5 comments about Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2008 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World).

1. I purchased this book in preparation for our first trip to WDW in Orlando. I should have purchased it much earlier. It might have saved me $ on the trip arrangements, but it DEFINITELY would have saved me time at the different WDW parks. The book is very informative on all the rides, where to find the characters, what each restaurant offers and the like. It is reasonably well organized and an easy read with extra tips about events in each park. Well worth the investment, especially if purchased at the beginning of the planning stages.



2. money well spent, use just one coupon from the back and you at least tripple your money for the book, dinning, special tours, lodging plus more. an excellent plan guide for limited time at the disney resort!!!!!!!!!!!!



3. This book is an excellent book for anyone wanting information on visiting Walt Disney World. It covers every area of planning your trip and even gives detailed exit information, etc. when driving down to Florida. Excellent choice!



4. Disney is a complex labyrinth! Without the proper tools, including preparation, it can be a frustrating experience. Birnbaum's guide provides helpful details about each park - from rides to dining to accomodations, it is extremely informative. Another key point is that it includes information regarding rides that have height requirements and/or may be more frightening to children than others. The "Birnbaum's Best" ratings were on target as far as we were concerned. The maps were very useful as were the tips regarding when to arrive at the parks. Children tend to revel in Disney World regardless of crowds, etc. but as an adult, stress levels can be high. Birnbaum's Guide is truly valuable in terms of simplifying the navigation of Disney World and therefore, reducing the potential stress of what should be a wonderful experience for the whole family.



5. This is exactly what we needed to plan our trip. Extremely helpful tips and planning guide. Thanks so much.

5 comments about A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail.

1. This book for the most part had me in stitches. It was when Bill Bryson traveled the Appalachian Trail alone for a bit that the book got kind of slow going. Other than that, it is hysterical. A great read when you need to laugh hard at life.



2. This is quite a humurous book, I was often laughing out loud at the dialogue between Katz and Bryson. Couldn't have been a better unmatched pair to hike parts of the AT. Informative and provided some information about the hx of the trail and the places it goes through. I would have given it five stars, but he chose to plug some rants in the book that we could have done without. Things like how he feels about the environment, mining, hunting and so forth that took away from the book, but only a little. If you enjoy outdoors and all the hilarity in even the worse conditions then this book is for you.



3. I can't say much about this book which hasn't already been shouted in praise. Bill Bryson is an incredible writer - he writes in an interesting tone, using layman's terms, but the book never feels childish; moreover, there is true sincerity when he writes, and it's clear that his feelings about the AT are genuine; for example, there is palpable anguish when he discusses some of the horrible things which have happened or will happen to the AT and the forests it crosses.
   
   The book is several things. First and foremost, it's a story about his and his hiking partner's (Katz) attempt at thru-hiking the AT; there are moments of sadness, gloriousness, utter frustration and, most of all, laugh-out-loud humor, and this is the main appeal of the book. Second, it has a fair account of history of the AT - there is history of the AT itself, the states it crosses, the people behind it, and some of the more popular cities and towns along the way - but it's never enough to become boring or to dissuade from reading (not that Bryson's writing style would allow that, in any case). Third, the book is about the people of the AT; there are several mentions of famous hikers, record-breakers, and interesting characters all-together, as well as words of praise for certain people who provided helping hands along the way - there are also accounts of some of the more unpleasant aspects of humanity which you might encounter.
   
   What the book lacked the most was a detailed account of the preparations and costs of the voyage. As a prospective thru-hiker, this is information I was hoping to collect, but there was little of it. Not to imply that there weren't any lessons to be learned - Bryson did touch on these subjects in some detail, but they are the least represented in the book. I understand it is meant as an interesting story, but I would have liked some more detailed information - but that's just me.
   
   The book is a fast read - I'm not a fast reader by any means, and I found, with much sadness, that after only the 3rd sitting (~1-3 hours each) I was 3/4ths the way through the book, despite it being ~400 pages. This is probably because of Bryson's elegant fluidity and use of common language, as well as the can't-put-it-down factor which keeps you interested and reading chapters at a time.
   
   I can't recommend this book enough. Regardless of whether you're a recreational hiker, certified mountain man, ambitious future-thru-hiker, or merely looking for a fun, interesting and humorous story, you'll enjoy this book immensely.



4. Bill Bryson could probably produce a best seller if he did a detailed analysis of paint-drying and grass-growing, so it was certainly no surprise that this was a good read. While it doesn't contain the constant hyperbolic hilarity of some of his other works, it is highly entertaining as well as being historically and geographically educational. Although Bryson's creative genius is evident throughout, the second half of the book is somewhat more methodical than the first. A warning for parents: The language in some passages is PG-13 - at best. In the end, it's an enjoyable adventure that teaches many lessons about HUMAN nature as well as nature in general.



5. Don't read this book while you're trying to eat. Or where people might look at you funny if you start to laugh out loud. Because this is a very funny book. Bryson has an understated humor that will only make you chuckle at first, and just when you think it's safe to take another bite, you'll read a bit more, and start laughing out loud! He has a keen eye for description of both his surroundings and his company and conveys both wonderfully well.
   
   This book hits a bit of a sour note, though, the numerous times that Bryson castigates the National Park Service for general incompetence. I won't presume to say that he's entirely wrong in his criticisms, but I do think that he takes it a bit too far, and that an organization with tries to do so much good with so few resources deserves a bit more respect.

5 comments about The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir.

1. Seldom have I ever read a book which was (a)dead on for those of us who grew up in the 50's and (b)absolutely laugh out loud funny because of it! Life was indeed, pretty innocent then! I kept having to read excerpts to my family so they would know why I was laughing so hard with tears streaming down my face! Highly recommended for any baby boomer who grew up in that era!



2. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir
   
   Our memories tend to be unreliable :-) so Bill Bryson brings back all those funny things from childhood that I hadn't thought about in years! Nor had my mom, who thoroughly enjoyed it, too.
   
   And some things -- like the McCarthy era measures - I hadn't really read about at all. (Seems the more some things change, the more they stay the same.)
   
   A really good book - and a great present for every boomer on my list!



3. My primary motivation for buying this book is that I, like the author, grew up in Des Moines in the fifties (and left it for college and a career in the sixties), and I hoped that the book would be a pleasant trip down memory lane. In that regard, the author is largely successful in evoking a time and a place that I knew and loved. Indeed, I was surprised by his recall of Des Moines in the fifties, because when the curtain closed on that decade, Mr. Bryson, by my calculation, was in the third grade (I was in the eleventh).
   
   The book is well written, humorous (the result of more than a little comedic license, I suspect), and triggered some wonderful memories of Des Moines. (The author does not limit himself to Des Moines: he tries, with mixed success, to examine America in the fifties, as well.) But while many of his descriptions of places that I knew from my youth resonated, I could not identify with the author, who grew up in one of the more affluent neighborhoods of the city's Westside, the most affluent side of town, light years from the working class neighborhood I called home. As I read his story, increasingly I heard the voice of a privileged kid; a privileged kid whose arrogance got the better of him when, in describing Riverview amusement park, he had this to say: "Kids from the Riverview district went to a high school so forlorn and characterless that it didn't have a proper name, just a geographical designation: North High. They detested kids from Theodore Roosevelt High School, the outpost of privilege, comfort, and quality footwear for which we were destined." I graduated from East High School, the other Des Moines high school possessed of a mere geographical designation, and I admit to having detested kids from Roosevelt. After reading the above, I was surprised to learn, decades later, that I still do. Despite these feelings, I think that Mr. Bryson and I can agree on this: Des Moines was a great place, and the fifties a wonderful time, in which to grow up.



4. This is a very funny book and is a great view of growing up in the 50s and 60s. I loved it.



5. I found this book in a bookstore and was hooked from the first page! Bill Bryson writes a wonderfully humorous story that any child born in the 1950's can relate to. For Baby Boomers, the 1950's were an age of innocence, magic, discovery and wonder. Each chapter follows young Billy as he experiences and imagines his childhood world of Des Moines, Iowa. Bill captures the essence of each character in the book with wonderful detail, from parents to friends to teachers -- we all know people just like them all. Each chapter is a treasure and a great read for all.
   
   Note to readers: Read only one chapter a day. You don't want to rush through this gem!

5 comments about The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World.

1. well worth your time - thought provoking - i'd like to meet the moldovian women !!



2. I agree with the other reviews that this is a funny, well-written travel and self-discovery book. However, I bought it because I'm interested in the philosophy and science of happiness: books like The Science behind Your Smile, Satisfaction and Happiness: A History. Weiner has made a serious contribution to this subject by field-testing the theories in a wide range of environments. This is top-notch journalism, despite author's prominence and irreverent style. In the end, I was reminded more of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas than anything I've read more recently.
   
   Some theoretical work on happiness seems to be pure wordplay, you're not sure if the author has really said anything. Other work seems more interested in appearing scientific than exploring the subject. Weiner has read both sides (as well as the solid work in between), then gone looking to see if the insights meant anything in the world. The result is deceptively deep and thoughtful, it will change the way you think about both happiness and the world.



3. Great book. Lauds geographer as the best job imaginable... Although, Asheville sucks, don't move here! Moldova has fresher fruits.



4. I told you about this book last week, when I spent many happy days curled up in the comfy chair at Starbucks reading about all the places on earth that would make me happy or miserable. This book, by Eric Weiner (yes, pronounced whiner), takes a whirlwind tour of some of the happiest places on earth. And some of the most miserable places on earth. I wondered if the book would wrap the pursuit of happiness up in a neat little bow, but it doesn't. Instead, it offers a look at how the geography of where you live impacts your life.
   
   Place. That is what The Geography of Bliss is about. How place--in every aspect of the word--shapes us, defines us. Change your place, I believe, and you can change your life.
   
   This quote, by the author on his website, truly sums up the book. So what did I learn in exchange for those afternoons spent with The Geography of Bliss?
   
   1. People have an innate "fit" with certain places on the globe. Unfortunately these are not always the places they are born or are living. Also, Moldova apparently fits no one.
   2. Iceland sounds amazing: cozy, book-loving people living on an ice cube.
   3. The closer you look at happiness to evaluate whether you have it, the less likely you are to be happy.
   4. Most happiness appears to spring from trust and the ability to give yourself to something larger than yourself, something worth pursuing.
   5. The author has an amazing ability, born most likely of his journalism career, to connect with local people and develop the sense of community in a short time. I envy him this ability and tried to analyze how he did it. Still working on that!
   
   After meeting a bartender appropriately named Happy, the author offers this interesting summation of his stance.
   
   But Happy [the bartender] is wise, for only a fool or a philosopher would make sweeping generalizations about the nature of happiness. I am no philosopher, so here goes: Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way that we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude.
   
   Good lessons to learn, and a good payoff for a few days traveling the globe vicariously with the author. I'd love to hop on a plane and follow the happy trail myself! I leave you with a quote that perhaps I should paint and hang on my wall!
   
   The Icelandic saying goes, `Better to be barefoot than without a book!'
   
   Living in the paradise of South Florida, perhaps I may change that to "Better to be barefoot WITH a book."



5. Weiner travels to a variety of places with the hope of finding happiness. In trying to understand happiness, he relates much to his own experience. So he spends quite a bit of time comparing American culture/expectations with the culture/experience of those he visits. As well, as he tends to be someone who is not generally happy - or knows how to be happy, this tendency does affect his search (mostly by his being a bit lost about why others claim happiness).
   
   The book tends to be fairly informative, especially as a means of understanding American culture. Yet, it wasn't the most exciting. It was more of a report on how some people found happiness than a book that provided insight into how to be happy. The chapter on Iceland (which I admit is as far as I got before I needed to return it) was the chapter I liked best. Happiness seemed a bit less illusive in that chapter. Weiner describes the Iceland understanding of happiness as being failure - or at least having the freedom to fail. Perhaps my resonation with this chapter has more to do, however, with my own personal bias that happiness has to do with being able to be fully oneself. And it is in the freedom to fail that people have the freedom to discover who they are - and be fully themselves...

5 comments about Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips.

1. i purchased this book as a birthday gift for my brother. now i don't want to give it to him. i want to keep it.
   the photos in this book will knock your socks off. it's a lovely book and it's so much fun to just pick up and turn to any page. i recommend this book for people planning a trip AND for people who just want to see what a wonderful world we live in.
   my only complaint: IT'S HEAVY!!
   enjoy.



2. This book is not only beautiful and a great conversation piece to place on a coffee table to share, it is helpful with many websites and resources provided for wonderful little known places as well as some of the most visited tourist areas in the world.



3. This book is very thorough. It introduces you to places in the world, and even in the United States, that you have never heard of or thought existed! Definitely a great coffee table book.



4. Absolutely wonderful - the ideas, the tips, the photography, the overall presentation and quality of production. Great value, too! A must-have for people who enjoy travel!



5. Living in a college town, I have many friends who have traveled the vast reaches of the world. This coffee table book provides a natural segue for them to share their stories, turning to a particular page to say, "Look! I've been there!"
   
   Besides being a good conversation starter, this book is also a great read. Travel "blurbs" are concise, wetting the appetite for adventure. As a teacher, I used this book to introduce my middle school students to corners of the world they never knew existed. You should have seen the excitement in their faces!
   
   The beautiful images in this book do not claim to be a comprehensive travel guide, rather an open door to 500 new adventures. The other night, my fiance and I sat down with this book to choose our honeymoon destination. We love this book!

5 comments about 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die.

1. This book has some great ideas for planning vacations or looking for things to do in a place you are already planning to visit. Lots of fun!



2. I tend to be very cautious about traveling in the US especially when I heard that California is in the top 15 most dangerous states in the US but this book helps me pinpoint where I want to go. I feel that if it's in the book, it must be safe enough to visit.



3. This was a great addition to our library. Now that our children are old enough to enjoy and get something out of vacations, we will be using this more often. It's a great way to have the kids help choose the next destination-adventure.



4. If she had, she never would've lumped the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village into a category labeled AUTO MUSEUMS. It deserves a full, explanatory entry. Ms. Schultz is probably unaware that Henry Ford purchased and moved buildings such as the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratory, Stephen Foster's house, Noah Webster's house, and so many more to Dearborn, Michigan. Lincoln's Illinois courthouse used to feature his chair from the Ford Theater (it has been moved into the Henry Ford museum). The Henry Ford museum does offer an incredible collection of automobiles but also so much more. I definately would've made different choices than Ms. Schultz. In this book and in her 1,000 Places to See in the World, she gives Shelburne Farm in Vermont a full entry. Shelburne Farm is a nice, living history museum but it does not compare to Greenfield Village. Now I wonder if her other recommendations are worthwhile. I have both books. I understand some places would get missed, but I definately would've make many different choices.



5. My husband and I are planning a trip through the southwest this summer and found this to be very helpful in planning our trip. Also, learned of a few places we did not know about, that are close to home. Anyone who likes to travel should buy this book.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Paris 2008 (Rick Steves).

1. I've lived in Paris and visited the city on countless occaisions - and I contantly see Americans in their new white tennis shoes traipsing round the city with a copy of Rick Steve. It's obviously a popular guide and does a great job of showing you how to be a tourist in the city.
   
   Buy a different guide book like the Rough Guide to Paris or Lonely Planet and then you won't be in a restaurant with a whole load of other Americans!



2. I bought this book on a recommendation from a friend, and it was the primary book we used once we landed in Paris. We had several other books, too, but they simply didn't have the level of detail and were not organized as intelligently for how you would actually want to spend your day. We left them in our apartment as we set out on our daily adventures.
   
   We have two children, ages 8 and 12, and we wanted to see major sights. But we are experienced travelers who also enjoy getting off the track when possible. Rick Steves gave us insights on both -- how to see things like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame with the least hassle, but also less-known street markets and pet shops.
   
   My only criticism is that the book, like all other travel books I've seen, greatly underestimates the time that one would spend at a place if one really wants to see it. We spent 2x to 3x as long at things as Steves suggested, such as the Rodin Museum and Cluny Museum.



3. Having just returned from a visit to France, we found this guide to be invaluable. Rick Steves may come across as a bit dweeby on television, but his books are remarkable. This one is packed with terrific information that is well organized and easy to find. For instance, he gives you a useful chart of many of Paris's major museums with information about what days they're closed, the hours, etc. There is information about the subway system and transportation as well as hotel and restaurant listings by arrondisement, walking tours of various neighborhoods and museums, and practical information about holidays, language, etc. When we were headed out the (hotel) door and travelling light, this is the book I'd carry. Well worth the price and highly recommended.



4. A great book on visiting Paris. Highly recommended. Rick Steves helps to de-mystify are very large and complex city. I have been to Paris a couple of times before - both times without much preparation. This book will save you a full day lost to confusion. Buy it and read it.



5. We ran into so many people with this book. It made our trip so much easier. We used this as a guide and wouldn't think of going anywhere without one of these!

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World 2008.

1. Anyone who is headed to Disneyworld should buy this book, even if you have been there before. It has really helped me plan our trip. I have been using it for the past two weeks to get ready and now I feel like a real expert. Lots of great information and photos, very well organized and fun to read too!



2. I was so impressed with this colorful guide to my FAVORITE PLACE -- Disney World! My family makes the trek to Orlando twice a year, and I thought I knew a lot about it. After reading this Complete Guide I know about a thousand times more than I did before! I can't wait to go back and look for some little treasures I learned about from this book, like the Mary Blair doll in Small World, or the funny things the birds say after everyone has left the Tiki Room.
   There are photos on nearly every page, and they make me feel like I am right there strolling down Main Street USA or about to go down Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach. These pix alone are reason enough to get this guidebook. They will make you want to book your next vacation right away.
   Do yourself a favor and get this book!!!



3. I have a whole shelf in my bookcase just for books about Disney World, and The Complete Guide is now my new favorite.
   
   What you notice first is the color. The cover is a brilliant red, with a great pic of the trolley show performers on Main Street USA. Inside are bright glossy pictures on just about every page. These are not the typical staged shots you normally see from Disney World. There is a backstage photo of a Lion King dancer putting on makeup, a shot of the author from the inside of a Richard Petty race car, Tweedledum taking a cell-phone call from a guest and a close-up of the Cinderella mosaic at the castle. There is even a historical photo of Warren Beatty signing his cement block in front of the Great Movie Ride. I could go on and on just about the photos in this book.
   
   My reason for really loving this guide, though, are not about the pix. I love the explanations on each attraction's back story. I have gone on these rides not knowing the story, but am looking forward to riding again now that I can put the ride in perspective. For example, I never knew the full story behind DinoLand, the Harambe Village or Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom. Now I do!
   
   If you are interested in a beautiful Disney World guidebook that is unprecedented in its depth and details, check this one out. You won't be disappointed!



4. If you are going to Walt Disney World you should invest in this book. It will really pay off. Disney offers so much to do, and can be so crowded, that you have to know what you're doing before you get there to have a good time. This book makes that possible. Nice to look at, well organized and well written, it will save you hours of wasted time at every theme park and provide many other interesting ways to spend your time. The restaurant and resort chapters are first-rate, too. I bought five Disney World guides before our trip, and this one was the most useful. Beforehand I thought only our kids would enjoy Disney, but thanks to this book I, and my wife, had a great time too.



5. Julie and Mike Neal are a husband-wife team who appear to live at Walt Disney World. From what I understand, Julie does the writing and Mike does the photography. Both excel at their respective crafts.
   
   Literally every feature at Disney World is described in honest detail. There are lots of hints on how to optimize your time.
   
   It is not, in my opinion, an exaggeration to describe this guide as the equivalent of a paid companion, intent on making your experience at Walt Disney World unique and thoroughly enjoyable. Visitors of every age can plan the itinerary best suited to their interests with the help of this marvelous guide.
   
   Don't think of visiting Walt Disney World without consulting this book, preferably several months in advance so you can really take advantage of its detailed descriptions and comments.
   
   Jerry

5 comments about The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (Ultimate Kauai Guidebook).

1. This book literally walks you around the island and tells you where the best places to eat, swim, and photograph. It is well worth every dollar and I will be keeping it in hand when we go there for our honeymoon this August. I work with people who frequent Kauai a couple times a year, and they all told me not to leave without this book. An excellent and entertaining read!



2. Excellent book by any standard. Very well written, with a splash of humor interjected throughout. I have not read from cover to cover yet as i want to enjoy the experience over time. Will be leaving back to Poipou on the south shore within the next two weeks and have made many day trip plans utilizing the info contained in this wonderfully written and knowledgeable book.



3. I had borrowed an older edition of this book from a friend for our last trip to Kauai. I just bought the latest edition for our trip this year. We found the book to be very accurate and easy to follow. Lots of my own research online (and from Hawaiian residents) I found later to be all compiled on this book. We liked it so much that didn't want to chance buying a different one.



4. Yes he is corny and self aggrandizing at times, but his are hands down the best guidebooks I have ever purchased - more like having an amusing friend share his intimate insight about the place he loves and knows like few other people. Several years ago when in Maui, we puchased his book "Maui Revealed" and it made all the difference in the world in our enjoyment of that island - the sights, the hikes, the food. When we decided to come to Kauai this year, the first thing I did was purchase "The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook" (available at Amazon). It has been our constant companion on our trip (we are currently in the middle of our 1 week in paradise). Kauai is an amazing place (we are staying on the gorgeous and lush north shore) and I would encourage anyone who loves nature and friendly people to come here - but be sure and get this book first! His knowlege is indispensible on the beaches and hikes - their characteristics and how to get to them. Likewise, his no-holds-barred reviews of restaurants, shopping, and activity concessionaires, have really helped us have some terrific experiences here (and we are only half done!)



5. This is my 2nd trip to Kauai, and really did find this book very helpful in many respects. The hikes are great, although I did find the book was organized in a very scattered manner. We followed the off road routes near Anahola, south to Donkey's Beach, and it was a disaster. For one thing, the roads were not accurately drawn for their description and quantity. Although we had a brand new Jeep 4WD, we were met with with huge boulders, narrow and bushy roads that scratched our car to no end. The worst part, however, was going to the wonderful smaller beaches only accessed by these roads. Although there was no doubt the beaches themselves were absolutely phenomenal, the "locals" attempted to intimidate us by standing by their jacked up trucks, starring until we left, ready to dial "911" on our cell phones. We asked a local about this later, to which they replied that the area is known to be "Angryhole-a" territory--all the angry locals tend to meander that way, especially on the weekends. No where in the book did it mention the true nature of this small town, the local attitude toward tourists, and the confusing and dangerous nature of off-roading, especially when their maps were really off!

5 comments about Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary.

1. Rick does a great job with all his travel materials and this is no exception. The book can definitely be a lifesaver when trying to communicate. There is good effort on Rick's part to get the phrases and structure passable without getting bogged down in grammar. Like Rick says, "you will be stringing together words in caveman like language in no time." He also has some fun stuff in the book that will make you laugh. I paricularly liked the descriptions for the quantities of alcohol- from a pint to a barrel he has you covered!



2. This is a great guide book that I can stick in my travel bag while in Italy. I love it!!!!



3. Rick Steves has done it again. The organization of this book is perfect. It's very useful and has tons of helpful phrases. Plus, it's witty and fun to use. I recommend using a cd to learn some basic Italian and to practice pronouncing the language. Then use this phrase book while you're travelling, and you'll be able to ask for directions, decipher a menu, and charm the natives.



4. I like this Italian guide because it is pocket size (so I can carry it in my Pocket and HAVE IT WITH ME! when I need it) and because it includes more useful phrases than other guides (I don't need to know how to say "Where's the Vatican" I DO need to know how to tell the Taxi to SLOW DOWN! and this guide tells me how, in a way that makes sure the driver listens!



5. I have gotten half way through Rick Steve's Italy 2008 and part of me feels like I've already been on vacation. I plan on taking the book to Italy when we go as a reference guide. The book is simply written therefore easy to understand, plus it's witty. I am sure it will be a huge help on our trip in June. We also purchased Rick Steve's ITALIAN phrase book and dictionary, that will accompany us on our trip as well!