Reviews (6)

I was literally sent downstairs for laughing too loud.
Seriously.I was up past bedtime, and I was reading Bryson's description of lame 1950's toys.I won't give it away, but imagine what he can do with the topic of "electric football".After a particularly vigorous episode of chortling, my wife trudged out of bed to decree that, if I insisted on continuing to read, I'd have to take it downstairs.
The FUNNIEST book I have read in years!!!
This is a wonderful, funny, and ultimately very human book, which reminds us all, no matter who we are or where we live (I'm Australian) of the total joys of a happy childhood.
A pure joy.
So far as I can tell, there are only 2 problems with Bill Bryson.First, he writes about his life, which means he has to go live it for a while before he can write another book.So he can't write constantly, which is about the only pace likely to keep up with my appetite for his work.Second, he doesn't live near me, so I can't visit him to catch up between books.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Bryson, Bill    6. Childhood Memoir    7. General    8. Humor    9. Iowa - Local History    10. Literary    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Regional Subjects - Midwest    13. Travel writers    14. United States    15. Voyages And Travels    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

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)   

Editorial Review

"God, he was a smart kid..." So why did Christopher McCandless trade a brightfuture--a college education, material comfort, uncommon ability and charm--for death by starvation in anabandoned bus in the woods of Alaska? This is the question that Jon Krakauer's book tries to answer. While itdoesn't—cannot—answer the question with certainty, Read more

Reviews (886)

Only read if you can relate to the protagonist
I recently read Under the Banner of Heaven and loved Krakauer's writing, so I picked up Into the Wild.Krakauer didn't disappoint.His writing was honest, personal and to the point.He doesn't mince words, and while his bias is obvious, he presents evidence that reveals many sides of Chris McCandless.
But why?
This is defiantly not my typical read, but once I started I found it compelling, hard to put down, but that does not mean I did not have some problems with it.It seemed like the author tried too hard to make McCandless a sympathetic figure, almost a hero in an odd way.Everything Chris does though leads to his own destruction, he has no one to blame but himself.I don't have much experience in the wilderness so maybe I am just ignorant, but it sure seemed like he could have saved himself.Going off into the woods to die does not seem heroic to me.That being said , the author has done his research and is talented writer.He convinced me not to head off into the Alaskan wilderness alone!Speaking of tales of the wilderness I highly recommend "Across the High Lonesome!"

Jon's Quest
Jon tried to help us understand the unexpainable actions of a misguided youth.Only through Jon's vivid description of his own journey into the the Alaskan wilderness, did we come close to feeling Chris McCandless' intentions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1968-1992    2. Adventure and adventurers    3. Alaska    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography And Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Essays & Travelogues    10. General    11. McCandless, Christopher Johnso    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. Travelers    14. United States    15. Wayfaring life    16. West (U.S.)    17. McCandless, Christopher Johnson    18. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Subjects:  1. Food Industry Services    2. Restaurants    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York    7. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    8. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    9. New York    10. Restaurant & pub guides   

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   

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - Pacific - San Francisco    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. California    6. Restaurant & pub guides   

Reviews (5)

Then and Now
The photographs in this book are good shots - clear, and larger than I had expected. It is very interesting to see how the historical city of Boston was, and how it has changed over the years, most times for the better, though sometimes for the worse.Perhaps I would get more out of this if I knew more about Boston. Unless you are already familiar with this city, then "Boston Then and Now" gives you the feeling of peeping through the windows of a house that's up for rent, rather than being taken on a guided tour. A map certainly would have been helpful, and how about an entire page of background information rather than a footnote? Just an idea, in case someone decides to revise it someday. Nice book. Worth buying.

SNOBS
"Boston Then And Now" was reviewed by Charles Higgensworth III.I do hope there won't be a number 4 Higgensworth.This man should drop the attitude.Then people may like him almost as much as this book.What a jerk!

A good backstop to any trip to Boston's sites
We purchased this book in Boston and found almost all of the sites we saw in town in this book.In this book, the older, up to 150-year old photo of the original structures on the current site, or older pictures than offered a juxtaposition of the surrounding landscape of buildings present in the past and now around selected sites.Read more

Subjects:  1. Boston (Mass.)    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History - U.S.    5. Photoessays & Documentaries    6. Pictorial works    7. Pictorials    8. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./New England    9. Travel    10. United States - State & Local - General    11. Places & peoples: general interest    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Sale Books   

Reviews (202)

You will be delighted, this is simply the best of the lot!
The depth and quality of content in this guide delighted us for 2 solid weeks on Maui. Excellent reviews on restaurants and lodging, insightful guides to attractions - the exact opposite of the blatantly dishonest and cheaply done Frommer's Maui.
Going to Maui? Get this book.
We found this guidebook an excellent companion on our recent Maui vacation. Their advice on must sees and what to skip was invaluable to us. We knew there were many more sights and activities than we could fit in on this trip, so I found it very helpful to know the opinions of locals who had taken the time to thoroughly research their recommendations. The descriptions of the Road to Hana were very detailed, which is important if you're going to find all the neat little stops along the way. Their beach reviews are also excellent. In my opinion, this is the only guidebook you really need.

Best by far.
I've been visiting various Hawaiian Islands for nearly 30 years and no other guide book even comes close to this series.It perfectly describes what to expect, where to go, and more importantly when on a limited vacation, where NOT to go.
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Maui (Hawaii)    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    6. United States - West - Pacific (General)    7. Guidebooks; Adventure Travel    8. Maui, Hawaii    9. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Reviews (5)

Absolutely Awesome!
This is the best book I have ever seen on the National Parks. The photography alone is worth the price. It gives very comprehensive advice on each park, and you can tell by the way it is written that these people have actually been to, and spent time, in each park. I love the way it breaks down each park into suggested amounts of time so that you can better plan your trip. There are maps for each park, and in the maps is my only complaint. Most of the maps cover more than one page and because there is very little page border down the center, it can make it difficult to see the center of the maps. Other than that, it truly is an awesome book, whether you actually get to travel to the parks or not.

National Parks Guide does its job.
If you are visiting National Parks and want a useful guide to help plan your day(s) this book should be on your list.It goes beyond the quick synopsis you get in AAA guides and describes worthwhile stops and hikes at all the National Parks in the U.S.

A handy reference to supplement (or start) Web research
I just bought the 2006 version of this useful resource to replace my trusty 1989 (!!) original. The new one includes up-to-date content (e.g., Joshua Tree is now a National Park, no longer a National Monument tucked away in the "Excursions" section) but I have two major gripes:
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Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. National parks and reserves    3. North America    4. Parks    5. Parks & Campgrounds    6. Travel    7. Travel - United States    8. Travel Guides - U.S.    9. United States    10. United States - General    11. Travel & holiday guides    12. Travel / North America    13. USA   

Editorial Review

Bill Bryson has made a living out of traveling and then writing about it. In Read more

Reviews (889)

"I had never encountered anything so hard, for which I was so ill prepared."
Returning to the US after living in England for twenty years, Bill Bryson becomes intrigued with the idea of the hiking the Appalachian Trail, a portion of which is in his New Hampshire backyard.The 2100-mile trail from Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine winds through virgin forest and scenes of incredible natural beauty and provide an unparalleled opportunity to be alone and reflective.
WONDERFUL
THIS MAY BE MY SECOND FAVORITE BILL BRYSON BOOK BEHIND SUNBURNED COUNTRY. AS I SAID IN HIS FORUM, IT'S BEYOND BELIEF THAT HE AND HIS OVERWEIGHT FRIEND GOOD OLD KATZ WALKED AS FAR AS THEY DID IN THE WILDERNESS AND SURVIVED. IT IS A WONDERFUL, RELAXING, EDIFYING, LAUGH-RIOT OF A BOOK AS ONLY BILL CAN PROVIDE. I LOVE HIS WORK AND TRUST ME, BUY THIS, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. EVEN READING ABOUT THE DANGERS YOU'LL FEEL LIKE IMMEDIATELY GOING FOR A HIKE SOMEWHERE. ONE WARNING, TAKE A LOT OF BILL'S HISTORY WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. HE TENDS TO BEND THE FACTS A BIT FOR A LAUGH AND HIS "HISTORY" OF THOMAS J. JACKSON (STONEWALL) IS JUST NONSENSE, BUT VERY FUNNY. IN FACT, JACKSON WAS PROBABLY THE MOST BRILLIANT MAJOR OFFICER THE UNITED STATES EVER PRODUCED AND HE, NOT ROBERT E. LEE WAS THE STATEGIST IN THE SOUTH'S GREATEST VICTORIES. BUT I DIGRESS, BILL BRYSON IS MY HERO AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE I'M A REPUBLICAN AND HE DETESTS REPUBLICAN'S SO YOU KNOW I FIND THIS MAN FUNNY. GO BILL!

Elitist and arrogant
I have made it to page 84 and I don't think I can read any further.At this point in the book Bryson is in Franklin, NC."Late on the third afternoon I stood in a Burger King and studied, with absorbtion, the photographs of the manager and his exectutive crew (reflecting on the curious fact that people who go into hamburger management always look as if their mother slept with Goofy), then slid one pace to the right to examine the Employee of the Month awards.It was then that I realized I had to get out of Franklin."If you find this sort of elitist humor funny, then this book is for you.Also this book reads like fiction.Too much of it is not believable and appears to me to be written to make the story more interesting and therefore more publishable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Appalachian Trail    2. Description and travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Natural history    5. Travel    6. Travel - United States    7. United States - General    8. United States - Northeast - General    9. United States - South - East South Central (General)    10. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (1)

An absolute must
I went to sleep last night angry that I had to sleep and got up early, angry that I had not gotten up early enough to finish "Through the Children's Gate." As I finish this short review, I finish the book. Its last paragraphs I delayed reading because, as I neared the end, I realized how much I dreaded reaching the end. Now that I have, I'm eagerly awaiting the next collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Description And Travel    5. Family    6. Gopnik, Adam    7. Home    8. New York    9. New York (State)    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Psychological aspects    12. Social Psychology    13. Social aspects    14. Travelers    15. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    16. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (4)

Disappointing
I bought this book thinking it would be new and different from all the other traveler's guides. I was sadly mistaken.I looked up my city - Boston.There is nothing described that you couldn't find on the internet for free. In addition, the recommended restaurants are either tired old spots that are just riding on their reputations or yesterday's hot spots, which in my opinion, are overpriced and not that great.
the best travel book everq
Hands down, this is the best travel book I've ever read -- and I enjoyed reading it cover to cover, unlike many travel books. It's a combination of where to eat, stay and what to see as well as a fascinating history/commentary that really gives you a sense of what a city is like, the pulse. Apple is a fantastic writer and I trust his restaurant recommendations over any other writer/critic out there -- in the cities I know well, he's definitely included the best of the best eats, both high brow and low brow. I really hope he can update and re-publish his European guide soon. I don't want to travel anywhere without his guidance any more!

Good book for reading.
I had a wonderful time reading this book. Not bad. Go's into some interesting topics and covers the bases for the most part. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Cities and towns    3. Description And Travel    4. Guidebooks    5. Travel    6. Travel - United States    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Consumer Finance    4. Millionaires    5. Personal Finance    6. Personal Finance - General    7. United States    8. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    9. Wealth    10. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / General    11. Taxation   

Reviews (150)

we love this guide book
We definitely love our REVEALED guide books.They're very informative, covering the islands like no other guide book I've seen.The writers are honest (and not always positively so) which helped us decide what we wanted to see and do, and to know what we can skip for whatever reason.We found the remarks to be right on track with what we found while there.If you're looking for a very well written, humorous, and detailed guide book, this is it.We brought ours with us as we drove around, constantly finding things to do and see.The history and island lore made it even more interesting.

Great Insight on an Interesting Island
Just returned from a great visit to the Big Island, made even greater by this book.Went from lava fields to rain forests in less than 2 hours and took some incredible back road tours that would have been impossible without this book.Found directions very clear, restaurant reviews impeccable and site reviews invaluable.On top of all that, authors have a very enjoyable way of writing, which my entire family enjoyed.Do get this book.I had also taken the Fodor and Frommer books, which I rarely opened.

Pretty Good Guidebook
We just returned from Hawaii, and stayed 5 days on the Big Island.We used this and another guidebook.For the most part, it was most useful and accurate.I can recommend the book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. Hawaii The Big Island, Hawaii    6. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Editorial Review

A travelogue by Bill Bryson is as close to a sure thing as funny books get. Read more

Reviews (244)

A major disservice to the book
The book THE LOST CONTINENT is an amazing captivating read.Bryson is truly brilliant in his descriptions.This CD totally KILLS that.First of all the narrator reads at a mile a minute, sometimes to the point where you can't understand him.And second, they abridged the CRAP out of it, cutting some of the most interesting commentary and actually cutting the entire SECOND HALF of the book!While the book is amazing, this particular recording of it should be avoided at all costs.

NOT HIS BEST WORK
I think Bill Bryson can be very funny. "In A Sunburned Land" was hilarious, whereas this was pretty much trite and dated humor. In fact it reminded me of the kind of humor undergraduate English Majors at overated eastern liberal arts colleges would find funny. The beginning of the book is an ongoing insult of everyone, the middle he calms dawn, and he ends really trying to force some funny. It's a very dated and poor effort by a usually funny man. Skip it.

dark job by a whiny hatchet man--read the later works
My overall recommendation is to read Bryson's brilliantly funny recent works, then go back to less recent works, then stop before you get to this one.As other discerning reviewers have noted (especially Amer-Aussie, whose spot-on review you really must mark as 'helpful'), Bryson looks for the worst in America and, surprise, he finds it.Sure, there's much that's funny here, but the humor gets swallowed up by the mean.
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Subjects:  1. 1971-    2. Cities and towns    3. Description and travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Form - Essays    6. General    7. Humor    8. Social life and customs    9. Travel - United States    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Atlases - General    3. Earth Sciences - Geography    4. Reference    5. Road Atlases    6. Travel - United States    7. United States - General    8. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Reviews (13)

Loads of information!
The Milepost is an institution for vacationers determined to drive their vehicles in Alaska. This thick paperbound book provides one with important information about everything from the location of the nearest gas station to the facilities available at campgrounds.It details, mile by mile, the views, the history, the resources, the geography, and the people and places that make Alaska the unique, breathtaking experience that it is. If you will be driving in Alaska, you should purchase this book.
Great book - Great service
What service! I had the book in just a couple of days!

A must buy if you travelling Alaska by road
We drove about 3000 miles in 11 days this summer and I have to say Milepost was more than helpful. I do have MS Streets & Trips and we rely on that for our most trips. But in Alaska that doesn't work. Luckily, I had got heads up from Alaska residents that if I want to do road trip in Alaksa, I will NEED Milepost. As per the Alaska residents I have talked with on different forums (TripAdvisor, Flyertalk, etc.) - even though they live in Alaska they buy new copy of Milepost every year. I heard similar from people with whom I talked with in Alaska. If you are just travelling from Anchorage to Denali or Fairbanks to Denali - you could just get maps from Local Information centers and go without Milepost but for extensive road travelling - buy this - your money is well spent. Another book you may want to consider buying is Alaska TourSaver (just google on it and you will fine tons of information). It saved us about $600! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Fiction - General    3. General    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - Alaska    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Reviews (60)

Fascinating and life saving
Couldn't put this book down!Instructive and illuminating!Tales and advice can apply to any hiking and biking trips that our family takes in the future.

Mostly good
I was afraid that this book would be a boring, thorough, and complete list of Grand Canyon deaths.It isn't -- except for Chapter 4.With that exception, this book is a complete page-turner, well-written and informative.
Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon
It is a most interesting and informative book.It should be read by anyone who has or wants to hike the Grand Canyon.It relates individual stories of people that have died in the Canyon and what they did wrong that caused or contributed to their death.It weaves many of these stories together to create an excellent book that was hard to put down.
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Subjects:  1. Accidents    2. Anecdotes    3. Arizona    4. Grand Canyon    5. Grand Canyon (Ariz.)    6. History    7. Social Science / Death & Dying    8. Travel    9. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds    10. Violent deaths    11. Death    12. Death & Dying    13. Parks & Campgrounds    14. Social Science    15. United States - State & Local   

Reviews (11)

Good Map
This is a good, clear map which is easy to read.The vinyl cover is a definite plus.It helps keep the map clean and notes can be tucked inside it.

Solid Road Atlas
Rand McNally is a consistantly good road atlas.The 2006 issue was very helpful in planning my recent trip.It doesn't replace the on-line maps or city atlases that show every street, turn, and such, but when you run into a temporary interstate closure, it answers the question of what is my best option now.

As easy as it gets
Ever since my first trip to NYC in 1989, I have relied on having a -no more than 2-3 years old- copy of Rand McNally in our rented car.
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Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Atlases - General    3. Canada    4. Maps & Road Atlases    5. Mexico    6. Reference    7. Road Atlases    8. Road maps    9. Travel - General    10. United States    11. United States - General   

Reviews (20)

Exactly What It Claims to Be
Cheaply published, on flimsy newsprint, this book does exactly what it purports to do--guide the driver to the services needed by the motoring public traveling our interstates.For RVers, especially, knowing which exit has a gas station that is accessible to our 55 foot+ rigs, is critical information, saving time and frazzled nerves.

Perfect for those offramps looking
Absolutely perfect for those off ramp excursions. My only gripe with this book is that is does not have the Parkways in NY and NJ (maybe other places too). I love that it has Wal-Mart for the different exits. A must have.

Great tool to use
This guide takes a short time to figure out how to use it, but well worth it.We used the book on a 3-family trip from Illinois to South Carolina's southern coast.We found ourselves constantly looking up where rest areas were to be found, and just what was available at the exits we were approaching.
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Subjects:  1. Maps & Road Atlases    2. Reference - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. United States - General