Cave Passages: Roaming the Underground Wilderness

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Caving is exciting, adventurous, and sometimes dangerous. It's the one true exploration frontier still available to the individual. Michael Ray Taylor's fascination with canyons and crevices hundreds of feet below the earth has taken him from Wyoming's Grim Crawl of Death to Chinese burial caves, the Old Croton Aqueduct beneath Spanish Harlem, and in 1994 to Zacaton, Mexico, where the world's greatest cave diver, Sheck Exley, dies in a dive. In a book of travel adventure, natural beauty, and emotional honesty, Taylor tours the world's deepest and least accessible pits, illuminating the personalities and people whose passion is slithering in the dark.

Customer Reviews:

Another world!.......2007-06-06

After reading this and realizing I live within minutes of some of the places mentioned it makes me want to try it. It also helps me realize how lucky I am to live here. The book took me to what seemed like another world at times. Although I might not agree with some of his and other caver's philosophy, I still appreciate what they are trying to do with the sport. Maybe, I'll get to meet a member of the tight knit, eccentric, caving family and experience first hand some of the thrill and pain of going underground.

Continued praise for Cave Passages.......2000-06-16

After finishing this book for the second time, I again felt the pang of loss for having the pages not continue. A blend of caving, philosophy, and caving philosophy, his work gives one pause for finding meaning in one's life. I for one am jealous of the karst regions he has been fortunate to explore. Telling about those exploits is handled with style that doesn't get in the way of the story itself. I'm sure others would enjoy this book. I do.

Enter the fascinating world of caving........1999-07-03

Come visit Michael Ray Taylor's underground world and explore some of the last great wilderness on earth without leaving the safety and comfort of your armchair. This collection of short stories on caving takes you around the world to some of the most exotic caving regions. Michael's easy and casual style of writing puts you right in the action. One can easily imagine how tight the Devil's Pinch must be, and what those rocks felt like as they squeeze you from above and below. I liked how Michael made each account personal by letting you get to know the other cavers and the local inhabitants of the region. This book is for anyone with an adventurous spirit.

I was hoping for more...........1999-05-23

Caving is a fascinating sport, but this book didn't captivate me as I hoped it would. Eleven of the 22 chapters had little or nothing to do with caving (the author just wandered-off on tangents...96 pages worth); that was a disappointment. The chapters which did talk about caving (the other 156 pages) were well written and very descriptive. The book was 252 pages long (the other 30+ pages included a glossary, index, appendix, etc.). I also purchased a book called "The Longest Cave," but I haven't read it yet; I'm hoping it'll be better.

Taylor caves so you don't have to.......1999-04-22

In this irresistable book, Taylor shares his passion for caving in easy-going prose that never falters. He takes us all over into all kinds of caving situations, and the result is simply fascinating. What's more, Taylor never falls prey to the immodest "boy-am-I-ever-cool-and-macho" style that afflicts some who write about their awesome adventures. On the contrary, Taylor is disarmingly candid about his occasional fears and breaches of caving ettiquette. His honesty adds to the pleasure of reading this fine little book. Although the book is never quite as lyrical as one might hope, the last few paragraphs are surprisingly bittersweet.

The single significant flaw is not in the text, but rather in the lack of photographs. One wonders how a book in which great pains are taken to describe underground scenes, and in which the personalities and work of several cave photographers are described, could be virtually photograph free. It's strange and a little frustating. But this is still a delightful book.

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CAVE PASSAGES: ROAMING THE UNDERGROUND WILDERNESS
Michael Ray Taylor
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KP3ENU

Customer Reviews:

In touch with God and Self outdoors.......2000-04-12

Being an outdoor person, I was drawn to this book by the cover (I know, don't judge a book by its cover), but I was. I have been outdoors before, and come close to what I thought was death, but was pulled through by the grace of God. Night on the Flint River : An Accidental Journey in Knowing God is Roberta Bondi's experience of just such an event. she has a powerful way of relating lifes misadventures as ways of connecting with the divine. Some would call this a "fox-hole confession", however, Bondi reflects on what happens when someone is already a believer, and feels they have come close to death. Is coming close to death a time of fear or a time of intense spiritual growth? Roberta explores this question well, and helped me understand my faith a little better also.

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Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier

There are better ones out there

Growing up with Tom Bodett

A humorous look at the challenges of growing up

Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier: A Novel in Stories (Tom Bodett Adventure Series)
Tom Bodett
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Parents | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
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As Far as You Can Go Without a Passport: Views from the End of the Road

Williwaw! (Yearling Books)

Small Comforts: More Comments and Comic Pieces

End of the Road, The

The Tom Bodett Value Collection: The End of the Road, the Last Decent Parking Place in North America, Those Grand Occasions at the End of the Road (Value Collections)

ASIN: 0679890319
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Book Description

NORMAN TUTTLE IS, in a word, awkward. He falls off his father’s fishing boat into icy Alaskan waters. He quietly sweats on gorgeous Laura Magruder at the school dance. He gets himself on the bad side of Leonard Kopinski, an overgrown eighth-grader who shaves. As Norman contemplates a long and lonely adolescence on the Last Frontier, he’s sure there’s more to life than being the klutziest kid in Alaska. In 15 closely linked stories that follow Norman from age 13 to going-on 16, Tom Bodett combines rugged Alaskan adventure with a warm and funny story of a boy who may not be as lonely as he thinks.

Customer Reviews:

Norman Tuttle on the Last Frontier.......2007-05-16

Tom Bodett has a wonderful story telling ability that is comparable with
Garrison Keillor. He capture the problems and growing oains of the
adolescent boy in this coming of age book.

There are better ones out there.......2007-01-08

"Tom Bodett combines rugged Alaskan adventure with a warm and funny story of a boy who may not be as lonely as he thinks."

I was not impressed with the book. It really could have easily taken place in California- it really didn't show what it is like to live in Alaska (this is coming from a teen living in a small town in Alaska, mind you). The "wilderness adventure" was never shown except for some fishing and hunting that was briefly touched upon.

Tom Bodett has written some awesome books, but this is a flop of his. It was not that humorous, and was rather dry.

Growing up with Tom Bodett.......2006-09-10

As 'coming of age' stories go, I consider Stephen King's "The Body"/"Stand By Me" the gold standard. Norman Tuttle is short of that standard. Still, it is a very worthwhile read. As a 57-year-old adult, I identified with most of the anecdotes that Mr. Bodett included in this fast-paced read. I am certain, without a doubt, that young readers will enjoy this book as well. Young or old, you will enjoy this book. Like "The Body," Norman Tuttle would make an excellent film that would draw a wide range of viewers.

A humorous look at the challenges of growing up.......2004-12-11

The first story in NORMAN TUTTLE ON THE LAST FRONTIER has Norman falling out of a fishing boat into icy Alaskan waters. "There is probably no good time to be in a situation like this," author Tom Bodett writes, "but being in this situation at age thirteen has got to be the worst of them. You're too old to cry and too young to swear, and you don't even have much of a life to go flashing past." This sets the tone for the collection of short stories about the life and adventures of Norman Tuttle, eldest son of an Alaskan fisherman, as he faces the challenges of growing up.

NORMAN TUTTLE ON THE LAST FRONTIER is a hilarious account of a boy growing up on the last frontiers of civilization and adolescence. Some tales are unique to the setting, like those about Norman helping on his father's fishing boat. Others are common to young people anywhere in North America, such as the stories about bullies, friendship, or first loves.

Tom Bodett makes an unusual choice in placing Norman in a loving, two-parent home. His close relationship with his father is especially noteworthy. Most young people in literature come from families that are missing a parent or experiencing some sort of trauma, such as a recent death or alcoholism. NORMAN TUTTLE ON THE LAST FRONTIER proves that there is plenty of drama available in a young person's life without resorting to trauma. The strongest stories in this collection are pitch-perfect renderings of perfectly mundane moments in a young person's life.

There are two standout stories in this collection of humorous tales. "Thanksgiving Cheer" is about the first Thanksgiving when Norman is allowed to sit at the grown-up table. Sent to the basement to look after his younger siblings and cousins, Norman ends up pounding a screwdriver into his father's workbench. His father, unaware that Norman has disobeyed one of the cardinal rules of the house --- to stay out of the tools --- invites Norman to join the adults. Norman knows he should enjoy being included as an adult member of the family, but all he can think about is how to repair the damage in the basement before his parents find out.

Another great story is "A Bump in the Road." Norman, who is recently grounded and seething against the unfairness of the world, reacts to his father's annoying tendency to say, "Bumpity-bump-bump-bump!" whenever they hit a rough spot on the road. The simple set-up and Bodett's direct use of language make the story an ideal way to explore the dynamics and feelings behind adolescent outbursts.

Never condescending, NORMAN TUTTLE ON THE LAST FRONTIER can be enjoyed both by people experiencing these things for the first time and those who remember going through them. In a world full of teen trauma novels, this book is a refreshing breath of positive realism. I look forward to what Tom Bodett will offer next.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood

Book Description

The critically acclaimed laboratory standard, Methods in Enzymology, is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Since 1955, each volume has been eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. The series contains much material still relevant today - truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences.

Immunochemical Techniques, Part H: Effectors and Mediators of Lymphoid Cell Functions, Volume 116 : Volume 116: Immunochemical Techniques Part H (Methods in Enzymology)

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Immunochemical Techniques, Part H: Effectors and Mediators of Lymphoid Cell Functions, Volume 116 : Volume 116: Immunochemical Techniques Part H (Methods in Enzymology)
Editor-Giovanni Di Sabato
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OH2CPU

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Plastic Deformation of Simple Ionic Crystals (Materials science and technology)
M.T. Sprackling
Manufacturer: Academic Press Inc.,U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Crystallography | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0126578508

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The plastic deformation of simple ionic crystals.
M.T. SPRACKLING
Manufacturer: Academic Press Inc.,U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHUHFW

Book Description

This book presents an up-to-date exposition of the current `state of the art' of numerical methods for solving ordinary differential equations in a parallel computing environment. Although the main focus is on problems of initial value type, consideration will also be given to boundary value problems and partial differential equations. Furthermore, because linear algebra is an important component of the solution of differential equations, a complete chapter is devoted to the parallel solution of linear systems of equations. In addition to presenting an overview of parallel computing in general, two chapters are devoted to a summary of existing sequential differential equation methods. The parallel techniques discussed include parallelism across the method, parallelism across the step, parallelism across the system, and dynamic iteration. The book concludes with a chapter on the behaviour of a parallel code based on waveform relaxation. This comprehensive book is unique in its content and provides a balance between theoretical and practical issues by providing general frameworks in which to study parallel methods.

Book Description

A furious escaped lab bunny vandalizes symbols of corporate greed while arguing political theory with a pigtailed eco-warrior, as Zen Pug observes it all in blissful detachment. They drag her pop culture-bedazzled brother, his anarchist boyfriend and other characters kicking and screaming into the struggle against the rapacious thugs and theocratic wingnuts ruling imperial America. Stephanie McMillan's comics, deploying an engaging visual style that draws on everything from folk art to anime, confront the insanity and heartlessness of global capitalism and war with sharp, compassionate humor and a defiant spirit of hope.

Customer Reviews:

powerful book.......2006-11-04

I love this book. The politics are great, the writing superb, the drawings extraordinary. Part of the beauty of the drawings is how straightforward and simple they seem. But they're not. They're actually incredibly complex, and incredibly well-composed. In addition, she captures both overt and subtle emotions better than any other cartoonist I've seen. Even more important than all of this though is the author's bravery. She is a voice of sanity and courage for the oppressed.

Tiresome drivel.......2006-10-27

While this comic book tries to sort out the problems of the world in a sarcastic way it falls very short of the mark. Jokes comparing Bush to Hitler are rather played out, like most of the "witty" sarcasm contained within. It's not funny. At all. The drawings are reminiscent of a parkinsons patient grocery list and the "facts" are as misguided as a horny blind man in a fish factory. If the world runs out of toilet paper, by all means get this waste of paper. Otherwise, stay far away from this garbage.

An excellent look at the world.......2006-10-07

If you want to know what's really going on, then you have to pick up this book. While presented as cartoons, the underlying truths are insightful and compelling.

A Book of Opinions.......2006-06-24

This is a book filled with political cartoons. They are all strongly leaning towards the left and the result is a huge amount of Bush bashing and Environmentalism. There are a lot of cartoons covering the current situation of liberals versus conservatives and provides a different viewpoint from that which you would see in national politics.

The only problem is that it's not funny. Sure, It's easy to get some giggles when you see your philosophical oppostion strawmanned but other than a political pie throwing contest there's isn't much in the way of humor involved.

This is pretty much the evil twin of Mallard Fillmore, only instead of an anthropomorphic Republiduck its a Pippi Longstockings and her one eyed rabbit. This book is decidedly one sided and though its a great bullhorn to spew opinions, but unless the simple line of 'Republicans are stupid' sends you into uncontrollable fits of laughter you aren't going to get more than a smirk out of this volume.

Great gift for a left leaning friend who hates art.

Forget the half baked politics.......2006-06-23

This is just seriously unfunny. It reads like some angsty teenagers's tribute to half understood Marxism, and it doesn't even come close to being amusing. This is comedy poison.

The Novel and the Globalization of Culture

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The Novel and the Globalization of Culture
Michael Valdez Moses
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Bringing together canonical European authors with authors from the Third World, this book analyzes the emergence of the modern global novel, and the way it mirrors the underlying process of cultural globalization. Through detailed readings of Stendhal, Hardy, Conrad, Achebe, and Vargas Llosa, this study reveals how the spread of Western modernity--materially and culturally--has been shadowed by the destruction of traditional societies. These novels focus on the individual tragedies of those who represent pre-modern ways of life; in the process, offering a corrective to Hegel's abstruse philosophy of history. From rural Victorian England to the Malay Archipelago, and from the Igbo heartland in Africa to the backlands of Brazil, a global narrative unfolds, one where the forces of modernization clash with the defenders of traditional society. Moses contributes to the ongoing debate on Alexandre Kojeve and the "end of history", while, at the same time, moving beyond sterile oppositions--canonical versus non-canonical works, formal literary criticism versus political/historical critique. With its new conceptualization of modernity and globalization, this book will interest the literary scholar, cultural critic, social scientist, and political theorist.

Victor Segalen and the Aesthetics of Diversity: Journeys between Cultures

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Victor Segalen and the Aesthetics of Diversity: Journeys between Cultures
Charles Forsdick
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

French | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Aesthetics | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0198160143

Book Description

With the appearance of Victor Segalen's Complete Works in 1995, the dramatic scope and wide-ranging implications of his reflections on exoticism were at last fully apparent. This study asserts the originality of Segalen's notion of exoticism while offering the first comprehensive study of the
genesis of his aesthetics.

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: A Historical Novel

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A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: A Historical Novel
Donald G Southerton
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0595420974

Book Description

Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet longed for high adventure and travel. Leaving late nineteenth century New England for a sojourn in Japan, Josh soon finds himself in the Hermit Kingdom-Korea.

Coming of age is always filled with trial and tribulation. For Josh Gillet, intense life experiences are forged in an ancient land that has become the political chessboard for imperialist powers-amid a bold Protestant missionary movement and Anglo merchants with hopes of wealth. Josh quickly learns that high adventure, opportunity, and a budding romance come at a price as cultures collide.

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The Novel and the Globalization of Culture
Michael Valdez Moses
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKJAMA

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