5 comments about Arabian Sands (Penguin Classics).

1. I had heard this was the definitive work on the desert country but never had gotten around to reading it. I now have and it is terrific - every thing it's cracked up to be. I had read Michael Asher's biography; I had been in Ethiopia, Oman and Yemen; I traveled in the Hadhramaut -- all of this over fifty years later but still there is the flavor of Thesiger's days. His writing of crossing the Empty Quarter was a precursor of Asher's more recent writings about desert travels. He writes well and keeps the reader completely caught up with his trek. There is a sadness, on Thesiger's part (and mine), that as progress has affected the Bedu life, the stability of the old days is no more. But for a loving report on life as it used to be with the Bedu tribes, I whole heartedly recommend Arabian Sands. (I should not Rory Stewart's introduction was worth the price of the book)



2. The Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter, or as the Arabs called it, The Sands, is one of the most inhospitable places on earth, and one of the least populated as a result. Like Mt. Everest, or the South Pole, each of which became the obsession of some men, sometimes costing them their lives, the Empty Quarter became an obsession of Wilfred Thesiger. He was not the first Westerner to cross it, Bertrand Thomas was, in the `30's, and then Harry (Abdullah) St. John Philby after him, but Thesiger is deservedly the most famous, due to this wonderful account that is difficult to put down. His birth and childhood in Abyssinia, in 1910, the son of the first British Ambassador, seems to have marked him for the "path less traveled." To fully appreciate "Arabian Sands,' it helps to have read "The Life of My Choice," his autobiography.
   
   The first part of "Arabian Sands" covers his youth in Africa, and his initial desert trips in Dhaufar, and in the Danakil country. The end of the book involves his travels in then "forbidden" Oman. The heart of his story though, is his two epic crossing of The Sands. Unlike other Westerner explorers, he was unsupported in his efforts, by other Westerners, save for the financial support of the British Anti-Locust Board. He had to live by his wits, establishing firm and trusting relationships with his beloved Bedouin (Bedu) who were the essential element in his success. In so doing, he developed an understanding of the conditions of their very harsh life, and enthusiastically emulated them. In addition to coming to terms with the "ship of the desert," the camel, and adapting to the rhythms of desert travel with such transport, he also had to stay one step ahead of central authorities, and deal with the tribal politics, which invariably meant that some tribes would be hostile to both him, and his traveling companions solely for tribal reasons. Furthermore, since he was not a Muslim, he had to deal with those individuals and tribes who were hostile due solely to his non-adherence to their religion and beliefs, but Thesiger was wise enough to realize that much of the hostility resulted from the fact that all the other Westerners who were exploring were looking for oil, and the natives feared a loss of their land - it was hard for them, or even most Westerners to understand his motives of doing it solely "because it was there." After his second crossing he was arrested in the town of Sulaiyil by adherents of the Ikhwan, the fundamentalist brotherhood that very well may have made an "example" of him, "to encourage the others", and executed him. It was only the direct intervention of his friend, Philby, with the Saudi king, Abdul Aziz, which secured his release.
   
   The book contains numerous excellent maps, which outline his trips, as well as the tribal areas. It also includes some excellent black and white photographs, many of them of his traveling companions. On a personal note, he inspired a passion to visit Yabrin, on the northern edge of the Empty Quarter, and I was able to see it develop into a significant town, over a 23 year period, a far cry from the absolute absence of people at this oasis when he passed through in 1948.
   
   I couldn't give the book a 5-star however. As one other reviewer indicated, it would help if we looked a bit at the man himself, and his reference frame. The book was written around 12 years after the events, and he admits to not maintaining accurate notes, so how much was changed in his memory? Certainly he experienced "comradeship," like men do in war, but does that mean we should have wars for this experience? It seemed that he unduly romanticized the hardship, and bemoaned that the bedu would loose their remarkable way of life with the coming impact of the modern world. And there is no question that there are only a few real bedu left on the Arabian peninsula, as they have enthusiastically embraced the conveniences of the modern world in the subsequent 60 years. It should be noted that Thesiger carefully picked the timings of his travels, to do so only in the winter. If he had spent a couple of summers with the bedu, I strongly suspect that much of his romanticism would have evaporated, and the hum of an air-conditioner would be much appreciated. Also, there may have been more than an aversion to the modern material world behind his passion for the remote areas of yore - throughout his life, including his days in Kenya at the end, there was always a youthful companion with him.
   
   Setting aside these caveats, and realizing that the prism may be distorted, his achievements are remarkable, and we are fortunate to have an enthralling narrative of this vanished way of life.



3. After you read this, you'll never think the same of the "Empty Quarter" which encompasses much of the south of the Arabian Peninsula. First of all, you'll find it's not so empty, with the nomadic Bedu plying the dunes and oases of the region as they have for centuries. In fact, this story is primarily about the Bedu who are incredibly tough but also incredibly principled. Their moral code could teach us a lot. Their love for their camels, who literally enable them to live in their hostile geography, and for their fellow man is humbling. The author, an intrepid explorer of these desert sands, does an outstanding job of bringing the Bedu culture to us. If you want to more fully understand the nomadic Arab mind, you could do much worse than to read this outstanding book.



4. Not only a magnificent travelogue chronicling travels in in a harsh, surreal landscape, here we see the age-old yearning of the explorer to discover the things which cannot be found among the comforts and conveniences of civilization,chief of which is a knowledge of what kind of man he will prove to be when tested to his utmost. Though Thesiger never promotes his undertakings as spiritual experiences,it becomes evident that surely they have as much right to be called so as any other avowedly represented accounts. His fascination with the ascetic lives of his Bedu companions with their fierce nobility and many customs of traditional Arab culture shows the desire of a searcher for meaning transcending the materialism of the modern West. It is a tribute to his integrity that, despite his admiration, he also realizes he is bound to his own heritage and could never be truly one of them. His descriptive powers are outstanding,both of people and places. This is the best adventure/travel book I have read to date.



5. I live most of the year in Saudi Arabia and saw this book at a local bookstore. I was attracted by the cover, reviews, inside photography, and the author's opening comments. I purchased it hoping I would get a greater understanding of the world I live in before the influence of Western luxuries/conveniences. I also thought it would be an enjoyable true-life adventure story.
   
   Thesiger was drawn to the bedu setting from of his disdain for the onslaught of technological progression which has been infiltrating every corner of the earth. And no doubt, I benefited from the book with learning more about the bedu culture/mentality as well as their relationship with each other and other Arabs and the degree of attention that they gave to Islam (or "cultural" Islam, not to be confused with Islam as it truly is). But make no mistake, those fascinating points are very SPARSELY scattered throughout the text.
   
   Since the book contained rich descriptions and I did learn a few interesting things from it, it would be unfair of me to give only 1 or 2 stars. But why didn't I give it 4 or 5 stars? Of 287 pages, it seemed that nearly all of it consisted of traveling in the sands, occasionally visiting a town to get permission from a Shaykh to travel therein, and then OCCASIONALLY noting interesting observations from his traveling companions. That's what it was, from beginning to end. There was little to no plot, just the author's love for basking in asceticism. However, even THAT is lacking because there is very little personal reflection of life from the author in the midst of his surroundings. We don't have a page where he looks up into the sky and ponders the creation of the universe or anything of that nature. Quite simply, the book is a narrative of dealing with camels, searching for water, and getting dinner invitations. A few times throughout the book he mentioned some important historical points about Islamic history (it's spread and how it propelled Muslims to be the most advanced civilization of their time) and he concludes that this is because of the bedu participation/influence--yet even these observations, if brought together, could not cover a single page. Although the journey was a true-life "adventure" -- there was danger from thirst, lack of food-source, etc -- and sometimes it seemed that the author, as a Christian, would be in a tough bind, yet none of those scenarios ever greatly escalated, which of course is good for the author(!) but boring for the reader.
   
   For those of you who do choose to purchase/read Arabian Sands, my advice is simple: find a cozy spot where you can read it without any distractions or any impending time engagements. If you don't, the pleasant writing style will slip by unappreciated and your enjoyment will be even less.

5 comments about Weird Pennsylvania (Weird).

1. If you live in or been to the Keystone state than you must own this book. After read this book I did not there were so many abandon insane asylums outside of Philly. There are many interesting stories that are must read for anyone who likes weird and the unusual. If you read it you will like it !!!!



2. My 28 yr old daughter wnted this for xmas and she
   and her 22 yr old sister were reading and in awe
   of alot of things in this book.Now she just needs
   someone to go see some of these who isn't scared!



3. Its a great book for that on the go explorer in all of us. Gives you a chance to really get to know the state you live in.



4. If you like local history or just want to read about some oddities the weird series does not disappoint.



5. A friend lent me this book. I was looking for interesting places to visit in PA. This is not a useful book for that.
   
   The stories are not researched. Similar stories can be found in any mediocre book of ghost or weird stories. Nothing about the book is "Pennsylvania." How many books have stories about spontaneous combustion? What makes this a PA story? Stories about large fish? How is that PA?
   
   There is a story about a cemetery on Blue Myst road related by Anonymous. There is no other information about the location of the cemetery. There is nothing PA about this story. Sure, it's local lore, but local to whom?
   
   I'd enumerate some of the writing faux pas, but you don't care. The problem with too many books is that people read them and don't like them but don't know why. It's because of the bad writing. This book is afflicted by bad writing.
   
   I am glad I got a chance to look at this book before investing any money.

4 comments about The National Parks of America.

1. Great Photos with good description of each National Park of America - what do you need more ?

   I'm from Portugal and I like USA, except the politicians... both the portuguese and american ones !




2. I had this gem under the Christmas tree for my husband. It is such a beautiful book that we keep looking at it together, remembering the beautiful National Parks that we have been to and the ones we plan on visiting in the future. All the photograghs are beautifully shot, and the information provided is enjoyable to read. The best National Park book I have ever seen!



3. 
   We have always enjoyed visiting the National Parks and this book gives us a few we were not aware of and we plan to visit them one day in the future. It is beautiful to look through and the pictures are wonderful. Ruby Freeman



4. looking for a book of national parks for a friend in france. she is curious what it looks like in america and always wanted to tour some of america's nat'l parks. great book for what i was looking for. fabulous color photos.

4 comments about Frommer's Spain 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This guide covers a lot. My only issue with Frommer's is the bulk and weight. I will use it for research, make a list of what I want to see, take the map with me and leave the book back home. I travel light without check in luggage and this would take too much space. Outside of that I like it better than most.



2. I am very satisfies with product and service. the product arrived in very good condition.



3. I bought this book, read it, planned along their recommendation. Had a great grip to Spain. I love the idea that a map of Madrid & Barcelona is included, it was very helpful. We walked around a lot for sight-seeing, without the map, won't be as convinent.



4. I love their best lists - the best small towns, the best beaches, the best luxury hotels... It's a really great idea. The worst thing is that they don't even mention Murcia and the Costa Cálida at all! Come on guys, 704 pages and you still manage to miss a whole region out of the guide. They say they update it every year so let's see what the 2008 update brings!

5 comments about Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. This guide is great when considering what sites and places to visit. It covers most any city you might find yourself visiting. It does a great job of describing the sites and the history behind them. Does not help with city transportation. Lightly covers the character of each city. I do enjoy the pictures and diagrams in the book. I highly recommend having another guide book that covers more logistics. I used this book along with Rick Steves Europe 2007. They were great companions to one another. My other complaint is that I am a student with a budget. This book does not cover many (if any) cheap places to eat or sleep. It does tell you which places charge admission, but does not tell you the admission price. It is a great book when accompanied by another (like Lonely Planet or Rick Steves.)



2. It's a good book, but the maps are not very good, covering only parts of central areas and there aren't subway maps. Moreover there isn't anything about hostels!



3. it is a good book, which give you more information, photo, picutre, and image of all interesting places in europe... for the traveler I would like to suggest you to buy this book coupled with lonely planet... with both book you will have a complimentary information and give you more idea to select the best place to visit, and see....



4. I bought both this and lonely planet and have used lonely planet more because this book is full of pictures but doesn't give you all the info you need. Also, I ended up buying each indiv city guide as well because this one only scratches the surface!



5. I love the pictures in this book and brief history of each country/culture at the beginning of each chapter. It is a great overview of European sites and helps us decide what's most important for us to visit! I'm enjoying it very much. It's not like a Rick Steves book, with in-depth reviews of each area, but it's a great overall review for people like us who haven't been to Europe yet and are trying to decide what we would like to see. Rick's books are excellent for more in-depth visits, but this is great for first-timers trying to figure it all out.

5 comments about Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities (For Kids series).

1. I would have given this book five stars if there had been just a few more activities in it.
   
   The book reads as non-fiction literature and is interspersed with good photos and interesting sidebars. There are also some useful activities for the child to do within the text to reinforce what is learned.

   This book would be useful for all grades but can be read independently in the middle school grades. The book contains a glossary, index, web site suggestions, bibliography, listings of museums and parks and other handy references.




2. The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial is here, finally! If you are still on your own undaunted journey of discovery or plan to teach children about these two courageous men and their corps, then you NEED this book. It will be invaluable to any teacher of intermediate students.



3. I found "Lewis and Clark for Kids" to be an excellent source of information and activities for both children, parents and teachers. There is an abundance of information about the actual journey plus there are great activities for children to engage in to learn more about the various indian cultures that Lewis and Clark interacted with on their journey of discovery.



4. This is a perfect book for kids to learn about Lewis and Clark. Not only is it informative but also holds their attention by giving them useful and entertaining activites. A must for those not in the standard school system in the states.



5. The book has many fun and interesting facts about Lewis and Clark. If you're using it for the classroom...the activities are creative and easy to do.

No comments about Rand McNally 2009 Deluxe Motor Carriers Road Atlas (Rand Mcnally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas Deluxe Edition).

5 comments about AA Road Atlas Ireland (Aa Atlases and Maps).

1. I will first comment that I have not yet used this atlas in Ireland so I presume information to be accurate. I ordered this as an extra item to the two fold-out maps I was primarily interested in to qualify for free shipping, but will be leaving the maps behind. The scale (1:200,000 or 1" = 3.16 miles) is 2x the scale of the better of the two fold-out maps (Michelen Ireland #712). I will be using it both for driving and for reference in traveling by bus/train. At 8-1/4" x 11-5/8" x 1/4" thick it fits nicely in the outer sleeve of my backpack. I find the Michelen Ireland #712 fold-out map, while a nicely detailed map, somewhat thick and cumbersome to fold. This bound atlas handles nicely.



2. This atlas was absolutely useless during our trip to Ireland. It did NOT provide detailed maps of the cities, and the layout and organization was horrible! The free map we got from the Rental Car Agency was of more use than this atlas. Do NOT buy this product!



3. I am planning a trip to Ireland where I will rent a car to tour the places I wish to visit. This promises to help navigate the country.



4. AA Road Atlas: Ireland (Road Atlas)Just returned from a road trip in Ireland with my girlfriends, this was invaluable, very easy to read, a must far all attempting to drive the roads in Ireland!



5. This atlas is inferior to the Ordnance Survey Atlas (ISBN 978-1-905511-40-2). We bought the AA atlas before our Ireland trip and found we needed the Ordnance Survey atlas once we got there.

5 comments about One Man Caravan ("Incredible Journeys" Books).

1. I could not put this one down. The story is so fantastic that you almost can't believe it happened. To see the world a little as it was 70 years ago was truly a window into the past.
   
   Robert Fulton is a suprizingly good author in that the book flows smoothly and he only talks about what he finds interesting.



2. I really enjoyed this book; it was too soon over.
   
   I have ridden motorcycles for many years and would liked to have seen more comments on the practical aspects of the trip, even though it was many years ago. I suspect that Mr. Fulton did not keep daily notes but probably wrote down his memories at the conclusion of the trip, thus the detail is not always there.
   
   The portrait of the middle East gives something for the people of today something to think about - basic beliefs and attitudes in that region may not have changed at all. Our expectations may need to be adjusted.
   
   A long trip on a motorcycle is an unforgettable experience for anyone, even today. Four or five days from home, and the resources available there, projects the rider into a state of independence and freedom that I have not found any other way - imagine what it was like for Fulton to be riding across the desert, months from home, no road in some cases, towards the unknown, his life dependent upon his machine continuing to run, and totally on his own.
   
   Every rider should get to read this book - a great treat for the imagination.



3. this book was a pleasure to read, since I have been to many of the places he has been. It is true and wonderful and I am glad that from now on it is mine.



4. This book would be a fantastic story if it was written TODAY. It's even more incredible that it all happened in 1932-33.
   
   There are so many levels to enjoy in this book ...
   
   * The pure adventure of it all - setting out on a motorcycle (a 750 pound, 6-horsepower monster, no less!) to travel around the world in 1932. It simply is mind-boggling that he pulled it off.
   
   * The observations he makes along the way and how relevant they are even today. His observations of Afghanistan, in particular give insights into what has always been a war-torn country. If Bush & Co. had read this book, maybe we'd have left well enough alone.
   
   * His pure tenacity and luck to get in-and-out of the situations he stumbles into. Being in jail is just part of the gig, and he takes it all in stride.
   
   * The writing itself ... clean, crisp, and engaging. I couldn't put this book down.
   
   This book is fantastic whether or not you ride a motorcycle.
   
   HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.



5. Overall, the book is interesting and informative. It gives some great detail about the middle east, India and Asia in general. From a people perspective, I liked the fact that Mr. Fulton goes into some detail about what the people were like and some personalites. I did find however, that in some spots he focused too much on what people thought and not enough on his thoughts and feelings about "where" he was. Toward the end of the book, he rushed. He spent 80% of the time on the Middle east and India, 10% in the rest of Asia, and no time at all anywhere else. Again, overall, it was interesting and informative, but it did not capture my attention like say Jupiters Travels (same genera, by Ted Simon)
   rk

5 comments about Chicago (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. Great book, but not as great as other books from that series.



2. I used to live in Chicago, and I can tell you that had I had this book back then, I would have visited lots of places I never knew existed or didn't fully appreciate at the time. As in most DK Travel Guides, there's lots of information, photos, maps and graphs.

   Sure, the book is a bit outdated, but then again, IT'S A BOOK! In any case, the good people at DK keep updating their books from time to time.

   I do have one complaint, in the fact that this book has less than half the pages that the New York book's got. Because it's less famous it doesn't mean that Chicago is less of a great city as the big apple is...




3. I think these are the best travel guides. I wish they had them for every city!!



4. For the most part, Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guides are terrific both as a backpack resource and as a keepsake afterward. I have about a dozen of their books at home, and I return to them frequently since I am a fan of the pleasing graphics and intuitive organization by neighborhood. The New York City guidebook (or more accurately, the Manhattan guide) is a particularly strong entry in the series, but the slim volume put together for Chicago, last published in 2003, is a relative disappointment. The gap comes from how the editors define the city's boundaries or at least what they perceive to be the areas of highest interest. Of course, the Loop and the Near North Side are covered thoroughly, but popular neighborhoods like Lakeview and Lincoln Park are given short shrift relegated to small paragraphs in the Farther Afield chapter.
   
   The first part of the book presents a brief history of the city that is interesting if rather cursory with events that are cross-referenced to the more popular sights you would want to see there. There is a well-presented survival guide toward the end of the book that highlights important travel information as well as recommendations on where to stay, shop and eat. Moreover, there is a comprehensive street finder, which helps you navigate without the inconvenience of fold-out maps. But again, the shortcomings reflect the selection of key areas at the expense of others. Even with copies of Chicago and Time Out, I was not able to achieve a more holistic view of the city when I traveled there.
   
   The pluses remain in its format. All the information is contained within a user-friendly, laminated paperback format that slips easily into backpacks and holds up well against inclement weather. Of particular use are the detailed pictorials showing animated aerial shots of neighborhoods and cut-away floor plans of the more heavily visited buildings like the Art Institute of Chicago. However, the net result is a guidebook that provides only marginal value in spite of the high quality of the series as a whole.



5. I've reviewed several travel guides lately, a number from Eyewitness Travel. This is another useful guidebook. And since I am from Illinois originally and Chicago always beckoned as a terrific place to visit, I was most interested in how well this book satisfied. Well, to end any suspense as to my answer, it satisfied very well indeed.
   
   As with any guidebook, there will be questions about why certain sights were mentioned, certain hotels selected, certain restaurants singled out, etc. But that is a part of development of any guidebook. Choices must be made.
   
   The first part of the book provides background context on Chicago--from four suggested tours of Chicago to a brief history of the place and other introductory information. On pages 21-25 are some bold selections. On Page 21, the top ten tourist attractions (I'm not sure that these would be my Top 10, but some are no brainers, such as the Art Institute, the Magnificent Mile, the Field Museum, and so on). Pages 22-23 feature the best museums in the city--and the choice is pretty reasonable.
   
   One of the standard features of any guidebook for a city is a consideration of the different areas within the city. Here, I'll just mention a couple.
   
   One, the downtown core, including the Loop (defined by a loop in the elevated train tracks). There are some great buildings and museums here--the Art Institute (both a great piece of architecture and a stunning museum), the old Marshall Field's flagship store (now Macy's; it's still hard to refer to the place as Macy's!), Sears Tower, Auditorium Building, and Millennium Park. Places to stay? I love the old classic Palmer House. I also enjoy staying at the Hyatt Regency (its restaurant, Stetson's is also worth mentioning, although it's not listed in this guide). Some grand ones. I always enjoyed Miller's Pub, with its fine baby-back ribs. And walk out toward the Lakefront from here and enjoy the view.
   
   Two, the North Side. Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building are wonderful. Want to shop till you drop? Check out the Magnificent Mile; in the process go up to the observation deck of the Hancock Building. I'm nervous about heights and get conniptions, but I can survive because of the splendid view! Some fine steak houses are located here--the well known Morton's and a Don Shula.
   
   There is also a valuable guide as to where to go for antiques, art and art supplies, books, gifts and souvenirs, sporting goods, and so on.
   
   As someone who has visited Chicago numerous times and has a soft spot in his heart for the Windy City, I find this a very good volume. So, a strong recommendation!