Synopses & Reviews
The most famous long-distance hiking trail in North America, the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trailandmdash;the longest hiking-only footpath in the worldandmdash;runs along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine. Every year about 2,000 individuals attempt to andldquo;thru-hikeandrdquo; the entire trail, a feat equivalent to hiking Mount Everest sixteen times. Inand#160;
Walking on the Wild Side,and#160;sociologist Kristi M. Fondrenand#160;traces the stories of forty-six men and women who, for their own personal reasons, set out to conquer Americaandrsquo;s most well known, and arguably most social, long-distance hiking trail.
and#160;
In this fascinating in-depth study, Fondren shows how, once out on the trail, this unique subculture of hikers lives mostly in isolation, with their own way of acting, talking, and thinking; their own vocabulary; their own activities and interests; and their own conception of what is significant in life. They tend to be self-disciplined, have an unwavering trust in complete strangers, embrace a life of poverty, and reject modern-day institutions. The volume illuminates the intense social intimacy and bonding that forms among long-distance hikers as they collectively construct a long-distance hiker identity. Fondren describes how long-distance hikers develop a trail persona, underscoring how important a sense of place can be to our identity, and to our sense of who we are. Indeed, the author adds a new dimension to our understanding of the nature of identity in general.
and#160;
Anyone who has hikedandmdash;or has ever dreamed of hikingandmdash;the Appalachian Trail will find this volume fascinating. Walking on the Wild Side captures a community for whom the trail is a sacred place, a place to which they have become attached, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Review
andquot;Well-written and informative, this book is an incredibly in-depth, sensitive look into the worlds of Filipino lives, families, and religious practices. Using multiple sources of data, Cherry puts Filipino religious lives in context, helping us get up-close views that bring social patterns to life.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherry's book captures the heartbeat of the Filipino immigrant community in America by its focus on how religion and family impact American civic life and the future of American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andquot;Using interviews and surveys, sociologist Cherry presents a thick description and analysis of the interplay of faith, family, and community life among the first generation of Filipino Americans in Houston, Texas. A significant contribution to immigration, ethnic/multicultural, Asian American, and religious studies. Highly recommended.andquot;
Review
andquot;A clear and honest examination of the Filipino Catholics in America. Cherry has provided a valuable contribution to the study of Asian Americans, migration, and religion.andquot;
Review
andquot;Stephen Cherry offers readers a close look at an immigrant group in the United Statesvthat has been significantly understudied relative to its size and importance. Cherry makes a strong argument for the significant impact of the Filipino-American community on American civic life and on
American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andldquo;Well-written, accessible, and succinct, Kristi Fondrenandrsquo;s Walking on the Wild Side tells the interesting story of the Appalachian Trail. Upon finishing a chapter, the reader is anxious to move onto the next one.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Wild New Jersey brings the reader on a real-life safari through the Garden State's wildlife and natural wonders.andquot;
Review
andquot;What is wonderful about this book is it shows we still have wild places left even in the middle of our state's most developed urban areas. This book captures why we must preserve what's left of nature in New Jerseyandmdash;and it reads like a page-turner you can't put down.andquot;
Review
andquot;Wheeler provides an entertaining overview of the diversity of wildlife in New Jersey that challenges the notion that our state is merely a
crowded, overdeveloped stretch of toxic sites. He weaves carefully selected information into a fast-paced, hard-to-put-down story. It's not
often we can refer to a book about nature as a 'page turner.'andquot;
Review
"Full of exciting tales about New Jersey, from the crowded urban areas to the most remote places of the state."
Review
"Once you read this book, don't be surprised if you find yourself going straight to the nearest outdoor adventure, whether it be boating and birding the Meadowlands, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or exploring the Pinelands."
Review
andquot;As someone who has worked through many of the environmental challenges we face in New Jersey, I celebrate New Jersey's unique role in America's environmental movement. Wild New Jersey captures what is at stake in our fight to clean up, restore, and protect our beautiful natural areas, from the pristine heart of the Pinelands to the ecological restorations of Superfund sitesandquot;
Review
andquot;Wild New Jersey may sound like fantasyandmdash;but this inspiring book is all reality. It's David Wheeler's great gift that he can continually see the treeline behind the skyline and hear the wild birds calling beyond the traffic's roar. He is the great champion and re-explorer of the state's magnificent wilderness and natural resoloence that 400 years of development has often threatened but never erased; he is also the cherisher and celebrator of those struggling natural areas that intrepod local residents are nursing back to like with great success. Here is a book that will change your understanding of where you are, and show you the wild strength and beauty that is still the heartheat of the nation's most urbanized state.andquot;
Review
andquot;While many people view New Jersey as the as a kind of 'ground zero' in the conflict between development and preservation, David Wheeler reminds us in this beautifully written book that human efforts over the last 40 years to protect our environment and preserve open spaceandmdash;coupled with Nature's amazing resiliencyandmdash;have made the Garden State an incredible place to enjoy wildlife both rare and common. Reading Wild New Jersey will make you flush with pride to be a New Jerseyan, while you reach for your hiking boots and binoculars to follow in David's intrepid footsteps.andquot;
Review
andquot;This book is for anyone in the Garden State with the teeniest spark of adventure and enthusiasm. From your easy chair, Wheeler will take you places you've never been.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherryandrsquo;s work is an important contribution to the literature on immigrant religion and religious communities. This work is suitable for multiple readerships from undergraduate studies and graduate seminars in religion, race or ethnicity, culture, and Asian American studies.andquot;
Review
andquot;Fondrenand#160;takes readers on the most memorable of journeys. She portrays hikers braving both environmental and social elements, and, with remarkable sensitivity, she reveals that they are not so different than the rest of us. The Appalachian Trail is a microcosm of American society, and a fascinating one at that.andquot;and#160;
Review
andquot;Cherry expands the possibilities for a truly public sociology, and thereby, offers a long awaited, unusually rich analysis of contemporary American Catholicism from Filipino epistemological perspectives.andquot;
Synopsis
This ground-breaking book draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. It illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family.
Synopsis
Received the 2016 Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research from the National Recreation and Park Association The most famous long-distance hiking trail in North America, the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail-the longest hiking-only footpath in the world-runs along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine. Every year about 2,000 individuals attempt to "thru-hike" the entire trail, a feat equivalent to hiking Mount Everest sixteen times. In Walking on the Wild Side, sociologist Kristi M. Fondren traces the stories of forty-six men and women who, for their own personal reasons, set out to conquer America's most well known, and arguably most social, long-distance hiking trail.
In this fascinating in-depth study, Fondren shows how, once out on the trail, this unique subculture of hikers lives mostly in isolation, with their own way of acting, talking, and thinking; their own vocabulary; their own activities and interests; and their own conception of what is significant in life. They tend to be self-disciplined, have an unwavering trust in complete strangers, embrace a life of poverty, and reject modern-day institutions. The volume illuminates the intense social intimacy and bonding that forms among long-distance hikers as they collectively construct a long-distance hiker identity. Fondren describes how long-distance hikers develop a trail persona, underscoring how important a sense of place can be to our identity, and to our sense of who we are. Indeed, the author adds a new dimension to our understanding of the nature of identity in general.
Anyone who has hiked-or has ever dreamed of hiking-the Appalachian Trail will find this volume fascinating. Walking on the Wild Side captures a community for whom the trail is a sacred place, a place to which they have become attached, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Synopsis
Inand#160;
Walking on the Wild Side,and#160;sociologist Kristi M. Fondrenand#160;traces the stories of forty-six men and women who set out to trek Americaandrsquo;s most well known long-distance hiking trail. The volume illuminates the intense social intimacy and bonding that forms among long-distance hikers as they collectively construct a long-distance hiker identity, revealing how important a sense of place can be to our identity.
Synopsis
In this easy to use, informative, and occasionally eccentric guidebook, David A. Steinberg blazes the trail to more than twenty-five unusual landmarks and hard-to-find destinations that are mostly within a two-hour drive of New York City. Suitable for the experienced hiker or camping adventurerandmdash;as well as anyone that has the desire to exploreandmdash;Hiking the Road to Ruins has been updated to include detailed directions and GPS coordinates to specific sites as well as many new hikes.
Synopsis
The fastest animal on earth dive-bombs him from the skies. A young black bear bounds up a mountain trail a few yards away. Poisonous snakes swirl at his feet. A thousand bats careen past his head in a pitch-black roost. Pods of dolphins swim right past him by the scores. Who? Experienced naturalist David Wheeler. Where? In Wild New Jersey, of course.and#160;
Wild New Jersey invites readers along Wheelerandrsquo;s whirlwind year-long tour of the most ecologically diverse state for its size in America. Along with the expert guidance of charismatic wildlife biologists and local conservationists, he explores mountains, valleys, beaches, pine barrens, caves, rivers, marshlands, and moreandmdash;breathtaking landscapes and the stateandrsquo;s Noahandrsquo;s Ark of fascinating creatures.
This isnandrsquo;t your ordinary ride on the Jersey Turnpike. Fasten your seatbelts and join Wheeler as he . . .
- Kayaks through the Meadowlands under the watchful eye of the Empire State Building,
- Pans for cretaceous fossils in a hidden brook once home to mastodons and giant sloths,
- Rides a fishing boat in the frigid snows of winter on a high-seas quest for Atlantic puffins,
- Trudges through the eerie darkness of a bog on a mysterious night hike,
- Dogsleds across the windswept alpine slopes in the haunts of the porcupine and bobcat.and#160;
With Wheelerandrsquo;s compelling narrative, in-depth background details, and eye for revealing the offbeat, you can count this as the first nature book to paint the extraordinary picture of New Jerseyandrsquo;s unlikely wilderness in all its glory. Come along for all the adventure and insight in Wild New Jersey!
About the Author
DAVID WHEELER is the director of operations for the nonprofit Edison Wetlands Association. He founded the nature blog, WildNewJersey.tv, and has written conservation stories for The Star-Ledger and other media.
Table of Contents
and#160;Prologue
Preparation
Leading and Not Leading Hikes
Using GPS
1.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Army Tunnels
2.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Beacon Mountain Casino
3.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Boston Harbor Islands
4.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The C and O Canal
5.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Camp Hero
6.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Cornish Estate
7.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Cranberry Lake Preserve
8.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Dennytown Mines
9.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Doodletown
10.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Dunderburg Spiral Railway
11.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Great Camp Santanoni
12.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Harriman Ruins in Winter
13.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Island Pond Ranger Cabin
14.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Mines! All mines!
15.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Mount Hope Historical Park
16.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Overlook Mountain House
17.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Pergola
18.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Ramapo Valley County Reservation
19.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Roomy Mine
20.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; The Stone Chambers of Mead Farm
21.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Sylvan Glen Preserve
22.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Two Worldandrsquo;s Fairs
23.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Watchung Reservation
24.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; West Point Foundry
25.and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Places That Arenandrsquo;t Mentioned in this Book