1 comments about Painting the Middle East (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East).

1. Painting In The Middle East by Ann Zwicker Kerr (Coordinator of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Program, University of California - Los Angeles) is a full-color compilation of watercolors and photographs combined with an engaging and informative text that bring life to the author's love of the Middle East, and reflect upon her travels and experiences in the varied middle eastern landscape from the 1950's down to the present day. Extensive commentaries and personal memoir-based observations add a very special depth to the hidden history behind the soothing, gentle, and vibrant pictures showcased in this memorable body of art.

No comments about Kenya (Postcards from...Series).

1 comments about The African giant;: The story of a journey.

1. Suart Cloete started off in West Africa and travelled down to South Africa covering many of the countries in between in the late 1950's in the twlight of the colonial period. The book's essentially a chapter by chapter look at the countries he visited, the state of their economies, the education system, infrastructure, resources and standard of living, but written as a travelogue rather than a textbook. At the time he wrote, Cloete was full of hope for the african continent, a hope that shines through in the book when he talks about the excellent infrastructure and governance that was in place at the end of the colonial era and the potential for africa to develop (the "african giant" of the title).
   
   Interestingly, at the time Cloete wrote, many african countries GDP's were greater than those of the SE Asian countries who were in the same "twilight of colonialism" period. A comparision Cloete makes. Most notable to me in reading this book 45 years after it was written were his descriptions of Nigeria and the Belgian Congo, two countries which were left with outstanding infrastructure and incredibly rich resources. Both have been abject failures and the contrast between their portrayl in the book and their current situation is more than saddening, it's tragic. If these countries couldn't make it, what hope is there for the rest of africa?
   
   This book with it's bright hopes for africa's future leads you to think about what might have been, together with the opportunities and the wealth that was squandered (and is still being squandered) by the leaders of these and many other african countries.

No comments about Licensed to Guide.

No comments about Into Africa With the Peace Corp.

3 comments about Footprint Morocco Handbook : The Travel Guide.

1. I spent two weeks travelling in Morocco and this guide book was indispensible! I found it far superior to the standard Let's Go and Lonely Planet guides for a number of reasons, among them the overall durability of the book - the cover and binding are designed to stay in one piece, and they did even though we referred to it many many times a day - something that definitely did not happen with my Lonely Planet guides. Also, the warning section was straightforward without being overwhelming, which is to say I knew what I was getting into but it didn't scare me away from going. Every time I had a question, no matter how far out I thought it was, I found an answer in this book. My only complaint - the maps are not as detailed as they could be (understandable considering the complexities of many Moroccan cities). If you're travelling to Morocco be sure to pick up a detailed map of each city as soon as you arrive - and have a fabulous time!



2. this is the finest of the guidebooks out on the market about morocco today. the information is very much up-to-date and you will find more information on smaller towns and destinations than you will in any of the competitors' guidebooks... which of the others will give you maps of small towns and mountain areas?

   i also found the background information sections to be very useful, with everything from a basic history of the country to recipes which i have actually used since returning home... the book is useful for travelers of any economic category (unlike LP and especially let's go) since it gives hotel suggestions in every price range... this is invaluable and i've never understood why other guidebooks don't do the same, especially in a country like morocco where you can come by some great accommodations even in the €25-35 price range... perhaps the only slight drawback to this guide (as with almost all of them) is that some of the sights are not really thoroughly explained, but comparing it with LP and the others, footprint's guides certainly do a better job of it... congratulations on the great guidebook and i hope an update comes soon with better maps! (roadways should be better marked in all the footprint guides and the way the full country maps are divided is very weird and uncomfortable, though the town maps are fine)




3. It is interesting to me that this is the 4th edition of the Footprint Morocco guide. It reads and suggests much like a first edition. The package and organization of Footprint guides are very well done, the cover holds up well, the pages are easy to read, and information is easy to find when you understand their system. That being said, the guide is misleading over and over. I am surprised to read the reviews of commendation that precede me, for my travel in Morocco was not complimented by this book. The basics were covered, sure, but bus and train times, quantities, and trip lengths were way off at times, and written directions were just plain wrong on occassion. The city maps can be overlooked, because mapping a medina is an obvious difficulty, but written instructions (take second right, then first left) were almost always wrong. I am good at following directions, but the landmarks and routes given were flawed. The Footprint South America is a good tool, so I will in no way criticize the whole series, but the Morocco book can get you going in the wrong direction. I don't recommend it.

1 comments about Mon Afrique: Photographs of Sub-Saharan Africa.

1. I think this book could have been bigger, but whether it is 160 pages of quality photos or 320 pages or 1600; the photos are quality; and the author does seem to cover about every country in Subsahara Africa. It certainly does focus on the human condition rather than, say, glossy photos of wildlife or waterfalls and Mount Kilimanjaro. I would suggest it is a rather personal rendering of the continent.

No comments about Turkey, Russia, the Black Sea, and Circassia.

No comments about A Tour to Sheeraz, by the Route of Kazroon and Feerozabad: With various remarks on the manners, customs, laws, language and literature of the Persians, ... Khan to the subversion of the Zund Dynasty.

No comments about Reisebilder.