Download or read book Rick Steves Sicily written by Rick Steves and published by Rick Steves. This book was released on 2019-04-16 with total page 568 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Swim in the sparkling Mediterranean, marvel at the peak of Mount Etna, and get to know this region's timeless charm: with Rick Steves on your side, Sicily can be yours! Inside Rick Steves Sicily you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Sicily Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from Mount Etna and the Byzantine mosaics of Monreale to the Ballarò street market and Siracusa's puppet museum How to connect with culture: Savor seafood-centric cuisine made from ancient recipes, catch an opera performance at the Teatro Massimo, or sample authentic Marsala wine Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax with a glass of local Nero d'Avola Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed maps for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, a historical overview, and useful Italian phrases Over 350 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Complete, up-to-date information on Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani and the West Coast, Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples, Ragusa and the Southeast, Catania, Taormina, and more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Sicily.

Download or read book Blue Guide Sicily written by Ellen Grady and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2017-02-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fully updated new edition of a key Blue Guide, the guide of choice for experts and independent travelers. Revised and extensively updated, Blue Guide Sicily offers an in-depth history of this historically rich destination. Ellen Grady gives a comprehensive overview of the island—from detailed analyses of cities, sights and works of art to carefully chosen suggestions of where and what to eat and where to stay. The guide is strong on history, art, archaeology, architecture, landscape, conservation and wildlife. Full-color maps, two-tone plans and black-and-white photographs.

Download or read book Rick Steves Italy written by Rick Steves and published by Rick Steves. This book was released on 2021-01-19 with total page 1271 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Mediterranean to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, experience Italy with the most up-to-date 2021 guide from Rick Steves! Inside Rick Steves Italy you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for planning a multi-week trip to Italy Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and Michelangelo's David to corner trattorias and that perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with local culture: Walk in Caesar's footsteps through the ruins of the Forum, discover the relaxed rhythms of sunny Cinque Terre, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match (calcio, to locals) Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far niente Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums Vital trip-planning tools, like how to link destinations, build your itinerary, and get from place to place Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, Italian phrase book, historical overview, and recommended reading Updated to reflect changes that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic up to the date of publication Over 1,000 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Coverage of Venice, Padua, the Dolomites, Lake Country, Milan, the Italian Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Hill Towns of Central Italy, Siena, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and much more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Italy. Planning a one- to two-week trip? Check out Rick Steves Best of Italy.

Download or read book DK Eyewitness Sicily written by DK Eyewitness and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2022-06-14 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Visit and explore Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and stop by Valle dei Templi, hike Mount Etna, and eat authentic caponata. Discover DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Sicily. • Detailed itineraries and "don't-miss" destination highlights at a glance. • Illustrated cutaway 3-D drawings of important sights. • Floor plans and guided visitor information for major museums. • Guided walking tours, local drink and dining specialties to try, things to do, and places to eat, drink, and shop by area. • Area maps marked with sights. • Detailed city maps include street finder indexes for easy navigation. • Insights into history and culture to help you understand the stories behind the sights. • Hotel and restaurant listings highlight DK Choice special recommendations. With hundreds of full-color photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and custom maps that illuminate every page, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Sicily truly shows you the country as no one else can. Recommended: For a pocket guidebook to Sicily, check out DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Sicily, which is packed with dozens of top 10 lists, ensuring you make the most of your time and experience the best of everything. Series Overview: For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: the most maps, photographs, and illustrations of any guide. Visit TravelDK.com to learn more.

Download or read book Moon Southern Italy written by Linda Sarris and published by Moon Travel. This book was released on 2022-03 with total page 548 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the pastel rooftops of Positano to the soaring peak of Mount Etna, immerse yourself in la dolce vita with Moon Southern Italy. Inside you'll find: Flexible itineraries for exploring the best of Southern Italy, including Sicily, Puglia, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and more, that can be combined for a longer trip Strategic advice for foodies and oenophiles, art lovers, hikers, history buffs, beach bums, and more Must-see highlights and unique experiences for any season: Dive into the art museums and traditional theater of Palermo's Centro Storico, and admire the Baroque monuments and carved churches of Lecce. Walk the frozen-in-time streets of Pompeii and marvel at the captivating Cathedral of Amalfi. Take an off-road Jeep tour of Mount Etna or hike along the coastline. Soak up the sun on a secluded beach or sail the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters The best local flavors: Stroll quiet village streets where the scent of Sunday ragu fills the air, feast on fresh seafood from a bustling outdoor market, and chow down on authentic Neapolitan pizza. Sip limoncello on a sunny terrace or sample wines from the mineral-rich local vineyards Expert suggestions from Amalfi local Laura Thayer and Palermo local Linda Sarris on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Background information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs Handy tools including an Italian phrasebook and tips for seniors and traveling with children With Moon's practical tips and local insight on the best things to do and see, you can experience the very best of Southern Italy. Exploring more of Italia? Check out Moon Milan & Beyond with the Italian Lakes or Moon Rome, Florence & Venice.

Download or read book Rick Steves Italy 2020 written by Rick Steves and published by Rick Steves. This book was released on 2019-12-17 with total page 1310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Mediterranean to the Alps, from fine art to fine pasta, experience Italy with Rick Steves! Inside Rick Steves Italy 2020 you'll find: Comprehensive coverage for planning a multi-week trip to Italy Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Colosseum and Michelangelo's David to corner trattorias and that perfect scoop of gelato How to connect with local culture: Walk in Caesar's footsteps through the ruins of the Forum, discover the relaxed rhythms of sunny Cinque Terre, or chat with fans about the latest soccer match (calcio, to locals) Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and experience la dolce far niente Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and museums Vital trip-planning tools, like how to link destinations, build your itinerary, and get from place to place Detailed maps, including a fold-out map for exploring on the go Useful resources including a packing list, Italian phrase book, a historical overview, and recommended reading Over 1,000 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Annually updated information on Venice, Padua, the Dolomites, Lake Country, Milan, the Italian Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Hill Towns of Central Italy, Siena, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and much more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Italy 2020. Planning a one- to two-week trip? Check out Rick Steves Best of Italy.

Download or read book Lonely Planet Sicily written by Lonely Planet and published by Lonely Planet. This book was released on 2020-02-01 with total page 579 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Sicily is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Soak up history in charming Syracuse, hike Stromboli's lava-strewn crater, and visit crumbling castles in gorgeous hill towns - all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Sicily and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Sicily: NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Improved planning tools for family travellers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids NEW Accommodation feature gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodation Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Covers Palermo, Aeolian Islands, Western Sicily, Tyrrhenian Coast, Ionian Coast, Syracuse, Central Sicily, Mediterranean Coast, and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Sicily is our most comprehensive guide to Sicily, and is perfect for discovering both popular and off-the-beaten-path experiences. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia) eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

Download or read book My Calabria Rustic Family Cooking from Italy s Undiscovered South written by Rosetta Costantino and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2010-11-08 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first cookbook from this little-known region of Italy celebrates the richness of the region's landscape and the allure of its cuisine, featuring recipes for easily accessible, fresh-from-the-garden Italian food from a Calabrian native.

Download or read book 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go written by Van Susan and published by Travelers' Tales. This book was released on 2009-10-01 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imagine creating your Italian dream vacation with a fun-loving savvy traveler girlfriend whispering in your ear. Go along with writer Susan Van Allen on a femme-friendly ride up and down the boot, to explore this extraordinarily enchanting country where Venus (Vixen Goddess of Love and Beauty) and The Madonna (Nurturing Mother of Compassion) reign side-by-side. With humor, passion, and practical details, this uniquely anecdotal guidebook will enrich your Italian days. Enjoy masterpieces of art that glorify womanly curves, join a cooking class taught by revered grandmas, shop for ceramics, ski in the Dolomites, or paint a Tuscan landscape. Make your vacation a string of Golden Days, by pairing your experience with the very best restaurant nearby, so sensual pleasures harmonize and you simply bask in the glow of bell’Italia. Whatever your mood or budget, whether it’s your first or your twenty-first visit, with 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, Italy opens her heart to you.

Download or read book Glam Italia How to Travel Italy written by Corinna Cooke and published by . This book was released on 2018-07-16 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does your dream vacation seem out of reach? Discover stress-free, cost-saving secrets for planning the ultimate Italian getaway.Is a trip to Italy on your bucket list but out of your budget? Does preparing for international travel leave you feeling anxious? Do you worry about falling into a tourist trap? Italian travel guide and blogger Corinna Cooke has years of experience creating private vacations throughout every corner of the country. And now she's here to share her insider tips so you can make the most of your time abroad.How to Travel Italy is your all-in-one guide for crafting your personalized dream vacation. You'll create an itinerary that's custom-fit to your interests: from world-renowned art to mouthwatering cuisine and from breathtaking landscapes to trendsetting fashion. Whether you plan to travel in style or on a shoestring budget, you'll discover hidden gems and little-known advice for touring Italy's most famous attractions. With Cooke's hassle-free guide, you'll finally learn to sit back and savor your authentic Italian experience like a local.In How To Travel Italy, you'll discover:- Step-by-step methods for planning your entire trip, regardless of time or budget- Lists of the best restaurants, cuisines, and wines by region to satisfy any appetite- Optimum lengths of time to visit each attraction so you can get the best bang for your buck- Simple tips for booking flights that will save hundreds of dollars from your bottom line- Precautions you can take to stay safe and healthy while traveling and much, much more!How To Travel Italy is your go-to portable travel guide to this charming Mediterranean destination. If you like practical tips, trusted advice from a local expert, and stress-free planning, then you'll love Corinna Cooke's handbook for your dream vacation.Buy How To Travel Italy to pack your bags for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure today!

Download or read book Sicily written by John Julius Norwich and published by Random House. This book was released on 2015-07-21 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Critically acclaimed author John Julius Norwich weaves the turbulent story of Sicily into a spellbinding narrative that places the island at the crossroads of world history. “Sicily,” said Goethe, “is the key to everything.” It is the largest island in the Mediterranean, the stepping-stone between Europe and Africa, the link between the Latin West and the Greek East. Sicily’s strategic location has tempted Roman emperors, French princes, and Spanish kings. The subsequent struggles to conquer and keep it have played crucial roles in the rise and fall of the world’s most powerful dynasties. Yet Sicily has often been little more than a footnote in books about other empires. John Julius Norwich’s engrossing narrative is the first to knit together all of the colorful strands of Sicilian history into a single comprehensive study. Here is a vivid, erudite, page-turning chronicle of an island and the remarkable kings, queens, and tyrants who fought to rule it. From its beginnings as a Greek city-state to its emergence as a multicultural trading hub during the Crusades, from the rebellion against Italian unification to the rise of the Mafia, the story of Sicily is rich with extraordinary moments and dramatic characters. Writing with his customary deftness and humor, Norwich outlines the surprising influence Sicily has had on world history—the Romans’ fascination with Greek civilization dates back to their sack of Sicily—and tells the story of one of the world’s most kaleidoscopic cultures in a galvanizing, contemporary way. This volume has been a long time coming—Norwich began to explore Sicily’s colorful history during his first visit to the island in the early 1960s. The dean of popular historians leads his readers through the millennia with the steady narrative hand of a master teacher or the world’s most learned tour guide. Like the island itself, Sicily is a book brimming with bold flavors that begs to be revisited again and again. Praise for Sicily “Suavely readable . . . The very model of a popular historian, [Norwich] writes to give pleasure to the common reader. And what pleasure it is.”—The Wall Street Journal “Entertaining on every page . . . There is something ancient and sorrowful in Sicily, ‘some dark, brooding quality,’ just as captivating as its spellbinding history or its beautiful and varied landscapes, from beaches to lemon groves, pine forests to volcanoes. . . . The most amiable and freewheeling of guides, Norwich will always find time for the amusing anecdote.”—The Sunday Times “Utterly engrossing . . . written with passion about the art and architecture of this magical island, filled with gossipy tidbits and sweeping historical theories.”—The Daily Beast “Dazzling . . . Norwich is an elegantly graceful and entertaining storyteller.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch “Charming . . . richly nuanced history relayed with enormous fondness.”—Kirkus Reviews “A brisk and always-lively tour.”—Open Letters Monthly “Norwich is deeply in love with Sicily. [His] boundless affection has inspired a determined effort to understand its painful past. The result is impressionistic, as love often is.”—The Times “Norwich sketches personalities vividly. . . . He does the island and the reader a generous service in providing such an amiable introduction.”—The Sunday Telegraph “Norwich tells [Sicily’s] long, sad but fascinating story with sympathy and brio.”—Literary Review

Download or read book Eat Smart in Sicily written by Joan B. Peterson and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A travel guide for food lovers"--Cover.

Download or read book Fodor s Essential Italy 2022 written by Fodor's Travel Guides and published by Fodor's Travel. This book was released on 2021-12-14 with total page 1253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether you want to visit the Colosseum in Rome, go designer shopping in Milan, or hike the Cinque Terre, the local Fodor’s travel experts in Italy are here to help! Fodor’s Essential Italy 2022 guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos. Fodor’s Essential Italy 2022 travel guide includes: AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time MORE THAN 80 DETAILED MAPS and a FREE PULL-OUT MAP to help you navigate confidently COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust! HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, and more PHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “The Best Ancient Sites in Rome,” “Italy’s Best Beaches,” “Architectural Wonders in Venice,” “Hilltop Villages in Tuscany,” and more TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, art, architecture, cuisine, wine, music, geography and more SPECIAL FEATURES on “The Sistine Chapel,” “Cruising the Grand Canal,” and “Who’s Who in Renaissance Art” LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems ITALIAN LANGUAGE PRIMER with useful words and essential phrases UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Rome, Vatican City, Venice, Milan, Lake Como, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and more Planning on visiting nearby European countries? Check out Fodor’s Essential France, Fodor’s Essential Spain, and Fodor’s Essential Switzerland. *Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!

Download or read book I Move a Lot and That s Okay written by Shermaine Perry-Knights and published by Innovation Consultants of Dekalb. This book was released on 2020-11-11 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I Move A Lot and That's Okay" teaches kids how to emotionally cope with relocation. Designed to build resilience and confidence in children, this picture book follows a bright-eyed girl in a military family as she shows the reader that she can embrace a new environment, language, and a different culture. Leaving their home and settling in another is tough on all kids. This is what military families go through when moving to a new station, far away from home in another city, state, or country. This adventure is filled with sadness, loss, acceptance, and hope. By the end of the story, young readers will be chanting the theme of the book: "I move a lot and that's okay!" While this book features a military child, its message of resilience and hope are universal ones that help all children to overcome obstacles more easily.

Download or read book The Grants Register 2025 written by Palgrave Macmillan and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 1494 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Aiden London City Map for Travelers written by aiden map and published by 타블라라사. This book was released on with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Google Maps gives you simple directions, while Aidens London travel maps have enough content to help you plan your trip." If youre planning a trip to London, the city has launched a "travel map" to help you plan your trip. Its not just a road map, but a new concept, a map filled with information on where to go, where to eat, and thousands of other things. Advantages of the Aiden London travel map Highly detailed city maps : London landmarks, attractions, places to eat and activities in great detail High quality map files : 2000+ travel spots and descriptions with high quality map files Zoom in to see more : A1-sized paper maps transferred to ebooks. Zoom in for a closer look on your Kindle. Detailed description : Restaurant recommendations, travel "what to see" details Thousands of hours of research : We travelled, researched, and gathered input from many people. Thousands of hours of research went into the maps No search required : Travel without wasting time and without having to search anymore. With illustrations : Include illustrations of major landmarks Table of Contents for London Map Around the Big Ben, London Eye : Around the National Gallery, Covent Garden, London Eye, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey Around the British Museum, Tate Modern : From the British Museum to St. Pauls Cathedral to Tate Modern Around the Soho : More about musical theater and restaurants in Soho Around the Piccadilly Circus : Oxford Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus in detail Around the St Pauls Cathedral, Tower of London : Get up close and personal with St. Pauls Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, and the Tower of London. Around the Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge : Around the River Thames and Tower Bridge, London Bridge, and Millennium Bridge Around the Buckingham Palace : Shopping places and restaurants near Buckingham Palace, Harrods Department Store Around the Regents Park : Regent Park, Baker Street neighborhood in detail Around the Camden, Kings Cross : Restaurants and street markets from Kings Cross Station to the British Museum Around the Portobello Road Market : A very detailed map of the shops, stalls, and merchandise in Portobello Road Market, alley by alley. Portobello Green and Kensington Garden : Restaurants, hotels, and cafes near Paddington Station and Kensington Gardens London’s Suburbs : Cities close to London, including Oxford, Windsor, Brighton, and more (BIG MAP)London Travel Map : A map of the entire city of Paris to help you plan your entire trip (BIG MAP)London’s Suburbs & Detail Maps : Zoom in on key areas to see more detailed information, including restaurants, shops, and more. Plan the perfect trip to London for the 2024 ! Google Maps is great for simply finding your way around, but the Aiden London Travel Map gives you enough information to help you discover the hidden gems of London. More than just a road map, this high-definition map with over 2,000 travel spots and detailed descriptions allows you to explore every neighborhood of London in depth, from the area around the Big Ben to Soho. The maps, which can be used without internet, feature illustrations of major landmarks, as well as detailed recommendations for what to eat and see at each location. Everything you need to know about London in one book. Available now on Amazon Kindle.

Download or read book Leahy s Hotel motel Guide and Travel Atlas of the United States Canada and Mexico written by and published by . This book was released on 1960 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: