5 comments about The Survival of the Bark Canoe.

1. As a canoeist, handyman, and McPhee fan, I enjoyed this little book very much. Like the 5-11-2000 reviewer, I found it to come in two parts. The first part details technical details about birch-bark canoes and how Vaillancourt became a self-taught master of their construction. The second part describes a canoe trip with Vaillancourt and others.

   That other reviewer found the second half to be parody of Vaillancourt, but I disagree. As in The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed, real life sometimes takes a turn that a dreamer would not expect. Like his other non-fiction, I felt that McPhee offered real insights to the peoples' character and doesn't hesitate to sing their praises nor describe their shortcomings.

   I enjoy the copious background information that McPhee includes in all of his books. Even more than a Tracy Kidder book, you come away feeling like you have some in-depth understanding of the subject.




2. I read this book years ago and have even given a couple of copies away to friends! So I highly recommend this book and many of McPhee's other works. As to Henri Vaillincourt, the hero of the book; he would say don't believe everything you read in the book... He builds canoes still today, and very nice one at that. He even has a website that I will not list here. The true beauty of the book is first it recreates how to build a true Algonquin style canoe. Second it recreates Thoreau's "Maine Woods" trip. Lastly it shows a man, Henri with an interest that has became his passion for the last forty years or his life. If you ever drive up up New Hampshire Route 31 you can see his works of art in progress on the side of the road. I also recommend Thoreau's The Maine Woods as a companion book to this one!



3. Typically, I hate it when people write books about really short trips that aren't very adventurous or eventful.
   But this is John McPhee, and he can write about whatever he wants.
   This book is about a guy obsessed with building bark canoes like the Indians did, about a camping trip in the Maine woods, and about travelling through the wilderness when the rest of the world's advancing further into civilization.
   It's a good book on bark canoes, on canoeing in general, on Maine, on the history of fur trapping, on the idea of wilderness, on obsession, and on Thoreau.
   It may make you want to build a canoe, and it will almost certainly make you want to go camping. It's worth it just for that.
   The book is written in John McPhee's clear, simplistic prose, and always feels focused and well-paced. It's a good introduction to McPhee, and a good book, period.
   You should read it.



4. A very enjoyable little book by McPhee, especially for those of us who enjoy his work, but can be overwhelmed (bored?) by his frequent choice of geology as his primary subject.
   As usual with McPhee we learn a great deal about the technical subject at hand; here the building of authentic birchbark canoes, but even more about the tradecraft and personality of the person and type of person dedicated to the subject.
   Like McPhee, I live in New Jersey and have hiked and camped in the Pine Barrens, and fished for and caught shad in the Delaware River, and perhaps understand a little of his wanderlust. McPhee mentions canoes in many of his other works, is clearly fond of and experienced with them, and can barely contain his excitement over getting authentic with a birchbark canoe.
   As others have noted, his portrayal of Henri changes a bit as we move from "the yard" to the water. McPhee notes that Henri is an artist in both ability and temperament. This is an academic conclusion that is easy to come by while watching in the yard, but not without a little personal discomfort to realize in the field.
   I often tell my kids that one of the most critical rules one must follow to get along with a group while on a team, on a trip, or even on a family vacation is to take care of your own stuff and do a little more than your share of the work.Henri violates this rule and complicates matters further when it is revealed that although he is the self appointed leader, the emperor has no clothes with regard to actually using the canoes.
   There is a faint sense of attempting to, but not quite being able to experience that which is desired. Do the canoes actually work as well as imagined? Is the land as beautiful? What of Thoreau and his observations? Have we incrementally embraced technology because it is quicker and easier, or because it is better? It seems to me that McPhee asks this question in many contexts, and slyly shows all sides without taking one, reminding me of the also excellent book by McPhee "Encounters with the Archdruid".
   Read the book to see how you answer these questions.



5. I have enjoyed many of John McPhee's books. I'm looking forward to reading this one. McPhee almost always presents a movable feast.

5 comments about Rowing Faster.

1. 'Rowing Faster' is the best and most up-to-date textbook on rowing I know. Each chapter within segments such as physiology, psychology, technique etc. is written by a true expert and well edited by Volker Nolte.
   Buy this book.



2. This is the definitive book on the current state of the art in rowing both on the water and on the erg. But it won't teach you how to row. Only how to think about things to improve and how everything fits together. The only other product out there today that comes close to this, and is really an excellent companion piece, is Xeno Muller's interactive DVDs.



3. This book is not for novices, it's for the already advanced rower, who wants to significantly improve their speed, and technique. It goes into complete detail on every major subject pretaining to rowing, from race prep. months in advance, to the race itself, this book covers it all.



4. Unfortunately, I just returned this book because I didn't find it very useful to me personally. Despite what that says about me as a rower, I feel that the description of the book "great for beginners to the elite" is a bit misleading. While the book addresses some issues with beginners, it's really talking to beginners [who will eventually become elite rowers].
   
   The book reads a lot like a physics or math book. It has a ton of charts, graphs, and things dealing with physical fitness that you wouldn't know unless you saw a specialist to have testing done. It's a very dry read but makes for a good reference book.
   
   Many of the authors talk about "the ideal" rower, being so-many feet tall with 6% bodyfat, along with other ideals. While this is fine, the bulk of the text has an undertone that suggests "if you don't meet these ideals, you're going to suck at rowing." The book often refers to your first "years of training" as if you're wasting your time if you're only doing this for a year or two.
   
   Each chapter is written by a different person, so there's not really a lot of chronology. There's nothing really wrong with this, but it refers back to the book seeming a lot like a textbook.
   
   Rowing is a tough sport, and there's no "you can do it!" or "great job!" encouragement for beginners in this book. Think of it as a text version of a coach. In fact, the book seems to be geared more toward coaches, and less toward individual rowers.
   
   Nothing I've said is explicitly negative, just not what I was looking for in this book. I have to say it's jam packed with information, much of it technical, about this great sport. This would make a great reference book for a coach, team captain, or SERIOUS rower.
   
   If I were to sum it up in one sentence, the book says "This is what rowing is, this is what rowers have to do to be awesome, take it or leave it."



5. This book is fun to read and has a lot of useful tips. I'd recommend it for anyone who's into rowing. I'm basically a beginner (1 year of rowing), so it was useful for me, but there was plenty of advanced stuff, as well as information for coaches and coxswains.
   
   However, I have two criticisms of this book. First, it's essentially a compilation of essays about rowing, so it lacks unity or a coherent order to it. Thus, it's not as navigable as, say, a "Rowing for Dummies" book would be if they made one. Second, many of the chapters are heavily laden with scientific detail about physiology and the bodily functions that are occurring when you're rowing. Reading that stuff was very complicated, and also unnecessary - I'd rather have more practice and training techniques and less of the science behind why they work.
   
   Aside from those criticisms, the book was good. It offers some helpful tips, although I had the feeling that I had to skim through a lot of other stuff in order to get to the tips I wanted. And, of course, no book is going to make you a good rower - that can only come with practice.
   
   I wish someone would write a better rowing book because I think there's a lot of room for improvement. But among the rowing books out there, this is one of the best.

5 comments about Canoecraft: An Illustrated Guide to Fine Woodstrip Construction.

1. You can absolutely build a strip canoe using this book alone, another review to the contrary notwithstanding. A number of designs are presented, along with well-illustrated building techniques. My review title refers to the fact that the book covers all phases of building and finishing, not that all possible alternative techniques are covered.
   
   Personally, what I think makes this book worth its weight in gold are the details - e.g., close-ups of strip fitting, gunwale sections, practical advice sprinkled throughout, etc. The writing inspires confidence and manages to pull off being entertaining and highly organized at the same time.



2. If you're looking for COMPLETE, step=by-step instructions for building a strip canoe, then this is the book to buy! It will assist both the novice and the pro. I have built one canoe, without the help of a resource such as this - wish I had it then! I've learning many new, quality-assuring techniques for the next canoe I am building.



3. I purchase "Building a Srip Canoe" by Gilpatrick at the same time as this book. These two books really compliment each other. I find that designs in the book to be very pleasing to look at as well as functional. The photography is decent and everything is laid out in an easy to follow manner.



4. The book is ok in terms of content and "how-to", but I could get all that information for free from personal blogs and youtube. The reason I bought this book is that I thought it included PLANS, which it did NOT. So for me, this book was totally useless. Ticks me off because the description on Amazon could have stated this and saved me the money.
   
   I would recommend buying Gil Gilpatricks book instead. His book has plans, and the instructions are every bit as good as this one.



5. GREAT BOOK! READ IT COVER TO COVER FIRST WEEKEND. i'M GLAD SOMEONE ELSE GAVE IT UP BECAUSE IT'S MINE NOW!

5 comments about The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook.

1. The Handbook is well written, complete and a joy to read. It handles many subjects such as hull design, tides and waves in a very comprehensive and understandable manner. A real value at the Amazon price.



2. I read three intro to sea kayaking books. Returned one, thought the other one was okay, and read this one twice cover to cover. (I wish I had picked this one up first.) It's comprehensive. Impartial, with dissenting views on some debatable points. It is also easy to read and not overly technical for a book with a huge amount of technical information.
   There are some notes on the history of kayaking, which provide a deeper appreciation for the activity. I think this book wets the appetite for whatever subject someone might find most interesting in there paddling (i.e. navigation, history, outfitting, surfing, etc.) All of the topics can be covered better by supplemental reading, and the bibliography is indeed a good resource.
   The two knot sections (boating & camping) in this book are exceedingly sparse, even for an introduction. Indeed the author herself says at the onset: "I urge you to learn more than just these few."
   Thanks Shelley, great book.



3. The information contained in this relatively small (307 pages) sea kayaking manual will amaze you. Suprisingly, although every conceivable sea kayaking topic is covered, there is substantial detail on each subject. Enough not only to wet your appetite on the topic but you'll want to come back to it to get a better appreciation of the detail and depth presented after you have had a chance to try it out on the water (or sitting in your boat in the living room as I have been know to do). A common cliche is "this is the only book you'll need on the subject" or "If you can only read one this is the one to read" but in this case it's true. Shelley's book is so full of factual information, which looks to be updated on a regular basis, you won't need a second source. I have at least seven other books to base my findings on. This one is the best!



4. This is a great book for the beginning kayaker. I have canoed and sailed for close to 40 years and just recently took up kayaking. After several lessons and going out on my own a few times I bought this book. It filled in a lot of the blanks and is a very balanced presentation of the subject matter.
   
   The kayaking instructor that I went to is definitely a knowledgeable individual but he is, as I have found many in the sport to be, very opinionated. Had I not read The Complete Sea Kayaker's Handbook I think my knowledge of the sport would have been limited to what I learned by trial and error on my own and the limited presentation I got from the instructor. The book is pretty neutral on subjects that are more personal preference like boat selection, skegs vs. rudders vs. neither, paddle selection, etc. There is good coverage of the safety aspects and equipment, beyond what was in the lessons I took.
   
   Overall the book is a really good supplement to lessons and paddling experience. I find myself going back and rereading sections of it after each time I go out paddling. I am sure that will change with experience but it is a great reference.



5. Exactly what I wanted as a new kayak owner. Comprehensive, readable, and full of useful info.

5 comments about Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park.

1. I found this book extremely helpful; even having paddled the 'Glades twice already. This book will allow me to take "The road less travelled," on this, my third trip thru the 'Glades. I would highly recommend this to anyone planning to paddle the Wilderness Waterway, or parts thereof.



2. We used this book to plan a trip to the glades. The info inside and maps helped a lot. WE still needed a good chart but the maps made it easier to nav. The info on camp sites and routes were pretty accurate.



3. This book was extremely helpful to plan a trip in the everglades and then was also helpful when changes were necessary last minute due to weather. It is an invaluable tool for anyone interested. It's informative, well written and yet "small and light" enough to take when space and weight are factors. Highly recommended to all.



4. My boyfriend and I went and paddled the Wilderness Waterway through the Everglades National Park in February 2008 using this guidebook, a compass and the appropriate nautical charts. We had never been to Florida before, nor had we ever undertaken such a long canoe trip. The experience was exhilarating. Route finding through the mangrove forest was very challenging, but by stopping, rereading Johnny Malloy's route descriptions as we progressed, and trusting the compass, we never did make a wrong turn. Without this guide, I'm not sure that would have been true.
   
   I was disappointed to be advised by people we met along the paddle that the "Nightmare Route" would not be passable after the most recent hurricanes of 2005 because of fallen trees and the fact that the ranger service does not maintain the route. After reading this guide, which was published in 2000, I had been totally sold on the idea of paddling the "Quintessential Everglades Route." I don't know if it is actually not passable, but we decided not to take the chance. Anyone interested should pursue more updated information. The North Harney River Route, however, was passable and satisfied some of that desire to paddle the route less taken.
   
   If you don't know what no-see-ums are, investigate protecting yourself from them before you go. Yikes!



5. I purchased two copies of this book several years ago when planning our first kayaking and camping trip into the Everglades National Park. My father and I have now made this trek an annual tradition. We relied on the details, suggestions and maps to plan the trips we've made over the past three years.
   
   We've managed to follow some of the trails and other we've probably criss-crossed while making our own. While we still have some work to do on our navigation skills, we have never had a bad trip. We have been thankful for this guide which not only helped prepare us for the trip, but also served as encouragement for us to get out there and explore.

5 comments about The Strip-Built Sea Kayak: Three Rugged, Beautiful Boats You Can Build.

1. this is a great book with 3 kayaks tou can build your self. i am building my fourth s&g kayak and dreaming of a strip kayak very soon i will take that leap. with Nick's book i feel in good hands



2. The author truly covers everything you will need to know to build your first kayak. I will reccomend that if you have no previous knowledge of tablesaws or wood working that you should practce cutting with some cheaper wood before you go straight for the cedar- have fun!



3. Well structured and written with lots of information to give you the kick start needed to begin making my strip built kayak.



4. I do wood working as a hobby and I always challenge myself. I decided to build a boat of some kind and bought this book. It goes more in depth than I thought it would have and there are also references in the back which I have contacted and they are all very helpful. I highly recommend this book if you want to build a canoe or kayak.



5. Again before I began I had to convert all the measurements of one the three kayaks, to millimetres and made the forms ready to put on the strong back. I found the terminology in the book a bit difficult to follow at first, given that I'm not yet into the boat building scene, but having read through the book a couple of times I think I'll be able to use it as a good reference as I build my first kayak.

2 comments about Kayak Bass Fishing: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Stripers.

1. It is winter, and I just bought this book, so I havent had a chance to try the information in it. But after reading this book, I believe it can help any kayak angler do better.



2. I really like this book, I bought it about a month ago and it's really helping me through this crazy, snowy weather that we're having.

5 comments about Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes (3rd edition).

1. I am planning a trip to Isle Royale and couldn't find much information searching the web. My friend and I are debating whether to make the trip a hiking trip, a canoe trip, or a packraft trip. Whatever we choose, this book provides enough information to make any of these trips will be successful. One thing is for sure, the book inspires you to plan multiple trips.



2. A must have for everyone going to Isle Royale. Of course, it is the best book until I write one.



3. This was a very useful guidebook to read before arriving on Isle Royale. It helped me decide what parts of the island I wanted to visit in my limited time there, and it gave me a good sense of what to expect at campgrounds, etc. I strongly recommend also purchasing the National Geographic map of the park, available from the ferry companies and at the camp store at Rock Harbor. The maps in the book tend to be a little small and not very detailed.



4. This seems to be the only guide for IRNP. It will be great for my trip next summer.



5. this book is everything i was hopeing for when i bought it. im using it to plan a trip there soon, i guess we will see when i get there

5 comments about Outdoor Navigation With GPS: Hiking, Geocaching, Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, Outdoor Photography, Backpacking, Mountain Biking.

1. WRITTEN IN EASY TERMS AND TO THE POINT. COVERS EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE BASICS OF GPS, THE MOST RECENT TYPES AND BRANDS OF EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE, AND FIELD USAGE.



2. I received this book in quick fashion. It was just as described on the website! I would order from them again.



3. I bought a Garmin eTrex but the instructions it came with were very vague. I checked out two books from the local library on outdoor navigation with a GPS. Although both books gave me an idea on how to use the GPS, they were also VERY confusing...and also somewhat vague. I went to Amazon and saw "Outdoor Navigation with GPS," and saw it had some pretty good reviews. The book was written in such a way to make a complex subject, outdoor navigation, much easier. It also helped me understand the functions on my GPS and how to use them in a real world situation. If an outdoor GPS confuses you like mine did, then this is DEFINITELY the book to get that will guide you on how it functions.



4. Being new to GPS, I considered myself a 'dummy' on the subject, so I purchased 'GPS for Dummies' and was disappointed. After researching more books on the subject, I chose this book, and realized I should have purchased it initially. This is the second edition, published in 2007, and is the most up to date book I have found. It not only covers using a GPS receiver (GPSr), but many other facets of wilderness navigation as well. There is a chapter titled 'Highway Navigation with GPS', but this book is geared toward using a handheld receiver in the wild. In-depth explanations with photos and drawings help to get the points across. In addition to the (excellent) GPS and map and compass navigation instruction I was looking for, there are sections on 'Recovering from Disaster' (lost in the wild with a dead GPS), 'Primitive Navigation Techniques' (no map, no compass, no GPS), 'More Fun and Games' (including GPS golf, orienteering, etc.) and MUCH MORE! Geocaching has its own chapter. Dead Reckoning and Altimeter Navigation are even addressed. In the few somewhat technical areas (plotting latitude and longitude on a map, for example), the author thoroughly explains the 'why and how', then takes the reader through a step-by-step example, as if he was actually doing the procedure; very effective instruction, and it makes for an interesting read. You can view several pages on Amazon, but Google Books shows more, so check it out before you buy. This is the best all-around instructional book on the subject that I have found and I highly recommend it. It would make a perfect gift for the budding adventurer (alongside his or her first hand held GPS unit), or just good reading material for someone interested in the subject.



5. This guide is well organized and simple to follow. If you are not already familiar with using a mapping GPS receiver, then this guide is essential. It clearly states what the receiver is doing and why it is doing it to identify where you are. Using a mapping GPS off-road in the deep woods is far different from using a GPS to follow well mapped roads to a destination. This book gives straightforward guidance on essentially every feature of a modern, comprehensive GPS receiver.

5 comments about Fork in the Trail: Mouthwatering Meals and Tempting Treats for the Backcountry.

1. Lots of great recipes. There's a lot of emphasis on things like breads and complex meals, rather than the usual mix of instant potatoes and sandwiches. Great resource!



2. Easy! Fulfilling! Tasty! These three words describe the food found in A Fork in the Trail. Not only are the recipes delicious but your backpack will belighter with the techniques described in this book. I enjoyed the author's way of cooking whole meals and dehydrating them only to have to add water and reheat on the trail. With this book, I have learned how to convert my own recipes for camping, a task that was simpler than I could have imagined.



3. Awesome book. Fantastic, easy backpacking meals that don't take up a lot of space. We never knew we could eat so well!



4. Of all the backpacking/dehydrating books I've used, this one is my favorite! The author's experience in camp cooking is evident. (Anyone who celebrates Thanksgiving every year by going camping and cooking a turkey in her a cardboard box oven has my respect.) The book is very well organized with a helpful section in the beginning covering everything from dehydration tips to sample meal plans for a week-long trip.
   
   The recipes cover an amazing variety of tastes and styles. Forget beef stew and gorp--try having African Chicken and Groundnut Stew or Blueberry-Orange Tea Cake. The ingredient lists on the side of the page, the symbols indicating whether the recipe is ultra-light, and the stats on serving size and dehydration time helped me quickly pick the recipes I wanted for our most recent trip. My favorite recipe so far is the Thai Chili Salad (page 72). It was easy to make, dehydrate, and rehydrate, but the combination of tangy lime and spicy cillantro was absolutely amazing on trail. The book splits it's space between light-weight backpacking/paddling recipes and more elaborate car-camping dishes.
   
   This book has changed the way I think about lightweight backpacking cooking! And the recipes are tasty enough that I may start using them for regular meals at home, too. Want to impress your friends with orange cupcakes baked inside hollowed-out oranges? This book is for you.
   
   Mary Ann Miller Bates
   (Author of "CH is for Chocolate: Individually Wrapped Tastes of Switzerland")



5. Laurie's book is full of good things with great flavors. That's what makes her cookbook so exciting. On reviewer claimed of too much work... well, good cooking IS an effort. Either you like to cook or you don't.
   
   This book caters to all kinds of people and styles. The best backcountry cooking comes from things you have made at home. If you can or are willing to utilize a dehydrator, you can create any number of your own delicacy dishes to take on your backcountry trips. Using "A Fork in the Trail" as a guide will expand your horizons and your taste buds!