X
Release Date: 2001-04-01

Book Description

National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors
Southern Rockies
Colorado
Utah
With Northern Arizona, northern New Mexico, and southwestern Wyoming

In this practical, informative, richly illustrated guide, National Geographic takes you to the best nature sites in the southern Rockies and tells you what you need to know -- about the landscape, plants, animals, activities, and recreation -- to experience them fully.

National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Far West (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)

Average customer rating:

Gorgeously photographed with attention to detail

National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Far West (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
Geoffrey O'Gara , and Phil Schermeister
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Northern Rockies (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Pacific Northwest: Nature Adventures in Parks, Preserves, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Wilderness Areas ... Outdoor) (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Southwest: Nature Adventures in Parks, Preserves, Forests, Wildlife Refuges, Wildnerness Areas (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: New England (National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors)
National Geographic Guide to America's Outdoors: Southern Rockies (NG Guide to America's Outdoor)

ASIN: 0792277511
Release Date: 2001-10-01

Book Description

From the celebrated national parks to the lesser-known state parks, national wildlife refuges, conservation areas, and wild and scenic rivers, this landmark series encourages readers to experience a region firsthand. It describes—and guides them to—the best sites, offering detailed information about the birds, wildlife, topography, trees, and wildflowers that readers are likely to encounter in each one.

Acclaimed nature writers with extensive knowledge of each region enrich the guidebooks with enticing narratives and rich insights into the areas' landscapes and natural histories. Each book includes:

Author-guided hikes leading readers along favorite trails, pointing out and explaining natural highlights along the way
More than twenty high-quality maps and 150 stunning, full-color photographs
Detailed site descriptions plus opportunities for camping, cycling, fishing, and much more
Fascinating vignettes on geology, plants, and animals
Extensive resource listings

Packed with in-depth information, these invaluable guides help readers take full advantage of all the beauty and variety of the great American outdoors.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeously photographed with attention to detail.......2002-08-22

I have bought several of these National Geographic guides and they are all fabulous. The photography makes me want to start vacationing right away. I plan to visit many of the places in these guides when I retire in two years and I am very happy that I discovered these guides. One should not plan a trip to the great outdoors without reading these guides. The details of each site, such as hiking trails, are extremely useful. By the way, nobody can match Amazon for both price and service on these guides.

Guide to the National Park Areas, Western States

Average customer rating:

Excellent Guide
Excellent Reference
Not enough detail or information
Good reference for this retiree
A Real Help for Our Park Trip

Guide to the National Park Areas, Western States
David L. Scott , and Kay W. Scott
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0762705078

Book Description

In this comprehensive guide to 190 national park areas west of the Mississippi, the beauty, wonder, and history of these lands are at your fingertips. David and Kay Scott's informative text, which is enhanced by photographs and 118 detailed maps, gives the facts needed to plan and tailor a visit to your specifications. They include information on an area's history; lodging resources; camping, hunting, and fishing facilities; addresses and phone numbers; and much more.

A handy facilities-and-activities chart provides an at-a-glance summary of what the parks offer. Whether you prefer major parks, small historic sites, scenic trails, or inspiring monuments, there is a national park area that is perfect for you. (7 x 10, 384 pages, maps, chart, b&w photos)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Guide.......2003-06-22

This guide was a present for our 40th anniversary. We found it very useful and highly recommend it to other travelers who wish to learn more about our national parks. We didn't even know about many of the parks that are included.

Excellent Reference.......2002-12-29

My wife and I found the Scott's guide to be an excellent reference during our first try at visiting the national parks. Especially worthwhile is the coverage of many small areas that are included. We highly recommend this book and the accompanying guide to the eastern park areas.

Not enough detail or information.......2002-06-03

I agree with the reviewers who say this book is less than complete. Very sketchy descriptions. Fromer's guide is MUCH BETTER.

Good reference for this retiree.......2000-03-17

We recently retired and bought our first motorhome. Wanting to visit the national parks we bought several guides to help us on our trip. These two were the best of the lot. The first couple of pages in each book include a map showing all of the parks in the country including some small places we would never have known about. We recommend the Scott's two guides.

A Real Help for Our Park Trip.......2000-03-02

I found this guide to be a very useful when we traveled to the western states of Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California. Especially helpful are the descriptions of smaller parks that we would probably have missed. Natural Bridges National Monument in southern Utah comes to mind. As recommended by the authors, we first stopped at the visitor centers and asked how to best see the parks. I highly recommend both this western guide and the companion eastern guide to anyone who plans to visit our national parks.

The National Seashores: The Complete Guide to America's Scenic Coastal Parks

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The National Seashores: The Complete Guide to America's Scenic Coastal Parks
Ruthe Wolverton , and Walt Wolverton
Manufacturer: Roberts Rinehart Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1879373866

Book Description

A complete guide to the ten national seashores in America's National Park System.

Access America Guide to the Western National Parks: An Atlas and Guide for Vistors With Disabilities (Access America Guide Series)

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Access America Guide to the Western National Parks: An Atlas and Guide for Vistors With Disabilities (Access America Guide Series)

Manufacturer: Grove Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1555844014

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