Well worth tracking down
923914
One of the earliest studies of Islam in West Africa, its development and influence on all aspects of social life in this corner of the continent.

Trimmingham does a good job of placing Islam both in its historical context in African history and also in compiling historical documents from Arabic sources relating to ancient West African kingdoms and their conversion.  Trimmingham was also reasonably knowledgable in Sufism and so when writing on the development of Islam in Africa was able to study it from the correct historical point of view.

Well worth finding if you can.
3954497
it has all been said by countless other
reviewers far more worthwhile that there
still overwhelming interest and room for works such as this Ina's market today that speaks volumes I think. Thank you for honoring this volume with a format that
is as close to the paper version as one is
liable to find today in digital. The maps if they'd been zoom able would have been
rather helpful.
4548814
I couldn't even FIND some of the Greek and Latin texts Oman references, though one (which he says was only ever printed once, in the 17th century) could be easily found in modern translation on Amazon along with another.  So, what?  He read them in the original, and goes on with his commentary from there.

Oman does have a few choice remarks as to the faulty Latin grammar used in the later Byzantine era, which he then corrects and determines the sense that was really meant. Quite a few phrases are just inserted as is in Greek, as well.

The author was definitely writing for posterity, here, not only for us in the 21st century, but for those who will come after.  This book is lively, entertaining, and above all insightful.  He makes every effort to present the high points of the subject matter backed up by the most meaningful examples he can find.  And it is constantly brought home to the reader that Oman really KNOWS his material because he has studied it in depth and at length.

This e-book is extremely well executed, with linked footnotes by chapter, and easily zoomed hi-res illustrations from the original.  I did find one typo, in punctuation.  It was probably there In the original.
2802379
In the electronic age I was hesitant to purchase a book to look these up. However some stations I am finding on shortwave are not found on the internet, and many of the AM stations are returning obviously inaccurate results on lookups before station breaks. This has proven an excellent and well formatted resource to quickly find any station and in cases of many on the same band, narrow down the search to a few logical choices.

Surprised how much I am enjoying having this in dead tree format, and it's obvious whoever formatted this book actually uses it.
3340499
Final Fantasy XII is not a self-guiding game. Even experienced gamers will miss things and make significant errors unless they have outside guidance that warns them what's ahead.

You need a guide - and this is a very good one.

Without spoiling  the main story, the guide provides detailed directions, maps, beast statistics, locations of treasure and other key landmarks. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful. Using this book was almost as fun as playing the game.

True, all this information is also available online. However, I have found much of that information scattered among numerous documents, many of which were humongous plain text files. For me, the online resources were much better used as a supplement for specific questions rather than as a primary means to take me through the whole game.

The guide is not without shortcomings. The guide does not include location information for the Rare Game. The Hunt Club is supposed to be missing one beast (Biding Mantis); however, I have not yet verified that to be true. There are supposed to be errors in the Quickening requirements (p. 59), but this has not affected my ability to play the game. The book also lacks information about two major optional areas in the game: Zertinan Caverns and Pharos Subterra.

The book is badly bound. I have owned three copies, and pages began to fall out after just a week's use.

I am giving this item five stars because the information in it has proven so valuable. Many hours of enjoyable gaming I owe to this book.

Highly recommended.
1249877
Very happy to have found this out-of-print book.  I've been lusting after it since I found out that it existed.  I've only seen it in a library once before and now I have my own copy!  The genealogies are sourced for the most part, so that if there are discrepancies with your own research you know how to double-check the items in question.  Some critical documents are presented, along with many family portraits.  Many of the images do resemble old photocopies or even mimeographs, lacking detail and contrast, but are legible for the most part.  It does date from 1992 so the production quality is not up  to current norms.  It seems to be a reproduced typescript rather than a typeset book, but this is usual with family histories of the period.  Also, some of the citations don't meet current NGS citation standards, but it makes a good starting point, and there is enough to track down the originals in most cases.

In spite of the negatives, this book is a wonderful resource if your own research has gaps or brick walls.  It is both broad and deep in it's coverage.  Inevitably, some branches are covered in more depth than others, but the hints are none-the-less invaluable.  In addition, the authors included historical settings and biographical sketches where available to put the family trees in context, thus making this a family history, not just a list of descendants.

I was most interested in the appendix covering the Seven Perry Brothers from North Carolina, for that is my lineage.  Some of this material is available on-line, but this is THE source cited most often for that branch of the Perry tree.  In that regard it is unique among published Perry histories that I have encountered.  No one else covers "my" Perry ancestors.

I highly recommend this book to any genealogists and family historians who are related to these families.
3867114
I love this book.  While not entirely comprehensive--admittedly, a tall order for a state with as much wonderful building stock as Ohio--what the author does present is with deep historical and architectural insight.  This book will delight both the architectural historian and the casual traveler.

While the emphasis is certainly on historic structures, there are examples of important modern buildings as well.  The essays included with each entry are just fantastic, as the author contemplates the art of building.  Really good stuff here.

Includes monochrome photographs for most entries, and plans and elevations for particularly notable entries.

As I mentioned before, coverage is good but can be spotty.  Oberlin, Gambier, Athens and Marietta are here, but Oxford and Yellow Springs aren't.  Chillicothe and Granville?  Yes, but with quite limited exposure.

Not as comprehensive as a guide from the BUILDINGS OF AMERICA series, but not as dry either.
1036932
Import-only release, consisting of highlights from two nights at The Olympia in Paris, France, with an excellent biography of Jeff and interviews with Mary Guibert and Michael Tighe inside.  There are no revelations, and considering the dearth of quality live material circulating around, these releases do not supercede or fare any worse than other performances of the _Grace_ material.  What helps _L'Olympia_ is the fact that it is highlights from two nights at the same venue, which provides the listener with more continuity than _Mystery White Boy_ could offer.  Sourced from an ordinary casette tape found with Buckley's posessions, it actually sounds quite good (other than tape hiss and occasional imbalance of instrumentation) and is another solid addition to the growing collection of live material that will probably be the enduring bulk of Buckley's musical legacy.  The best song is "That's All I Ask" which is a fantastic addition to the growing list of covers and assorted unreleased tracks creeping out from the Buckley estate.  There is also a very interesting duet between Buckley and Qawwali singer Alim Qasimov on "What Will You Say".
I like the pattern of releases from Columbia, although clearly intended to milk the legacy of another tragic artist, the involvment of Mary Guibert and other members of the band, and their content indicate that the fans are definitely considered when compiling them.  That having been said, I think its time to dig deeper into the archives and take a look at some live performances of other material from the _My Sweetheart_ (the Arlene's Grocery gig in particular), or maybe a collection of B-Sides and unreleased material, rather than another re-hash of the Grace material, which between the live B-sides from CD-singles (_Grace_ EP, _Live at the Bataclan_, _Live At Sin-e_) _Live at Chicago_ and _Mystery White Boy_, is already very well-represented.  Given that we have been given an unusually intimate glimpse into Jeff's work, with the release of 4-track demos and now this "bootleg", I have no doubt that the tradition of quality releases will continue.
3645547
If one hasn't had a chance to see the kickstarter which helped bring to bear this book, I strongly recommend tracking it down it is worth a view. I enjoy very much Padraig's point of view, the manner in which it manifest in his work; be it in, "Why We Ride" or on his website Red Kite Prayer.  "The Cyclist Prayer" (specifically) - "there will be chaos-keep pedaling" is one of my favorites, it is something I have shared with friends who are passionate in other sports but could also appreciate the underlining message. My only regret is missing the local reading the author did when he visited our area due to our family being on vacation. I am certain it would add to the experience, I hope sales & interest brings the author back on the road to hear his words directly. Happy to recommend to both my cycling & non cycling friends, talented author  & a great read.
1765989
'Long Lost' is a book containing just some of the many amazing stories of people brought together as a result of Monica Porter's 'Missing and Found' column in the Daily Mail. I have every reason to be grateful to Monica (and also to Gillian Whitley) for their wonderful work in reuniting people. In my case I was hoping to find relatives and friends of boys from Lanfranc Secondary Modern School in Croydon who died 50 years ago in an unsolved plane crash in Norway. As a result of Monica's article in 'Missing'(September 2009)I was contacted by over 50 people. Then when 'Found' came out some weeks later I was contacted by many more. In all I think I owe Monica a big debt of gratitude for around 100 people who contacted me as a result of her column - and are still doing so! It was therefore with great pleasure that as soon as I heard of 'Long Lost' I bought a copy and have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It hits the spot within us all to rediscover old friends or missing family and the stories are almost all heartwarming - although a note of caution is stated, as not all old friends or missing family want to be found!

Monica was ahead of the field when she first wrote her column and made it a 'must read' for all Daily Mail readers. Many turn to this page first - in the hope that they may be able to help someone find a 'lost' person, or to be that person themselves. Her column is good for the soul and so is 'Long Lost'which I feel sure will encourage many readers to try to find lost acquaintences themselves through one or more of the many useful websites and other resources for tracing people thoughtfully provided in the Appendix. Monica ends the book with her own poignant story of finding an old friend.

For a nostalgic read I thoroughly commend 'Long Lost'. It will give you ideas and perhaps lead you to make enquiries of your own.
2697884
There are lots of guidebooks ... picking one with current information is a first priority. Beyond that, finding one that digs deeper into the kind of questions a typical visitor has turns out to be useful as well. This book does that well. I was also happy with the Internet references scattered throughout so I could find other information too.
3868498
Well organized, with a wide variety of oddities, each with just enough information to whet the appetite without slowing down the adventure. Each location includes not only how to reach them but how to find out more information.  More importantly, it's large enough to include necessary details, yet slim enough to actually be carried as a guidebook.
2088112
This is a very useful book, I was surprised at its depth and information. Whether you've spent lots of time in Bavaria or are a newcomer, these drives are almost all excellent, off the beaten track and easily nagivated. The maps included are more than adequate, it's almost impossible to get lost. The authors throw in little tips, such as nice inns to stay at or good restaurants along the way. I've spent a lot of time driving in Bavaria and Austria and this book was a truly pleasant surprise. If you love Bavaria and you like beautiful drives, I highly recommend this.
2474711
As sad as it is to see so many stunning structures that are long gone, it is fascinating to see what they once were.  This volume is an excellent record of many of the fine old homes of antebellum Louisiana, and a few in Mississippi.  The significance of this particular group of images is that it shows how they looked in the early 20th century before they were either lost or thoroughly restored.  The photos are so atmospheric, as though if you looked hard enough, you could see all the way back to the early nineteenth century when these houses were brand new.

Some of these images were seen previously in "Ghosts along the Mississippi" but many are, to my knowledge, published here for this first time; at least, that is, in a format that is widely available to the public.  I treasure this book for the visual documentation that it preserves of what was doubtlessly the golden age of domestic architecture in America.

This volume comes highly recommended to those interested in architecture or history.  Do yourself a favor and add this to your library.
1998510
My wife was overjoyed to find this guide to identifying the silversmiths who produced some of the wonderful jewelry she's collected from local estate sales in Albuquerque.  It would probably be helpful wherever you are.
4291787
By all accounts, California has some stunningly beautiful coastline.  Probably the two most spectacular stretches are the Lost Coast, from Humbolt to Mendocino county, and the Big Sur Coastline, streching south from Carmel to Cambria.  The former is accessible only by trail, and one narrow winding road from Humbolt Redwoods to the little community of Shelter Cove.  The latter is closely followed by the famous Highway 1, and is the subject of this nice guide by veteran Falcon Guide author Barry Parr.  For most people, this is the best place to see California's fine coastline.  This guide describes the region well.

This book is broadly divided into driving, hiking, and local lore and history sections.  All three are entertaining and worth reading.  Parr provides an overview of Hwy 1 and the major stops along the way.  He also describes many fine backcountry routes into the Santa Lucia range (the northernmost section of the sprawling Los Padres National Forest).  For this reviewer, the many fine hiking trails and routes Parr describes are the main attractions.  Based on the trails I have hiked, notably those in the state park system (Limekiln, Julia Pfeiffer Burns, Big Sur, and Point Lobos) Parr's descriptions are very accurate.  Having read the book, I am now looking forward to exploring the Ventana Wilderness and a few nature trails I had previously missed, most notably at Redwood Gulch, the southern most redwood forest in the state.  Parr also shares local lore and legend with readers, including such fanciful new age topics as UFOs, the "Dark Watchers" of the Ventana wilderness, and the lost spirits at Point Lobos.

In all, this is an excellent guide.  If you just want to enhance your enjoyment of driving the Pacific Coast Highway, this is a great place to start.  You will be guided to the Henry Miller museum, Hearst Castle, and many wonderful overlooks.  Those with more time can explore some of the many terrific trails in this region, while animal and bird viewers will find ample material on when and where to see some of the area's wildlife. Barry Parr is one of the best writers with Falcon Press and this volume lives up to its predecessors.  Get it and enjoy the best of California's coast.
2881173
From Lonely Planet to the Rough Guides, location-specific guidebooks generally seem so transient since a purchase generally depends upon an upcoming trip and soon afterward ends up in a storage box collecting dust or on craigslist for sale. There is no incentive to return to the book once the trip has ended. However, while on vacation having breakfast just last weekend in the Chelsea neighborhood, a complete stranger asked to borrow my copy of this guidebook because he wanted to give his dining companions an instant visual cue to some of the top sites to visit in New York. Rarely have I seen a book so constantly used and displayed in public without hesitation as I have with this one. I happen to be a long-time fan of the series of Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guides as I find them unique in the travel resource field.

The Eyewitness Travel Guides are terrific both as a backpack resource and as a keepsake afterward. I have about ten of their books on my shelf, and the New York City guide is a particularly strong entry in the series since there is such a robust amount of information to cover. Thanks to its pleasing graphics and intuitive organization by neighborhood, this is one guidebook I use often even though I am quite familiar with Manhattan. Of particular use are the detailed pictorials showing animated aerial shots of neighborhoods and cut-away floor plans of heavily visited buildings like the Empire State Building and the newly renovated Museum of Modern Art. It also helps make geographic sense of neighborhoods that allow you to navigate easily through them by pointing out recommended sights.

The first part of the book presents a brief history of the city that is both interesting and useful, as events are cross-referenced to sights you would want to see there. There is a well-presented survival guide toward the end of the book that highlights important travel information as well as recommendations on where to stay, shop and eat. Moreover, there is a comprehensive street finder for Manhattan, which helps you navigate without the inconvenience of fold-out maps plus the all-important subway map. All this information is contained within a user-friendly, laminated paperback format that slips easily into backpacks and holds up well against inclement weather. By no means is this the end-all guidebook for New York City, but it does provide a solid foundation as you scoop up your copies of the New Yorker and Time Out to see what is current and worth seeing.