5 comments about Route 66 (Enthusiast Color).

1. I recently received this beautiful color collection on "The Mother Road" Route 66. Having traveled West from Chicago to Kingman AZ in the mid 60's on Route 66 it brought back many memories. It also has left me with strong ambitions to repeat that journey but this time all the way to L.A. Wonderful photography and dialouge by the author. Even if you have never traveled on Route 66 you may very well want to after viewing this book.



2. Probably the best book to date on the subject, Route 66 is a joy from beginning to end. Referred to affectionately as The Mother Road, Route 66 was the first highway built for high speed travel in the United States. Due to the reliability of the cars and trucks using this road, it was lined with repair shops, diners, and tourist traps. The photography is excellent and the text is insightful and well written. Travelling from Chicago to Los Angeles via this book is a joy!



3. Route 66, by Tim Steil, is a trip in present, but a journey back in time. There was a day and age when Route 66 was the heartbeat of the Western half of the United States. Unlike its predecessor the Lincoln Highway, Route 66 was modern road made offering fast travel from Chicago to Los Angeles for both automobiles and trucks. Because of the limitations of vehicles of the 1930's through the early 1960's, the road was lined with repair shops, cafes, motels and scenic wonders that range from simple statues or absurd monuments.

   More than any other highway, Route 66 has a history and an allure that never ceases to draw the adventurous to it. These days traveling on Route 66 is sort of like visiting a huge living museum of automobile Americana. Steil, aided by photographer Jim Luning, take the journey and give their vision to this long familiar story. The nice part about this book is that MBI, the publisher, chose to offer it as part of the inexpensive Enthusiast Color Series rather than an expensive coffee table book. You can easily take this book with you for easy reading along the way and without taking up too much space at lunch counter. This was a good choice on their part and is sure to make give this book a long sales life.

   The author is accurate in his descriptions and the photographer's keen eye caught quite a few features of Route 66 that have not appeared in other publications. Truckers are big part of this story, in fact the famous Dixie Truckers Home in central Illinois gets good coverage right in the beginning of the book. If the lore and legends of Route 66 are already part of your life, or you would just like a low-cost introduction to this famous highway then Route 66, by Tim Steil is a must have item.
   - Gary Bricken




4. This is the best Route 66 book I've ever read. The pictures range from breathtaking to amusing and the writing is fresh and clean. A must have for anyone interested in Route 66.



5. Any book published as part of an "enthusiast color series" is likely intended to be a coffee-table book. And indeed, Route 66 has lots of pretty pictures, captured beautifully by Jim Luning. But unlike most such fare, this book deserves more than coffee-table placement (or, the pinnacle, bathroom-rack status.)

   I know the author, Tim Steil, a friend of mine. So, as one who loves grammar, right from the start I had every incentive to pick at his writing. But, alas, I was disappointed. Finding only the most minor of grammatical errors, I had to concede the fact that Steil has written a really good book. Tim's breezy writing makes the book a quick and easy read, and conveys efficiently so much of their adventure that the reader cannot help but feel as if he were there for much of the ride.

   Another plus: it's not preachy, or full of phony nostalgia or contempt for "the evils of progress." I love it this book, and I'm not really even a fan of Route 66.

   Luning's pictures are gorgeous. I got to meet him when the two authors did some of their preliminary research on the Chicken Basket, one of the offical Route 66 sites covered early in the book. An unassuming and disarming guy, Luning does not betray that he has a long list of credits. But in the book, Luning cannot hide his talent: a fantastic eye for light and color and balance.

   So enjoy the pictures. But realize they will not really come to life until you actually read the text.

   Route 66 is what an "enthusiast color series" should be.

5 comments about The American Quilt: A History of Cloth and Comfort 1750-1950.

1. I love this book, having received it last week. I read it cover to cover by the second day it arrived. I have already picked it up again to research a specific quilt type. A wealth of information and wonderful color photographs of numerous quilts. I recommend this book highly for those of you who are looking for inspiration, as there are no patterns. All in all, quality reference material.



2. I'm very picky when I purchase books because I want them to be worthy of my time, money, and shelf space. This book fits all of my needs! It contains excellent information about the history & culture of quilts and has fabulous photographs. It's 264 pages have a welcome spot on my shelf.



3. As a history buff, Civil War reenactor, and (very) beginning quilter, I wanted a basic reference book to help me learn about quilting styles and techniques from the Colonial through Victorian periods. This book provides that information and much more. In simple yet evocative language the authors lead us through the development of American quilting and discuss how social, economic, and political circumstances affected how quilts were designed and constructed over the years.
   
   This book is a fascinating glimpse into the past, tracing the evolution of our country through the stitches of quilting. The supplies and tools that were available at any given time, together with the imagination and ingenuity of women at each point in history, resulted in the emergence of new techniques and designs. It's amazing to page through this book and see how something as seemingly simple as a quilt block takes on a whole new meaning in the context of its time. For example, in the 1840s, a time of migration to the West: "As family and friends were uprooted and separated from one another, a great many women carried quilts composed of blocks with precious messages from those left behind, whom they would likely never see again."
   
   Chapters include:
   
   Fabrics - fiber production; weaving and dyeing; fabric printing; fabric designers
   
   1750-1825 Preindustrial America - how the settling of the colonies related to trade and in particular the production of fabric; seaports; the role of women in the New World; quilt styles of the period including whole-cloth, medallion, and mosaic piecework
   
   1825-1850 Rise of the Cult of Domesticity - how social and economic changes were reflected in the fabric arts; women working in the mills; friendship and album quilts
   
   1850-1875 A Tranquil Nation is Ripped Apart - reform movements; effects of the Civil War; children's and dolls' quilts; new block designs; indigo and white designs; influence of the sewing machine
   
   1875-1900 The Grand Epoch - prosperity in the centennial period; effect of availability of education; crazy quilts; log cabin quilts; decorative styles shown at the Centennial Exposition of 1876; Hawaiian quilts; mourning quilts; fundraising quilts
   
   1900-1950 A New Century of Quiltmaking Begins - influences of the World Wars, Depression, and the New Deal; small piece "competitive" quilts; fairs and exhibitions; African-American women's quilting; Amish quilting; flour and feed sack quilting; 20th century quilting personalities
   
   Additional resources include tips on dating and investigating antique quilts, how to conserve and maintain antique quilts, where to view antique quilts, and more.
   
   'The American Quilt' has hundreds of beautiful color plates of quilts, quilt blocks, and textiles. This is a lovely and engrossing book for anyone interested in American history or women's history, as well as in quilting and other fabric arts. Highly recommended.



4. The benchmark of quilt book histories. Anyone interested in the history of quilting in America should include this book in their library. The photographs are striking and the accompanying explanations add to the reader's knowledge of the quilter's stories. The author's have given the quilter a priceless resource to which I refer often.



5. Thank you so much for the fast shipment and the wonderful book!!!

3 comments about California Wine Country: The Most Beautiful Wineries, Vineyards, and Destinations.

1. I bought this book for my mother for Christmas. She wanted a picture book about the wine country in CA so she could paint some of the scenes. She had just visited my sister in S.F. and loved every minute of her visit. She LOVES this book. It contains beautiful photographs of Northern California and she looks forward to painting many pictures.



2. This book is obviously intended to be purchased for its beautiful pictures, and does a great job at covering all wine regions in California - not just Sonoma or Napa, but Mendocino and Lake Country down through San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.
   
   If you are looking for a book with some great photos of wineries and vineyards across California, then I can heartily recommend the book. However, some of the text leaves much to be desired, with some obvious omissions and flatly incorrect information. Some examples:
   
   On grape varieties: Petite Sirah is identified as being the same as Syrah and Shiraz (it isn't). Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer are not mentioned at all, but I would consider them more important than Sylvaner in California white grapes.
   
   On locations: Livermore Valley is "to the west in Alameda County", which must surprise people living in the eastern half of the county. Woodside Vineyards in Woodside and Thomas Fogerty Winery in Portola Valley are listed as being in Santa Clara Country (they are in San Mateo County). Morgan Hill and Gilroy are identified as being in Santa Cruz County (they are in Santa Clara County), and there are others too.
   
   The choices of wine labels are odd too. In a list of wine labels for a particular geographic area, often the wines come from someplace else. In the Mendocino County section, a wine made from Lodi (in the Central Valley) is listed. The San Francisco Bay section shows labels from three Monterey wines.
   
   Despite these faults, the book is definitely interesting - containing many nice photographs, and reasonble listings of wineries with contact information in all parts of California, even fairly obscure ones missed in many books, such as the wineries in Santa Clara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Nevada, and Calaveras counties.



3. California Wine Country is a most impressive guide.

   In 1973, I worked in the wine industry and was given the assignment to visit every winery in California of any size. Since then, I haven't been able to duplicate the feat as the number of new and interesting wineries has expanded rapidly.

   This book focuses on the highest quality winemakers in the Golden State, and gives you both an advance view and a sense of what's there before you visit. With this guide, you will vastly increase your enjoyment of touring wineries and vineyards by being able to pick from among the most interesting sites for you.

   The photography represents a lot of visits to each area. I doubt if you could capture all of these views, variations in lighting and seasons in less than three years of visits. Even areas I know well I saw differently.

   The book places about equal attention to the images of vineyards and the exteriors of wineries, many of which are magnificent structures to behold.

   Mr. Leffingwell is not as talented a writer as he is a photographer. But his prose is more than adequate to extend your knowledge of the industry as he explains about the history of each region and winery. For detailed information on wine making, I suggest you supplement this book with other resources. There is a limited discussion of the process except as applied to super premium reds and whites. There is no mention of how sparkling wines are made.

   The historical information is a little over focused on religion, Prohibition, the Depression and marketing.

   I was pleased to see the extensive discussions of the microclimates in each area. Very nice!

   I was disappointed not to find a better description of the wine qualities at each vineyard. Again, I suggest you supplement this book for that with one of the better wine guides.

   I hope that Mr. Leffingwell will update this book quite frequently.

   As a final test of how good this book is, my wife and I visited several of these areas last year around when the book was published. We used another guide, and had a wonderful time. However, if we had had this guide, I think we would have had a much better time . . . because we appear to have missed half of what we would have wanted to see.

   A final word of caution: Contact the wineries directly to verify times for tours and tastings. The information here was different from what we discovered on site in July 2002 in a few cases.

   Before you leave this wonderful volume, I suggest you consider where else a preview of what you are going to see adds a great deal to your enjoyment. What about a complimentary appetizer from the chef to whet your palate for what is to come?

1 comments about Indian Artifacts the Best of the Midwest: Identification and Value Guide (Indian Artifacts of the Midwest).

1. If this is the best that Mr. Hotham can find, he needs to look a little harder.

4 comments about The American Diner (Motorbooks Classic).

1. This is a wonderful book for we nostalgia nuts! The many photographs and descriptions of pre-fast food America will remind you of simpler times, or make you sad that you missed them.



2. Thanks Mike. I new B 4 hand that the book would B great. I no your work. 2 of the diner pictures R in my home town. In Middletown Connecticut. USA. The color in the book is so nice. By. Marty.



3. "The American Diner" is a delightful book that maintains the high standards Michael Witzel has always set for himself. Very beautiful, informative and entertaining. Chock-full of outstanding images from photographers like Pedar Ness, Ronald Saari and Howard Ande.

   There are many excellent sidebar stories, including one on Jerry Berta's DINERLAND in Rockford, Michigan. This man saved Rosie's Diner, built a miniature golf course and restored another 1947 diner into an art gallery. (I've gotta meet this guy.)

   Another delightful effort from Michael Karl Witzel. "The American Diner" entices me to Hit The Road and experience these wonderful greasy-spoons firsthand, especially those original East Coast joints!




4. Witzel has done it again! The diner images in this book are fantastic, both the vintage and current shots. Many are full page size and more, giving the reader a closeup look at some of America's greatest diners. Along with really informative historical text, each chapter contains a sidebar that highlights a particularly cool diner. It was fun to learn the history of and to see some of the greats like Pal's, Rosies, The Riverhead Grill, the Cutchogue, and Mel's "Googies" Diner in action.

1 comments about Gather Up the Fragments: The Andrews Shaker Collection.

1. You can hardly walk through a mall these days without hearing some form of "Simple Gifts" cycling through the soundtrack. And, the graceful yet functional lines of Shaker-designed furnishings now are mainstays in many American homes. Yet, most Americans know very little about this Utopian group that truly was among the great contributors to our national culture.
   
   If you visit one of the restored historical sites that once housed Shaker families, you're likely to walk away with a paperback like "The People Called Shakers," by Edward Andrews. But, even after reading the paperback, you won't know the larger and far more dramatic story of Andrews' (and his wife Faith Andrews') passion for preserving the art and spiritual message of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, as the Shakers formally called themselves.
   
   This coffee-table-style book, lavishly illustrated with color photographs, presents that larger story. It's part of a traveling exhibit, drawn from the Andrews collection, which will visit various historical sites over the next couple of years.
   
   The key to the Andrews' contribution really couldn't be properly evaluated until now, I think. As a journalist myself who has specialized in reporting on American religious life for more than 20 years - with a special focus on Shakers through most of those years - I think it's only in this era of "spiritual rebirth" in America that the Andrews' passion and achievements can properly be understood and appreciated.
   
   First of all, "Ted" Andrews began collecting and preserving endangered Shaker pieces in an era when they were considered "low" art at best. So-called experts, when he began to build his collection before World War II, regarded such hand-made, functional items as historical artifacts perhaps worth documenting. The art world was an entire conceptual universe away from its current fascination with such fusions of handicrafts and spiritual insight.
   
   What's more, "Ted" Andrews staunchly believed - in sharp contrast to most developers of historical sites in the mid-20th Century -- that Shaker sites should be preserved primarily for their spiritual value. At least, spiritual themes should be presented on par with gee-whiz exhibitions of artifacts. Initially, this seemed like a crazy notion to many experts and Andrews seemed like a rather bull-headed fellow. But, in today's cultural light, Andrews now appears to have been the prophetic visionary.
   
   If you care about this chapter of American history and this niche within global spirituality, this new Yale University book is a must-own volume on our collective Shaker legacy.

3 comments about Great Ships in New York Harbor: 175 Historic Photographs, 1935-2005.

1. Informative and interesting; just what I expected and needed



2. This is a superb look at New York's Harbor and the great ships that sailed to its port. There's many fantastic ariel shots of NYC in the pre-steel and glass era. Lots of history of the ports of Brooklyn, which served passengers as well as the retrofitting of many visiting ships. There's several modern day photos as well, including the liner Norway passing the World Trade Center on September 5, 2001.
   
   If anything could be added to this book it would be some pre-1935 shots of NYC's harbor, and possibly some color photos. But overall, it is a unique book for anyone who has an interest in New York City and great Ships.



3. This is a very good overview over the golden era of New York shipping.
   I'm always fascinated again whenever I look into the book. It's marvellous!
   I can only recommend this book of William H. Miller jr. to all ship- lovers and New York harbour and luxury liner-row fans!

No comments about The Official Price Guide to Mickey Mouse Collectibles.

3 comments about Fostoria American Line 2056 (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Book was in pristine condition and helped me find what I was missing from this pattern



2. Fostoria AAmerican Line 2056 is a real neat book and I have really enjoyed looking it over for the idea of finding the pieces that I have and looking for additional pieces and the price listed for the pieces is a real help.
   The pictures are fantastic and the descriptions are good. I only wish that I knew how to measure the pieces of glass to match their measurements.It's great to have the individuals to share by allowing photographs of their collections to help us beginners. Such treasures!Thanks for a job well done to the author, Leslie Pina, Ohio.



3. This book is wonderful to look at and browse through! It has a great deal of information and MANY full color pictures. It is a delight to be able to see so many well photographed pieces in one volume. The price ranges are listed right with the picture and descriptions, so it is a quick and easy reference. This is a good book for those that are in search of a moderately priced volume for their personal reference, as well as for the dealer.

   Note: the author, Leslie Pina, has many other volumes on glass that may be of interest to you.

5 comments about American Furniture of the 18th Century: History, Technique, and Structure.

1. Good starter book for collectors and cabinet makers. Helps provide context for the how and why for 18th century American furniture.



2. This is a great book at an extraordinary price. I would prefer that more of the pictures were in color but that would have increased the price of the book, maybe, beyond what I was willing to spend. If you want to learn about 18th century furniture making, this is the best there is. Greene has a writing style that is very clear and a pleasure to read. I cant say enough about this book.



3. This is a simply fabulous book. Its split into two sections; a furniture history section and a "how-to" section, describing basic techniques. These two sections make the book a great, informative read. BUT what makes this a "must buy" are the appendices. Greene shows exploded views of virtually all the basic furniture types. While these pictures aren't project plans, they provide invaluable information about the guts of antique furniture. The other appendix I like is the one showing 18th century recipes for finishes. I tried a few and they work great.



4. Greene's book does a good job of providing a woodworker (or others interested in period pieces) with solid information on many selected pieces from the era of the title. He does a good job of selecting pieces of good taste, and gives a lot of information on various details with just the right amount of how-to. There is also a lot of historical background info for those who like to know about the history of a piece or style before they build it. The pictures and exploded drawings (showing joinery) are excellent. Though not a comprehensive encyclopedia (it's not intended to be one) it is a good read from start to finish or a good reference book. Well worth the money.



5. This book has an excellent selection of photographs of fine furniture of the 18th Century. The most notable thing about the book is that the author has exhibited fairly good taste in his selection of specimens to include, and has largely ignored the more shabby pieces of the era. This is in contrast with Nutting's "Furniture Treasury", which has truly extensive selections of photographs of all furniture of the era (good, bad, or indifferent). Greene's book also contains good historical information on the furniture trade of that era, and has an excellent bibliography of furniture books written in the 18th Century (some of which remain available).

   The author is a former mechanical engineer, who now hand crafts replica 18th Century furniture for a living.