Essential Books

The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel: Tips, Technology, Advanced Techniques

Dale Coyner

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Whitehorse Press Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $15.64

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Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Automotive -> Motorcycles -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Automotive -> Motorcycles -> General AAS
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Automotive -> Racing

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you only read one, read this one. I have been out of motorcycling for 26 years, owned four in my earlier day. I wanted to tour then but never did. This time I am doing it. I wanted to start out right so this was the first book I read. Extremely informative. It covered just about everything I needed and more. If there is any negative maybe I could ask for more guidance on which motorcycle. However, as I found in researching motorcycles, there are just too many factors. You must know what kind of travel you'll do, set your requirements of the bike, do the research on the bikes, sit on all of them, ride if allowed, settle on the one for you, take a motorcycle saftey course, buy and have fun. Don't go too small or too big, it must fit you. Dr. Fraizer's book is good too.

Editorial Review:

This book is written to help motorcyclists prepare themselves and their motorcycles for traveling long distances over extended periods. Whether you are getting ready for a weekend trip beyond your home turf or for a transcontinental odyssey lasting several years, Coyner's book details the fundamentals for riding in comfort, safety, and convenience. In three major sections, the book covers trip planning, rider preparation, and outfitting the motorcycle. An appropriate level of planning for a long motorcycle trip can help maximize enjoyment and minimize irritating annoyances on the road. Coyner lays out the steps for planning a worry-free, fun trip. Over 250 full-color photographs illustrate riding gear, accessories, and modifications that will make any motorcycle adventure the trip of a lifetime.

The Essential Touring Cyclist: A Complete Guide for the Bicycle Traveler, Second Edition

Richard Lovett

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 By: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $7.75

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Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Education -> Education Theory -> Physical Education
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Camping
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Outdoor Recreation -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Very informative. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is a fantastic reference for the cycling enthusiast. It quite thoroughly covers absolutely everything you can think of when it comes to cycling. I highly recommend it.

really helpful 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I just started this last night, I have road ridden on a mountain bike for years, on a bike that has been refit for me several times, this book is very helpful, I would like to ride more and this will help me try some different bikes. My local bike store is full of nice people,but since I am not a serious rider,and am a short heavy woman, they have little time to help me. this book fill that need.

Great!! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book, very easy to understand and follow all the instructions and tips. Provides a lot of information to start in the wonderfull world of traveling by bike.

Bike Book Review 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Provided the information I needed to get started in Bicycling. It is well written and easy to understand.

A Little Overwhelming 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book was recommended to me by some people who are hard core touring cyclists. They loved this book. I am new to cycling and was just looking to buy my first bike. I was told it would have some useful information for me, but I found the book to be a little overhwelming. It would probably meet the needs of very serious bicycle enthusiasts, but for the casual reader it is just too much information to process.

Editorial Review:

THRU-HIKERS GUIDE TO AMERICA

The Essential Vancouver Island Outdoor Recreation Guide

John Kimantas

Amazon Price: $21.86 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Whitecap Books Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $19.71

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Subjects -> Travel -> Canada -> Provinces -> British Columbia
Subjects -> Travel -> Canada -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Canada -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

An insider's guide to a spectacular destination.

British Columbia's Vancouver Island is one of the world's premiere tourist destinations. Millions of people visit the island every year to glimpse the stunning scenery and take advantage of the numerous activities offered by this natural playground.

In The Essential Vancouver Island Outdoor Recreation Guide, avid outdoorsman John Kimantas has compiled a comprehensive resource to getting the most out of a visit to the island's rugged coastlines, quaint villages and unbeatable recreational terrain. In an easy-to-follow, region-by-region format, he reveals some of the best-kept secrets of Vancouver Island through:

• Detailed maps
• Geographic evaluations
• Ecological background
• Campsite information
• Recreational information on hiking, climbing, cycling, camping, whitewater rafting, spelunking and fishing
• Trivia and stories.

This book unlocks the beauty of Vancouver Island, from its most famous spots to the little known havens visited only by locals.

The Essential Little Cruise Book, 3rd: Secrets from a Cruise Director for a Perfect Cruise Vacation

Jim West

Amazon Price: $7.95 List Price: $7.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: GPP Travel Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $0.98

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Cruises
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Guidebooks
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The Essential little Cruise Book 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I am returning this item.
Its a small little book with just general information nothing specific or insightfull.

Not Particularly Useful 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The gist of this book is: "Have a good time, no matter what. Avoid bugging the staff, your problem's not that big." Very little in the way of stuff which could enhance your cruise or keep you out of trouble.

Editorial Review:

This smart little book offers helpful advice both for those embarking on their first cruise as well as salty veterans. The Essential Little Cruise Book covers everything form how to choose a cruise that's right for you, picking a travel agent and cabin, what to bring, cruise etiquette, and how to cure sea sickness: "Old-fashioned cures that sailors have sworn by: If you do begin to feel sick, go outside, look at the horizon, and stay in the middle section of the ship. Also, eat some dry crackers or bread sticks, and stay away form liquids." With more than 500 cruises under his belt as a cruise director, author Jim West provides insight and tips that can greatly improve a cruise vacation.

Essential Do's and Taboos: The Complete Guide to International Business and Leisure Travel

Roger E. Axtell

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $2.24

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Business Life -> Etiquette
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> International -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> International -> General AAS

Editorial Review:

"Roger Axtell is an internationalist Emily Post."
--The New Yorker

International business and leisure travel etiquette expert Roger Axtell's bestselling Do's and Taboos books have helped hundreds of thousands of business travelers and tourists avoid the missteps and misunderstandings the world traveler can encounter. In Essential Do's and Taboos, Axtell shares the wisdom he has compiled over a lifetime of international experience.

Whether you need to know the best time of year to set up a business meeting in Germany or why the O.K. sign is not O.K. in Brazil, you'll find practical, fascinating, culture-savvy, up-to-date advice to help you steer clear of faux pas and face the world with confidence. Essential Do's and Taboos features:
*

Information on customs, protocol, etiquette, hand gestures, and body language
*

Fresh advice regarding Internet business and communication options
*

Country-specific chapters on eleven popular locations--from old favorites like England, France, Japan, and Germany to hot tourist destinations and emerging economies like India, China, Russia, and Mexico
*

Guidance on hosting international visitors
*

Important tips on using English around the world
*

Special do's and taboos for women traveling abroad

The Essential Snowshoer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Marianne Zwosta

List Price: $15.95 By: Ragged Mountain Press Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $3.98

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Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Boating
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Winter Sports -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great book on snowshoeing 5 out of 5 stars.
36 of 37 people found this review helpful.

This book is both entertaining and technical. Zwosta conveys her love of the outdoors, often with lyrical beauty. At the same time she provides the basics needed to get started with snowshoeing. Chapters cover the essentials of, types and uses of snowshoes, preparing for a trip and safety measures. Anecdotes throughout the book add additional perspectives to the subject. If you want to get started in snowshoeing, this is the book. Beware though, Zwosta's enthusiasm is catching. You may be tempted after a few pages to just go out and get started. Read the whole book. There's lots of good information.

One of the better MODERN snowshoe books. 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.

A good book with an accurate introduction to the history of snowshoes. The book explains accurately the difference between modern solid-deck snowshoes and traditional webbed deck designs, that being floatation. The tradition wooden snowshoes have greater floatation. This is information not clearly explained in other books, such as the Trailside Series. I would recommend this book.

The Essential Lewis and Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition)

Landon Y. Jones

Amazon Price: $12.21 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harper Perennial Amazon Marketplace: 74 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> 19th Century -> Antebellum
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> 19th Century -> Old West
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

All the good stuff 5 out of 5 stars.
74 of 79 people found this review helpful.

Are you a Lewis and Clark buff, just starting out? You've read "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose, and perhaps a couple other Lewis and Clark books. It's time to read the journals, but you are daunted by the thought of all that early 19th century wordiness, spelling and such?

Me too.

This book is great. It's just what it says it is. All the good stuff from Lewis and Clark's copious journals, all the highlights, well edited. The value of this book is as a starting place, perhaps. It's short enought to be read easily over a few days. Like all good introductions, then, if you want more you know where to look, and you'll now know what to expect. Landon Jones provides all the accessibility; Lewis and Clark still provide the wonder.

Editorial Review:

The journals of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark remain the single most important document in the history of American exploration. Through these tales of adventure, edited and annotated by American Book Award nominee Landon Jones, we meet Indian peoples and see the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and western rivers the way Lewis and Clark first observed them -- majestic, pristine, uncharted, and awe-inspiring.

The Essential Guide to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Jewels of the Rockies)

John Jenkins

Amazon Price: $14.96 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Colorado Mountain Club Press Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $8.53

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Parks & Campgrounds
Subjects -> Travel -> Guidebook Series -> Essential
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> West -> Mountain

Editorial Review:

A BLISTERED KIND OF LOVE

The Essential Driving Guide for Italy (Essential Guide to Driving in Europe) (Essential Guide to Driving in Europe)

Orv Strandoo

Amazon Price: $11.66 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Book Publishers Network Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $6.75

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> Italy -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> Italy -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Libro Magnifico! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I'm planning a trip to Italy with my college girlfriends. We liked this book because we want the flexibility of driving as opposed to taking trains or a bus tour. Thinking about driving in a foreign country made us feel a little intimidated at first, but the book gave us lots of practical tips and actual driving routes to take...so now we have more confidence. We also thought the routes in this book would be less crowded than more mainstream publications...

Fantastic! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

We loved loved loved this guide! Outstanding! We have been to Italy several times and decided to go off the beaten path for this trip. The villages and towns that Orv Strandoo recommends are NOT to miss. Way less crowded and much more charming than the other guide book itineraries. Also, the explanations of road signs and laws were invaluable. A must for every tourist who loves the Boot.

Editorial Review:

Touring in Italy becomes 'tranquillamente' when you take along The Essential Guide for Driving in Italy as your traveling companion. Within these pages you will find everything you need to know, quickly and easily the rules of the road and those trouble spots to avoid, a time-tested itinerary for the optimum Italian experience and tips on visiting the country s most enchanting sights. It s all here, at your fingertips, just waiting to show you la dolce vita for which Italy is so famous.

Essential Chinese For Travelers

Zhilong Fan

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: China Books and Periodicals Amazon Marketplace: 19 new & used starting at $0.15

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Subjects -> Reference -> Dictionaries & Thesauruses -> Foreign Language -> Chinese
Subjects -> Reference -> Foreign Languages -> Instruction -> Chinese
Subjects -> Reference -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Easy travel chinese 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Unless you have studied foreign languages since those college days, don't even try to actually learn Chinese before traveling to China. This concise and well laid-out book is all you need. It gives essential information on basic Chinese grammar and pronunciation and then breaks into various scenarios to provide words and phrases that you might need. For each word or phrase it gives English, pinyin, pronunciation and Chinese characters. The Chinese characters are convenient to have in case your pronunciation or tone (you'll learn about tone in the book) is a bit off. For example, after asking the maid several days in a row to leave three towels instead of two and her shaking her head in agreement but still left only two, I simply copied the Chinese characters from the book and taped the note to the towel rack; we got three towels from then on! The book also includes a brief (60 page) dictionary in the back and it is small in size, so it is easy to carry around with you. When I bought my copy the tape was not part of the package, but I am sure that it can only be an additional asset.