Sacred Places North America

April 1, 2003
An offbeat travel writer (he uses an "Author's Karma Statement" instead of a "Preface") whose previous titles include World Stompers: A Guide to Travel Manifesto and Extreme Adventures follows his Sacred Places: 101 Spiritual Sites Around the World with a similar title devoted to North America. The guidebook is divided into sections according to geographic regions in which 38 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces are represented. A majority of the sites are Native American (Mese Verde in Colorado, Pawnee Spirit Sites in Kansas, Serpent Mound in Ohio, and Mount Katahdin in Maine), but Olsen also includes some more contemporary sites such as Selma, Graceland, and Walden Pond. Each site is thoroughly described, with emphasis placed on historical background and driving directions. The author's hand-drawn maps are helpful, but some of the black-and-white photographs are too small to be useful. An interesting book for both the armchair and the adventurous traveler, this is recommended for large public libraries; an optional purchase for all others.-John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord

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