Contrary to popular opinion, the opening of the American frontier was not a simple land purchase; it was actually a hardscrabble fight. Even as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out on their legendary journey to the Pacific Ocean, other forces were taking the measure of the land with far darker ambitions.

Aaron Burr, the charming and treacherous former vice president, determined that if he could not be master of his nation, he would instead become emperor of the next best thing: the Louisiana Territory. Slyly working with the powerful and ambitious commander of the U.S. Army, General James Wilkinson, Burr instigated a plot to seize not only Louisiana, but all of Mexico as well. Told from a time when the wildest plots and the most grandiose dreams thrived, as schemers and revolutionaries conspired to create a new country, Jefferson and the Gun-Men is the riveting tale of this unlikely story

Thoughtful, witty, and beautifully written, Many Rivers to Cross details M.R. Montgomery's journey into the physical and emotional territory of the American West as he explores the meaning and experience of wilderness.

Montgomery's travels take him from the headwaters of the Columbia River to eastern Oregon and to Big Goose Creek, where General Custer's reinforcements camped and went fishing instead of joining the battle at Little Bighorn. He guides us through overlooked locations in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, and Oregon -- all of the last best places. And of course there is the ever-present quest for trout, from the Bonneville cutthroat to the rare Apache.

There are indeed many rivers to cross, and M.R. Montgomery shows us that each is in just the right place.

Extending the principles of the famed Peterson Identification System to the man-made world, A Field Guide to Airplanes will enable you to identify virtually any plane in North America, in the air or on the ground. This fully revised and updated third edition features more than 400 aircraft, including 75 new planes that incorporate the latest advances in general aviation, military aircraft, commercial airliners, business jets, and helicopters. Beautiful and accurate illustrations include arrows and detailed drawings to help pinpoint the differences between similar models. Clear, succinct descriptions of each plane include statistical information, history, and a list of important field marks that distinguish one plane from another. For serious enthusiasts and amateurs alike, this is the only true field guide to airplanes.