Reviews (9)

"THAILAND FEVER"
WOW!!"THAILAND FEVER":Now I understand.What a GREAT culture.I'm speechless.

A book to read carefully
Khun Vitida Vasant has written an excellent book on Thai culture.
Very Insightful
Great book for anyone who would like to learn about Thai vs. Western values concerning dating, marriage, and family. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Thai (Siamese)    2. Thailand    3. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (3)

O.K. Little Book
Notice that the title is not "The Fifty Greatest Golf Courses."My title would be, "Fifty Interesting Places to Play Golf."Whether it's my title or the real title, the emphasis is on "places to play," or "destinations," not golf courses per se.More than fifty golf courses are covered.Which is not to say that the book does not include a lot of great golf courses.The format is mini-coffee table, with several pages of text for each destination and one small picture for most of the destinations.The quality of the printing, photo reproduction and binding in my copy is excellent.The text for each destination has been volunteered by a different prominent golf person.For example, Nick Faldo writes about the Royal Melborne Golf Club (West Course) in the Australian state of Victoria.Alice Dye about the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course (see a connection there?).On the plus side are the quality of the color photos and the introduction (to me) of golf courses in some far away places (e.g., Bhutan, Morocco, India, places, however, I'll never get to).On the minus side, I don't have a prayer of playing some of the U.S. courses, even after I die (e.g., Pine Valley, Sand Hills, National Golf Links of America), which, honestly, the author points out.Finally, why not at least one photo for each destination?From the two page description of the Pacific Grove muni: "[T]he back nine . . . takes you right out to the water and combines incredible views of the Pacific and Monterey Bay with windswept bluffs reminiscent of some of the great courses of Scotland and Ireland."Why no photo of this course?From the two page description of the Torekov Golf Club in Sweden (my ancestral home): ". . .a links-oriented course. . . You can view the sea from all eighteen holes.In the summer, wildflowers are blooming everywhere . . . ."I want a photo, darn it!
Beautiful Pictures, really nice gift.
Being a golfer, I got this as a gift from one of my relatives.I must say the pictures are outstanding.This book makes me want to travel more to other countries to experience the pleasure of these courses.This book will always have a permanent place in my library.For excellent golf instruction that helped me to drastically reduce my handicap, I recommend,
A great gift item for the golfer on your list.
This really is an attractive volume, and it constitutes a sort of fantasy list of unique golf courses. The author has gone out of his way to avoid many of the "obvious" big name courses that golfers know from televised tournaments. This gives the book an added interest factor, as one can read about exotic courses in such out-of-the-way locales as Morocco and Oregon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Directories    2. General    3. Golf    4. Golf - General    5. Golf courses    6. Golf resorts    7. Sports    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Sports & Recreation / Golf    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (66)

The title has nothing to do with the story
I enjoy this authors writing style as it is full of humor and commen sense that everyone can agree with.His other book, Getting Stoned with Savages, was also good and if you read you have to read the other!

Excellent reading
This book is an account of the 2 years Troost and his wife spent on Tarawa, a desolate atoll that is part of Kiribati and quickly becoming a polluted slum.
Mental Note: Don't Vacation On Tarawa.
One would think that "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" was a psychological reference book about the libidinous habits of Hannibal Lector and friends. Actually, it refers to the historical beginnings of the peoples on a remote Pacific island called Tarawa. The ancesters of those native to the atoll apparently lost their men to invading cannibals who went on to procreate with their women through force, creating a non-descript race of islanders. Not exactly what immediately comes to mind upon reading the title of J. Maarten Troost's first novel, a true story about his two year adventure on a small piece of land in the middle of the an endless bowl of water.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Ethnology    6. Ethnology And Ethnography    7. Kiribati    8. Social life and customs    9. Tarawa Atoll    10. Tarawa Atoll (Kiribati)    11. Travel    12. Travel - General    13. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (1)

Bundle with Party Europe
Just as good as previous versions with lots of off the beaten path fun things to do. I brought it with a copy of Party Europe. It was a great combo. Rick Steves to chill, Party Europe to have the most fun possible.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - Western    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Europe    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Europe / General   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (20)

A great guide to getting out of a survival situation.
Unless something is wrong with you, your goal when thrust into a survival situation is to get out of it as fast as you can. That is the premise of this book. You won't find detailed instructions on building and using a fire bow. You won't find recomendations on the biggest, baddest knife. The one used in the book has about a 4 inch blade and retails for less than $20. You will find practicle suggestions for fire. You will also find suggestions on assembling a survival kit that's thorough but not enormous. There is scientific discussion on the human body's reaction to the environment. All of this is presented in a humorous style. The book focuses on preparation for a survival situation and how to get out of it. Not learning flint knapping, snare building, dead falls, etc. I found the book informative and easy to read. Those offended by the few cartoon characters should get a life.

98.6 Rates a 100%
Down to earth, straight forward, factual, No BS here.
Much better titles out there
Besides the dedication to "all Beings of Light," living "within a conscious understanding of our true Selves" and his gratitude for "all the Ascended and Cosmic Ones, to all the Archangels, Archeia, and angels, elementals, and Elohim"... and his characters "Elvis Parsley, Willy Nilly" and others, by the time you weed through all his flakey or cutesie fluff content, the meat on the bone is practical and useful, but lost.By three chapters in, I truly felt like I had wasted my time.
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Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Wilderness survival    6. Health & Fitness / Health Care Issues    7. Sports & Outdoor Recreation    8. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1373)

Fast paced, educating account of extreme mountaineering
Mr. Krakauer's account of the deadly trip to the top of Mt. Everest has a credibility to the story that many other action filled, non-fiction works have.Due mostly to the fact that Mr. Krakauer was a reporter who was there, a member of a team who witnessed the way the disaster unfolded in one of the most unforgiving environments in the world.His book is a chronicle of the things that went wrong with the expedition, things that were red-flags to those there but were not heeded.Some of the book deals with the commercialization of Everest, where if you have the money, you can find a guide that will risk your life, his life and others lives to get you to the top.Some of those who died were Everest guides, people who knew the signs of things going wrong, yet they still made the fateful decision of pressing on for the summit.Part of the book, about Beck Weathers is amazing and does give some hope to the extents and abuse the human body can take with a certain frame of mind.Albeit, it cost him his hands and part of his face, the fact that he survived is amazing none-the-less.
Read "The Climb," too...
I give "Above Thin Air" 5 stars because it is a magnificently written work about Everest, but Krakauer's venom towards Anatoli Boukreev was and is inexplicable when the facts of that night are laid bare.
Non-Fiction at Its Best
I couldn't put this book down. To be honest with you, I rarely enjoy non-fiction, yet the way with which Krakauer creates tension - something that most likely is not that difficult as Everest on its own is a formidable place - is as effective as some of the best fiction writers out there. I was also impressed with how he was able to situate the expedition and the characters involved within the rich tradition of Everest mountaineering. His descriptions of Hall and Fischer are remarkable and he has immortalized them for the general public as they have been immortalized with climbers for years. I also like the way with which Krakauer is honest about what he is and is not sure about concerning his account. Being above 26,000 ft. makes it very difficult to be sure of what took place. Overall, I was quite impresed with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    4. Krakauer, Jon    5. Mountaineering    6. Mountaineering accidents    7. Mountaineering expeditions    8. Specific Groups - General    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports - General    12. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

Reviews (5)

For Jackie Kennedy's fans
For those who follow Jackie Kennedy's footsteps since her childhood, it is a fresh, elegant book to complete their collection. For all of us, it gives the taste of our age of innocence.

Send Your Daughters to Europe, by Boat!!!!
I bought this book when I was in high school, and after studying the darling illustrations, and reading the story, I soooo longed to travel abroad, particularly by boat; and to mix with all the European dignitaries, socialites, and "Lah De Dahs" from across the pond. Now it's 30 years later, and having traveled quite extensively with my husband I still have that same longing, yet this time for my own daughters!This book and its charming illustrations make you want to send your daughter(s) or sons to Europe and travel amongst the noblesse.However impossible as that may seem to be, the good news is that today, anyone can take the Queen Mary or any number of magnificent ships (QEII available no longer) across the pond and waltz around Europe.
A Charming Snapshot in History
This was such a delightful discovery, I can almost picture what it would have been like to have discovered the actual scrapbook and travel journal on which this book is based.It is a delightful glimpse into the pre-celebrity lives of the young Bouvier sisters.Not only is this a treat for fans of either Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, or her sister Lee Bouvier Radziwill, but it is also a wonderful book for people who are fans of vacation memoirs.No matter what your background is, there are laughs to be found in the trials and tribulations of a voyage--for instance, of sharing a ship cabin with a woman in her 90's, who has a penchant for walking around in the buff late at night.The drawings, done by Jackie Bouvier, are charming and funny.One hopes that people still take such sweet records of their vacations. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929-1994    2. Description And Travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Europe    5. Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy,    6. Travel    7. Travel - General    8. Women In The U.S.    9. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Reviews (8)

Good book I found it helpful
I found thisbook helpful in deciding just which Inside Passage Cruise to take and which ship to book on.There is a lot of information that can become dated.That is why I got the latest edition.I am booking for early in the cruise season 2007 while reading it in 2006.

Excellent guide to the wonders of this place!
Excellent general guidebook for cruisers to Alaska, especially
Not A Winner
We bought three travel guides before our cruise to Alaska and this was by far the least valuable.The information isn't specific enough - it's very general. Look at a copy before you buy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Canada - Territories & Nunavut    3. Canada - Western Provinces    4. Cruise ships    5. Guidebooks    6. Ocean travel    7. Reference - Cruise Guides    8. Travel    9. Travel - United States    10. United States - Pacific - Alaska    11. United States - Pacific - Washington    12. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Reviews (57)

my favorite klosterman
i absolutely adore this book! it has amazing quotes that just struck me. it's not so much about the artists that died-that was for the magazine he was writing for, this was about his journey, thoughts, and happenings on the way. it's an awesome book, and it actually makes you think, which is a beautiful thing today.

Killing Yourself To Live
Briefly: I enjoyed this book.I enjoyed the writing.I enjoyed the references to musicians and other cultural icons.I disagreed with many, if not most of his assertions about the the value of certain kinds of music and musicians, but I enjoyed reading them nonetheless.I didn't mind the fact that much of it was an examination of his own relationships with women.If that's what he wants to write about, fine.I think he had interesting things to say about those relationships and I enjoyed reading them.I kind of feel as though I learn something about myself when I hear about how other people deal with relationship issues like this.I think the people who have written negative reviews were basing them less on what the book is than on what it's not.Anyone considering buying this book should be aware that it is not about music history.It's a funny (IMO) book about one particular guy's views on music, pop culture and his girlfrieds.I liked it.

It's probably more like 65% of a True Story
Killing Yourself to Live is confusing, if you take a literal approach to the book. And that I think, is where this book suffers. I too was very interested and excited to read about the the places at where some of the legends of rocks faded away forever. Lennon, Cobain, Ronnie Van Zandt, Elvis, etc. Somehow the death of these people as well as others remain in the American psyche as most of them created memorable and poignant songs of their generations. In many ways, this book to me, was a final closure to these singers and songwriters as I needed to know where their final goodbyes were, for better or for worse. Unfortunately, this book never took me there. In fact, I felt as if I was reading Klosterman's diary more than an hommage on American musicians. And that to me was not very exciting.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Death    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Genres & Styles - Rock    7. Music    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Popular Culture    10. Popular Culture - General    11. Rock Music    12. Rock musicians    13. Social aspects    14. Travelers    15. United States    16. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (10)

Buy another book
I have used LP books for a lot of my travels throughout Southeast Asia and usually am pretty satisfied with my experience.This LP book on Vietnam though, does not live up to the standards of other LP travel books!
"Rather good" rated by evietnamese.net
I read Lonely Planet of Vietnam and Korea and I found that it's not bad at all. Don't understand why people around here mostly don't like it. Useful informations, many times updated, rather good.
Beware of border information
I used this edition on a bicycle trip across northern Vietnam from Laos to China. The authors confused the new Na Maew/Na Meo crossing between Laos and Vietnam with another crossing farther south. Na Maew/Na Meo is the northernmost international crossing between the two countries, and wasn't described at all. (Note to Lonely Planet: Please restore the UPDATES feature on your website!)
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel & holiday guides    5. Vietnam   

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Pictorials    3. Scenic Photo Collections    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. France    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Pictorials   

Reviews (3)

A nice comprehensive travel aid
This is a reasonably comprehensive travel guide to Turkey. All regions of the country are well covered, with lots of good information on local sites and amenities. It is small enough for travel and is up-to-date. It also includes good basic maps.

Lavishly Illustrated
DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides are perfect for your next vacation or they can be illustrated journeys into new worlds you wish you could visit. These guides help me to understand the world and the 1,200 photographs, illustrations and maps in the Eyewitness Turkey Guide are stunning in beauty. I loved the two page spread of the Library of Celsus (one of the most famous Roman sites in Turkey) that is still standing after an earthquake.
Scrumptious photo feast for your eyes, makes you want to go!
I'm a fan of DK publications in general, and their style is well suited for these 'big picture' Eyewitness travel guides. The maps, photos, illustrations and contexts excel at giving you the bird's eye view of what is outstanding in Turkey.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. General    3. Middle East - Turkey    4. Reference - General    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Reference works    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Europe / General    10. Turkey   

Editorial Review

The late Bruce Chatwin carved out a literary career as unique as any writer's in this century: his books included Read more

Reviews (51)

Best of the best
This is the kind of writing/reflecting many people do while travelling and is not a "how to" type of travel guide.I've recommended this book to several thoughtful people, given it to many thoughtful teens as they begin to self-discover, and re-read the book twice.VERY nice writing, good thoughts, great ideas about humans.

The Songlines
As i never wanted to go to Australia, i have to say that after reading this book i have not changed my mind, but it is not a point. It is not a book about traveling in Australia. It is more a book about walking, for example. As i like walking, i have found in this book so many great examples of what the walking is about, it is not just moving from one point on the Earth to another, it is also philosophy. And so on...this book is highly recommended for those who knows what the word "travel" means. In present time many people travel, but just a few ones deserve to be called "traveller". Bruce Chatwin is among them.

Read before you go!
I wish I had read this book prior to our traveling to Australia.
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Subjects:  1. 1940-1989    2. Aboriginal Australians    3. Australia    4. Australia & Oceania - Australia    5. Chatwin, Bruce,    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. General    9. History - General History    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Social life and customs    12. Travel    13. Chatwin, Bruce    14. Ethnic studies    15. Journeys    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General    17. Travel writing   

Reviews (5)

Bundle with Party London and Paris
What a great guide. Rick Steve's told me so many chill, off the beaten path things to do in London and then I picked up my Party London & Paris guidebook and hand the most fun and social days and nights. What a great combination of books.
Rick Knows London
Rick Steves has never directed me to a bad hotel or a bad meal.He protects his readers from overpriced tourist traps.A deep knowledge of the areas he visits and much time spent talking with the locals are what makes his books, in my opinion, among the best travel guides one can find.He knows where Londoners go when they want good food and where you can find a hotel that is quiet (by British standards), clean, and affordable (again, by British standards).His suggested museum tours and maps of the major London museums are another major point in his favor.

Very good book
the best books to have. All the information is up to date. Most of the other books are out dated and dont have as much information. I used his books on every trip around Europe and see many other people with his books as well!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/London    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. London, Greater London    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Europe / Great Britain   

Reviews (18)

Praise For Lono!
Once again HST delves deep into the dark side of the human mind. Whether it's fishing for drugs in an airplane toilet or running over stray dogs in a drunken stupor, Hunter takes his reader on a wild ride through mysterious Hawaii. If you want to take a trip without the airfare (or the acid) crack open this oversized volume and enjoy.

Amazing visual collectors item
This book is so big that it won't fit on my flippin' book shelf, and the reason for that is because of Ralph Steadman's full size color pictures throughout. As a matter of fact, there's more to the pictures than to the actual writings of the good doctor. It's an interesting read, all in all, but the book itself is only 200 some odd pages and a little less than half of these pages are dedicated to Ralphs artwork. The actual read only takes about an hour, and during the read, one can't help but think that there is whole chapters missing from the text. Anyways, I consider this an essential "collectors item" from the king of Gonzo, but not quite essential reading. Just because of the unique book design and layout (and artwork) it is a real treasure to own, but it is not the "Fear and Loathing in Hawaii", as some have called it. It is worth the money (36$)and if you find one cheaper (not hardcover) I would not buy it. This is an essential hardcover buy, and if it was reduced to anything less than it is, I would have been disappointed.

great release
this is a fantastic release of one of HST's least known works. not as crazy as fear and loathing in las vegas or as well written as the rum diaries, but still a fine read. ralph steadman's artwork infull color and at the large size they are printed in for this book are simply amazing ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    4. Individual Artist    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Hawaii    7. Travel writing   

Reviews (18)

RV Trip Review
I really enjoyed the second half of the book more, when the trip actually got started.However, for non-experienced RVers the first part of the book would be very helpful.

A Fun and Useful Book; All that it Lives Up To
I'm in the early stages of planning a major road trip, and Phil and Carol's book is exactly what I was looking for to help my husband and I cover our bases and ensure a smooth transition to life on the road for a while.
We're on the road and loving 'living the dream'
Can two adults really share a small RV for thousands of miles and not drive each crazy?
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Reference - Tips    3. Special Interest - General    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. Travel / Adventure    7. Travel / United States / General    8. Travel Guides - U.S.    9. Automobile travel    10. Recreational vehicles    11. Special Interest - Adventure    12. United States - General   

Editorial Review

Frances Mayes continues her love letter to Italy in this sequel to Read more

Reviews (19)

Beautiful photographs
This book is quite different from Mayes' first two books about Tuscany, which were more like travel memoirs. This book's focus is photographs, accompanied by some commentary, thoughts, and insights from Mayes, as well as some recipes. Frankly, I didn't read the text at all. I just enjoyed the photographs. I wish I'd had this book when I was reading Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany because all the places she talks about in those books are scattered throughout the pages of this book in beautiful photographs. We finally get to see what Mayes' charming Bramasole house looks like, as well as the town of Cortona and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. If you haven't read Mayes' first two books, read them and have this one handy so you can see for yourself just how beautiful these houses, towns, and people are.

In Tuscany
If you are the least bit interested in anything Italian then this is the book for you. "In Tuscany" has a great intro into the lifestyles there and more. There are many beautiful pictures and easy to follow recipes. A must have for those who are looking for a ecsape from our busy lives or an inspiration to redecorate your own home.

Complete the Experience
A delicious feast for the eye and heart.If you have read the book, if you have travelled in Tuscany this book brings it all home visually. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Europe - Italy    3. Italy - History    4. Mayes, Edward Kleinschmidt,    5. Mayes, Frances    6. Pictorials    7. Social life and customs    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Travel Guides    11. Tuscany (Italy)    12. Mayes, Edward Kleinschmidt    13. Travel / Pictorials   

Subjects:  1. Central America    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Central America   

Reviews (25)

Great for Disney fans who want to know more
This book was great!It explains the reasoning behind why and how all the current attractions were constructed.I would have liked to see a little more on the past and the potential for future attractions, but it was good.It is really interesting to see why this ride was built just like it was and how the idea formed into what it is.

The Mouse is Best.
A great behind the scenes look at the Best Place on Earth.For those who want to pick the brains of the Imagineers to hear their versions of what we see at the Magic Kingdom. I really appreciated this book.

The Magic of the Magic Kingdom
It's kind of funny to have a field guide to Disneyland, but it really does answer a lot of the questions that you have walking around.It's a good size for carrying with you which is why it's a filed guide, I guess.I just read it home.That works well too.It's an interesting book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amusement parks    2. Buildings    3. Design    4. History    5. Parks & Campgrounds    6. Special Interest - Family    7. Travel    8. Travel - United States    9. United States    10. Walt Disney Company    11. Walt Disney World (Fla.)    12. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Food Industry Services    2. Restaurants    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Pacific - Los Angeles    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)