Customer Reviews

American Lighthouses (Lighthouse Series)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After seeing the "move" of the Hatteras lighthouse this summer, we became intrigued by lighthouses. On the trip home, we made special effort to see as many as we could. This book helped us learn more about the lighthouses we were seeing. An excellent book for a short synopsis on these wonderful structures. I'm buying a second copy for my parents.

American Lighthouses: A Comprehensive Guide was exactly what I was looking for. A way to find lighthouses during my travels. My AAA tour books and maps did not mark the lights and I found I had driven very close by some of the oldest and most beautiful lights in the country without even knowing it. Not again with this guild, divided up by states, I should not miss of the majestic old lighthouses.

"American Lighthouses (Lighthouses)" by Ray Jones begins with a lengthy introduction about the romance of lighthouses. Isn't that the point of our enjoyment? The history and tales, and the architecture all draw us to wonder about the tall, bold and previously bright buildings. That's the approach Jones assumes throughout the book.

Filled with color photos of both recent and old lighthouses, Jones takes us through each region of the United States. He discusses 450 lighthouses in all, presenting facts about each. We learn the year it was built and, in some instances, rebuilt. He gives us travel information as well, helping us find our way there with general directions or a location.

This could be a primer for the average lighthouse seeker, but it is not the complete word on any of them. A book could be written on each, and we only get a few paragraphs. Most of us will be happy with that. If you need more, look at the more specialized volumes for each region or state.

The writing is crisp and interesting, but never scholarly. It is accessible in the same way as a short encyclopedic entry would be.

The pages are made of a stiffer glossy paper, and the dimensions of the book are awkward. It does not lay flat, and in general is hard to open. This production makes reading difficult, even though it is otherwise very attractive.

A newer edition has since been published and should be checked out, but if the price is low, this is still an adequate choice. "American Lighthouses (Lighthouses)" by Ray Jones will help as you vacation through the US.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

This is an excellent compendium of existing lighthouses in the US and made valuable by photographs and by considerable detail about history of each. In it some human interest information about lighthouse keepers .Especially interesting in
describing designers, e.g. General Meade of Civil War fame, some of the progression of technology and the efforts of
regional groups to preserve lighthouses and their history.

I wanted more than just a regional book (I collect many anyway) and I found the new edition of American Lighthouses fascinating. It helped me decide what area of the country to travel to next and plan how many lighthouses to see each day. The photography is outstanding and the writing just perfect. Since I'm a camera bug, it has given me the incentive to get out there and take pictures again! I'm going to give this book as Christmas presents to friends and family.

Some people, myself included, love lightouses. This book should be an essenial part of our library. Not only does the authors give background info on history of the lighthouses in this book but also alerts the reader of nearby attractions and gives directions for those who like to see lighthouses. Perhaps one of the best things I like about this book is the pictures. They're beautiful. The book itself serves as a reference guide for lighthouse lovers everywhere.