Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into National Parks [Paperback]

Bathroom Readers' Hysterical Society (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2007 | Series: Bathroom Reader

Featuring the BRM’s trademark trivia, fun facts, amazing origins, and unknown histories, this book dips into every national park, monument, site, and trail (more than 150 in all), exploring such exciting phenomena as Yosemite’s firefall and the wild horses of Assateague, along with practical strategies for dodging that rampaging bear or moose. Printed in backpack- or pocket-friendly size with sturdy, waterproof cover, this brisk guide is ideal for both the outdoors type and those who prefer to travel by armchair — or throne.

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: Portable Press (February 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592237843
• ISBN-13: 978-1592237845
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Travel > Canada > National Parks
  • #49 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Veterinary

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Different Sort of Travel Guide: Fascinating Park Trivia, May 18, 2007

By 

Fritz R. Ward "dayhiker" (Crestline, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into National Parks (Paperback)

This latest Uncle John publication proclaims on its back cover "It's time to hit the Trail!" Hit the history books is more like it. This wonderful little volume is full of fascinating trivia about the national parks and monuments found in the US and Canada. Each chapter is brief enough to be read during a single trip to the throne room of your house, and for the most part the prose is enjoyable enough to keep you coming back. Favorite stories for me were "The Great Pig War" in which the US and England nearly managed to go to war over a dead pig (San Juan Island National Historic Park) and the Mojave National Preserve's "lonely phonebooth."

For the most part the history and folklore seemed accurate enough, though the authors did slip a little when they wrote that Ansel Adams had saved King's Canyon with pictures of its Giant Sequoia Grove. There is no such grove in King's Canyon proper. General Grant Grove is now administered as a part of King's Canyon National Park, but it has been protected since 1890. In any event, King's Canyon was preserved because it so closely resembled Yosemite. On the other hand, virtually every other element of the book is accurate. Indeed, this is one of the few sources I have ever read that correctly notes Hot Springs Arkansas is the oldest National Park, dating back to 1835, long before the Yosemite Grant or the creation of Yellowstone National Park.

So, by all means get this rather unusual travel guide. It probably won't help much with actual trip planning, but it is nice for whiling away the time between trips: especially that portion of the time when you are otherwise preoccupied.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lighthearted but not always enlightening, January 14, 2009

By 

S. J. Snyder "De gustibus non disputandum" (Various, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into National Parks (Paperback)

If this book stimulates your interest in various National Parks, an interest that you haven't had before, great.

But Americans who have already enjoyed vacations to a number of our National Parks will recognize a number of minor errors in this book. Again, they're minor, but they're numerous enough to make the reader note that this is not a book written by someone who has a strong special interest in America's National Parks.

I'm not saying a bathroom book needs to be more in-depth, just that it can stand to be more accurate.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, May 14, 2008

By 

W. Barrier (Greensboro NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into National Parks (Paperback)

As an avid BRI reader, I was really looking forward to this book. It has lived up to all my expectations. If anyone is interested in national parks in the US and Canada, this is "must" reading.