Koncocoo

Best Travel Writing

Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom
Inspired by the frugality and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, Ilgunas undertook a 3-year transcontinental jour¬ney, working in Alaska as a tour guide, garbage picker, and night cook to pay off his student loans before hitchhiking home to New York. For recent University of Buffalo liberal-arts graduate Ilgunas, however, the sight of $32,000 printed in black and white on a Sallie Mae loan statement yielded a life-changing epiphany. Instead of remaining shackled to his low-wage job at a Niagara Falls Home Depot and rooming with his parents to better whittle away his debt, Ilgunas struck off to remote Coldfoot, Alaska, to get a taste of wilderness living while working as a cook and sometime nature guide. Many years, odd jobs, and escapades later, including hitchhiking across the U.S., paddling a canoe as a “voyageur” across Northern Canada, and joining a cleanup crew in Katrina-ravaged rural Mississippi, Ilgunas was finally debt-free. Inspired by Thoreau’s example of low-impact living, and determined to minimize housing expenses to avoid another mountain of debt, Ilgunas spent the last of his savings on a used vehicle he variously dubs the titular “Walden on wheels” or “a creepy red van.” Replete with colorful anecdotes and disarming wit, Ilgunas’ account is both a goad for chronic debtors and an irresistibly engrossing true-life adventure tale. --Carl Hays " Walden on Wheels [is] a remarkable memoir that manages to stay light on its feet while saying a great deal about the state of modern American society. "Replete with colorful anecdotes and disarming wit, Ilgunas’ account is both a goad for chronic debtors and an irresistibly engrossing true-life adventure tale." " Walden on Wheels , a remarkable memoir that manages to stay light on its feet while saying a great deal about the state of modern American society. Thoughtful and well-crafted, [and] inspiring to read, Walden on Wheels , reminds one that life is made up of the little things, the experiences gained, the adventures survived, rather than the consumables acquired." "Wrapped in a powerfully told, often self-deprecating travel memoir, Walden on Wheels delivers important, even life-changing, insights into navigating your way to a saner life in a sometimes insane, debt-driven, consumer culture." "Among many other delights, Ken Ilgunas offers a fresh, provocative perspective on the student debt debate in his rollicking coming-of-age memoir—a funny and inspirational debut."
Reviews
"A really interesting read."
"I think I can relate to him."
"And it lead him to experience hardship, hard work under difficult circumstances such as cold, wet, long hours in no mans land. He met many different kinds of people as he worked and traveled across country hitch hiking."
"The writing was excellent and very witty and the echoes of Thoreau's Walden were subtle but unmistakeable, including the charts of what he spent on living in the van and the frequent romantic descriptions of nature that at times seemed just a tad over the top."
"This writer has much to say and I predict a great literary future."
"It's inspirational that the author dug himself out of debt in such a unique manner, but a lot of the challenges faced doing it had to be tough including weather conditions, eating and cleaning conditions, safety and security - even moreso than the author had room to document."
"Ken is a very interesting and down-to-earth writer who can really empathize with the adventurous millennial who graduated from university and can't stand being a slave to student loan debt."
"Thank you, Ken, for writing about your adventures."
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AWOL on the Appalachian Trail
In 2003, software engineer David Miller left his job, family, and friends to fulfill a dream and hike the Appalachian Trail. Of course, fellow Appalachian Trail (AT) hikers reading his book will be like the choir before the preacher, devouring his passages like a mystery novel, despite knowing exactly how it will end. Miller does a particularly good job of describing how hikers' moods change more sharply than the physical ups and downs of the mountain chain -- from senseless euphoria to mindless morosity -- as they put one foot in front of the other for months at a time. In fact, hikers spend many of their thoughts contemplating why in the heck they're out there, suffering through the blisters, bugs, rain and boredom that are as much a part of the experience as the dramatic views and inspiring wilderness. David Miller's Awol on the Appalachian Trail allows us to sample the pleasures and the pains of hiking 2,172 miles from Georgia to Maine. Readers who are considering the Trail or who simply enjoy being in the outdoors will find this book most appealing, but Miller's talent should bring him an even larger audience.
Reviews
"I read a lot of books about the Appalachian Trail so the subject matter was not at all new to me but I enjoyed the humor interspersed at regular intervals throughout the book."
"Enjoyed my vicarious journey."
"If you delight in an author's ability to make the printed page a canvas; if you relish rereading a paragraph just because of how smart it was--you'll love this whether you're a hiker or not. If there is a criticism, I'd offer that he might have left out the few mild obscenities in exchange for broadest appeal."
"Our trips were no longer than 2 or three hours and we experienced no real hardships, but this book awakened the memory of those wonderful imagined hikes into history."
"The author shared his respective periods of pain and elation, as he successfully traversed the almost 2,200 miles on the Appalachian Trail."
"Enjoyed the read and found it to be a great mix of a recital of conditions along the trail, personal insights and a realistic journaling of the physical demands and injuries that are a part of any long through hike."
"I have read other books written by people who took on the challenge of hiking the A.T. All have been enjoyable and I would recommend them to anyone who is curious about the experience."
"Kudos to David for completing his hike and taking the time to share it with us all."
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Free Country: A Penniless Adventure the Length of Britain
George and Ben have three weeks to cycle 1000 miles from the bottom of England to the top of Scotland. Setting off in just a pair of Union Jack boxer shorts, they attempt to rely on the generosity of the British public for everything from food to accommodation, clothes to shoes, and bikes to beer. During the most hilarious adventure, George and Ben encounter some of Great Britain's most eccentric and extraordinary characters and find themselves in the most ridiculous situations. It will restore your faith in humanity and leave you with a big smile on your face and a warm feeling inside. It was the same year that Mrs Marriott's legendary fruit loaf was beaten in the WI cake contest for the first time in six years. After spending a year travelling in the USA (with clothes and money), he worked for several years in a variety of jobs including charity fund-raising and garlic bread making.
Reviews
"I say this having never met the man but I feel like I've just had the adventure of a lifetime with my new pal after having read his very funny and surprisingly inspirational book Free Country. Free Country tells the true story of two young men, George and his friend Ben, who decide to cycle the length of Britain from Land's End to John O Groats. Well, not quite nothing, they each have a pair of Union Jack boxer shorts (and George later confesses, a camera, a notebook, a pencil and stack of cards containing the words "I am OFFICIALLY a very nice person."). Over three weeks in September, with a vow to spend no money they wander their way north like the maddest of monks on the most quixotic of quests. What they find along the way is a country filled with very interesting people, a great number of whom are very nice. Ben and George manage, through charm, wit, fast talking and willingness to do tasks ranging from cleaning, to loading onions to singing for their suppers, to acquire clothes, food, bicycles and someplace to sleep every night. George is a great observer of life and a very witty writer and he and Ben bicker throughout the journey in the way that only true friends can. -----. Before eating the sandwiches we tried a rendition of Silent Night in German that I could still remember from primary school. A guy on a bmx, in his mid thirties, approached with a small paper bag from Greggs. I lifted up the side of my skimpy blue shorts, and exposed my flabby white thighs. `Phwoooooaarr,' said both ladies... -----. If a nutritionist had analysed what we ate during the bike ride, I think they probably would have concluded that we should not be alive, let alone fit enough to cycle. Almost everything we ate was a shade of beige; bread, pasta bakes, chips, pasties and bananas."
"To make it even more challenging, they set out barefoot with no money, no food or water, wearing only a pair of boxers. George relates the story in an amusing manner while taking us through each small-town and introducing us to the people who help them along the way."
"I enjoyed it so much i recommended to my local library they purchase all 3 of his books. I almost feel like i know George and his family - It's one of the reasons i bought the books."
"These two crazy guys set out from Land's End to John O'Groats with -- to start with -- nothing but the boxer shorts which you can see on the front page! But I'm sure they must have come across as nice, trustworthy and needy guys, because .... read it and find if they actually manage to reach the upper end of England -- with no money and living on the charity of good people!"
"Two friends, step out of their comfort zone, go on a cycling trip, with no money, bikes, clothes (except boxer shorts) and depend on the kindness of strangers."
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Best Eastern Europe Travel

Rick Steves Croatia & Slovenia
Stroll atop the walls that encircle romantic Dubrovnik, wander through the Roman ruins in the heart of bustling Split, and set sail to the islands of Korcula and Hvar on the glimmering Adriatic. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. Ever since, he has spent three months each year in Europe, contributing to guidebooks, tours, radio and television shows, and other media for Rick Steves' Europe, where he serves as content manager.
Reviews
"Rick Steves is the ultimately in a quality, trustworthy travel guide."
"Was hoping for a nice map."
"Rick is always knowledgeable and helpful."
"This is a very complete book for the area."
"Wonderful book for getting around Coatia and Slovenia."
"It arrived quickly & is a great resource for a future vacation!"
"Rick Steves is so helpful."
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Best Central & South America Travel

Lonely Planet Central America on a shoestring (Travel Guide)
Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Budget-oriented recommendations with honest reviews - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, music, cuisine, sports, wildlife, environment, architecture, literature, cinema, current events Over 90 maps Covers Mexico's Yucatán & Chiapas, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and more. Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing. Source: Nielsen BookScan.
Reviews
"Great book with tons of great information."
"Came sooner than expected and the book is great."
"Call me crazy...but I feel like a book with "on a shoestring" in the title should really spend more time reviewing budget accommodations and skip the expensive hotels."
"Those who like to include off-the-beaten path travel, should consult Lonely Planet’s individual country books for gems that are even better than the easily-gotten-to sites."
"Really a god guide!"
"There should be separate (thin) books for each Central American country to spare single-country visitors from lugging such a thick volume; the country-specific e-chapters are a poor alternative due to careless layout and, in El Salvador, spotty Internet access."
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Best Biographies & Memoirs

Coming Clean: A Memoir
You would never guess that behind the closed doors of her family’s idyllic Long Island house hid teetering stacks of aging newspaper, broken computers, and boxes upon boxes of unused junk festering in every room—the product of her father’s painful and unending struggle with hoarding. A brilliant guy who ended up driving a bus, Miller’s father was an extreme hoarder, and the family’s normal-from-the-outside (at least for a while) Long Island home was a mess (or treasure trove, depending on your point of view) of useless (or fascinating) papers and junk (important stuff). In Coming Clean , Miller, an actor and writer, chronicles her weird childhood and adolescence, but what’s really unusual about this buoyant, winning memoir is that for all that the author describes the familial dysfunction in heartbreaking, copious detail—and for all that she sometimes lost patience with her parents—she never stops showing that she loves them.
Reviews
"For a book about a child growing up in a hoarding environment, I found this to be surprisingly tragic. Like many others, I'm addicted the popular tv shows that feature, and some might argue exploit, this mental health issue. If you look around online, it's not hard to find articles and forum comments that are very judgmental, and often times vicious, toward the people who appear on these shows. She suffers with an extreme spinal condition because her parent's couldn't be bothered to get her a back brace as a child. Their first house burns down in a fire, spurred on by the mounds of paper, killing all the family pets."
"Most often it makes me sick to realize how they live in such a filthy mess."
"Before reading this book, I didn't realize that hoarding was a disorder or the emotional effects it can have on other members of the family."
"This memoir is much more detailed about what it's like to actually live in this situation, and Kimberly does a fantastic job of portraying her parents as interesting and lovable people, despite it all."
"Kimberly Rae Miller has shared an artfully written, painful and revealing account of a life of love and survival."
"Kimberly Rae Miller has penned a memoir detailing a life filled with very similar shame, embarrassment and neglect as those who grew up in homes wracked with alcoholism. Since so little is known about the children of hoarders, this was a fascinating walk through the life of a brave young woman who had the heart to hold onto fierce compassion and understanding for her parents' illness. While her parents were loving and devoted in many ways, there is no doubt they exposed their daughter to great risks, neglected her health, emotionally abused her by keeping her hostage in a putrid home she could neither explain nor understand and later on took great advantage of her by using her to repeatedly pull them out of their mess when it became critically necessary."
"Well written, your voice is so pure and easy to read with great pace and flow."
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Best Travel Reference

Lonely Planet New Zealand (Travel Guide)
Experience Maori culture, be wowed by beautiful glaciers or hike through gorgeous scenery; all with your trusted travel companion. Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - Maori culture, history, cuisine, arts, music, landscape, wildlife Free, convenient pull-out touring map (included in print version), plus over 90 maps Covers Auckland, Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula, Central Plateau, Rotorua, East Coast, Wellington, Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Fiordland, Southland and more. Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing.
Reviews
"This book was the end-all-be-all for references and recommendations in New Zealand."
"Very informative, with up to date information and good recommendations on activities, restaurants, etc."
"Incredibly helpful in planning my trip to New Zealand."
"Provides most of the necessary information."
"We stuck mostly to the book and had an amazing trip."
"Informative and easy to use and enjoy."
"For trip planning, background history, information about the country and important travel tips to know it is great."
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Best Asian Travel

Eat Pray Love 10th-Anniversary Edition: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
The 10th anniversary edition of one of the most iconic, beloved, and bestselling books of our time. Sustaining a chatty, conspiratorial tone, Gilbert fully engages readers in the year's cultural and emotional tapestry - conveying rapture with infectious brio, recalling anguish with touching candor - as she details her exotic tableau with history, anecdote and impression. Three years later, after a protracted divorce, she embarked on a yearlong trip of recovery, with three main stops: Rome, for pleasure (mostly gustatory, with a special emphasis on gelato); an ashram outside of Mumbai, for spiritual searching; and Bali, for "balancing."
Reviews
"This book (somehow memoir doesn't seem to do justice to what Gilbert has produced) will make you silent in realizing profound and great wisdom before making you blurt sudden laughter upon reading the very next page."
"It motivated me to make my own trip and enjoy life and I liked that."
"This is an uplifting story of a woman who puts hectic life on hold, and allows herself to heal after a difficult divorce."
"I ordered this book since I read the book "Eat, Pray, Love" when it was first published (2007), and I was curious to see how other readers were positively influenced by this book (and see if any of the stories were similar to my reactions)."
"This is an inspirational book that will show you spiritual truths through the authors personal journey."
"Great quality and arrived fast!"
"A shortened version of this book would have been sufficient, but it is awesome to read how impactful Gilbenrt's book has been on a myriad of diverse lives."
"Somehow the massive popularity of this book made me think I wouldn't like it as much."
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Best African Travel

Lonely Planet Egypt (Travel Guide)
Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, art, literature, cuisine, etiquette, sports, politics, landscapes, wildlife, architecture Over 102 maps Covers Cairo, the Nile Valley, Minya, Luxor, Esna, Siwa Oasis, Western Desert, Alexandria, Suez Canal, Red Sea Coast, Sinai and more. Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing. Anthony Sattin is an award-winning journalist and the author of several acclaimed history and travel books.
Reviews
"Great guidebook for an amazing city."
"excellent composition."
"Excellent guide for the traveler going to Egypt."
"Very accurate and helpful for my trip to Egypt."
"Really good tour book for Egypt."
"Good stuff!"
"This book provided us with very helpful information."
"Great book with lots of detail for anyone planning to take a trip to Egypt."
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Best European Travel

Lonely Planet Italy (Travel Guide)
Take in a gondolier's sweet song while gliding past Venetian palaces, sample olives and wines as you traverse Tuscany's storybook hills, or be humbled amid thousands of years of Roman history and art; all with your trusted travel companion. Full-colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - including history, art, literature, cinema, music, architecture, politics, cuisine, wine, customs Free, convenient pull-out Rome map (included in print version), plus over 137 colour maps Covers Rome, Turin, Piedmont, the Italian Riviera, Milan, the Lakes, Dolomites, Venice, Emilia-Romagna, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Naples, Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia and more. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. Garwood has a history degree from York University.
Reviews
"Excellent preparation for my trip touring Italy."
"After reading the first 30 pages on my iPad, it is frustrating to see that some images are missing and format of the pages is "glitched"."
"The perfect book for a visit to Italy."
"I was traveling mostly off the beaten path and I should have known that this is much more tailored to the sheer volumes of touristy (and amazing) places to see."
"Lonely Planet books are the best!"
"This book was completely disorganized and so hard to follow."
"Ordered in error."
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Best Canadian Travel

Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks (Travel Guide)
Inside the Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper & Glacier National Parks Travel Guide: Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalize your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing.
Reviews
"Buy it with enough time to use it to plan your trip, it has great recommendations for everything!"
"Helped us figure out the key things we should do, weather permitting."
"It's like a pre-walk through the park."
"I found more on the area, using the internet."
"Excellent resource for the Canadian Rockies National Parks."
"Great info on hikes, scenery, food, and everything in general."
"A good book, not quite as useful for me as the Moon book."
"And not just for the hiking trails advice, but also for lodging, eating, and other activity suggestions."
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Best Caribbean Travel

Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like A Local And Save Money
UPDATED 2018 EDITION - With Bonus Trinidad City Guide Real Havana is the #1 selling guide to experiencing the authentic Cuba. The Real Havana guide shows you how to do all that and lots more. This book is not a "tourist guide" . Full Compass Guides are aimed at travelers who want to understand local customs and culture so that they can experience destinations like a local. Unlike regular tourist guides, Full Compass guides are not a list of attractions popular with tourists, and boring restaurant and hotel reviews that are obsolete the moment they are published. With our guides, you get succinct, useful information about the culture, people and geography of your destination so you have the tools and the confidence to explore on your own, experience everything that your destination has to offer, and save money. Our guides are written by experienced travelers who have intimate knowledge of both the location and the culture of the destination. With a Full Compass guide, you will be a knowledgeable explorer, rather than just another flash-happy tourist. One of the things he find most interesting about Cuba is that it has a pervasive entrepreneurial spirit in spite of years of communism To learn more about Mario Rizzi and to follow his blog updates on Havana and Cuba, please visit the website www.BestCubaGuide.com Mario is an avid traveler and his most important goal is to familiarize himself with the culture of a country so that he can explore it like a local would, rather than as a tourist.
Reviews
"Great book, lots of information on local transportation, meals, buildings, money and currency conversion, etc."
"Good read, before I went to Cuba I was tempted to give it 5 stars but then when I was there I realized that the lack of structure made it hard to use for planing."
"Lots of helpful tips as I read it on the plane."
"Very helpful during our trip to Havana."
"I look forward to any other books you write on Cuba."
"This book was recommended ahead of a trip but I ended up using other resources including ViaHero, a startup that provides local insider info on Cuba."
"Great tips, easy read, up to date."
"Probably the most useful travel guide I read for traveling to Havana."
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Best Pictorial Travel

My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth
In My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth, Wendy shares a glimpse of North Korea as it’s never been seen before. Through poignant, laugh-out-loud essays and 92 never-before-published color photographs of North Korea, Wendy chronicles one of the strangest vacations ever. “A death-defying adventure, filled with despair and tiny pieces of hope, and beautiful ― I wish I was as brave as Wendy.” (James Altucher Bestselling author, entrepreneur, podcaster ). Her intrepid desire to discover the reality behind the stagecraft escorts the reader through My Holiday in North Korea with words and pictures that render this mysterious country both knowable and unknowable, and always fascinating. Simmons’ insightful and funny storytelling evocatively captures the deception, corruption, humor and, ultimately, anguished humanity of a bizarre nation. But more than that, it is Ms. Simmons ease at being a traveler to distant and strange lands that gives this book its unusual insight into what people behind a real iron curtain think, and yes, feel.” (Maria T. Lemmon Novelist, a screenwriter, and the author of Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child, and Making It Up as I go Along ). “Writer and photographer Wendy Simmons shares a personal account of her vacation to one of the most reclusive nations on the planet, North Korea. During her journey she finds herself caught between an international crisis sparked by the release of the Sony Pictures film The Interview and accidentally crashing the ‘wedding’ of a North Korean bride to be.” (Gabriel Sanchez Buzzfeed ).
Reviews
"This book is funny for sure."
"I've always wanted to visit North Korea, though the chances of that ever happening seem increasingly remote given our current global climate."
"This was written from a totally different perspective and was a fascinating look at the degree of brainwashing and propaganda that rules daily life in North Korea."
"Simmons's quips (read: "Driver nearly knocked Fresh Handler over for the girlie [pair of sunglasses]) throughout the book keep the dark subject matter light. I loved it straight through the end and fully felt the writer's pain: "...I could never stop wondering what kind of people my handlers could or would have been had they been born anywhere else."
"I felt like I was reading about Stalinist Russia where the people starved while the leaders lived in incomprehensible corruption and luxury and built obscene monuments to themselves."
"I felt like I was alongside Wendy on her journey navigating the absurdities of visiting North Korea. I recommend this as a great glimpse into the dichotomy that is North Korea and is particularly relevant considering our political climate, leaders on-going twitter wars, and of course nuclear testing."
"humorous, sarcastic voice - it's a quick read and a page turner because the tale she tells is of a very stange, oppressive, sad and disturbing culture."
"North Korea is definitely not a place I ever plan on visiting!"
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Best Specialty Travel

Wild (Oprah's Book Club 2.0 Digital Edition): From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection: This special eBook edition of Cheryl Strayed’s national best seller, Wild ,features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. Amazon Best Books of the Month, March 2012: At age 26, following the death of her mother, divorce, and a run of reckless behavior, Cheryl Strayed found herself alone near the foot of the Pacific Crest Trail--inexperienced, over-equipped, and desperate to reclaim her life. While readers looking for adventure or a naturalist's perspective may be distracted by the emotional odyssey at the core of the story, Wild vividly describes the grueling life of the long-distance hiker, the ubiquitous perils of the PCT, and its peculiar community of wanderers. But Strayed doesn't want sympathy, and her confident prose stands on its own, deftly pulling both threads into a story that inhabits a unique riparian zone between wilderness tale and personal-redemption memoir. Two months before Wild was published I stood on a Mexican beach at sunset with my family assisting dozens of baby turtles on their stumbling journey across the sand, then watching as they disappeared into the sea. Echoing the ever-popular search for wilderness salvation by Chris McCandless (Back to the Wild, 2011) and every other modern-day disciple of Thoreau, Strayed tells the story of her emotional devastation after the death of her mother and the weeks she spent hiking the 1,100-mile Pacific Crest Trail. As her family, marriage, and sanity go to pieces, Strayed drifts into spontaneous encounters with other men, to the consternation of her confused husband, and eventually hits rock bottom while shooting up heroin with a new boyfriend. Woefully unprepared (she fails to read about the trail, buy boots that fit, or pack practically), she relies on the kindness and assistance of those she meets along the way, much as McCandless did.
Reviews
"Although I did not hike the PCT I did backpack in Yosemite."
"Cheryl Strayed's memoir of an 1100 miles trek on the Pacific Crest trail is an astonishing story of a spectacular and breathtaking adventure of coming to terms with grief and survival during a difficult trek through snow_clad mountains and thick forests for two months beginning in the Mojave desert and hiking through California and Oregon to the Bridge of Gods in Washington."
"This book is not for everyone, you either seem to love it or hate it, but I loved it."
"The author tells her personal story which includes a lot of her flaws and mistakes. I'm grateful for the author's willingness to share this with enough detail to make the reader understand her state of mind and her experience of events."
"Having hiked, during my long life, on four continents, along trails of varying degrees of intensity, I empathised with every painful step this young, intelligent and courageous woman endured on the extremely challenging Pacific Crest Hiking Trail on the North American continent."
"But this book is really less about the PCT and more about the emotional journey which apparently was a good deal more strenuous than the trail. This book documents with chilling honesty the route she took emotionally to deal with that upbringing."
"I am an experienced hiker and Cheryl Strayed was an outdoor person but not a hiker of the type who usually attempts an extreme hike. Her writing is so good that I could envision each part of the trail as she hiked along the PCT."
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Best Polar Regions Travel

Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8,000-Meter Peak
One of Sports Illustrated ’s Top 100 Sports Books of All Time: A gripping firsthand account of one of the most daring climbing expeditions in history. “Those who have never seen the Himalayas, those who never care to risk an assault, will know when they finish this book that they have been a companion of greatness.” — TheNew York Times Book Review “The most influential mountaineering book of all time.” — National Geographic Adventure.
Reviews
"The book became long and wordy in places but these were no doubt hardy, tough and smart men, with courage to spare."
"This book was fascinating."
"This book is a good glimpse of all the stuff that can go wrong, and how a self-reportedly conservative risk-taker nearly got his entire team killed, and lost major chunks of his body in the process."
"I thought it was a good read full of insights about the mentality of adventurers and mountaineers."
"Also, the extensive use of Sherpas and others natives hired to carry equipment make one realize what a monumental task this was in 1950."
"It was not as "gripping" as "Into Thin Air", but had its own sense of adventure, along with all of the risks involved, especially at that early time in mountaineering in the Himalayas."
"This was an amazing story of unbelievable courage under very difficult conditions."
"A vibrant, visual and interesting story of the hardships while climbing Annapurna."
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Best United States Travel

Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom
Inspired by the frugality and philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, Ilgunas undertook a 3-year transcontinental jour¬ney, working in Alaska as a tour guide, garbage picker, and night cook to pay off his student loans before hitchhiking home to New York. For recent University of Buffalo liberal-arts graduate Ilgunas, however, the sight of $32,000 printed in black and white on a Sallie Mae loan statement yielded a life-changing epiphany. Instead of remaining shackled to his low-wage job at a Niagara Falls Home Depot and rooming with his parents to better whittle away his debt, Ilgunas struck off to remote Coldfoot, Alaska, to get a taste of wilderness living while working as a cook and sometime nature guide. Many years, odd jobs, and escapades later, including hitchhiking across the U.S., paddling a canoe as a “voyageur” across Northern Canada, and joining a cleanup crew in Katrina-ravaged rural Mississippi, Ilgunas was finally debt-free. Inspired by Thoreau’s example of low-impact living, and determined to minimize housing expenses to avoid another mountain of debt, Ilgunas spent the last of his savings on a used vehicle he variously dubs the titular “Walden on wheels” or “a creepy red van.” Replete with colorful anecdotes and disarming wit, Ilgunas’ account is both a goad for chronic debtors and an irresistibly engrossing true-life adventure tale. --Carl Hays " Walden on Wheels [is] a remarkable memoir that manages to stay light on its feet while saying a great deal about the state of modern American society. "Replete with colorful anecdotes and disarming wit, Ilgunas’ account is both a goad for chronic debtors and an irresistibly engrossing true-life adventure tale." " Walden on Wheels , a remarkable memoir that manages to stay light on its feet while saying a great deal about the state of modern American society. Thoughtful and well-crafted, [and] inspiring to read, Walden on Wheels , reminds one that life is made up of the little things, the experiences gained, the adventures survived, rather than the consumables acquired." "Wrapped in a powerfully told, often self-deprecating travel memoir, Walden on Wheels delivers important, even life-changing, insights into navigating your way to a saner life in a sometimes insane, debt-driven, consumer culture." "Among many other delights, Ken Ilgunas offers a fresh, provocative perspective on the student debt debate in his rollicking coming-of-age memoir—a funny and inspirational debut."
Reviews
"A really interesting read."
"I think I can relate to him."
"And it lead him to experience hardship, hard work under difficult circumstances such as cold, wet, long hours in no mans land. He met many different kinds of people as he worked and traveled across country hitch hiking."
"The writing was excellent and very witty and the echoes of Thoreau's Walden were subtle but unmistakeable, including the charts of what he spent on living in the van and the frequent romantic descriptions of nature that at times seemed just a tad over the top."
"This writer has much to say and I predict a great literary future."
"It's inspirational that the author dug himself out of debt in such a unique manner, but a lot of the challenges faced doing it had to be tough including weather conditions, eating and cleaning conditions, safety and security - even moreso than the author had room to document."
"Ken is a very interesting and down-to-earth writer who can really empathize with the adventurous millennial who graduated from university and can't stand being a slave to student loan debt."
"Thank you, Ken, for writing about your adventures."
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Best Middle Eastern Travel

Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil
Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family’s debts, the Taliban member’s wife who pursued her training despite her husband’s constant beatings. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom. Rodriguez went to Afghanistan in 2002, just after the fall of the Taliban, volunteering as a nurse's aide, but soon found that her skills as a trained hairdresser were far more in demand, both for the Western workers and, as word got out, Afghans. Rodriguez was entranced with the delightful personalities that emerged when her students removed their burqas behind closed doors, but her book is also a tale of empowerment–both for her and the women. Rodriguez's experiences will delight readers as she recounts such tales as two friends acting as parents and negotiating a dowry for her marriage to an Afghan man or her students puzzling over a donation of a carton of thongs. Most of all, they will share her admiration for Afghan women's survival and triumph in chaotic times.– Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Reviews
"Deep cultural beliefs and practices do have potential for evolution but they won’t be moved by brute force, rather by millions of small souls doing amazing things like sharing themselves in a loving way and giving others hope and knowledge to rise above their situations."
"Her story evolving with great insights of life in Kabul, especially the way woman live and what was perhaps even more interesting, is how Debbie managed to set up a great school, driven by her passion, while being sooooo emotional."
"As she teaches these brave women, she learns about the culture, the people and the beauty of that intriguing country."
"I could not put this book down."
"I was very intrigued with her level of committment to bring employment to women of Afghanistan."
"It also gave me a new. appreciation as a citizen of the United States!"
"I couldn't do what Debbie did."
"WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY THAT GIVES A INTERESTING VIEW OF THE LIFE OF WOMEN AND LIFE IN GENERAL OF WAR TORN KABUL."
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Best Australia & South Pacific Travel

The Dresden Files Collection 1-6 (The Dresden Files Box-Set)
The first six novels featuring Harry Dresden—Chicago’s only professional wizard—are a perfect introduction to the # 1 New York Times bestselling series that Entertainment Weekly describes as “ Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe.” STORM FRONT. FOOL MOON. GRAVE PERIL. SUMMER KNIGHT. DEATH MASKS. BLOOD RITES. Praise for the Dresden Files “Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer starring Philip Marlowe.”— Entertainment Weekly “Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Tanya Huff will love this series.”— Midwest Book Review “Superlative.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review). “One of the most enjoyable marriages of the fantasy and mystery genres on the shelves.”— Cinescape “Butcher...spins an excellent noirish detective yarn in a well-crafted, supernaturally-charged setting.
Reviews
"This series introduces a very improbable character - a real life professional wizard who practices openly in modern day Chicago!"
"Jim Butcher has managed to layer a world of supernatural fantasy over our own in such a way that makes it very easy for the reader to digest as the fantasy premises are introduced in bit-sized increments throughout the serise, until you realize you've been given an detailed and expansive fantasy world."
"I normally read pure fantasy books, however, I'd seen the failed TV show and like it and the concept of this book, so I gave it a read. Every book in the series are like those books you just don't to put down."
"I love the Dresden Files; I only wish there were more of them as I've read them all more than once!"
"While the books typically follow a somewhat formulaic approach to plot, the ongoing narrative makes up for the predictability of the "several unrelated things trying to kill Harry all really have something to do with each other" schtick."
"Every book is better than the last, pure fun and excitement page after page."
"My only complaint is that it is one large book on my kindle and not broken up individually."
"Charming characters you can gladly cheer, baddies you can lustily boo, and plot twists that make you laugh, gasp, or cry."
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Best Food, Lodging & Transportation

Dear Bob and Sue
Dear Bob and Sue is the story of our (Matt and Karen Smith) journey to all 59 U.S. National Parks. Still, another quotes Karen as saying that men who use a laptop while it sits directly on their lap expose themselves to the risk of “cooking their testicles.” For the sake of full disclosure, Karen’s testicle comment offends Matt as well. We also talk about drinking beer and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Matt and Karen have been married for over 34 years and live in the Seattle, Washington area.
Reviews
"I loved this book!"
"St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Coast, Redwood National & State Parks, and Great Basin National Park. I laughed so hard, I had tears in my eyes as I would read aloud excerpts to my husband."
"I loved this account of Matt and Karen's national park adventures."
"I really enjoyed this book ..."
"You not only learn about visiting all our National Parks but meet Karen and Matt and laugh and agonize along with them as they travel."
"While hiking the national parks has never been a goal of mine (though I'd happily watch someone else do it on TV :-), I had a great time reading this book."
"The emphasis upon alcohol consumption and even getting drunk, was puzzling because it - and the childish behavior in hotels, restaurants, out in the parks - conflicted with the authors' claim that they are middle aged adults who have raised a family and are turning 50. I kept reading beyond the point of finding the book somewhat repetitive, and rather annoying in the way that the couple began racing to parks just long enough to get the park stamp, take a quick hike, then mark that park "done" because I wanted to read about their experiences in two of my favorite parks: Acadia National Park in Maine and Badlands in South Dakota. The project was a worthy one but it occurred to me that it was a race, not a journey, done just to turn out a book, or to travel and be able to deduct the cost on their taxes. (I'm thinking I might be wrong about that, but the book gives one that impression: that it's all about getting the passports stamped and to be able to say they did it.)."
"There are a lot of honest and funny descriptions of those kinds of irritations one has to endure when they spend so much time together. The idea that thousands of people are reading about how it seems to be ok to touch things and otherwise think the rules are there for other people is pretty much my last straw."
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