Reviews (4)

A Must for any Newbie to Disney World
If you've never been to Disney World (or if you haven't been for a long time), this book is a must.As a first-timer, I am so very grateful that I bought it.Reading it prepared me for my trip like nothing else I did prior to leaving.The other books on Disney World vacations are of varying usefulness, but this one should be required reading for all first-timers. (By the way, in terms of the other guide books, I like both Passporter and the EZ-Guide for their maps and fun attitude, but found Birnbaum's Official Guide to be both lacking in substance and filled with too much detail about some attractions, which could have potentially ruined my experience had I kept reading that dastardly book).
FINALLY, Testa makes the cover!
I'm another loyal UG reader--every trip, every year (whether we go or not that year).I agree with a previous reviewer's comments that the book is peppered with author comments--for me, that's the beauty.If you are looking for the pure sunny version of "what's at WDW" this may not be the book for you.Consider Birnbaum's or the PassPorter.
Lots of new content for the new edition!!
I've bought this guidebook for the past 4 trips I have taken to WDW.This book is the BEST guide out anywhere for WDW.This issue has some new content which I was very pleased with.I especially like the new map of vacation house resort locations in/around Disney. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    2. Special Interest - Family    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    7. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    8. Florida    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / United States / South / South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)   

Subjects:  1. Environmental Science    2. General    3. Geography    4. Globalization    5. Political Science    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Travel - General    8. Regional geography    9. Science / Geography   

Reviews (2)

A MUST FOR DISNEY VACATIONERS
Birmbaums is the most comprehensive disney guide there is. Its a fun way to plan your trip. Though not as detailed as some its a very lively look at all that is disney. A great book to get you excited about your trip to the happiest place on earth.

The Official Book of Disney World
My husband, son, and I just got back from Disney World a few weeks ago. We planned the trip in just a month's time, and WDW guides were very helpful!
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Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Travel - General    2. Parks & Campgrounds    3. Special Interest - Family    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - General    8. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Travel    10. Travel & holiday guides    11. USA   

Reviews (43)

A Brilliant Addition To A Great Story
I can recall being 13 years old at summer camp in 1977 when I read the incredible non fiction book "Alive" by Piers Paul Read. It was a story that haunted me and stayed in my memory for many years. As I came of age, I wondered what had become of the two "expeditionaries", Nando Parrado and Roberto Cannessa, who traipsed their way for 10 days out of the wreckage of the fuselage of the wrecked Uruguayan Fairchild and through the Andes to freedom and rescue. It was then, a great thrill, to have Nando and Vince Rause write this awe-inspiring followup 30 years later. The factual chronology that Read used were incredible, but this firsthand account takes the story to a different, more personal level. His daily struggle to survive, both physically and spiritually, are nothing short of extraordinary. To paraphrase Nando, the opposite of death IS LOVE. This is a book that makes one believe it and seek to live it.

This book has the power to change your life!
First let me say I read about a book a week and this is the best book I have ever read.If your not hooked by page 42 or so I dont know what book could hold your attention.This story, this incredible story of the will to survive and the process the human mind goes through in the face of unimaginable pain, suffering and starvation should be manditory reading for everyone.

Even the casual reader will be glued til the end
After reading an excerpt of the book in a outdoors magazine, I knew I had to buy and read this entire book. I am not a frequent reader, and I feared that I would end up buying this and not finishing it as I so often do. But I knew just a few pages into the book that I would finish it. I had too many questions that I knew would be answered if I finished it. The only real certain part(having never seen the movie 'Alive!') was that Nando would make it out, since he wrote the book. But past that, I had no idea who would and wouldnt survive and the series of events about to unfold.
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Subjects:  1. Aircraft accidents    2. Andes Region    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Cannibalism    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc    10. Travelers    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (34)

A beautiful book that is NOT for tourists only.
I was excited to read this book after the first reviews were published; it has exceeded even my wildest expectations. The author combines personal experience, graphic arts, poetry, prose and philosophy to describe at last 'why' we travel and 'what' we can expect to gain from travel instead of the 'how' and 'where' to travel. I have already enjoyed past trips more for having compared my experiences and impressions to M. de Botton's musings; I know that I will enjoy future trips more for the same reasons.
This book changed my life
The insight and perspective offered in "The Art of Travel" changed the way I looked at the world.There is something atmospheric and beautiful about the writing here, as opposed to "Proust.." and others.I highly recommend this book.

The Way of Travel
De Botton explores ways to set one's mind to traveling and ends with a view to adopt that mind set to everyday life itself. He uses various famous artists, philosophers, scientists, and critics to assist him with this. At worst De Botton has charm and is cute, at best he encourages one to expand their vision and develop greater insight and interest of the world and in the history of ideas in general. The more familiar I was with who De Botton was talking about the more superficial if not flawed he seemed, the less I knew the more knowledgible he seemed. Not his best but his books always lead me on to more interesting works. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Essays & Travelogues    2. Travel    3. Travel - General    4. Voyages And Travels    5. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (34)

perfect coffee table book
I own the beautiful hardback copy of this book.I have had it over a year but I never get tired of flipping through it.It is informative and the photos are amazing.My fiancee and I flip through it and dream of our next adventure.

A close-up view of the world
Every country in the world is listed in this book alphabetically from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.Each country has a double-page spread with colour photos and a brief description of the country, with advice on the best time to visit, what to eat, drink, listen to etc, and a list of 'essential experiences'.Also what to read if you want to know more about the country.There is no favouratism, every country has the same amount of space regardless of size.
Wonderful reference
This book, in fact, is a very like a kind of reference book of geography rather than a travel book but you can use it to give you a rough idea of the countries you want to visit before you are really going to plan your trip.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Pictorial works    3. Pictorials    4. Special Interest - Adventure    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (69)

Hike on!
As a somewhat outdoor type (ski regularly, backcountry camp about once a year) I found this to be a pretty fascinating look at survival that comes at it from many different perspectives.It is not a survival guide per se.It is not an in-depth account of the survival stories that it tells (most of these stories can be found more detailed in more exhaustive accounts like "Touching The Void".)What this book is (as the cover indicates) is a look at that profound question of why some survive and others don't and what drives us to risk our lives for thrills.Like the systems he describes, even this question has many factors.There is no one way to survive, or one factor that makes somebody a survivor.All too often, the greatest "survivor", doesn't.And realizing and accepting that fact seems to be a big part in giving the best effort to beat the odds.
Compelling journalistic account about the moxie of survivor-adventurers
Elements of "Deep Survival" were quite memorable, especially the story of the ill-fated sailing venture where one incredible woman managed to survive unbelievably difficult circumstances.The work did remind me "The Perfect Storm" at that point.However, I agree with another review that the lengthy summary of Joe Simpson's ordeal on the West Face of Suila Grande WAS lackluster in comparison with the actual narrative in "Touching the Void.As a long-time climber, I found Gonzales' account of the tragedy on Mt. Hood realistic and compelling. Those of us who have survived mountain accidents can certainly identify with the stories related by the survivors of the fall down the ice field and with Gonzales' handling of that horrible event.My hands started sweating as I recalled some of my more harrowing adventures in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada.He's clearly a journalist/adventurer a la Jon Krakauer, not a scientist, so anyone reading the book should read the technical passages about neuroscience, etc. in that context.

Enjoy but beware of the wilderness.
Wilderness is so-called because it instills an element of fear and awe to those who live by the predictable rhythms of urban and suburban life (of course, there is also such a thing as urban wilderness; same rules as spelled out in this book may also apply).Wilderness is there to appreciate by those who should also be cognizant of its risks and any unforeseen circumstances.
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Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Social, group or collective psychology   

Reviews (16)

Bundle with Party Europe
LP is a great book and had lots of awesome ideas. If you really want to have the best time of your life, buy a copy of Party Europe as well. LP tells you where to stay and eat, Party Europe will tell you how to have fun. Great combination. Can't wait to head back to the old country.

Too many countries
The book itself is awesome, lots of useful info.
Essential, perfect for a road trip
I bought Europe in a Shoestring as a preparation for my move from Italy to the UK. The book is an excellent reference for accomodation and eating, plus it gives the essential info on places to see and where to go.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Europe    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (7)

Simply The Best
If you are going to Disney with your kids, this is, hands down, the best guide out there.

my kids (and grandkids) like action
My kids & I used to make a yearly pilgrimmage to WDW in Orlando and now my gradnkids want to do the same. So off I go again. But I wouldn't leave the house (or the car) unles I had Wiley's great guide book in my bag. Everything we need to know is there and the yearly updates make this an imperative take-along travel choice.
Excellent Guide
This is one of the best travel guides that I have used! I took my kids to Disney and this book helped me avoid the long lines (that we all know about!), know where to eat and helped me find a good hotel where my kids could be kids. This is a must if you plan on going to Disney! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family recreation    2. Florida    3. Guidebooks    4. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    5. Orlando Region    6. Orlando Region (Fla.)    7. Parks & Campgrounds    8. Special Interest - Family    9. Travel    10. Travel - United States    11. Travel Guides - U.S.    12. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    13. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    14. Walt Disney World (Fla.)    15. Travel & holiday guides    16. Travel / United States / South / South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)   

Reviews (1)

Will Stoke a Child's Enthusiasm!
When my husband and I were considering going to WDW for our anniversary, we happened to visit a Disney store in a mall. The manager gushed about WDW (doesn't everybody, really?) and showed us the Birnbaum's 2006 guide for kids. I thought we'd buy it, just to get an idea of what was in the parks and such. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Travel - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    4. Special Interest - Family    5. Travel    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Travel    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. USA   

Editorial Review

Concise and yet packed with detail, Read more

Reviews (121)

The void of the mind...
Some of us are adrenalin junkies. We need to feel the rush, the tension and the accomplishment that comes with scaling 21,000-foot mountains, such as the Siula Grande. Then there are people like me, who would rather read of other's accounts of such incredible experiences. And Joe Simpson reaches your psyche in ways few other writers could. Part of it is just the knowledge and fearful horror of what he went through -- realizing that not only did he make it through the experience, but that he was able to articulate such inexpressible fears and feelings in such a vivid, moving way. Of course one can never truly understand what Joe Simpson experienced, but when one reads his words and begin to let your mind wonder into the "void", isn't the book as close as anyone would want to get? This vicarious adventurer says yes, yes, God yes.

Good survival story
This book is worth reading & Joe Simpson is without a doubt a great writer. I do recommend this book if you like survival / adventure stories.
Climb, Joe, Climb!!!
True Story of overcoming the mind and the mountain.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Case studies    4. General    5. Great Britain    6. Huayhuash, Cordillera    7. Mountaineering    8. Mountaineers    9. Peru    10. Search and rescue operations    11. Simpson, Joe    12. Special Interest - Adventure    13. Sports    14. Sports & Recreation    15. Sports - General    16. Yates, Simon    17. Sports & Recreation / Mountaineering   

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 (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   

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   

Reviews (142)

Uplifting and timeless
"What would I have done, in their place?" That's the question any reader of this terrifying true story must ask, and the answer may not come easily.
A nice gift: A book
This book makes a nice gift for a person who heard about the event described in the book and is interested in learning more details.

Charlotte Bronte Seattle,WA
This book's controversial topic of cannibalism made it stand out from other books. Although some parts of the book dragged on, the book was overall a page turner. This book is about a clan of men and women: rugby players, their friends and family, and a few other passengers, that crash in the Andes. In the end, only sixteen men survive and to survive they have to eat the bodies of their dead friends. I like how this book describes the main characters' personalities in an accurate and honest way. In this book the characters are not portrayed as angels or demons but instead, humans. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1972    2. Accidents    3. Adventurers & Explorers    4. Aeronautics    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Cannibalism    8. Film & Video - General    9. Specific Groups - General    10. Survival (after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc.)    11. Travel / Adventure    12. True stories of endurance & survival   

Editorial Review

Franz Wisner had the world by the tail. He was engaged to the beautiful Annie, with whom he shared a passion for conservative politics and a command of quotes from the movie Read more

Reviews (126)

It was almost better than my own honeymoon!
Franz Wisner AND his brother are funny, smart and so very brave!I found this book in the travel section of my local bookstore, but it very much deserves its place on the NY Times Bestseller List (where it's been for 15 straight weeks at the time of this review).Move that book to the front of the store! You will love this book for several reasons:
Good Title: Bad Book
Not witty enough to be funny.Not deep enough to be heartfelt.Not written well enough to have been published.I got a great idea why his fiance dumped him and why his boss demoted him, but I have no idea why any editor gave the 'thumbs up' to this mess.I gave the one star for the title.It was the most interesting part of the book.

Don't let the title scare you...
Don't let the title scare you. It's not what it seems!
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. General    3. Personal Memoirs    4. Siblings    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Travelers   

Reviews (46)

Maui - the adventure guide
I definitely recommend this guide for anyone visiting for the first time, especially for those who want to do as much as they can and don't have very long to do it. They've produced an honest, informative book which greatly enhanced our experience.If you're looking for a planning guide, buy this one first.The "Best Of" callouts on pages 17 through 20 were so handy; start there first.

owning the series
They fit our comfort zone and after two trips to Maui we still haven't exhausted all the hiking possibilities.The fact that they're heavy on sports and leave out the hype is what makes them click for us.They haven't left out family outings and provide a complete rundown of where it's safe to swim and snorkel.For beach days, we still find Maui our #1 choice and for stand alone guidebooks, the Maui Trailblazer fills the bill.
the good life
We've found a good guidebook is worth its weight in gold and the Maui Trailblazer by the Sprouts got a thorough testing as we explored the island -- sublime listing after listing.Mandatory for preplanning.We reserved our Haleakala primitive cabin weeks ahead.For getting around in the jungleworld and waterworld, it bulges with all the good stuff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Sports & Recreation / Hiking    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)    8. Water Sports    9. Maui    10. Maui (Hawaii)    11. Outdoor recreation    12. Sports & Recreation    13. Surfing   

Reviews (2)

Not EXACLY what I had hoped for
I had really hoped for more realistic ideas to go on vacation with my three children, one elementary age, preschooler, and toddler. I expected the book to leave out ideas for my toddler, but was surprised to see a lot of the suggestions left out my preschooler as well.
Interesting but Unrealistic
I had high expectations for this book but they fell flat.First, the layout is o.k. but not great.Areas are grouped by categories such as "Out and About" and "On the Water."As the book covers the world, I think it might have been better to be laid out geographically and maybe cross-referenced.As for the selections, they are very diverse.Some make sense but some I really don't feel are appropraite for children, except for maybe the very well travelled child.For example, number 397 is Mount Fuji:Scaling the Symbol of Japan.The age range is 8 and up.The author writes, "Take a shortcut directly to Kawaguchiko's Fifth Stage by bus from Shinjuku Station (be sure to book in advance); the trip takes about 2 1/2 hours.From this starting point it's about a 6 hour climb to the summit, with another 3 hours to make the descent; at the top, a 1-hour hiking trail circles the crater.The highlight of the classic Fuji Climb is to watch the sunrise from the peak, which in summer means being there by 4:30 am."I was hoping for more "kid friendly" suggestions.I don't think I'll be visiting number 280 "Hiroshima:The Original Ground Zero" or number 277 "The D-Day Beaches of Normandy" with my son anytime soon.Perhaps the child that is a huge history buff would understand the significance.
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Subjects:  1. Parent And Child    2. Special Interest - Family    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. Travel Guides    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    7. Travel / Family Travel   

Editorial Review

Melding superb research and the extraordinary expedition photography of Frank Hurley, Read more

Reviews (147)

An essential book
This is such a good book, because of the way it is written, and also because of the incredible adventure it describes.It is the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 expedition to Antarctica.Shackleton had been to the Antarctic twice before.The first time he accompanied Robert Falcon Scott in 1901 in an attempt to reach the as yet unclaimed South Pole and claim it for Great Britain.They were unsuccessful and came very close to losing their lives.The significant problems that went with traveling in the Antarctic were that no one lived there (and so no one was there to help if you got into trouble), nothing lived in the interior (no plants or animals to feed on), and the climatic conditions were horrific (snow, ice, wind speeds of up to 200 miles an hour and temperatures as low as -100 degrees Fahrenheit).Scott proved to be a very difficult man to travel with -arrogant, abusive and not particularly competent, which is not what you are looking for in the leader of such an expedition.The next time he journeyed south, in 1908, Shackleton, as the leader, chose his own men, and made his own mistakes, such as taking a team of ponies that were supposed to pull the sledges.The ponies were very ill-suited to such an environment and were eventually shot and eaten.This expedition was also a failure, but Shackleton had again learned a lot from the experience.By the end of 1912 the South Pole had been conquered by the Norwegian Amundson, and Shackleton's rival, Scott, had perished with all of his men only eleven miles from a supply depot that would have saved their lives.Now the only significant prize left to be achieved in the Antarctic was the traversing of the continent from one side to the other.Thus Shackleton's 1914 expedition was called the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
Real adventure
It's a book that takes you to an incredible adventure. Photogrpahs make it even more exciting !