A traditional Eskimo whaling party races for shore while their comrades drift out to sea: ice that should be solidly anchored at this time of year is giving way. A team of scientists traverses the breadth of Alaska, measuring the thinning snow in an effort to understand albedo, the snow's reflective ability to cool the earth beneath it. Climate change isn't an abstraction in the Far North--it is a reality that has already altered daily life for Native people who still live largely off the land and sea, and lured scientists seeking to uncover its mysteries. Wohlforth follows both groups as they navigate a radically shifting landscape. The two cultures see the same changes, but they struggle to reconcile their different ways of comprehending what these changes mean.

"What capacity for good lies in the hidden depths of people?" Starting with this question, award-winning author Charles Wohlforth sets forth on a wide-ranging exploration of our relationship with the world. In The Fate of Nature, he draws on science, spirituality, history, economics, and personal stories to reveal answers about the future of that relationship. There is no better place to witness the highs and lows of our treatment of the natural world than the vast wilds, rocky coasts, and shifting settlements of Alaska. Since the first encounter between Captain Cook's crew and the Alaskan Natives in 1778, there have been countless struggles between people who have had different plans for the region. Some have hoped to preserve Alaska as they found it, while others aimed to create something new in its place. Incidents such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill may seem like cause for despair. In the face of such profound tragedies, Charles Wohlforth has found heartening developments in the science of human altruism. This new understanding of what causes humans to cooperate and act conscientiously may be the first step toward taking the actions necessary to preserve an environment that has already been altered drastically in our lifetime. A clear-eyed, original work of research, reportage, and philosophical reflections, The Fate of Nature gives us a chance to change the way we think about our place in society and the world at large.

"The great thing about Frommer's Family Vacations in the National Park is that the author has struck a nice balance between natural history and practicality. The reader learns about intertidal zones and glaciation all right, but he also gets detailed information about each of the campgrounds at Acadia National Park. It's as family-friendly a guide as any park-bound family could want." — Everett Potter, NY Times News Service This practical, detailed guide helps parents plan and enjoy a fun-filled, creative, educational trip for the whole family. We take you to a selection of America's most popular parks, national recreation areas, and national seashores: Acadia, Cape Cod, the Smokies, the Outer Banks, Rocky Mountain, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Olympic, Zion, and more. Included are detailed, candid reviews of each campground and other family-friendly lodgings, plus these special features: a spectacular full-color photo insert, illustrations that help identify plants and animals, places for relaxed play and picnics, and tips on how to teach your kids about everything from native American culture to conservation. Parents will find all kinds of activities the kids will love: biking, canoeing, nature walks, horseback riding, swimming, tide pooling, whale watching, and more. With this guide in hand, parents are sure to give their children memories and learning experiences that will last a lifetime.

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go-they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us! Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Alaska 2002 features gorgeous color photos of the spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife that await you in America's last frontier. This extraordinary and detailed guide is personally researched by a lifelong resident, who offers insights into how to discover the real Alaska. You'll find complete details on whale watching, sea kayaking, hiking, salmon fishing, funky small towns, Gold Rush saloons, glaciers, scenic drives, and more. You'll even get an up-to-date cruise planner, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

"Our Story in Many Voices orients visitors to the museum, explains the objects, and explores the changing history and interpretation of Alaska's story in the many voices of its telling"--

You're in for a scenic, sensory treat! Alaska has 100,000 glaciers and 10 million lakes. Wildlife roams freely across vast spaces, unfettered by fences or roads. Opportunities to experience real wilderness and enjoy outdoor activities abound. You can’t see or do it all, but you can make the most of your time with this friendly guide. Our author, Charles Wohlforth, is a lifelong Alaskan who has been writing about his home as a journalist and author for more than 20 years. Wohlforth received wide critical acclaim for his environmental studies of Alaska. Alaska For Dummies, 5th Edition gives you comprehensive coverage of America's Last Frontier and includes: Anchorage and road trips from Anchorage; Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway and Sitka; bush Alaska, covering fascinating places in the Arctic; options for visiting by cruise ship; five great itineraries that touch on Alaska’s best destinations; the best places to see marine mammals, birds, humpback whales, black, brown, or polar bears, and other wildlife; the best gold rush towns, including Fairbanks, Juneau, Skagway, and Nome, where the free-wheeling frontier spirit abides today; the top ten questions to ask an Alaskan, and more. Like every For Dummies travel guide, Alaska For Dummies, 5th Edition includes down-to-earth trip-planning advice, what you shouldn't miss (and what you can skip), the best hotels and restaurants for every budget, and handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages.

Frommer's. The best trips start here. Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. * Insider advice on enjoying the great Alaskan wilderness, from whale-watching and kayaking to fishing for Pacific salmon. * Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not. * Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget. * Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

In Stalin's Russia, Victor Fischer's father, American journalist Louis Fischer, and his mother, Russian writer Markoosha Fischer, were persecuted as political activists and lived under threat of arrest until Eleanor Roosevelt helped them escape Russia. Victor Fischer grew up to serve in the US Army during WWII and later was a delegate to the Alaska Constitutional Convention. He served in the Territorial House of Representatives and the Alaska State Senate, and also held government positions in Washington, DC. During his return to Russia in recent times, he rekindled old friendships, including the brother of a childhood friend, who wrote about Fischer's childhood in The Troika: The Story of an Unmade Film. Fischer has also been mentioned in his mother's and fathers' autobiographies. In Fischer's own autobiography, he reflects on his early his years, his career, and his personal life with a sense of humor, drawing on his parents' memoirs, correspondence, and other papers, as well as other archives. The book includes a wealth of b&w historical photos and color contemporary photos. Fischer is former director of the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska. Wohlforth has written other books about Alaska. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

Why America’s health care system failed so tragically during the Covid pandemic, and how the forces unleashed by the crisis could be just the medicine for its long-term cure. Covid patients overwhelmed American hospitals. The world’s most advanced and expensive health care system crumbled, short of supplies and personnel. The U.S. lost more patients than any other nation during the pandemic. How could this happen? And how could this disaster lead to a more resilient, rational and equitable health care system in the future? How Covid Crashed the System answers these questions with compelling stories and wide-angle analysis. Dr. David Nash, a founder of the discipline of population health, and Charles Wohlforth, an award-winning science writer, pick up the pieces of the Covid disaster like investigators of a crashed airliner, finding the root causes of America’s failure to cope, and delivering surprising answers that may reorient how you think about your own health. From the broadest, cultural flaws that disabled our health system to particular, institutional issues, America’s defenses fell due to racism and poverty, combined with a culture of misguided individualism that tore communities apart. We suffered from failed leadership and crippled public health agencies, and hospitals built to make money from services, not deliver health. But How Covid Crashed the System goes beyond analyzing those problems, providing hope for change and fundamental improvement in ways that will transform Americans’ health. Covid’s market disruption encouraged new technology that allows for remote health care. Integrated health organizations gained ground, working to manage clients’ total wellness from cradle to grave. Covid also accelerated changes in medical education, to make doctor training more equitable and better aligned to the skills we need. And Covid forced employers to accept responsibility for their workers’ health in a new way, making them partners in this new movement. Using systemic analysis of the Covid crash, the authors find reasons to hope. America’s health care establishment resisted reform for decades, mired in waste and avoidable errors. Now, the pandemic crisis has exposed its flaws for all to see, creating the opportunities for systemic changes. Even without new laws or government policies, America is moving toward a transformed health system responsible for our wellness. How Covid Crashed the System tells that story.