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Nealz's post made me curious...and as I'm always looking for good books...whatcha guys reading these days?

This summer I read Bill Beer's book We Swam the Grand Canyon
which was interesting to say the least...

Currently reading a book by Tim Moore called French Revolutions
this guy, who hasn't ridden a bicycle in years, decides he wants to ride the route that the Tour de France riders would be following that year (2001)...hilarity ensues...its a Brittish book, so some jargon is hard to follow, but otherwise, anyone who rides would enjoy it...talking to you Glen.

Reading "In Search of the Old Ones, Exploring the Anasazi World of the Southwest" by David Roberts. Picked it up when I was in Taos, NM. Fascinating book about the many cliff dwellings, how and who found them and various speculations on the Anasazi lifestyle and their abandonment of the cliff dwelling around 1300 AD.

Also rereading Catcher in the Rye.

Well, in addition to Joe Bill's book, I read: Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert by Terry Tempest Williams earlier this summer. A collection of excerpts from some of her lectures, stories and books.

Another goodun' is: Resist Much Obey Little: Remembering Ed Abbey edited by James R. Hepworth and Gregory McNamee. A series of stories and anecdotes by other writers and friends of Abbey's.

ck1 wrote:Currently reading a book by Tim Moore called French Revolutions
this guy, who hasn't ridden a bicycle in years, decides he wants to ride the route that the Tour de France riders would be following that year (2001)...hilarity ensues...its a Brittish book, so some jargon is hard to follow, but otherwise, anyone who rides would enjoy it...talking to you Glen.

Got it noted! I don't ride much anymore ( too many injuries from way too many miles of riding, besides I'm into walking and hiking now) but I would enjoy the book.

Just finished "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert, the bio of Eustace Conway. Very good bio written with a lot of truth and insight.

What's next? Enie menie minie moe. I have a stack here and somebody's going to be next.

BoyNhisDog wrote:Just finished "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert, the bio of Eustace Conway. Very good bio written with a lot of truth and insight.

I've passed on that one twice now, been waiting for someone to read it and like it...it's been reviewed alot in outside type magazines, but I wasn't sure if I'd like it...though I did enjoy Into The Wild by Krakaur...

You will find out that he is not perfect and you'll find out why. It is a little painful in parts of it, well, in a lot of it. It is not a feel good story. I still found it facinating and well written in a rough sort of way. A friend talked me into it and it was worth it for me.

Krakauer............."Into thin Air" is one of the most horrific tales that I have read. I recomend that one to everyone.

Reading--now that is my topic! I just reread Seymour Fishbein's Grand Canyon Country, It's Majesty and Lore. Published in 1992 but still gets my heart going for the Canyon. I really want to read the new edition of Colin Fletcher's backpacking book, but still need to get to it. I also read A LOT of fiction, but I don't think this is the forum for that! One author I will recommend though, is Will Hobbs. He writes adventure/survival in the wilderness books for teens, but adults can enjoy his books just as well. Give him a try! He is a fairly local author--lives in Durango--and sets a number of his books in the Southwest. Try Downriver and Far North to start.

"Brothers Five" by Dean Smith. It is about the Babbitt brothers of Flagstaff, and their tremendous impact on Arizona. A truly remarkable biography of five brothers from Cincinnati who in 1886 stepped off the train in Flagstaff when it was nothing but an army outpost 'cause their money ran out, and started an empire.

Their descendents were ranchers, statesmen, politicians, but above all, Arizonans.

A great read for those who enjoy Arizona history.

Glen - I've read everything Jon Krakauer has written, I think he is a tremendous author, but yet not full of himself...his climbing achievements are impressive, yet he realizes he is an amature in comparison to those he climbs with...I had the opportunity to meet him one year in Chicago...The North Face had recently opened a flagship store downtown and had a series of guest speakers...Kitty Calhoon (sp), Greg Child (I've read all but his most recent), Conrad Anker, Lynn Hill (the most impressive of all of them)and Krakauer...he was very down to earth.

AZHIKER - thanks for the recommendation, I've been trying to locate some type of bio on Bruce Babbitt, but have been unsuccessful as yet...thanks!

Currently reading "The Complete Walker IV" and my various monthly magazines - Backpacker, Outside. About to go on a Colin Fletcher book hunt as well.

GTG

Picked up a copy of Climbing the Ladder Less Traveled by Joe Bill at Wide World of Maps in Mesa several weeks ago. Had a recertifiaction class the past two weekends and planning to read it this weekend while camping in the forest between Woods Canyon and Bear Canyon Lake.

AZHiker wrote:"Brothers Five" by Dean Smith...

Dean Smith, did he take up writing Arizona History after retiring from coaching at North Carolina?

I'll have to check that book out. I like Arizona History. Got to know a little about the Babbits when I went to NAU.

Currently I'm about to finish up Abbey's "The Journey Home: Some Words in Defense of the American West." I actually had heard of Abbey reading about him in Backpacker magazine, but never having been to the Southwest before I moved here in April I'd never read his work. In my opinion his writing is great and I plan to finish up all of his other non-fiction work as soon as possible.

"Brothers Five, the Babbitts of Arizona" by Dean Smith is the complete title of the book, and I purchased it from the Guidon Bookstore on Main Street in Scottsdale (next to Malee's Restaurant) in the Old Scottsdale Arts District.

The book (both in hardcover and paperback) was published by the Arizona Historical Foundation in 1989, and has been reprinted several times.

At one time the Babbits had the largest ranch in Arizona, and their brand, the CO-Bar (after Cincinnati Ohio), was as well known as the Hashknife brand in cattle circles. The chapters in the book about the ranch life and the cattle business in northern Arizona are in themself worth a read. What a gem!

Babbitts are still in the cattle business--in fact that is all they do these days after the company split up a couple of years ago. The CO- is still operating. My great grandfather was David--my great grandmother (his wife) was Emma Vercamp so if you buy the book you can figure me out from that ;)

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig.

Ok MaryPhyl, I am looking at the Babbitt family tree even as I type. I found David & Emma. What a photo! David had great mutton chop sideburns, befitting the age, and Emma was a real looker. They had six children. Which one is your grandparent, and what is your mothers name?

This gettin' to be real exitin' !

Rereading Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire. I first read it sometime in the 80's while in the military. I have been on a quest to read all of Abbey's works.

I am now reading "The Serpents of Paradise." Its an Abbey reader. I read Motorcycle maintenance years ago and thought it was a very engaging book. It is one I would want to read again. It is one of those philosophical books that you can get a new meaning each time you read it, as you are in different stages of life.