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| House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest | 
| Author: Craig Childs
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Category: Book
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $13.42
You Save: $11.57 (46%)
New (31) from $13.42
Avg. Customer Rating:  29 reviews
Sales Rank: 215047
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.7
ISBN: 0316608173
Dewey Decimal Number: 978.98201
EAN: 9780316608176
ASIN: 0316608173
Publication Date: February 22, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Brilliant Overview of a Complex Topic December 1, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Living near Four Corners country, I've often felt that the makers of Chaco are still a ghostly presence, haunting conversations, land use policies, wilderness... I think it's the overwhelming evidence that something big happened here, for hundreds of years, and that it's no longer happening. It's hard not to look around at the big things we're doing, and shiver; in the end, the desert always wins.
House of Rain is by far the best and most accessible book available for those interested in the Anasazi and Chaco Culture (and Craig explains why these are loaded and not necessarily helpful terms). An expert on the subject himself, with his own ideas, he humbly takes the reader on a tour of the evidence and other theories, and in some of the book's finest passages he literally travels in the footsteps of the migratory people responsible for the imposing ruins that still inspire awe around here.
As for the previous reviewer, the kindest assumption I can make is that she didn't get past the dust jacket. House of Rain is, in fact, the single best argument against the simplistic view of the Anasazi that she claims to be upset about. Perhaps she should, you know, give it a read.
 No mystery November 24, 2007
5 out of 23 found this review helpful
For Pete's sake. The Anasazi did not vanish without a trace; neither did the Maya. The Booklist reviewer needs to get a clue, maybe read 1491.
I am tired of this false mystery being hyped. The Anasazi didn't vanish any more than Rome vanished. I can't take any book seriously that begins with this premise.
Childs has done it with this book... September 11, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
It's been a long time since I was thoroughly captivated by a book but House Of Rain has managed to do just that. Craig Childs is arguably one of the finest non-fiction writers today. For those of us who live and breathe the Great Southwest, Child's descriptions will bring back vivid memories of Sleeping Ute mountain in the distance and standing where the Ancients stood at Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, and Chaco. For those reviewers who felt like they needed maps and an answer, you can get maps at the visitor centers all bound up in glossy little books with equally glossy descriptions of people and places. This is not one of those books - it's so much deeper. This book is not a souvenier, it's a vehicle that takes you to places that a relative few will ever see and even less will understand. Sometimes, there is no final answer - there's just the lingering questions. That's part of what makes it so interesting.
Excellent Read With Interesting Personal Point of Views September 6, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the first book by Craig Childs that I've read. I will say it is an excellent book on the Anasazi. Craig has spent his whole life in the desert Southwest and appears to be quite knowledgeable about his subject. If you are the least bit interested in knowing a bit more about the Anasazi but don't want to read a "dry" scientific book about the subject, this is "the book" for you. Craig has travelled, worked and talked with many southwest Archaeologists who study the Anasazi. His discussions on the Anasazi are not boring and dry and his writing style is superb. I have a passing interest in the subject matter and this is one of the newest books on the subject and based on reviews of his other books, bought this one. I'm glad I did. Craig covers some controversial areas in regards to the Anasazi and where they went. They didn't disappear, their ancestors are still here, spread out over the southwest. He hits on a few quite creditabal possibilities and presents material to support them. I not being an expert on the subject but none the less interested and with some of my own ideas, I think Craig is on to something in regards to some of the reasons for the abandonment of the ancient sites across the entire southwest not just the Four Corners area commonly attributed to the Anasazi. Craig's descriptions of his backcountry travels are excellent and gives the sense that you are there with him which makes it even more enjoyable to read. This one is a keeper which I know I will read over and over again.
House of Rain, A Great Read August 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you'd like to take a journey into the SW United States looking for the "missing" Anasazi, you should crack open this book, and delve into Craig Child's riveting journey. Child's style of writing puts you there with him, and he's very skilled at creating images that draw you into the adventure.
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