A very enjoyable read. Jacobs displays an uncanny ability to put himself inside the minds and cultures of his characters. Some of these stories plumb the disillusionment of idealistic '60s "gringos" or Central American guerrilleros who have seen the revolutionary struggles they supported turn sour. Others are more personal and apolitical. Jacobs employs a style that is influenced by Latin American magic realism, often to haunting effect

The Book of Pain and Suffering is a short story that will be lauded for years to come. In short, it is one of the best works of this century by an American author.

I am continually impressed by the outstanding layout, photos and supportive text that the Fowler Museum of Cultural History produces; and this wonderfully enlightening book, Ceramics of Ancient Peru, is no exception.

Dr. Donnan takes you on a chronological journey from the Ancient Peruvian ceramic techniques (1800 B.C.) through the Florescent Period (period of ceramics in the Moche Kingdom 100 B.C.-700 AD) to end with the Inca and Colonial period (1430 - 1660 AD). For those that are students of Peruvian culture, ceramics or interior decorating, this book will be a prized possession. Recommended

Aside from research, Professor Donnan very simply knows how to tell his story and how to present it. That this book is out of print is a crime. If you love artifacts, beg, borrow or...well, I can't advise that, but I'm thinking it.
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Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of This is the Place and Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In particular, I thought the author gave us a unigue look into the selection of a President's cabinet. Also, Lincoln's ups and downs with the various General's during the Civil War was clearly depicted. The conversations with approach is a good one that is vastly different than the normal biography.

Charles Segal's book entitled "Conversations with Lincoln" offers a unique view into both our country's early history as well as the personal and political struggles that Abraham Lincoln endured throughout his tenure as our nation's leader. While many authors have explored various aspects of Lincoln and his administration, Segal's innovative approach provides an objective assessment of the political and social dynamics that surrounded Lincoln's decision-making throughout his presidency. By chronologically organizing excerpts from personal interviews and narrative accounts, "Conversations with Lincoln" captures Lincoln's valiant effort of uniting the United States while steadfastly working to protect the integrity of the Constitution. Lincoln's own thoughts provide rare social commentary as well as vivid insight into one of America's greatest leaders. I sincerely recommend this book to anyone interested in gaining a more accurate perspective of both Abraham Lincoln and the United States during this extraordinary time period.

This is a very good book for introducing students to art, literature and music from the beginning of the Renaissance until the 1990s. Many illustrations are included which help the reader comprehend what the text is saying about works of art. Selections from works of writers studied are included in the back of the chapters in which they are mentioned. However, no footnotes, commentaries or definitions are included in these selections by the authors, which may sometimes be frustrating because some writers are harder to understand than others. As a student who used this book in my humanities class, I would have to say that overall this book is an excellent survey of humantities because it provides good information not only about the writers, artists and musicians but also a good background of the social/political events of the times during which these people lived.

I, as an undergraduate student studying culture and civilization, was very impressed by the content of this title. It covers everything from the effect of the Mona Lisa on society to Guernica. It goes into great detail about how art, music, and archetecture has affected society throughout modern times. The quality of the book is unprecidented as the photos and painting prints in it are beautifully presented in a very aesthetically pleasing fashion. This is a must buy for all interested in the affect of the arts on society and culture. As this is the only textbook that I am keeping this year, I completely recommend it for those who may not be taking any subject associated but are just interested in its subject. If I could I would give it 1000 stars.

I heartily recommend Culture Shock! Ecuador, to anyone who is planning on visiting Ecuador. I have been to Ecuador several times, and I can tell you that this new publication is a valuable resource. Whether you are planning a short term visit to Ecuador, or have plans to live there for a while, this book will really help the uninitiated, to better understand the Ecuadorian culture and the Ecuadorian way of thinking. Nicholas Crowder includes information in his book, Culture Shock! Ecuador, that other travel books on Ecuador don't think to include. The book is chock full of information on how to navigate your way around in Ecuador. It suggests things to do and places to see. The author also provides information on reliable hotels and restaurants. There is even an extensive list of web sites, so you can surf to your hearts content and learn about other things of interest pertaining to Ecuador. The most valuable thing that can be gained from reading Culture Shock! Ecuador, is a better understanding of the people. The knowledge gained by reading this book can help the traveler avoid falling into the dreaded stereotype of "The Ugly American". It will help the traveler to avoid embarrassing situations caused by a lack of understanding and cultural differences. Nicholas Crowder's book, Culture Shock! Ecuador, presents a well rounded view of Ecuador. I really liked it!

This book is essential to all travelers going to Ecaudor for either business matters, to live, or for vacation/pleasure. My friend gave me this book before I left for my community service program in Ecuador this summer, and it helped me tremendously in to relating to the country and the people there. In his easy-to-read, almost conversational narration, Nicholas Crowder gave me some insight on manners (what is and is not appropiate to do: for example, usually it is not expected to meet a person until 45 minutes after the time said), social events (parties and what kinds of presents to bring), information on all the cultural traditions, festivities and national cuisine (what's really in that stew?) ... and so much more! Without this book, I would have been clueless. It also includes valuble guides to buying a house, dealing with business colleagues, and setting up bank accounts, etc for those who intend to move there. I recommend this book highly - it tells you the valuble information that other guide books don't mention at all. Don't go without it.

A pretty good book on Che for people who are studing him. May be alittle complex for beginners but all in all a great book on the legend!

An interesting look into the last days of Che's life and times. It is an easy read and any person could pick it up and be enveloped in the story that Che lived. Before Pablo Escobar or Bin Laden the US wanted him and Castro more than anything. This story truly gives the reader what stress and pressure Che was under trying to start a new revolution in South America. Excellent and readable. PCR, BA history

This just the type of book I like to read at night before going to sleep. The exploits are of a kind I would never attempt, and just the contemplation of them makes me at once weary and exhilarated.

In the early seventies the author resolved to kayak down one of the most forbidding rivers in the world: the Apurimac in Peru. In two trips, in 1974 and 1975, he did just that. The Apurimac is the longest tributary and hence considered the source of, the Amazon (River). It is forbidding due to the extreme ferocity of its cataracts, and also due to the fact that in many places along its course climbing out of its canyon or going back upstream would be impossible. Thus, the discovery by Giddings and his companions of a scenic forty or fifty foot waterfall on the unexplored sections could well have been a death sentence.

While all the kayakers did make it out alive, things were not always hunky-dory between them. Giddings comments frequently on his team's lack of teamwork and his submerged tensions. Reading this a quarter century later, I felt he could be right or maybe wrong, but I had almost nothing by which to draw any conclusions. The author gives only the most cursory description of the other members of his party (5 besides himself), then launches into the chronicle. This information deficit is never cured. We are not told the age, the religion, the education, the job, the background, the biases--nothing of any of these five other men on the journey, which makes it impossible to become involved as a reader in the psycho-drama that seems to have played out on the river. One cannot even attempt some judgement based solely on appearance because although the book has many photos, it lacks a portrait of the group, which one would think basic in a work of this kind. The reader can only glimpse three of the five members in individual pictures.

So the question remains. Were they really a band of males of the stand-up comedy stereotype: egotistical, enamored of tools and technological playthings, but unable to talk about their feelings round the campfire or work together as a unit on the river? Were they even aware of any potential for their expedition to turn into a disaster of the kind portrayed in the movie Deliverance (a hit of that era)or the more recent catastrophes on Everest? Or is there another side to the story that Giddings chose for one reason or another not to reveal?

This is a true "sleeper" book. Well written, fascinating and real. A pure joy to read for any whitwater enthusiast and anyone who loves adventure. It is too bad that it is out of print. I think that with proper marketing this could be a great bestseller! Highly recommended!

This book on Evita is quite different on the part that it was written by someone who went to that country to study how Eva Peron affected the society around her decades later.She is well rounded in her studies of Evita and the different takes on the different myths that surround this girl from the pampas is very interesting.Don't ask me why I gave it Four stars! I'm a man and I love Eva.But,it seems suitable...Okay? Respects to Julie Taylor..of course!

As the title indicates, this is not so much a straightforward and linear biography of Eva. Rather, this book is an examination of the myths that have sprouted up around Evita ("Evita," meaning "little Eva," was her nickname)in her own country and abroad.

The author, an anthropologist, brilliantly points out that what people believe about Eva, and the myths they construct around her, often have less to do with what Eva actually did in her real life, but with what people perceive she represented. Often, judgments and interpretations of Evita are meant to reflect well on the one who is doing the judging - whether it be the Peronists, the anti-Peronists, or foreigners.

The author discovers that Argentines have an unusual tendency to keep their national figures "alive." Few other people, says the author, see it as natural that the myths of long-dead leaders, as well as their bodily remains, would play a part in present day politics. Understanding Eva, who she was and what she accomplished, is often made difficult by this very fact - Argentines are fascinated with their own history and often force it into whatever shape they see as most fit. The author points out that the average Argentine is aware that his own version of his country's history may contradict that of his neighbor's.

The author also argues that while Peronists and anti-Peronists often believe they have different value systems, in fact they share many of the same values. Proof of their shared value system is that Evita is often interpreted in terms of her womanhood. The opposition sees Evita as a violation of the Argentine feminine ideal, whereas the Peronists see Evita as the definition of the feminine ideal. In both cases her gender and sexuality are made the forefront of her character and the judgment laid upon it: the opposition insists that Eva once worked as a prostitute and many of them claim so to this day, despite the fact that there is no evidence to support such a claim. Some Peronists suggest that, due to her heavy work schedule toward the end of her life, Evita did not have the time to have sexual relations with her husband. In both evaluations of her character her sexuality, her virginity, is important, and can therefore be seen as a result of the Catholic value system that permeates all Hispanic cultures. Evita is thus judged against the archetype of "Marianismo" (The Virgin Mary, and her accompanying ideals and virtues). The author also argues, as indicated by the book title, that the myths surrounding Evita are not only linked to Argentine ideas of womanhood, but international and cross-cultural ideas of womanhood and the "mysterious" powers often subscribed to them in relation to their ability to give birth, and their alleged potential for "corrupting" influence if not controlled by a man or male-dominated institution (the opposition often complained that her husband, the President, did not keep Evita "in check"). The author further argues that there is evidence that all peoples are likely to subscribe to women spiritual and mystical powers, and that this equation has led to the "saint abroad" - the belief held by many foreigners that Evita's followers saw her as a saint. The most popular example of this "saint abroad" can be found in the musical "Evita," most vividly in the song "Santa Evita" ("Saint Evita").

One of the most fascinating things about this book is the revelation that Evita's followers, the "Descamisados" (Spanish for "the shirtless ones"), generally do not see Evita as a saint, instead they see her in a rather pragmatic light - when asked what Evita meant to them and what she had done, the poor often listed the laws she had advocated and helped to pass, rarely is there mention of supernatural or saintly powers. It appears that it was Evita's opposition and the middle class of Argentina that created the myth that Evita's "gullible" followers saw her as a saint and the possessor of mystical powers; thus the middle class of Argentina created what the author terms a "myth of a myth."

A word of "caution" - this book is not always an easy read. I believe this book is the author's thesis work, and is therefore often full of words that necessitate the aid of a dictionary. Obscure and veiled references and phraseology abound. Often, particularly toward the beginning of the book, the author's paragraphs will consist of one thought repeated several times with different word usage. This book may be something of a struggle for the "lay" reader, myself among them. There are passages in this book that seem as though they are written in another language, perhaps even written with the intention of confusing the reader. But in all, this is a very well written and well-researched book, one of the best examinations available of this fascinating woman (and I have read most of them). Understanding this book is worth the effort for anyone interested in deciphering the myths and meanings behind the myths of the late, great Evita.

The grim and sober notion of a monochromatic Puritan world is quickly put to rest by colonial scholar John C. Miller in his fine volume, The First Frontier: Life in Colonial America. Contrary to the stern stereotypical image of a thousand Thanksgiving pageants and grade school centerpieces, Dr. Miller creates an anecdotal quilt that captures a diverse frontier world that edged the rocky shore of the cold Atlantic. If Dr. Miller's book had been the primer for legions of school children there would have been little dozing in the classroom; America wouldn't have had to wait for Mel Gibson and the Patriot to discuss the finer points of "bundling." Nor would we have questioned Samoset's motivation when it's revealed he boldly marched up to the Pilgrims and asked for beer. The extarordinary range of detail, gleaned from diaries, letters and other primary sources surprises us with anecdotes of crime and punishment, recreation, education, dress, labor and medicine among others. From cockfights, slavery, urban life to mean cabins on the frontier, the first Americans emerge as a diverse species, as unique as the forest they push back from the sea. Consider that, Harvard educated and Stanford professor, Dr. Miller first wrote this thin tome in 1966, makes this undiscovered gem a treasure for any serious student of the American frontier. But, like Washington's Expense Account, it reaches across the coffee table and seizes the mainstream reader's interest. This is a Don't Miss. coleman@gunnison.com

Long a definitive work on the colonial period, this interesting work gives the reader the broad base of knowledge necessary to understand the period.

This book is vast but compact, 1648 pages of text (printed on very thin paper that does not withstand much wear and tear), extensive maps and a selection of color photos (both printed on heavier stock). If you want to carry only one book and are planning on visiting multiple countries this is for you. It covers travel from Tierra del Fuego to Caracas. Every country has it's own section that starts with a few pages of "essentials". The country is then broken down by region. If hotel and restaurant information is important to you this book may not be the best choice. The hotel and restaurant reviews are short, a price code and no more than a few words. Also, if you want to see something very specific that is off the beaten path it may be only glossed over. For example, we wanted to investigate the ruins of the Guarani Missions in Argentina and the information provided was not extensive enough to get us there so we had to get another book. Another example, we were trying to investigate the new age towns outside of Brasilia that are built on crystal fields, no mention of them after pouring through the section entitled "Centre West".
I do recommend the book for convenience and the quality of the information provided, it just may be trying to cover too much territory for one volume.

I have recently travelled Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The South American Handbook contained everything I could need for transport, accomodation and general knowledge of the area. The hints given were accurate right down to where I was likely to get robbed, which in due course I was! The experience Footprint has in the continent is obvious right from the first few pages. Several friends were using other books covering the area but frequently found themselves referring to my handbook for better, more up to date and more informative reference. The book is very easy to use, my one critism is that the language section is a little thin on the ground. A few more phrases may have proved useful. That is more my own fault for lack of Spanish however.

Excellent book, thoughroughly recommended.