Books About Travel

Frommers Exploring America by RV or Frommers South Korea

2009-12-06T12:30:00.000-08:00

Frommer's Exploring America by RV

Author: Harry Basch

In this guide, renowned travel writing team Harry Basch and Shirley Slater offers updates on their favorite RV trips around the U.S., including scenic routes along Virginia's Skyline Drive and the New England coast, plus jaunts through the Heart of the Heartlands (Indiana, Iowa and Illinois) and to Alaska via Canada. On each trip you'll get all the famous, infamous, and off-the-wall attractions; campgrounds along each route, from luxurious private RV parks with heated swimming pools and golf courses to quiet, forested campgrounds in state and national parks; tips for making life on the road easier and more comfortable; and a complete guide to buying or renting an RV, with tips on how to decide which type is right for you. All this, plus information on wildlife watching and scenic views, the best parks and beaches, quick-and-easy recipes, packing suggestions, info on road etiquette and safety, and more. Head off the beaten path with Frommer's, to discover the real life lurking around the bend.

Free companion podcast available!

	Introduction: The RV Life & the Best of the Road	xi
	You Set the Lifestyle	xii
Part I	Getting Ready to Hit the Road	1
1	Life on the Road: A Personal & Public History of RVing	3
	Excerpts from a Road Diary; or, If We Can Do This, Anyone Can	3
	How to Give Backing-Up Directions without Destroying Your Marriage	8
	Public History: The Tin Can Tourists	8
	Thirteen Notable Dates in RV History	10
	Six Common Misperceptions About RVs & Their Owners	13
2	Getting Prepared: RVing Tips & Hints	15
	Driving Schools	15
	Learning Your Vital Statistics	15
	Making a List, Checking It Twice ...	16
	What Kind of Wardrobe Is Right?	16
	Stocking the Larder	17
	Don't Drink the Water	25
	Trimming Costs: Eight Money-Saving Tips for the Road	26
	Safety, Sanity & Insurance	27
	Ain't Misbehavin': Road Etiquette	28
	The Community of Man: Getting Together with Other RVers	31
3	Where to Sleep: Campgrounds & RV Parks	33
	Campground Glossary	34
	Should You Sleep by the Side of the Road?	35
	Campsites: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly	35
	Using the Directories to Find a Campground	37
	Ten Ways to Save Money on Campgrounds	38
	Membership Campgrounds	39
	Special Camping Situations	41
	Ain't Misbehavin': Campground Etiquette	43
	Ten Tips for Cozy Winter Camping	44
	Plugging in Your Rig	45
Part 2	RV Adventures	47
4	The California Desert & Las Vegas	49
	RVing in the California Desert & Las Vegas	52
	Travel Essentials	52
	The Best Desert Sights, Tastes & Experiences	55
	On the Road	62
	Ten Scenic Side Trips	81
	Travel Quiz: Astronaut Underwear	84
5	Baja Bound: From Tijuana to Los Cabos	85
	RVing on the Baja Peninsula	86
	Travel Essentials	88
	The Best Baja Sights, Tastes & Experiences	92
	A Baja Road Glossary	97
	On the Road	98
	Seven Swell Side Roads to Explore	108
	Travel Quiz: Name That Road	110
6	Utah's Parks & Canyons	111
	RVing Utah's National Park Country	115
	Travel Essentials	118
	The Best Utah Sights, Tastes & Experiences	120
	Talkin' Utah: A Glossary	126
	On the Road	130
	The History of Utah--and a Tasty Dinner, Too	136
	About Edward Abbey	146
	Ten Scenic Side Trips	153
	Travel Quiz: Location, Location, Location	156
7	Driving the Alaska Highway	157
	RVing Along the Alaska Highway	161
	Travel Essentials	162
	The Best Alaska Highway Sights, Tastes & Experiences	166
	A Crash Course in Speaking Alaskan	168
	On the Road	172
	Seven Rough, Tough Side Trips & Three Easy Ones	184
	Travel Quiz: Bye, Bye, Mister Eskimo Pie	187
8	The Dakotas: Black Hills & Buffalo Burgers	189
	RVing the Dakotas	192
	Travel Essentials	193
	The Best Dakotas Sights, Tastes & Experiences	195
	On the Road: South Dakota	208
	The Custer Connection	210
	South Dakota Nightlife	212
	On the Road: North Dakota	217
	A Dozen Terrific Side Trips in the Dakotas	223
	Travel Quiz: Way Out West	226
9	The Rio Grande Valley & the Wilds of West Texas	227
	RVing Along the Rio Grande	228
	Travel Essentials	230
	The Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Rio Grande	232
	"I See by Your Outfit That You Are a Cowboy ..."	235
	Horses, Dogs, Bulls & Goats	241
	On the Road	241
	Texas Talk	245
	The Comanche Moon	246
	The Sounds of the Rio Grande	247
	Five Ways to Enter Terlingua's International Chili Cook-Off	253
	Six Special Side Trips	258
	Not Quite a Travel Quiz: The Horror, the Horror	260
10	Arkansas, the Ozarks & Branson, Missouri	261
	RVing the Ozarks	262
	Travel Essentials	264
	The Best Ozarks Sights, Tastes & Experiences	265
	Speaking Ozark	269
	On the Road	272
	Ten Scenic Ozarks Side Trips	285
	Trivia Quiz: High on the Hog	288
11	The Florida Keys (with Side Trips to the Everglades & Orlando)	289
	RVing the Keys	289
	Travel Essentials	292
	The Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Keys	294
	Talkin' Conch: A Keys Glossary	296
	On the Road	303
	"And Then I Wrote..."	311
	Miracle of the Keys	313
	Two Great Side Trips	314
	Travel Quiz: Monster Mash	320
12	The Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive	321
	RVing the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive	324
	Travel Essentials	326
	The Best Blue Ridge Sights, Tastes & Experiences	328
	Southern Accents: A Glossary	337
	On the Road	338
	Nightlife Along the Road	342
	Literary Lights	344
	Great Smokies RV Safety Tips	352
	Travel Quiz: Hello, Dolly!	354
13	The Lobster Coast: New England & the Canadian Maritimes	355
	RVing in New England & the Maritimes	356
	Travel Essentials	358
	Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Lobster Coast	361
	Lobster Trivia Quiz	372
	On the Road	378
	Gambling at Foxwoods	380
	The Museum of Family Camping	383
	The Beans of Freeport, Maine (and More)	384
	The Loyalists & the Acadians	388
	Five Side Trips	390
	Travel Quiz: Name That Rock	392
Part 3	Harry & Shirley's RV Buying & Renting Guide	393
14	RV Types & Terms	395
	The ABCs of RVs: A Glossary of Common RV Terms	396
	Types of RVs	398
15	To Rent or Buy?	415
	Three Ways to Check Out Campground Life Without an RV	415
	Renting	416
	Buying	420
16	RV Manufacturers: Who Makes What	423
	Index	433

Interesting textbook: The Balanced Scorecard or Spin Selling

Frommer's South Korea

Author: Cecilia Hae Jin Le

This brand new first edition of Frommer's South Korea features in-depth coverage of this increasingly popular destination, from the cities of Seoul and Busan to the DMZ border area to Jeju Island, the "Island of the Gods." Our author Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee is a first-generation Korean American who passes along insider's tips and insights into Korean culture, plus a Korean recipe or two (Lee is also a respected cook and cookbook author). She'll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of South Korea. Eat a Hanjeongsik (full-course meal) in a neighborhood cafe in Seoul, attend the Pusan Film Festival, shop for the country's best fabrics (ramie fabrics) at the markets in Hansan, and hike Seoraksan (or just buy the area's famous mushrooms and honey)--plus seek out tea houses, limestone caves, Buddhist temples, hot springs, battlegrounds, and parks throughout the region.

You'll travel South Korea like a pro with our candid advice and handy Korean-language glossary. Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a glossary of Korean cuisine, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

We Are Soldiers Still or Jupiters Travels

2009-12-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam

Author: Harold G Moor

In their stunning follow-up to the classic bestseller We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young, Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway return to Vietnam and reflect on how the war changed them, their men, their enemies, and both countries—often with surprising results.

More than fifteen years since its original publication, the number one New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young is still required reading in all branches of the military. Now Moore and Galloway revisit their relationships with ten American veterans of the battle—men such as Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley and helicopter pilot Bruce "Old Snake" Crandall—as well as Lt. Gen. Nguyen Hu An, who commanded the North Vietnamese Army troops on the other side, and two of his old company commanders. These men and their countries have all changed dramatically since the first head-on collision between the two great armies back in November 1965.

Traveling back to the red-dirt battlefields, commanders and veterans from both sides make the long and difficult journey from old enemies to new friends. After a trip in a Russian-made helicopter to the Ia Drang Valley in the Central Highlands, with the Vietnamese pilots using Moore's vintage U.S. Army maps and Galloway's Boy Scout compass to guide them, they reach the hallowed ground where so many died. All the men are astonished at how nature has reclaimed the land once scarred by bullets, napalm, and blood. As darkness falls, the unthinkable happens—the authors and many of their old comrades are stranded overnight, alone, left to confront the ghosts of the departed among the termite hills and creekbed.

Moore and Galloway combine gritty and vivid detail with reverence and respect for their comrades. Their ability to capture man's sense of heroism and brotherhood, their love for their men and their former enemies, and their fascination with the history of this enigmatic country make for riveting reading. With sixteen pages of photos, tributes to departed friends and loved ones, and General Moore's reflections on lessons learned throughout his military career, We Are Soldiers Still puts a human face on warfare in a way that will not soon be forgotten.

Publishers Weekly

It would be a monumental task for Moore and Galloway to top their classic 1992 memoir, We Were Soldiers Once... and Young. But they come close in this sterling sequel, which tells the backstory of two of the Vietnam War's bloodiest battles (in which Moore participated as a lieutenant colonel), their first book and a 1993 ABC-TV documentary that brought them back to the battlefield. Moore's strong first-person voice reviews the basics of the November 1965 battles, part of the 34-day Battle of the Ia Drang Valley. Among other things, Moore and Galloway (who covered the battle for UPI) offer portraits of two former enemy commanders, generals Nguyen Huu An and Chu Huy Man, whom the authors met-and bonded with-nearly three decades after the battle. This book proves again that Moore is an exceptionally thoughtful, compassionate and courageous leader (he was one of a handful of army officers who studied the history of the Vietnam wars before he arrived) and a strong voice for reconciliation and for honoring the men with whom he served. 16 pages of b&w photos. (Aug. 19)

Kirkus Reviews

To honor fallen comrades, a journalist and a soldier return to Vietnam battlefields more than 30 years later. Following publication of their bestselling account of 1965's horrific clash between the U.S. Army and the NVA in Ia Drang Valley (We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young: Ia Drang-The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, 1992), Moore, the battalion commander, and Galloway, the only journalist covering the battle, made a half-dozen trips to Vietnam looking "to walk the old battlefields and put some of our ghosts to rest." Wisely eschewing talk of "closure" and seeking instead to better understand what had happened, they pointedly searched out anyone with firsthand knowledge, including old enemies. Notwithstanding multiple bureaucratic roadblocks, they sat down with the two senior commanders who had fought against them. They also met many Vietnamese veterans who had taken part in the battle, interviewed Senior General Vo Nguyen Giap, the military architect of Vietnam's victories over France and America, walked the legendary Dienbienphu battleground (where the French suffered 2,242 killed and 6,463 wounded) and even spent a night on their own storied battlefield. Moore's voice carries the narrative and his depiction of this evening, including the tiger roars, meteor showers and tears shed recalling events decades old, proves unforgettable. Despite some awkwardness ("You killed my best friend," one Vietnamese colonel realizes after speaking with an American machine gunner), the authors are struck by the sympathy and understanding offered by their Vietnamese counterparts, by the common experience that separates soldiers, even those once enemies, from all civilians, and by how thecountryside has already absorbed and obscured the scars and detritus of war. Chapters on leadership and a salute to another distinguished Ia Drang fighter, though of some interest, would have better been relegated to an appendix, a section that includes moving tributes to Moore's beloved wife and to Rick Rescorla, another Ia Drang vet who later died on 9/11 leading thousands safely out of the Twin Towers. A worthy and wise successor to one of the best books ever about combat in Vietnam.

Jupiter's Travels: Four Years Around the World on a Triumph

Author: Ted Simon

Simon rode a motorcycle around the world in the seventies, when such a thing was unheard of. In four years he covered 78,000 miles through 45 countries, living with peasants and presidents, in prisons and palaces, through wars and revolutions. What distinguishes this book is that Simon was already an accomplished writer. In 25 years this book has changed many lives, and inspired many to travel, including Ewan McGregor.

New Zealand or Frommers Boston 2009

2009-12-04T05:04:00.000-08:00

New Zealand

Author: Peter Turner

All the travel experts agree—consumers want more and different experiences from travel than they did in the past. They want to deeply understand their destination before they go, feel a meaningful connection to the place while there, and return home feeling enriched and ready to share their experiences with others. With these trends in mind, and the results of extensive, proprietary market research, National Geographic Traveler has been enhanced with engaging new features and a contemporary redesign.

Each guide begins with an introduction that enables the traveler to sample a bit of the culture, history, and attractions before they go and plan the trip based on their own interests and length of stay. Travelers can immerse themselves in active, in-country "Experiences" and "Off-the-Beaten-Path Excursions" they won't find anywhere else, like visiting a family in a South African township or learning to cook Maori cuisine with a renowned New Zealand chef. Other new features, such as "Insider Tips" from National Geographic photographers, writers, and experts, as well as "Not-To-Be-Missed" lists ensure that each person's visit will be one-of-a-kind and memorable.

To make the most of these and all the other great new features, the guides' design has been simplified, opened up, and enhanced with easy-to-read tinted sections. Gorgeous color photographs, high-quality maps, and the popular walking and driving tours are still highlights of our crisp, new look. To complete the update, our new covers boast a striking, single image of the destination, along with the clear National Geographic branding that signifies quality, trust, and all the best in travel.

Withmore than a century of travel expertise, new content, and a new look, National Geographic Traveler is the right guide at the right time—poised to meet the changing needs of today's traveler better than ever and better than anyone.

New Zealand comes alive in vivid images in this brand-new edition. See the amazing fjords, glaciers, and sulfur springs. Learn about rugby, organic farming, the Maori, and bungee jumping.

Interesting textbook: Ordinary Vices or Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism

Frommers Boston 2009

Author: Marie Morris

America’s #1 bestselling travel series

Written by more than 175 outspoken travelers around the globe, Frommer’s Complete Guides help travelers experience places the way locals do.

More annually updated guides than any other series
16-page color section and foldout map in all annual guides
Outspoken opinions, exact prices, and suggested itineraries
Dozens of detailed maps in an easy-to-read, two-color design

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Boston features gorgeous color photos of the sights and experiences that await you. Our author, a longtime resident of Boston's North End, hits all the highlights, from Fenway Park to the Freedom Trail. She's checked out all the city's best hotels and restaurants in person, and offers authoritative, candid reviews that will help you find the choices that suit your tastes and budget. You'll also get up-to-the-minute coverage of shopping and nightlife; in-depth coverage of Cambridge; detailed walking tours; accurate neighborhood maps; advice on planning a successful family vacation; and side trips to Lexington, Concord, Plymouth, and the North Shore. Frommer's Boston also includes a color fold-out map.

Under the Tuscan Sun or Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass

2009-12-03T00:33:00.000-08:00

Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home In Italy

Author: Frances Mayes

Now in paperback, the #1 San Francisco Chronicle bestseller that is an enchanting and lyrical look at the life, the traditions, and the cuisine of Tuscany, in the spirit of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence.

Frances Mayes entered a wondrous new world when she began restoring an abandoned villa in the spectacular Tuscan countryside. There were unexpected treasures at every turn: faded frescos beneath the whitewash in her dining room, a vineyard under wildly overgrown brambles in the garden, and, in the nearby hill towns, vibrant markets and delightful people. In Under the Tuscan Sun, she brings the lyrical voice of a poet, the eye of a seasoned traveler, and the discerning palate of a cook and food writer to invite readers to explore the pleasures of Italian life and to feast at her table.

Library Journal

Frances Mayes made a name for herself writing about her love affair with Tuscany, where she bought and refurbished an abandoned villa. She tells the full story in Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy (Broadway. 1997. ISBN 0-7679-0038-3. pap. $15); Bella Tuscany: The Sweet Life in Italy (Broadway. 2000. ISBN 0-7679-0284-X. pap. $15); and In Tuscany (Broadway. 2000. ISBN 0-7679-0535-0. $35).

Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass

Author: Isak Dinesen

With classic simplicity and a painter's feeling for atmosphere and detail, Isak Dinesen tells of the years she spent from 1914 to 1931 managing a coffee plantation in Kenya.

John Updike

Her main memoir, ''Out of Africa,'' published in 1937, has been called the greatest pastoral romance of modern times....Enter a deliciously described world of sharply painted, dramatically costumed heroes and heroines posing, with many a spectacular gesture and eloquent aria, in magnificent landscapes maintained by invisible hands as a kind of huge stage set....hough Isak Dinesen's leisurely and ornate anecdotes, which she furnishes with just enough historical touches to make the stage firm, have something in them of the visionary and the artificial, they are not escapist. From the sweeping flood of the first story to the casual and savage murder of the last, they face pain and loss with the brisk familiarity of one who has amply known both, and force us to face them, too. Far from hollow and devoid of a moral, the tales insistently strive to inculcate a moral stance....Intoxication figures frequently in Isak Dinesen's work, and mercilessness was part of the storyteller's art as she construed it: the story must pursue its end without undue compassion for its characters. Combat lies closer than compassion to the secret of ''Seven Gothic Tales,'' and its exhilaration is their contagious mood. -- New York Times

What People Are Saying

Eudora Welty
"True to her credo the storyteller's story, her tales are...grips out of, rather than into, an extraordinary mind."

Frommers Australia 2009 or Abraham

2009-12-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

Frommer's Australia 2009 (Frommer's Complete Series)

Author: Lee Myln

America’s #1 bestselling travel series

Written by more than 175 outspoken travelers around the globe, Frommer’s Complete Guides help travelers experience places the way locals do.

More annually updated guides than any other series
16-page color section and foldout map in all annual guides
Outspoken opinions, exact prices, and suggested itineraries
Dozens of detailed maps in an easy-to-read, two-color design

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer’s Australia features gorgeous full-color photos of the Outback vistas, curious wildlife, and white-sand beaches that await you. Our authors have lived in and written about Australia for years, so they’re able to provide valuable insights and advice. They’ll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of the land Down Under. Let them take you to exciting cities, Aboriginal homesteads, Barossa Valley vineyards, and natural wonders, from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to Uluru (Ayers Rock)to the Great Barrier Reef.

You’ll travel Australia like a pro with our candid advice and in-depth history of the culture. Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths

Author: Bruce Feiler

In this timely, provocative, and uplifting journey, the bestselling author of Walking the Bible searches for the man at the heart of the world's three monotheistic religions — and today's deadliest conflicts.

At a moment when the world is asking, “Can the religions get along?” one figure stands out as the shared ancestor of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. One man holds the key to our deepest fears — and our possible reconciliation. Abraham.

Bruce Feiler set out on a personal quest to better understand our common patriarch. Traveling in war zones, climbing through caves and ancient shrines, and sitting down with the world's leading religious minds, Feiler uncovers fascinating, little-known details of the man who defines faith for half the world.

Both immediate and timeless, Abraham is a powerful, universal story, the first-ever interfaith portrait of the man God chose to be his partner. Thoughtful and inspiring, it offers a rare vision of hope that will redefine what we think about our neighbors, our future, and ourselves.

Book Magazine

Feiler's 2001 bestseller, Walking the Bible, took readers on a spiritual tour through the lands of the Bible. Its sequel is a spiritual biography of Abraham, the father of the three great monotheistic religions. Jews, Christians and Muslims all trace their origins to Abraham, who, as the story goes, led his family out of Mesopotamia and into Canaan (possibly in the early second millennium B.C.) and, during the journey, had several decisive encounters with God. God's outrageous requests—like asking Abraham to sacrifice his son—are, in the holy books that recorded them, templates for faith. Over time, each tradition has reinvented the patriarch to serve its own needs and sees its rivals as having betrayed his legacy. Feiler's travels through violence-ridden cities like Hebron (in the West Bank) and the New York of September 11 reveal the depths of the rift that divides Abraham's modern heirs. While this is an engaging, timely book, Feiler's final plea for an updated Abraham on which all three faiths can agree sounds like wishful thinking.

Publishers Weekly

Feiler, who penned last year's bestseller Walking the Bible, once again offers a winning combination of history, travel and spiritual memoir. Arguing that Abraham, the purported "father" of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, "holds the breadth of the past and perhaps the dimensions of the future in his life story," Feiler sets out to recover Abraham as he is portrayed in all three religions. The book's first half addresses what the Bible and Koran say about Abraham, his call to monotheism, and his sons Isaac and Ishmael. Particularly fascinating are Feiler's discussions of how the three religious traditions invented stories about Abraham to supplement the rather skeletal canonical version and even borrowed these stories from one another, as when Muslim traditions about Abraham and Ishmael began appearing in eighth-century Jewish commentaries. The second half very poignantly delves into each faith tradition and discusses how the Abraham narratives relate to contemporary religious and political conflicts. No one writes description quite like Feiler. His claim, for example, that "the Holy Sepulcher is to a church what Picasso is to a portrait a cubist vision of fractured beauty" is an arresting and perfectly imagined analogy, and he mellifluously depicts the Arabic language as "flowing, evolved, [and] sculpted, like a dune." More important than Feiler's masterful wordsmithing is his passionate engagement of the subject matter. Italics are everywhere, yet they don't feel overused; Feiler has a keen sense of what is at stake when these three religions claim Abraham as their father. This is a joy to read.

Rayna Patton - VOYA

In this insightful study of Abraham, patriarch of three religions, the author explores what unites and what divides those religions today. Feiler begins with the Genesis account of Abraham, who can rightly be called the founder of monotheism. He examines the various Jewish and Muslim explications that enlarge on the biblical story and the nature of God's call to Abraham. The sons of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac and what Abraham did with and to them mark the beginning of the divisions between Islam and Judeo-Christianity. Feiler is an excellent writer who carries the reader along as he visits the Middle East, seeking not only the historical Abraham but also the Abraham who has been reinvented by the various faiths. He has met with distinguished Jewish, Christian, and Muslim clerics, and finds that these leaders agree on the fundamental importance of Abraham and recognize that his message is inclusive, not exclusive. This agreement is very relevant today. Religion, as much as politics, divides Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Unfortunately, this book, although written by an experienced writer and reporter, is unlikely to find a significant audience in most public schools. It is too theological, even spiritual, to appeal to most students seeking either a biography or even an easy look at current Middle East turmoil. It could be useful, however, as an offering in a course in religion and politics. VOYA Codes: 5Q 2P S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2002, Morrow, 224p,

Library Journal

Feiler (Walking the Bible) is a frequent contributor to National Public Radio and writes for both the New York Times and Washington Post. Understanding that Abraham is the shared ancestor of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Feiler set out on a hejira with the intention of taking a closer look at the biblical patriarch. Asking himself, "Can the religions get along?," the author questions the fears he's encountered regarding the religions that had their roots in the Middle East with the hope of finding answers leading to reconciliation. He traveled into war zones and visited caves, ancient shrines, and outposts to which most Americans have never given a second thought. He spoke with some of the world's great religious minds, discovering multiple views on "Father Abraham," a man whose story defines what it means to be "one of the faithful" for over half the citizens of the planet. Along the way he took a look at his own as well as the universal fears in America. Feiler's historical perceptions of Abraham offer a vision of hope for reconnecting among the world's religious groups. His storytelling is immediate and thoughtful. Recommended for public libraries with large religion collections.-Pam Kingsbury, Florence, AL

Nasty Bits or The Machu Picchu Guidebook

2009-11-30T15:51:00.000-08:00

Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones

Author: Anthony Bourdain

In the multiweek New York Times bestseller The Nasty Bits, bestselling chef and No Reservations host Anthony Bourdain serves up a well-seasoned hellbroth of candid, often outrageous stories from his worldwide misadventures. Whether surviving a lethal hot pot in Chengdu, splurging on New York’s priciest sushi, or singing the praises of Ecuadorian line cooks and Hell’s Kitchen dives, Bourdain is as provocative, engaging, and opinionated as ever. The Nasty Bits is an irresistible tasting menu of food writing at its outrageous best—served up Bourdain style.

The New York Times - Bruce Handy

Bourdain is a vivid and witty writer, but his greatest gift is his ability to convey his passion for professional cooking — "this thing of ours," he calls it, a touch melodramatically, in tribute to La Cosa Nostra. With one eye on the kitchen and the other on the dining room, he never loses sight of how the terrestrial inevitably informs the divine.

Publishers Weekly

In this typically bold effort, Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), like the fine chef he is, pulls together an entertaining feast from the detritus of his years of cooking and traveling. Arranged around the basic tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami (a Japanese term for a taste the defies description), this scattershot collection of anecdotes puts Bourdain's brave palate, notorious sense of adventure and fine writing on display. From the horrifying opening passages, where he joins an Arctic family in devouring a freshly slaughtered seal, to a final work of fiction, the text may disappoint those who've come to expect more honed kitchen insights from the chef. Surprisingly, though, the less substantive kitchen material Bourdain has to work from only showcases his talent for observation. This book isn't for the effete foodies Bourdain clearly despises (though they'd do well to read it). He criticizes celebrity chefs, using Rocco DiSpirito as a "cautionary tale," and commends restaurants that still serve stomach-turning if palate-pleasing dishes, such as New York's Pierre au Tunnel (now closed), which offered t te de veau, essentially "calf's face, rolled up and tied with its tongue and thymus gland." Fans of Bourdain's hunger for the edge will gleefully consume this never-boring book. Author tour. (May)

Library Journal

Bourdain does not suffer fools, airplane food, or pretension wisely. His latest non-cookbook-an essay collection divided into the flavors of salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and umami-makes for highly entertaining and sometimes shocking reading. Readers, in turn, will encounter a range of thoughts, from a challenging description of a seal being butchered for food to musings on Brazilian street food and the unsung French bistro classics like Rongons de Veau Dijonnaise and Tripes a la Mode de Caen and other old-fashioned dishes that some might feel are the "nasty bits" indeed. Lovers of adventurous culinary experiences will find much to whet their appetites here, and those who loathe the celebrity chef phenomena will find a friend in Bourdain. At the book's close are commentaries on the essays (many were previously published), which give the author the opportunity to revisit some strongly expressed opinions. His passion for food, pungent writing, and knowledge of the culinary world make this an excellent purchase for most public libraries.-Shelley Brown, Richmond P.L., Vancouver, B.C.

Kirkus Reviews

The globetrotting, guerrilla TV chef of ill repute serves up some journalistic odds and ends. A garrulous, sublimely talented chap with an eminently respectable couple of New York brasseries and a load of opinions to spare, Bourdain (A Cook's Tour, 2001, etc.) remains an anomaly in the Food Network era. Instead of running a chain of big-ticket, big-ego eateries, he roams the world consuming massive quantities of strange food and prodigious drink, adding snarky commentary and turning it all into a TV show of sorts. Along the way, he writes for several publications, from Gourmet to the Los Angeles Times; a good selection of those writings are collected here. Subjects include other celebrity chefs (Rocco DiSpirito "messed with the bitch goddess celebrity and got burned"), the best bars for adrenaline-jacked kitchen crews to get hammered in the wee hours (in Chicago, it's Matchbox) and the proper definition of cooking ("a cult of pain"); somehow it all flows together with nary a seam in view. But there is some repetition and, unlike most writers with an edge, he's better at being nice. Scourging attacks sometimes fall flat for lack of variety, while puff pieces offer the finest examples of foodie enthusiasm. Indulging in Masa Takayama's insanely expensive sushi is "like having sex with two five-thousand-dollar-a-night escorts at the same time-while driving an Aston Martin." The unfathomable wizardry of Spain's mad-chef genius Ferran Adria is "hugely enjoyable, challenging to the world order, innovative, revolutionary."A vibrant discourse on satisfying hungers of every kind.

The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour: Revised Edition

Author: Ruth M Wright

Machu Picchu is one of the world's great travel destinations. Built in the mid-fifteenth century by Incan royalty and "re-discovered" by Hiram Bingham in 1911, this awe-inspiring site in the Andes of Peru is the stuff of legends. The Machu Picchu Guidebook has proven to be one of the most successful and acclaimed guidebooks to the popular archaeological treasure. In this comprehensive traveler's guide, the authors offer an almost step-by-step tour of the world-renowned Inca city, keyed to a detailed, full-color foldout map. This fully-updated and revised edition features a new artist's rendition of Machu Picchu, presented as a three-page foldout in glorious color. The painting, which first appeared as a supplement to National Geographic magazine, brings Machu Picchu to life by depicting the royal retreat as it appeared on the June 21st solstice ceremony in the year 1530, at the height of the Inca empire. Further additions include a much-expanded chapter on the holy mountain of Huayna Picchu and an all-new chapter on the birds of Machu Picchu, which includes such species as the Inca wren, found only at this site. Whether you have three hours or three days to spend at Machu Picchu, this book is the one indispensable guide. No traveler should be without it.

Library Journal

Machu Picchu is one of the most stunning archaeological sites on Earth. Located in the heart of the Andes in Peru, this five-centuries-old Incan relic attracts some 300,000 tourists yearly. Yet the significance of the site itself is difficult to unravel without a lot of personal knowledge or a comprehensive guidebook. Wright, who has studied the site for 25 years and has worked at Machu Picchu since 1994, and Zegarra (anthropology and archaeology, Univ. of Cuzco) have teamed up to produce a handy book for visitors who wish to guide themselves at their own pace through the site. A bound-in, fold-out color archaeological map of Machu Picchu keyed to the book's chapters and an array of black-and-white as well as color photographs will help users find and navigate the site easily and not depend on fractured live tour guide information. After reading this book, you will want to hop on the next flight to Peru. If you are unlucky enough never to visit Machu Picchu, the guide will serve as an excellent virtual tour. Recommended for general travel collections. Olga B. Wise, Compaq Computer Corp., Austin, TX

Booknews

This guide presents sensible advice, clear directions, and an in- depth, knowledgeable tour through this incredible site. Wright has spent many years studying Machu Picchu with her husband (their affiliations are not given); Zegarra teaches archaeology and anthropology at the U. of Cusco in Peru. The guide is copiously illustrated with b&w photos and includes a fold out archaeological map. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Internet Book Watch

Built in the mid-fifteenth century by Inca royalty and found by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu has become one of South America's premier travel destinations, experienced by more than 300,000 tourists every year. Ruth Wright and her husband Ken Wright of Wright Water Engineers were granted a permit in 1994 from the Instituto Nacional de Cultura de Peru to study this famous site and teamed up with resident Machu Picchu archaeologist Alfredo Valencia Zegarra to create the most authoritative, detailed, and up-to-date guide currently available to the general public. The Machu Picchu Guidebook is specifically designed to be used as a do-it-yourself tour book enhanced with a full-color fold-out map and 150 illustrations. Whether as an armchair traveler with an interest in Incan culture and artifacts, or an on-site visitor seeking to explore the marvelous wonder of this ancient Incan city, The Machu Picchu Guidebook is a rewarding, "reader friendly" guide to this grandly designed archaeological treasure.

	Travel Tips	vii
	Preface to the Revised Edition	xiii
	Preface to the First Edition	xv
	Introduction	1
	The Guardhouse and the Terrace of the Ceremonial Rock	6
	The Western Urban Sector	15
	The Main Gate and Conjunto 1	15
	The Temple of the Sun, the Royal Mausoleum, and Conjunto 2	20
	The Royal Residence (Conjunto 3)	35
	The Rock Quarry	40
	The Sacred Plaza (Conjunto 4)	44
	The Intiwatana (Conjunto 5)	51
	The Eastern Urban Sector	59
	The Sacred Rock (Conjunto 6), the Unfinished Temple, and the Petroglyph (Peripheral Area C)	60
	Conjuntos 7 and 8 and the Unfinished Wall	66
	The Three Doorways (Conjunto 9) and the Artisans' Wall	68
	Group of the Mortars (Conjuntos 14, 15, and 16)	72
	Conjuntos 10 and 11	80
	Conjunto 12	82
	Conjunto 13 and Intimachay	84
	The Temple of the Condor (Conjunto 17) and Conjunto 18	87
	Various Sights on the Way Out	94
	The Mummies	103
	Inca Water Management	106
	Recently Discovered Inca Trail Down to the Urubamba River	112
	Side Trips	117
	Inca Drawbridge	117
	Intipunku (Gate of the Sun)	119
	Huayna Picchu, including Una Picchu and Alternate Trail to the Temple of the Moon	130
	Temple of the Moon	148
	Machu Picchu Mountain	152
	Winay Wayna	155
	The Birds of Machu Picchu	159
	Acknowledgments	163
	Figure Credits	165
	Glossary	167
	References	168
	Suggested Reading	171
	Index	173

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