Reviews (3)

Interesting and Boring
In order to make this book interesting the author had to fill the book with his travelling experiences in his mission to find out who the real Santa Claus was and if he existed. I found it painful to read and wanted to get straight to the historical facts which were sparse but interesting to read about. He didn't use the easiest of language which made the book even more painful to read.
A fascinating biographical and spiritual account which readers will enjoy year-round
Nicholas: The Epic Journey From Saint To Santa Claus arrived too late for more timely holiday mention but still provides a fascinating biographical and spiritual account which readers will enjoy year-round. The rise of Santa Claus from his origins in Byzantine Turkey to his modern jolly friend of children image is followed in a survey of religious worship and changes around the world. The author's own travelogue in search of Nicholas' spirit and bones makes for a passionate, lively study.
The history of the legend, mixed with a travelogue
If you have a long winter night, you may take to "Nicholas: The Epic Journey from Saint to Santa Claus" by Jeremy Seal, which is a serious work of historical biography. Seal, an experienced travel writer, begins with the tale of the real St. Nicholas in Turkey in the fourth century and concludes with his own children, surfing the Internet to watch the virtual Christmas Eve journey of a chubby guy in a red suit and his flying reindeer.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Middle East - General    3. Nicholas,    4. Saint, Bp. of Myra    5. Santa Claus    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Middle East / General   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. HotelsInnsetc.    3. Middle East - General    4. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Hotel & holiday accommodation guides    8. Interior design    9. Middle East    10. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Subjects:  1. Iran    2. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (2)

General assumptions will lead to wrong conclusions.
V.S Naipaul should have stuck with writing fiction because his transition to non-fiction based on selected observations of Islamic practices based on some "Muslim countries" is appauling.
An Observer's Travelogue for Seekers
This book was part of my set of books I read while on a quest to understand Islam and Islamic peoples. The set includes Karen Armstrong's Islam, the Barron's Islam, Huston Smith's The World's Religions, The Essential Koran, and the Koran itself (translated, of course). Armed with a topical understanding of Islam, I began reading V. S. Naipal's Among the Believers. Wow. This is the book to understand some of the religious and political attitudes of people in Islamic countries. There are surprises and there are cases where Naipal establishes just what are the "balances".
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Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Indonesia    3. Iran    4. Islamic countries    5. Islamic studies    6. Malaysia    7. Pakistan    8. Travel writing   

Features

• Folded Map

Subjects:  1. Maps & Road Atlases    2. Middle East - Israel    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Israel    7. Travel / Middle East / Israel    8. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (5)

This Book and the Metro Map is all you need
It's the most handy guidebook I ever used.It tells you all the attractions in Manhattan and it doesn't flood you wth words.It organized into sections, so you don't have to fold the map over and over to find where you want to go.If you love to travel by yourself and you don't want to carry a big book around and look like a tourist, you should get this book. Throw your maps away!
If you are traveling to NYC, and spending your time in Manhattan, this is the only map book you will need.It's compact, and will fit in your pocket, and is easy to use and to read. new york with ease...
folks, this is the best idea for a tourbook/map that i have stumbled across yet. i'm not prone to raving, but this will garner praise from me until the cows come home (bearing foot & mouth) no doubt.Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Mexico    3. Middle East - Egypt    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    8. Travel / United States / Northeast / Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)   

Subjects:  1. Asia    2. Asia - General    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Literary    6. Middle East - General    7. Railroads    8. Special Interest - Adventure    9. Theroux, Paul    10. Travel    11. Travel - General    12. Fiction / Literary   

Reviews (2)

A Cure for Leftist Lunacy Concerning Islam
About this book, Daniel Pipes wrote: In her mid-40s, a successful executive just placed in charge of Xerox's Color Solutions Business Unit, Quin had a taste for exotic travel that took her in late 1998 to Yemen with a group of eighteen other Western tourists. She and they had the misfortune to have their Land Cruisers driven directly into a war between the government and an Islamist outfit called the Aden Abyan Islamic Army (AAIA). The entire tourist group was taken hostage on December 28 and held for more than a day before Yemeni military forces attacked the AAIA, leading to the deaths of four tourists, two terrorists, and one soldier. Quin herself had a close brush with death, but the terrorist holding the gun in her back was hit before he could do damage to her; in an act of daring-do, she managed to pull from his still-live hands his AK-47, an act which left her a changed person. (The mild-mannered, liberal feminist admits that as she exultantly fought for the gun, she had a revelation: "So this is why men like war.")
How life changes in one AK-47 moment.
Quin has an appealing writing style and writes on issues of great import.They say you should write what you know, and write real characters.Quin does both.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Kidnapping    6. Middle East - General    7. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    8. Terrorism    9. Travelers    10. United States    11. Women    12. Yemen    13. History / Middle East   

Subjects:  1. 1843-1919    2. Africa    3. Africa, North    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Coxe, Elizabeth Sinkler,    6. Description and travel    7. Europe    8. Middle East - General    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Travel    12. Travelers    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Classic travel writing   

Reviews (11)

A poignant memoir
In my second visit to Istanbul I bought this book at the Istanbul airport minutes before boarding the plane back home as a "divertissement" for the long flight. It turned out I couldn't put it down. Is a poignant memoir of a life style gone forever and happy times that would never come back. As a woman I ached for the mother, she is really the central character of the book, and of the author's life as well.
personal and historical insight and relation of turkey with european recent history
Bought in a bookshop in Istambul in a more expensive edition. Found it deep on both sides of personal and historical insight. Relates from a child clear and sharp eye the involvement of Turkey in WWI and Ataturk "modernizing" impact on the country. Individual struggles outlined on common sufference and historical stream. Mooving and never pathetical. For foregner reader language is quite easy, reveals a non-native-tongue writer, yet is subtle and sort of classical. Pity most of I. O. books are out of print.
A powerful true story of endurance and adaptation
Portrait Of A Turkish Family is the true and biographical story of a Turkish family's effort to persevere through incredible and disastrous wartime hardships by Irfan Orega, a son of that family. World War I brought poverty and desperation to the formerly affluent Orega family, and small triumphs over something as small as a silver candlestick became crucial pieces of hope for the family's survival. A powerful true story of endurance and adaptation, Portrait Of A Turkish Family is an extraordinary biographical testament and very highly recommended reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1908-1970    2. 20th century    3. Civilization    4. Family    5. History - General History    6. Middle East - General    7. Orga family    8. Orga, Irfan,    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Travel    11. Turkey    12. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. Maps    2. Maps & Road Atlases    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - General   

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Antiquities, Prehistoric    3. Archaeology    4. Archaeology / Anthropology    5. Bronze age    6. Prehistoric peoples    7. Religion, Prehistoric    8. Rites and ceremonies, Prehisto    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. ASIA    12. Ancient Egypt    13. Europe    14. Prehistoric archaeology    15. Prehistory    16. Social Science / Archaeology   

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Syria    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Middle East / General   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Literary Criticism    3. Middle East - General    4. Middle Eastern    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Algeria    7. Classic travel writing    8. Middle East   

Reviews (1)

This IS Afghanistan in a nutshell
A great guide for anyone who wants background information on a volatile country ... This book is a well-rounded assembly of facts, timelines, definitions, and general information that covers an array of topics from the origin of Muslim influence in Afghanistan, to the current state of the Taliban rule and its affects on its people. We also get background information on Osama Bin Laden leading up to and following his declaration of war on the United States. Overall, I give this book a very high rating. It both summarized what I've already learned about Afghanistan..., and has also given me a broader understanding of the region and its history. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Afghanistan    5. Asian studies   

Reviews (4)

inaccurate and chilly
oman is the most exciting place i have
horribly outdated
This is the worst, most outdated guidebook I've ever come across. For the budget traveler, it is absolutely useless. The so-called "best hotel on the corniche" in Muscat turned out to be a dingy, roach-infested dive. The maps for Oman are minuscule,poorly drawn, and lack detail. The entire history of Oman is condensed into five pages. Don't waste your money on this guide. Oman is a very easy country to travel in, and you hardly need this guidebook. This is the sort of guidebook you find yourself leaving behind at your hotel. If Duabi is your destination, go with the newer "Dubai" guide. Pity, though, that Lonely Planet charges you the same price for a city guidebook as they do for a two-country guidebook.

amazing
this book has everything u need 2 know on the emirates, oman and their relationship as neighbouring countries ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful guide, don't leave home without it!
If you are planning to gaze upon the Pyramids, climb Mount Sinai, sail the Nile or explore the catacombs of Alexandria your first step is to pick up a copy of "Let's Go Egypt". If you go by yourself or better still treat yourself to a package tour complete with a Nile cruise you will find this volume helpful and insightful. The National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo is probably the most famous museum in the world. It has an extensive collection."Lets Go" breaks down every room and serves as a useful guide.Egypt is a amazing destination and on every trip there I have experienced a warm welcome from the people. While bustling Cairo is what most tourists first see don't miss the smaller towns along the Nile in the "Upper Kingdom" between Aswan and Luxor. The sprawling temple of Karnak and the smaller but still impressive temple of Luxor are situated at Luxor, Egypt. The Temple of the Sun at Abu Simbel is a very short plane ride from Aswan, Egypt. At Aswan don't miss the Temple of Isis on Philae and do return some evening for the Sound and Light show. Let's Go will serve as a detailed companion to these and many other wonders. I was amazed at the level of detail and how up to date the book was. I believe Egypt is still a safe destination and found security for tourists to be a top priority.I do recommend a tour with Nile cruise especially for the first timer and even for seasoned travelers.You get a an excellent package including hotels,some meals (full board on Nile cruises), all outside cabin state-rooms, transportation, escorts that save you lots of hassle, wonderful guides that illuminate the past and usually, new friends to share it with.Following the common sense advice found in Let's Go will ensure a safe, happy and memorable trip. Have a wonderful time!Don't forget "Let Go" and bring candy for the kids! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - Egypt    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. Egypt    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Middle East / Egypt   

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Saudi Arabia    3. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages    2. Christianity - Ritual & Practice    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Guidebooks    5. Israel    6. Middle East - General    7. Middle East - Israel    8. Special Interest - General    9. Travel    10. Travel - Foreign    11. Travel Guides    12. West Bank    13. Travel / Middle East / Israel   

Subjects:  1. 1981-    2. Architecture    3. Description    4. Jerusalem    5. Judaism    6. Judaism - General    7. Middle East - Israel    8. Religious life and customs    9. Travel    10. Urban Archaeology    11. Views