To start off let me tell you that this book could have been written in just one chapter. The entire book is so repetitive that it becomes an annoyance. The few pieces of relevant information in this book are worth the read, after all this book is fairly inexpensive. However, beware that the author mostly mentions incidents affecting religious figures in Central America. As if religious figures and their prosecution by SOA graduates are the only subjects worth detailing. I was really disappointed by this and the author's constant religious tone. In addition, the author never stops pushing the SOA Watch and his other books. This book seemed to me more like a fancy pamphlet for the SOA Watch an less, much less, of an objective look at the School of the Americas and the case of closing it down like the title suggests.

This book tries to make a case using really imaginative logic -- as in: Person A allegedly committed a crime; Person A also at sometime went to SOA therefore going to SOA casues a person to commit a crime. Please -- where is the accuracy in the use of verifiable facts? Example: Your Gen Galtieri went to an Army school that preceded SOA some 30 years before he assumed the Junta leadership how does that make "attending SOA" responsible or complicit in his later actions? -- where is the cause and effect? What I really got from this book is that the author definitely opposes past and current US foreign policy in the region and disregards facts to defend his position. OK - so take your criticism to the people who made the policy and the people who approve and fund it -- the folks in Washington DC! All this book does is prove that propaganda is a collection of mainly unrelated facts placed together to support a position. The truth is that the evidence and facts that have surfaced since this book was written disprove the author's many negative allegations and conclusaions of this school.

If you've never heard of the School of Americas or if you want to know why so many people gather at Ft. Benning to protest it, you could do worse than begin with this book.

The SOA is a U.S. run school whose mission is to train Central and South American military in the "arts" of anti-communism, counter-insurgency and keeping people in their place. The curriculum includes (along with trips to Disney World?) what we like to call (when our ememies do it) terrorism. Not only do the course materials detail specific methods, but some graduates have admitted what they have done. The SOA claims - after copies were leaked -that these materials have been trashed. How reassuring.

The use of torture, rape and wholesale massacre by U.S. and U.S. trained troops did not begin, nor, unfortunately, will it end with the SOA, but the establishment of a school which teaches atrocity as an insrument of policy may count as one of the more grandiose fits of hubris by our government. The SOA even recruits soldiers who already have a history of ordering or committing atrocities. No wonder we (the U.S.) oppose the establishment of the War Crimes Tribunal.

Then why the three stars? The book is too short. No one wants to hear their government is committing evil in their name. The proof is in the details and there just aren't enough here. Rather than presenting paraphrases of documents and testimony, the author would have strengthened the case by more direct quotes - or even reprinting all or portions in an appendix. We need to know which graduate of what class did what to whom when. Much additional information is available in other books.

If you're new to this topic, start here. If you want more information, search Amazon under El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton etc.

Don't even think about trying to survive in Brasil on this book. While other LP language guides (I have used their guides to Latin American Spanish, Mongolian, and Russian) are thorough, and provide lots of conversational phrases to get you into and out of almost any key travel situation, this one is woefully lacking in any aspect. Not enough vocabularly, not enough questions, not enough areas. After three weeks in Brasil, I managed to successfully use this book twice. It's cheap but it's not worth the purchase price.

As the book title says it's a Brazilian phrasebook, and for those who said that most pages have multiple errors in spelling and grammatical errors, all I can say is that it's so not true. As a Brazilian born and native Brazilian Portuguese speaker, I can guarantee that. But you must remeber that Brazilian Portuguese and Portugal Portuguese are almost two different languages, so you can't use this book to survive in Portugal.

As one reader put it, this book has nothing to do with Portuguese. In fact it is on Brazilian language, which is becoming a distant dialect from the latter. So if you want to learn Portuguese, avoid this book, but if you want to learn Brazilian, that is your choice.

If you want to get a real feel for the place without falling asleep, save your money. The author takes an otherwise fascinating subject (the outdoors Central America) and, using lifeless prose, makes you wonder why you were ever interested in CA in the first place. Hotel listings are scant, as is specific information about destinations. No picutres or maps. Possibly good information about hiking, but not much on the safefy of such excursions. The Let's Go guidebook has more specific info (though not only on the outdoors) and is much more enjoyable to read.

I live in Nicaragua -- can only comment on that location. This book is just ok to suppliment. Buy Lonely Plant Central America for detail (its better then the Rough Guide).

Hi, I am working at ILISA Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica and I just want to let you know that this book help our students a lot by giving them helpful tips and by making any travel plans for the weekends. Thanks!

The best part of this book is the pictures. As with many TFH books the promise exceeds the delivery. There is very little information of use to the hobbiest included in this work. So basic a fact as the size the fish reach is missing. Many of the fish shown are never or very rarely available to the hobbiest. Years ago TFH published a book, I beileve the title was "The Fishes of Lake Karibi". This book had nothing to do with the aquarium hobby, but rather was a study of the commercial fishery on this lake. A hobby publisher should publish hobby books and leave text and science books to someone else. Or publish them under another name.

Contains some useful information, but TFH's "Cichlids From Central America" book, by Ad Konings, is MUCH better.

The book pictured is a large hard cover book.This book I would very much like to have several copies of,as well as the paperback that is being sold which is a different book.

This biography managed to make mundane and boring one of the most fascinating characters of the opening of the West. The fat-free, salt-free prose relentlessly rambles on with no distinction between events of monumental importance (Bear Flag Revolt, e.g. - one page) and tedious details of Carson's children. No explanatory detail is given about saddlery,horses,firearms,clothing,etc., nor is sufficient description given to the geography of the country in which he spent so much time. Most of all, the book suffers from a lack of detailed maps. On the bright side, the book seems well researched and documented and the sources are clearly indicated. Best of all, in this era of historical demonization, there is a genuine affection and sympathy for Kit Carson, quite convincing me that he was not only a fascinating pioneer but an exemplary character.

Although this account of the famous explorer's life and adventures contained well documented and interesting information, I found the presentation rambling and often outright confusing. The first chapters were arranged according to specific expeditions, but the purpose of each expedition was poorly explained and it was easy to loose track of the individuals present and the chronology of events. Occasionally, events referred to in early chapters were not actually described until later chapters (i.e. the Court Martial of Fremont). Unfortunately the disjointed narrative distracted significantly from the informative content of the book.

Much like the pulp-novel persona that sprung from the legends of Kit Carson, the real man was a master of life in the West. From his early days as a mountain man to his later life as an Indian agent, Guild and Carter do a good job of illustrating the life of Carson and his role in the opening of the West. Throughout the book, the authors keep the focus on Carson and do not let the wider events in which he was involved overshadow the man. On one level this approach diminishes the importance of those events and Carson's role in them, but it also seems to provide a good illustration of how Carson viewed those events.

This is the worst book I have ever read. The only enlightenment it brings is in its title. Its irrelevant illustrations, very large type, and slabs of UPPER-CASE text give the impression of a confused and average high school term-paper that has been specifically written for people who move their lips when they read. The book is a complete waste of money; and I found myself constantly checking the title page to reassure myself that it had not been "vanity published" by a some very rich business tycoon. The comments of David Litterick in his review of "The Mark of the Scots: Their Astonishing Contributions to History, Science, Democracy, Literature, and the Arts" are also strongly applicable to this appalling work -- and David Litterick has expressed himself far better than I could (and I would suggest you read his review). It would seem that Galvin, with his constant stress on the importance of American "big business", has tried to write a 21st century version of Hubbard's "A Message to Garcia".

The Scottish Enlightenment was a period when some of the greatest scholars from almost every field were concentrated in one area that allowed a free flow of thought and information between them. Basically they were concentrated in the university communities of Glasgow and Edinburgh between 1720 and 1780. This free thinking influence spread to the colonies where people such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton were schooled by Scottish teachers. A Scottish teacher, Francis Allison, taught three signers of the Declaration of Independence.

The Scottish teachers realized that all nations of the time were founded or maintained by force. They suggested that a nation founded on commerce could be equally as powerful and influencial as those founded by force. This set the stage for the development of the philosophical underpinnings of the United States. All that was really needed now was a spark to set off the natural chain of events. During the time just prior to 1776 there was a multitude of writings from Scottish authors that proposed and defended the notion that oppressed people have a right to assert their independence. Between the strong writings calling for oppressed people to assert their independence and the belief that a country could be established based on commerce the scene was set for the establishment of the United States.

The author provides substantial and convincing background information on exactly how all of this worked together the help create the Unites States. Details on what the Enlightenment was, how it came about and exactly how it influenced the actions of our forefathers and all there for the reader to learn and consider. An excellent treatise on the often overlooked contributions of the Scottish people to the formation of the United States, I found it a very informative book.

This book was first published in 1928. Since that time our understanding of ancient Mesoamerica has changed dramatically. This is a verbatim reprint of the original book, with a new introduction that sets Spinden and the book into historical context. If one is interested in the development of ideas about Mesoamerica in the early 20th century, this is a useful book. If one wants to find out about those civilizations, however, this is NOT the book to read. Many of Spinden's ideas were proven wrong in the 1930s; by 2000, the number of errors in the book is enormous. There has been much fieldwork, decipherment, and other research on these cultures in recent decades. Look for one of the many recent books about the Aztecs, Mayas, and other Mesoamerican civilizations. Dover should continue reprinting codices (the Codex Borgia and Codex Nuttall are great reprints!), and stay away from outdated textbooks.

Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America is written by a curator expert on the topic and provides a concise, excellent history of the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. Any interested in early anthropology works will relish this fine survey of pre-Columbian life, essential to a beginning study of the region and its history.

I have traveled throughout Central America (Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico) and am definately an adventure traveler. I just returned from a two week vacation touring Belize, and this book makes one think the author never visited Belize. Whoever wrote the proceeding review must be related to the publisher somehow, because three other couples I met in Belize had used the book and were equally dissatified with it (one even threw theirs away after the fourth day).

The lodging reviews look like they are taken right out of the lodge's promotional material, and the section on Best Places to Stay is entirely misleading (It recommends Maruba as the best spot - meanwhile Maruba's water is undrinkable, the shower's smell like low tide, and a 24 hour a day disco beat is played over the sound-system), often missing the best places like Francis Ford Coppola's Jungle resort.

The description of towns and places to see fail to account for any changes in the area an miss the newer places to visit, stay and eat (In Placentia there is an amazing French restaurant called Le Petit Maison which has been there for four years but is never mentioned in this book).

I have used this guide during three trips to Belize. Great true information and facts, for a traveler that wants to enjoy a wonderful, unspoiled, natural vacation setting in the rainforests or on the wonderful coastal islands (cayes). The section on "Most Memorable Places to Stay" is invaluable for the inexperienced traveler to Belize.

This book is full of gross misunderstandings and inaccuracies about Mesoamerican Cultures. A single example of the many glaring inaccuracies is the reference to the Chontal of Guerrero as being the same as the Maya Chontal. Apparently, when the authors were in doubt about something they just made it up. Do not buy or use under any circumstances.

This is a must for anyone who is interested in ancient mesoamerican cultures. It is an alphabetical listing of most terms associated with the cultures of the area. It is easy to read and researching is a pleasure. I would highly recommend this book.

Fodor's excels as a business person's guide. The Capitols and the key cities in these three states get the lion’s share of ink (GA: Atlanta, Savannah, NC: Charlotte, The Triad Area, The Triangle Area, SC: Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Columbia). IF you are going to be in JUST these cities, this would be a VERY GOOD guide to have. The rest of the areas in each state get a quick ‘once over’.

Fodor’s dining and lodging recommendations are very good and are the best each city has to offer. You won’t be disappointed by any of these listings. However, they tend to be for affluent travelers and, though the South excels in great bed and breakfasts, none are listed. The nightlife and the arts recommendations are very good. Sports and shopping sections are also reliable and comprehensive. Also, very helpful, Fodor has various “Great Itineraries” for each state broken down into 3 days, 7 days and 10 days.

What is obviously lacking are a lodging index and a restaurant index. Thus, if you have a recommended restaurant you want to look up, you have to go through all the restaurant pages 'til you stumble across the name you seek or miss seeing it completely. Another significant short coming, especially considering the 2001 title of this guide, is the lack of website addresses or email addresses for any of the listed hotels. This penalizes you if you want to check out the hotel rooms, interior and/or exterior photos and then ask questions about special rates via email.

I am a firm believer that any guide book worth its salt has to guide you with both words and support those words with quality maps. This guide has excellent dining and lodging maps but just for Atlanta and Charleston! What a shame to short change the other cities. Also the guide encourages ‘walking tours’ but gives no ‘walking maps’, you have to use the city map to figure it out. The pull-out color three state map is a great addition. And, the few regional or city maps that are included are very helpful, and the maps clearly show you sites to visit, but with maps, more is better, and this guide begs for MORE specific area maps.

Finally, and this is true of all Fodor’s guides, is the insertion of irritating and unwanted hard page advertisement for banks and calling cards. The purchase price ... is more than enough for Fodor's to make a profit, but it chooses to afflict its readers with protruding advertising to increase its profits. NOT!

For those traveling to the cities noted above, this guide would be very good and highly recommended, BUT for those who want to tour these states at large there are better State guides (see my reviews of Georgia Handbook: Moon Travel or Hidden Georgia: Ulysses Press). Recommended 3 1/2 stars

Fodor's excels as a business person's guide. The Capitols and the key cities in these three States get the lion’s share of ink (GA: Atlanta, Savannah, NC: Charlotte, The Triad Area, The Triangle Area, SC: Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Columbia). IF you are going to be in JUST these cities, this would be a VERY GOOD guide to have. The rest of the areas in each state get a quick ‘once over’.

Fodor’s dining and lodging recommendations are very good and are the best each city has to offer. You won’t be disappointed by any of these listings. However, they tend to be for affluent travelers and, though the South excels in great bed and breakfasts, none are listed. The nightlife and the arts recommendations are very good. Sports and shopping sections are also reliable and comprehensive. Also, very helpful, Fodor has various “Great Itineraries” for each state broken down into 3 days, 7 days and 10 days.

What is obviously lacking are a lodging index and a restaurant index. Thus, if you have a recommended restaurant you want to look up, you have to go through all the restaurant pages 'til you stumble across the name you seek or miss seeing it completely. Another significant short coming, especially considering the 2001 title of this guide, is the lack of website addresses or email addresses for any of the listed hotels. This penalizes you if you want to check out the hotel rooms, interior and/or exterior photos and then ask questions about special rates via email.

I am a firm believer that any guide book worth its salt has to guide you with both words and support those words with quality maps. This guide has excellent dining and lodging maps but just for Atlanta and Charleston! What a shame to short change the other cities. Also the guide encourages ‘walking tours’ but gives no ‘walking maps’, you have to use the city map to figure it out. The pull-out color three state map is a great addition. And, the few regional or city maps that are included are very helpful, and the maps clearly show you sites to visit, but with maps, more is better, and this guide begs for MORE specific area maps.

Finally, and this is true of all Fodor’s guides, is the insertion of irritating and unwanted hard page advertisement for banks and calling cards. The purchase price of ... is more than enough for Fodor's to make a profit, but it chooses to afflict its readers with protruding advertising to increase its profits. NOT!

For those traveling to the cities noted above, this guide would be very good and highly recommended, BUT for those who want to tour these states at large there are better State guides (see my reviews of Georgia Handbook: Moon Travel or Hidden Georgia: Ulysses Press). Recommended 3 1/2 stars.