A book about travel, and life, that's empathic, actionable, aware, and soulful.
928946
There are an awful lot of books about travel - hacking it, shopping, luxury, autobiographical, political, historical, doing it on the cheap, with family, by ourselves, with friends, with lovers, and on and on. Some are good, some are awful. And there is not a travel book on the market - at least not one I have ever seen or read - that is about life in the truest ways, and ultimately, how to live better, clearer, and happier through empathy, action, awareness, soul, and heart.
Riley Temple put together a volume that speaks to logistics, supplies, crisis management, people, joy, unexpected stuff, when to be open, when to be prepared, and the how's and why's of each of these. As I said above, he teaches us about life - our lives - while helping us to create and experience things that are more than outside of our comfort zones. These places and spaces are where we're supposed to and intended to be. Read this book.
3257933
I enjoy Lawrenson's travel books.  Each one is a relatively quick read that takes me to an exotic locale and makes me feel like I've experienced the trip (without the expense and headaches of actually doing it.)

Lawrenson is an Englishman-transplanted-to Australia and he loves a road trip.  The great thing about living in OZ is that it not only supplies fascinating travel sites within its own borders, it's a short hop to Asia and the Middle East.  And the travel-happy Lawrensons take full advantage of the opportunities.  Best of all Brian travels with the wide-eyed enthusiasm of an 18-year-old and the philosophy of a middle-aged man.  He's seen a lot and is still interested in it all.  He injects enough local history to make you think, but not so much that you feel over-whelmed.

In this case, he travels to Uzbekistan, once the red-headed stepchild of the USSR and still feeling the effects.  Centuries ago, Samarkand and its environs were the cross-roads of the world as goods traveled from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and back again on the famous "Silk Road."  It was a rich prize for Genghis Khan, who had a habit of conquering all he saw.  Today he's remember as a mighty leader, but his M.O. was to destroy towns and kill the inhabitants.  An estimated 5 million people died at the hands of his armies.  Now his victims are forgotten and he is revered.

Don't expect tips on the best hotels or the cheapest places to eat or lists of tourist attractions. Just one man's memories and musings about an ancient culture and what it contributed to the world.  Like all successful people, the inhabitants of Samarkand enjoyed the fruits of their success and suffered at the hands of envious neighbors.  Today their descendants are still engaged in traditional professions and very modern ones.  They see both sides of the Eastern/Western conflict, but mostly they just want to get along and take care of their families.  Hospitality to those from different cultures is ingrained in the Uzbekis.  It is their birthright and stems from a long, rich national heritage.

Lawrenson makes me want to pack my bags and get on the bus.
1790303
Every journey begins with a destination. You know where you are, you know where you want to go. You just have to get going. Sometimes a wind may blow you off track, sometimes you fall along the way, but your goal gets you back on your feet... The authors' goal is to become a lion. And this is his story.

Whatever flaws we might identify or frustrations we might feel are trivial in comparison to a reader's pure joy in losing himself/herself in a narrative. When all the elements come together: intriguing strategies, thoughtful, profound themes, complex, troubling, characters, and language that make us shudder for its honesty, clarity, and confidence; we gratefully set all analysis aside and give ourselves up to the sheer magic of a great book. And for me, My Evolution, is such a book.

My Evolution is a very well written life improvement book. This book is intelligent, wise and packed to the rafters with practical common sense advice. It becomes very obvious as you read through this page turner that the author is imparting his wisdom and understanding as to what happiness and success really means. Its an excellent guide for putting things into perspective.

Profound thoughts are explained here in the most simple manner. Thats all one can say about this book. It is difficult to write a more objective review, because the impact the author will have on you will make you see life and its problems in a wise and practical way. The book should NOT be read  it should be absorbed and reflected upon.

This book has helped me clarify my thinking, process my feelings, and make better decisions. If you are you ready to stop drifting and design a life you love, this read will help you on your journey. The author has put his heart in the pages of this book so that it will encourage and give hope to the reader. So many wonderful and courageous people share their experiences through books, and I thank this author for sharing his.

The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. His words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement in the face of serious issues, this would come highly recommended from me.

No matter what your situation is today, this book will put you on the right path to better things. Ive been around the block a few times myself and even I found this read to be very insightful. This wonderful book will show you how to properly tune into life and the simple rules you must follow to achieve this. This by far is one of the best Self-Improvement books Ive read in a long time. The author must be commended for his time and effort for producing such an insightful book. Also, the writing style is friendly which makes for an enjoyable read. Five stars from me.
3682454
While this book is structured as a travelogue, it's really about opening the hearts of people.  Tindall heads each chapter with a different geographic location, but it's the vignettes that show her interactions with people along her way that make the book memorable.  Whether at an ashram, a humble Ecuadorian village, or testing the dating scene in Sacramento, CA, Tindall's optimism and fearless willingness to try somethimg new consistently opens people's hearts.
Tindall's British background results in phrasing that feels new and different to the American ear.  She also shares that love of bawdy humor made famous by British comedians.  It is her combination of intellectual and spiritual seeking, with wholehearted embrace of the physical - in yoga, hiking, dancing, flirting, and lovemaking - that makes this book so special.  It's less self-absorbed than Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" - and much more fun!  There are laugh out loud scenes, and great stories of Tindall's encounters, but there are also gems of Tindall's musings on spirituality and spiritual training, and the discomforts of, and possible solutions to, the problems of menopause.
  I heartily recommend this book - and look forward to the next one from this author.
1065712
I chose to read this book during a recent long-haul flight. I was truly grateful that I made the right choice, because it proved to be an excellent travel companion! As soon as I read the first page, I was transported from the not-so-comfortable economy class to the worlds of all those women, whose stories Elspeth tells with insights, humour, and grace. Elspeth's ability in connecting the characters - yet offering each of them their own personality - is ingenious and outstanding. This book speaks directly to the heart. Reading it is like listening to a good friend telling a chain of fascinating stories - and you don't want her to stop. It's heart-warming and thought-provoking.
558336
Jill Dobbes book, Here We Are & There We Go  Teaching and Traveling with Kids in Tow is a delightful book that had me reminiscing about all my own travels overseas.  It really should be required of people who decide to travel overseas for work.
Ms. Dobbe brings the life of an international educator up close and personal by real sharing adventures her family had in Guam, Singapore, Ghana and Mexico.

It is a wonderful insight not only from the perspective of the traveling teacher, but the last chapter of the book which talks about reverse culture shock is equally important for family members and friends to read.  It is sometimes hard to understand what a former traveling family has to adjust to when returning back to the United States.  Ms. Dobbes book does a remarkable and realistic job of taking us into the mindset of the returnees and the challenges faced by those who come home only to find that home is no longer familiar.

I loved the way Here We Are & There We Go portrayed life on the road with children.  From the craziness on long international flights, to the crankiness of jet lag in unfamiliar settings, Dobbe leaves out none of the unpleasant moments or the pure joys of having children grow up as citizens of the world.  I could feel the pride she had of having her two small children sing in Mandarin for a group of Chinese tourists.  Memories like that cant be bought. And, they are exclusive to those who venture outside their own borders.

This is an important book for everyone who is considering a career in international education, but it is just as important for those who stay behind.  It allows us to live vicariously, if only for a few hours, through the eyes of those who dare to hear the call of adventure and to act.

It certainly teaches us to be more courageous and to find the value in stepping outside of our comfort zones. I will be recommending this book to all of my colleagues, and friends, and especially to my own children who also grew up as kids on the road.
4423214
Classic Perry--an adventurer with a gorgeous, sassy girlfriend, a heart for potentially hazardous travel, a dose of self-deprecating humor, he integrates the honest history and culture of a landscape into his observations. This is more than a travelogue, but a unique view into cultural, ecological and social history of an area not oft-traveled (by Americans, anyway). Infused with local culinary descriptions, historic context, and intimate details of the actual people they encounter, it's a worthy read. I really felt for the travel office attendant who pleasantly said, "Please tell all your friends about us. Colombia welcomes you!" The author wishes for more friends, because what he hears is, "I really, really want this whole peace thing to work out." This slim and engaging read is a perfect stocking stuffer (get a jump on your Christmas shopping!) or travel gift. Get one for you and one for a friend.
4772933
This handbook is jam-packed with useful advice, references, trivia, and inspiration.  Evan S. Rice, the author, has accomplished what no one else in the travel genre ever has, or frankly has even attempted: to write the travel guide that's universally applicable.  Clearly, what he has done is to write the book he wished he had as his own guide when he was independently traveling the world over many years.  This wonderful book is your key to anywhere and everywhere, not just somewhere.  More importantly, its advice updates the wonky world of travel into the modern millennium and bridges the gap in being just as practical to the old and weary wanderers out there, as to the youthful new generation of adventurers.  Even the most expert nomads will find this book a constant source of curated reference, while novice wayfarers will find it easily accessible and tremendously valuable in planning and executing their first forays into the world.

Visually engaging and chockfull of well-designed tables, charts, maps and infographics, the book achieves a very approachable format for the traveler on the go. The miscellany allows the reader to approach each nugget of knowledge in a bite-sized manner, rather than forcing the reader to follow a linear progression of advice that the dulls the senses and lacks a solidarity with the short attention spans and desire for instant gratification of the Facebook / Instagram generation (#thewayfarershandbook).

From a practical perspective, the book checks all the right boxes for even the hardiest road warrior: its jacket-less hardcover makes it durable, the manageable size makes it easy to carry around in your pocket or small backpack, and its aesthetic competes with even the most beautifully printed coffee table books in the travel genre.  Additionally, the Kindle option is a great for the tech-savvy traveler.

There simply are not any other books out there that can both provide you with that strong yearning wanderlust and also give you the tools to fully satiate it no matter where your heart desires to take you.
1179763
This book is many things. It's an adventure story. It's a geography lesson. It's a study in anthropology. It's an exposition on the mindset of an explorer.

Mostly, it's a well-written tale of an American woman, Kira Salak, and her quest to continue living an extraordinary life. "If a journey doesn't have something to teach you about yourself, then what kind of journey is it?" she writes. This book takes us along for the ride. The tone is conversational, very readable, honest, and refreshing.

The Cruelest Journey is aptly named. Indeed, Salak recounts a grueling journey inside an inflatable red kyak, 600 miles along the Niger River in the West African country, Mali. She encounters both friendly and hostile villagers, calm and stormy weather, hunger, injury, sickness, potentially dangerous hippos, and incredible uncertainty. Using the Scottish explorer, Mungo Park, as a mentor of sorts, she attempts to reenact his adventure some 200 years earlier. She finds that not a lot has changed from what she read in his memoirs, which she holds close throughout the trip and quotes often.

Before I picked up this book, I didn't know where to point on a map to tell anyone the location of Timbuktu. It's a mysterious place, often used to describe the outskirts of the world. Salak's journey doesn't dispel this myth.

I found this story fascinating and highly recommend it.

Michele Cozzens, Author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.
983022
This book manages to speak to both the travel veteran and the uninitiated.  Readers from either group (and in between) will find value in this enjoyable handbook.
In a friendly tone, albeit occasionally repetitive, Otteson offers real, valuable, practical advice (how to bargain, what to pack, how to deal with bribery, etc).  Some of this stuff you'll find tucked away in Lonely Planet guidebooks, but Otteson's editorial sense makes his advice easier to find, and it applies globally. Backpacker networks abound with "how to's" for various scenarios.  It can be overwhelming.  But Otteson has gleaned the gentlest, most useful, and most intelligent tips.
The newest concept Otteson brings to the table is HOW to make a journey.  This was very useful to me.  He gets the reader to really think about what is important... do you want destinations only (sleep on trains as you go?) or do you want to get a feel for the whole of a region, and travel only in daylight hours (what he calls threading).  You may opt for a combination of the two styles, but he makes an excellent argument for the latter.
Within the pages are wonderful glimmers of enthusiasm for travel itself; reader will be bitten by the travel bug... So if you are not really sure you should get off your duff or if you are trying to convince a homebody to join you on a trip, this book will whet the appetite for the adventure of the open road.
Now, more than ever, does the world need to see the face of the American traveler.
3145050
This book will transport you all over Asia from the best known destinations to ones you have never heard of.  Another interesting journey with author Ken, blending highlights, facts, useful information, and tips into an engrossing read.  The travels are written with honesty, not just all positives.  Asia travel toolkit is a fitting title for this book because it does not just cover enjoyable places to visit and having a great time.  It is a toolkit of information for one wanting to spend a longer time in Asia, explaining how to extend ones stay by simply traveling between Asian countries.  Also, how to make a living using the Internet, timely advice indeed.  In addition to the entertaining text, the book is filled with stunning photos, and many hyperlinks for additional information.  I found myself clicking on the arrow to continue, but I had reached the end of the book.  I wanted more.  That alone earns the book a 5-Star rating!  I highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to Asia.
2848907
I was amazed upon reading this book how many people really do quit their jobs-or respond to a layoff-by chucking it all and backpacking the world. And even better, they write about it so the rest of us can continue to dream about it fruitlessly whenever we are stuck in rush hour traffic or an endless project meeting.

This is a collection of travel essays with the emphasis on adventure travel although misadventure is really the uniting theme. A few of the stories are so slapsticky I question how much they've been embellished (particularly Rachel Thurston's.) But many are first rate. My favorites include Sean Presant's story of his visit to a unique Turkish spa, Eben Strousse's high calibre holiday in Cambodia, Scott Turner's tale of Kenyan plumbing (if you've spent any time outside of the US or Europe, you'll have a whole new appreciation for the amazing flush capabilities of our sewage systems), Jennifer Colvin's lesson in Parisian office politics, Conor Grennan's sweet memoir of a birthday spent far from home, Peter Mandel's stint at Six Flags as a television icon, Jennifer Carlisle's trip to Peru which resulted in an unexpected souvenir in the form of a really disgusting parasite, and the always reliable Susan Orlean's take on the appeal of retail therapy in the sky. There were several others I enjoyed too and I regret not being able to list them all.

My favorite story, however, was Seth Stevenson's take on travel in India. Partly because, having spent time in the Middle East-which can bring its own dietary distresses on the foreigner-I am sadly all too familiar with the game "Can I Throw Up in This?" But also because the humor is mixed with a certain world weary reality about the conditions much of the world lives in and the helplessness and guilt you feel when seeing it in person.

All in all, an entertaining and occasionally insightful collection with only a few missteps. And who knows? I'm sure some readers will be inspired to get out there. I look forward to reading the results in a future volume.
2677495
FK is a book that feels good in your hands; its compact and light.  It feels good; it promotes good. The content itself is summed up by the title. Fierce Kindness is a practical, direct and wise guide for how to choose kindness and positive actions in our lives.  There are anecdotes from  author Melanie Salvatore-Augusts life that express her own transformation from often feeling fearful (doubts about her career, fear of living in a new city, etc.) to recognizing those thoughts and then transforming them into positive actions.  In the book, she asserts that our thoughts determine much of our existence and that we can re-focus those thoughts to positive ones.

There are simple exercises to start changing our attitudes, and then to start changing the world one small action at a time.  Although it may seem like an impossible or  even foolish endeavor,  the book offers up simple actions we can take.  You can open the book to a page and find the suggestion to consider the words we use, how they affect others, and to determine how we can use our words to be more kind.  Or there is the reminder to pause before we leave our house each day and set an intention for how we would like our day to go.  My favorite section of the book has 31 daily actions and affirmations, one for each day of the month.  All are within the grasp of anyone to do: pick up litter as we walk down the street, giving someone the parking spot we were going to pull into, etc.  These small acts of gratitude, she asserts, make a huge difference to our own well-being, and, if enough of us do them, might change the world.
2026578
Back before Doug Mack was even a gleam in her eye, his mother took a trip to Europe with a friend and exchanged letters and postcards (remember those?) with her beau, who would someday become her husband and Doug's father.  Mr. and Mrs. Mack subsequently cultivated a love of travel in their children, and when the adult Doug acquires a weathered 1963 copy of "Europe on Five Dollars a Day," he's inspired to follow it around the Continent to see how things have changed over the years.  The result is this entertaining travel memoir, "Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day."

The pressures of real life forced Mr. Mack to spread his journey across a couple of vacations, but he manages to minimize the gap's impact to the book's flow. As much as possible, he attempts to adhere to the vintage Frommer's recommendations - not financially, since that would be impossible due to inflation, but at least geographically and spiritually.  We follow the author through eight different countries while he tracks down Frommer's old haunts while trying to see Europe through the youthful eyes of his vivacious mother, as expressed through her preserved correspondence with the homebound senior Mr. Mack.

Each chapter covers one of the author's different European ports of call, such as Paris, Brussels, and Berlin. Sometimes Mr. Mack travels alone, other times he's with Lee, his so-called "sidekick" and somewhat more extroverted friend.  Whether solo or as part of a duo, the author labors to get out of his shell by interacting with locals and connecting with fellow travelers.  His adventures are recalled, depending on the circumstance, in a humorous or bittersweet manner.  Mr. Mack is thankful when he finds superb native food or a sublime locale, and rueful when rampant tourism has marred a formerly local hotspot beyond recognition or he encounters boorish vacationers.

"Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day" won't be the most funny, profound, or memorable book on travel you'll ever read, and as Mr. Mack admits, he didn't achieve the tidy ending to his tale that he hoped for (a meet-cute moment with the love of his life).  But if you love foreign getaways and are looking for a vicarious literary fix to tide you over before your next journey, then this book is just what the travel clinic ordered.
3494950
L.M. Browning has written a volume about spiritual travel, not in the sense of exotic adventure, but in leaving the familiar inner dwelling, while staying close to home, to discover what is true. She lets the reader know that difficult circumstances accompanied her through much of her young life, alluding to sacrifices and betrayals. But that's not where she leaves us. The purpose of disclosure is to let us know where she's been and where she's come to this point: unstintingly honest having found strength in vulnerability. Gratitude for the small things. Connection to place.

She frequently mentions the Transcendentalists. In reading the poetry and introductory essays, I can easily imagine the author walking by Thoreau's side around Walden Pond. I've traveled to some of the places named. But even if I hadn't, her use of language makes them immediate. And there's a feeling sense that speaks to an inner space common to all of usif we choose to know it.

"As I grasped the old wrought doorknobs, I shook hands with the past."

Celebrations of nature and history are used as vehicles urging toward spiritual travel, to shed what is meaningless and embrace greater freedom. There are examples on every page.

In this thin volume much is said. You'll not want to hurry through it but rather take a page or two and linger over them, much as you might to inform meditation practice. Fleeting Moments of Fierce Clarity has been given the distinction of Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Non-Fiction Regional Category.
4112327
This story has all the right ingredients for what makes a travelogue great: the author took me on the journey with him, introduced me to the people he met along the way, taught me something I didn't know before and most importantly, shared his experiences and feelings so I got to know him like a friend. He's a compassionate person who pays for an unsatisfactory room just because the hotel owner needs the money and he is genuinely sympathetic for the soldiers stationed in Kashmir. It's not all serious though - the author has wonderful sense of humour and a quirky outlook too.

I've visited India many times and it was interesting to read how a local traveller also faces similar problems to me.  The frustration in trying to find somewhere decent to stay, the monotonous and sometimes less than appetising food, the constant harassment from touts. It was all worth it though to experience the scenery and natural beauty of India's landscape that the author shared as he took me on a trip from Prune to the Himalayas on his Enfield motorbike. However, it wasn't just a bike journey that the author went on. It was also a spiritual journey - one of Vipassana meditation, reverence for the universe and managing periods of negativity or depression.

It was also interesting to learn at the end of the book that the author had taken a writing course - it shows. The writing is very good. This is a beautifully written travel story written by a beautiful, compassionate, witty and spiritual author. My only criticism of the book though is that there could have been more. In some parts, it seemed as if the author left out some important details and he could have delved deeper into the heart of things.  Despite this, I highly recommend this book for bike enthusiasts, travellers or anyone who just enjoys a good read.
62717
If I were to sum up this wonderful book in a few words, it would be "love in action."  The author takes us on an adventure, summed up in wry and witty humor, reflections on heartache and sorrow, and a wide variety of lessons learned in one woman's life.  Her journey, from childhood to present, is wrapped, like a wonderful present, in superb poetry (the book is worth the poetry alone!). This is your book if you want a thoughtful, insightful read captured in a richly descriptive and very personal style. My suggestion is that you read it, enjoy it, learn from it, and spend some time pondering it. A fantastic book!