Neon Nevada by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer (Globe Pequot Press, $16.95)
Almost since the invention of neon, the flashing colors and innovative designs have helped define Nevada. Since the Silver State was mostly built on dreams, the garish signage and Nevada seems an appropriate fit.
Sheila Swan, who learned the art of photography in her father’s California studio, and Peter Laufer, an award-winning author, began documenting neon signage in Nevada during the 1970s. Not only did they photograph and inventory the neon along the Las Vegas strip but also along quiet two-lane roads that were occasionally punctuated by neon, glittering beacons of civilization set against the night desert sky.
This delightful little book features some of the best examples of this art. From the rather basic sign at the Hi-Way 50 Motel in Carson City to the old Nevada Theater in Wells, the designs are as varied as the businesses they promoted. Unfortunately, many of the signs documented in this book have already disappeared.

Stories of Old-Time Oklahoma by David Dary (University of Oklahoma Press, $24.95)
Award-winning writer David Dary, who retired as head professor at the Gaylord College of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma, has written extensively about the American West and is the author of eighteen previous books including “Cowboy Culture,” and “The Tales of the Prairies and Plains.”
Most of the stories in this collection originally appeared as newspaper articles that were published during the state’s centennial in 2007. For this volume, Dary has revised and expanded some the previous stories and even added new material. The result is a colorful look at the people, places, history and folklore of the Sooner State.
Some of the more fascinating stories include the visit to the region by Washington Irving, various hidden treasures, the antics of Belle Starr and Pretty Boy Floyd, the last interview of Will Rogers, and the rich musical heritage of Woody Guthrie, Gene Autry, Kasy Starr, and Patti Page.
Ever wonder how Oklahoma towns like Broken Arrow, Ringling, or Sapulpa got their names, why the state has a panhandle, what prisoners are fed for their last meal at the Big House, or when electricity came to the state? The answers and much more are to the found in this breezy popular history.

Heaven Cracks, Earth Shakes: The Tangshan Earthquake and The Death of Mao’s China by James Palmer (Basic Books, $26.99)
In July of 1976, one of the world’s worst earthquakes all but obliterated Tangshan, an industrial city of one million people in northeast China. The massive quake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, leveling 97% of the city’s structures and killing more than 500,000 of its citizens.
The event occurred during one of China’s most turbulent years, the tenth year of the Cultural Revolution, as fear and paranoia seemed to permeate almost every aspect of life in the country. Those suspected of spying were rounded up, tortured or killed. When Premier Zhou died, the Gang of Four, a clique of powerful Communist party officials, tried to stifle attempts to publicly mourn the dead leader. This caused even more outrage.
A month after the earthquake, Mao Zedong dies and that following October, a coup targets the Gang of Four. The arrest of the four brought about the repudiation of the Cultural Revolution of the previous ten years and in many ways set China along a new path to modernize.
James Palmer, who lives in Beijing, has written a gripping narrative of this period that showed the upheaval brought about during one year and launched China to become the country it is today. Thoroughly documented and accessible, this is political reporting that provides a better understanding of China and its people.

A Guide to Plants of the Chihuahuan Desert by Carolyn Dodson (University of New Mexico Press, $24.95 softbound)
The Chihuahuan Desert covers most of Southern New Mexico and extends into Northern Mexico, Texas west of the Pecos River, and just a small area of eastern Arizona. It is the second largest such area in North America and despite the fact that it is hot, dry, and windy, the desert is home of a unique community of plants that have somehow adapted to its harsh environment.
Carolyn Dodson, co-author of “Mountain Wildflowers of the Southern Rockies, has taught wildflower identification classes in the University of New Mexico Department of Continuing Education for more than twenty years. Her new book is a practical identification guide, offering descriptions of seventy-five representative species. In addition to illustrated profiles that include the plant’s common and Latin name, Dodson documents its role in human history, its relationship to the surrounding flora and fauna, plus its medicinal, nutritional values, toxicity and other interesting facts.
The drawings are by Robert DeWitt Ivey, an eminent New Mexico botanist and author of “Flowering Plants of New Mexico.”
This is an excellent book to take along, especially when traveling in this diverse area.

Crazy River: Exploration and Folly in East Africa by Richard Grant (Free Press, $15 softbound)
Traveling with Richard Grant is much like being on a safari with one of the Marx Brothers. We last visited his zany exploits in “God’s Middle Finger,” his journey to Mexico’s lawless Sierra Madre which almost got him killed. It was, without a doubt, one of the most outrageous travel books ever written.
His latest misadventure begins in Africa where he attempts to find the source of the Nile River. In Zanzibar, he meets a former golf pro who shows him the island’s underbelly including encounters with thieves, pimps, hookers, and junkies.
After the wilds of Zanzibar, he plunges into the very heart of the continent. He hires an eccentric river guide to take him on a raft down the uncharted Malagarasi River in Tanzania. Along the way, he dodges crocodiles, tries to steer clear of malaria, and swats the tsetse flies. The trip continues through East Africa with missteps all along the way.
This is a fun, witty book by my all-time favorite travel writer. Grant lives in Tucson when he isn’t off on an adventure in the far flung regions of the world.

A Year or So in the Life of New Mexico: An Uncensored Look at Life in the Land of Enchantment edited by Rick Carver with essays by Stacy Pearl and the work of more than fifty photographers (University of New Mexico Press, $50 softbound)
This coffee table-sized book is a delight. More than fifty photographers, most of them residents of New Mexico, contributed images for this project and they capture the very essence of life in this always fascinating state. The photographs show New Mexico traditions from the rodeo to historical moments and salute many of New Mexico’s unsung heroes. From more than four thousand photographic submissions, Rick Carver has assembled a balanced, timely, and meaningful snapshot of New Mexico.
Divided into two main sections, Treasures and Heroes, the essays and photos capture such moments as “The National Fiery Foods and BBQ Show” in Albuquerque, the excitement of a radio in Grants, the color and tradition of a Native American Pow Wow, the return of military heroes from wars, and, of course, the breath-taking scenic beauty of the region.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 11:36 am and is filed under Uncategorized. Tags for this post: Coffee Table-Sized book of New Mexico is stunning. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.