Personal Interpretation: Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources

by Lisa Brochu, Tim Merriman

Written in clear, concise language with many examples, Personal Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources employs the most current ideas in the interpretive profession. This 100-page book shares traditions back through Freeman Tilden's principles and Enos Mills' thoughtful ideas on nature guiding. It will connect you with more in-depth resources developed by authors such as Sam Ham, Bill Lewis, Douglas Knudson, Ted Cable, Larry Beck, and Joseph Cornell. Featuring more than 30 color photos, this resource shares approaches tested and proven by the National Park Service and many other organizations along with research concepts that back up their approaches. Authors Lisa Brochu and Tim Merriman collectively have more than 57 years experience in the interpretive profession as interpreters, consultants, planners and trainers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

100 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a new naturalist, I found this book very helpful as part of the curriculum for NAI CIG certification. It was a good "home base" or jumping off point to let me know what other books could be helpful to me by summarizing other authors.
A worthwhile read, which contains much useful information.

[Kristie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this will be a good reference book in the future, but having to read this around the same time as Tilden and Beck & Cable made this all a bit redundant.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are just starting out in museum interpretation, I highly recommend reading this book first. It provides a light overview of the basics of museum interpretation. It is also a good refresher for those of us who have been in the field for a while. Easy to read with some enjoyable anecdotes of the authors' personal experience with interpretation.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty basic book but it offers a good outline of interpretation, touching on all the major scholars and theories behind it while giving practical advice on how to do interpretation as well.

[Lila]

read while taking CIG course! a good complement to the course lessons. definitely want to order my own copy to reference back if i am ever writing my own programs.

[Empanadani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really nice and concise book about the art of interpretation. I would highly recommend this to anybody who is in the field of interpretation or does public speaking in general. It's important to know how to "interpret" the valuable natural resources in our environment for the benefit of other people.
It goes through the history of interpretation, how to develop an interpretive program, provides resources for further reading, and is just very well-written.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of environmental interpretation.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good jumping off point. Unfortunately seems to have little of its own to contribute. However if you are just starting to develop your knowledge of interpretive skills then go for it.