Book Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Bold Explorer
I got this book to read while I was rafting the Grand Canyon. It was well worth it. John Wesley Powell's description of his unbelivable expedition helped me put into words the spectacular scenes that makes up the Grand Canyon. I recommend this book to anyone who is considering traveling down the Colorado River.

Perilous journey into a sublime landscape
Anyone who is enthralled by the beauty of the Southwest, or as Powell defines it - the Colorado River watershed, should read this book. It's not the same now as it was in his day. For one thing, Glen Canyon, which he named, is now submerged under Lake Powell (could any name be more ironic?). No one today can feel the same kind of wonder and awe as Powell and his companions did as they pushed their boats into the raging rapids of the muddy Colorado without having any idea of what was ahead. Even the part of the Colorado watershed that has not been developed, and there is a considerable extent of land under protective status, today has nothing like the remoteness that Powell experienced. Everything has been mapped and carefully scutinized.

Yet, anyone who has spent some time sizing up the immense water-carved rock canyons, can still feel something of the sublimity that Powell felt. It requires more imagination; it is true, but anyone who is determined to make more of a commitment than just standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon can still experience the really sublime features of this landscape. How much more difficult will it be in the future? Will these wilderness wonders become more degraded?

The book describes by daily journal entries the historic river run of 1868 starting at the Flaming Gorge in Wyoming and ending at the Virgin River as well as a follow-up expedition the next year. Powell does not overdo the apprehensions and hardships of himself and companions, nor does he make mention that he accomplished the physical exertion of climbing the canyon walls and navigating the boats with one arm: but largely confines himself to descriptions of the events and the incredible landforms. The extent of the journey and all the spectacular features that he finds and names is impressive. That Powell's group experienced hardships there can be no doubt.

One of the more interesting parts of the book to me was the way Powell approached the Indian tribe that killed his three companions, who decided to abandon the expedition and hike out of the Canyon. In those frontier days, it was the accepted norm to meet violence with violence. But Powell, I thought here, really showed himself to be an exceptional human being. He had a inquiring mind and a sincere desire to learn everything he could without inflicting retribution.

It is shameful that students today don't know this man!
I find it totally unexcuseable that today's young college students (especially earth and environmental science types) do not know this man; yet, they all know Edward Abbey.Powell was not a scientist by today's standards but yet he managed to do many great things.He stood in opposition to the popular belief at that time that the West was a virgin Utopian land awaiting industrial and population exploitation from eastern society.He saw a great empty space in the National maps of the West and set about to explore and understand and map this area.He was a geologist, ecologist, ethnologist, and anthropologist all wrapped up in a persona that was at one time a soldier and commander.His exploration of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River is a terrific read for anyone looking for an adventure read.Its a scientific quest turned whitewater adventure.Abbey, on the other hand, has never done anything as substantial as what Powell did for our basic knowledge and appreciation of the West.Furthermore, Powell's vision isn't clouded by the selfish, militant, eco-geek goggles through which Abbey viewed the West.

A classic, I guess
John Wesley Powell was a fascinating guy.
John Wesley Powell was a scientist, geologist, and Civil War veteran whose right arm was shot off by a cannonball; he was the man who named Glen Canyon, and the man Lake Powell was named for.He was the first man to lead an expedition down the Colorado--the first two expeditions, actually--back when the river flowed wild, without dams.
He didn't worry about all the details like a knowledgeable crew, funds, both arms, having an experienced crew, not knowing if there was a Niagara-sized waterfall around the next bend or not, and so on--he just went.He understood you don't need experience to gain experience.He and his crew paid for their inexperience by nearly drowning, nearly starving, and by misadventure after misadventure but in the end MOST of their group emerged from the southern end of the Grand Canyon with stories, experiences, and first-hand knowledge of a part of the world that few people had ever seen before.
(Three of his crew abandoned the expedition, and their fates are uncertain.)
This is Powell's story.It's also a story of the geology of the Colorado Plateau, of the Colorado River, and of the West.It's not a perfect account, but it is a classic one.Powell's prose is at times high-falutin', he recklessly combines details from his first and second expedition, and he gives too little credit to his crew, but he is always an optimist, and always fun to read.
Take a river trip, and take this along.Or, take "Down the Great Unknown" by Edward Dolnick--that's a good account of that trip as well.(I actually prefer it.)

A great adventure story
This is a classic adventure tale, inspiring in that it's a true story of courage and endurance. John Wesley Powell and his companions (including a wonderful illustrator) set out on the Colorado River to chart what was the last unexplored territory of the U.S., the Grand Canyon. Powell was a Civil War veteran who, despite the loss of one of his arms, took on the mighty untamed Colorado in wooden lorries. He is the person for whom Lake Powell is named and interestingly his story is featured in a short IMAX film about the Grand Canyon. The book had originally been sold to a magazine in serial form and Powell's adventure followed avidly by "folks back East". Reading this book transports you back to a different time when the written word was the primary means of reporting stories like this. ... Read more

Book Description

The Teacher's Commentary answers most questions a teacher might ask:

and #149; What does this passage teach?
and #149; How can I make this truth plain?
and #149; What is the best way to help my students apply this teaching?
and #149; What is God saying to me?
and #149; How does the passage or story I'm about to teach fit with what comes before and after it?
and #149; Where can I find other passages that develop this theme?
and #149; What can I do to get my class interested and involved?
and #149; How can I help my students really understand?

The Teacher's Commentary is specifically designed for teachers of children as well as teachers of youth and adults, packed with "how to teach it" ideas, and with insights into how the Scriptures touch the lives of people today. This is a commentary on the whole Bible that you will want to read for your personal enrichment and use every time you prepare to teach God's Word.

"No greater need is imaginable than that of a commentary for teachers of the Bible in our Sunday schools. Dr. Larry Richards has prepared The Teacher's Commentary as a magnificent and succinct insight into the Scriptures. Get one for every teacher in your Sunday school."
- W.A. Criswell, Pastor,
First Baptist Church,
Dallas, Texas

Customer Reviews (1)

A Mile Higher Quality!
This is a cookbook that lives up to the reputation of the Flat Irons of the Front Range in Colorado that loom over the multi faceted "mini-tropolis" of Boulder, Colorado.If you love to cook, orlove Colorado, or love libraries, this is a cookbook that belongs in yourkitchen, in your collection, and to give as the perfect gift to anyone withwanderlust for mountains, enjoy exciting comfort food, or fantasize aboutbeing the next Emeril!

Some of the recipes that we whole heartedlyendorse from the book are: 1. Shrimp with Coconut (Udand Kelapa), 2.Coleslaw Dressing, 3. Crispy Waffles, 4. Vegetables Al Forno, 5. CaliforniaBouillabaisse.

There are more recipes we have tried and enjoyed aswell.The book is a bounty.Like Colorado itself, the book represents acolorful array of cultures, tastes, nutritional choices, ideas, and menusfor everyday and special occasions.

The additional benefit to theUniversity of Colorado Norlin Library is not to be overlooked.Norlin isan outstanding library that has a history rich with offering students,faculity, and the community at large a resource that is world class.

Addthis book to your shopping cart today and take the time to visit Coloradoand stop by Norlin Library at the University of Colorado Main Campus!Youwill have helped them to support tomorrow's world leaders with the BESTresources! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From the Rocky's to Mexico
I kind of like this one. It gives quite the geography lesson allwrapped up inwater.Each chapter is informative and could be read in a single setting. I like how simple the Grand Canyon is explained in the second chapter. The point of the book is the whole river and the author does a nice job of introducing all of the rivers components. But the best chapter is five, the people of the Colorado Basin. It starts not with Euro-man but with the Anasazi. Chapter six is the geography lesson. The map on page 11 should have been re-printed back here for the young reader to reference.I was going to rate this book a four until I saw the ýTo Find Out More Sectioný. It makethis book a Wow. It recommends even web sites and a CD-ROM. ... Read more

Book Description
The story of the University of Colorado Library unfolds within the societal forces that shaped universities over a century, and within the special conditions in the University to which it had to respond. ... Read more

Book Description
Lists Colorado's libraries with special or unusualcollections.Includes activities that teach students about the importanceof libraries, the Dewey Decimal System, the Library of Congress, Books- in-Print, contributions of Andrew Carnegie and how and why to uselibraries.Listing includes many libraries with special collections aboutColorado.Free teacher's guide. ... Read more