Throughout the 1980's, Mr. Skirbst composed nearly 400articles entitled the Tales and Trails of New Jersey.¿ These articles appeared as a weekly columnin a local newspaper, The Star Gazette.¿Over twenty years later, selected articles from this series have cometogether, through the work of his wife and children, to create this book incelebration of the author's 75th birthday.The contents of the book are arranged topically, not in theorder they originally appeared.¿ It hasbeen divided into 4 units and 18 chapters.¿The first unit explores the physical geography of the state of NewJersey.¿ People, and their contributionsto the state's culture, are explored in the second unit.¿ The state's history, from pre-Colonialtimes, is fully explored in the third.¿The fourth and final unit, entitled "Potpourri," discusses the diversityof the state."Tales and Trails," although emphasizing the places, people,and past of New Jersey, is certainly relevant to the nation as a whole.¿ New Jersey has, in fact, provided majorcontributions to the nation.¿ Betweenhistorical events and famous people, "Tales and Trails" is a significantcontribution to those that seek to learn more about the nation's history, andfuture.
