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173rd out of 804 books
—
655 voters
The World's Most Dangerous Places
Robert Young Pelton, a professional adventurer, and his team of international war correspondents have updated this indispensable handbook for the intrepid adventurer-- a "how-to" in getting in and out of the world′s hot spots.
We are living in a dangerous world, and now more than ever people want to know what is going on where (and why). Featuring 25 countries, The World′s...more
We are living in a dangerous world, and now more than ever people want to know what is going on where (and why). Featuring 25 countries, The World′s...more
Paperback, Fifth Edition, 1088 pages
Published
April 1st 2003
by Collins Reference
(first published 1995)
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Aug 19, 2007
Blair Easton
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
travel in exotic places
Robert Young Pelton, given the risks he's taken, should no longer be alive. If you want to know about Chechnya, Kosovo, Iran, Liberia, Peru, Colombia, Myanmar; the political, military, ethnic, tribal players in those places; the weapons they use, where the mines are, which diseases to prepare for, etc...read this book. It's more like an encyclopedia of global conflict, but written to read like a travel book. It was allegedly on the CIA's required reading list. It's very factual, but sarcastic. I...more
I LOVE P*RN but the problem with P*RN is that it becomes boring so quickly. ORAL, AN*L, V*GINAL, FINGERS and FROTAGE---then what? Blonde, Brunette, Redhead, Bald---then what? Black,White, Yellow, Red---then what? Skinny, SSBBW, OLD, YOUNG, AMPUTEE --then what?
It's the same with VACATIONS. CLUB MED, Club Fed, Carnaval Cruises, Disneyland Get-a-Way, Hawaii, then what? Oral,An*l,V*ginal, fingers and Frotage? Now I'm repeating myself!!!
Some of us want to try different things, explore different sensa...more
It's the same with VACATIONS. CLUB MED, Club Fed, Carnaval Cruises, Disneyland Get-a-Way, Hawaii, then what? Oral,An*l,V*ginal, fingers and Frotage? Now I'm repeating myself!!!
Some of us want to try different things, explore different sensa...more
This edition of the book is highly outdated. This is an amazing book. I have gone back and have acquired or reacquired all five editions. Got the tee-shirt, got the stickers, and now I own DVD copies of the Travel Channel TV program (I don't get cable). If you are not certain about this book, try examining a copy from a public library.
I first saw the first edition of Fielding's Travel Guide to the World's Most Dangerous Places in a Milpitas, CA Borders book store. I was one of a number of people...more
I first saw the first edition of Fielding's Travel Guide to the World's Most Dangerous Places in a Milpitas, CA Borders book store. I was one of a number of people...more
An excellent guide to the world, and even a refreshing, brutally honest depiction of the U.S.A. Not only does this book keep you interested from one page to the next, but it offers something rare: Information you can actually use. These guys aren't Rambo, and warn hot-blooded thrill-seekers that trying to be Rambo will get you killed, under no uncertain terms. Including the information on the customs of Islamic regions probably saved my butt in Kuwait. This should be required reading in the mili...more
Two big problems here:
1) The fifth edition was the most recent I could find, and it's ten years out of date -- not only is Osama still alive, but Dubya is in his first term, Khatami is president of Iran, and the entire chapter on Iraq is pretty much useless. A more recent version would have, I think, been much better...and instead of including, say, the Balkans, there might be a chapter on Venezuela or Honduras.
2) Pelton and his staff go out of the way to show they are not PC. While the benefit...more
1) The fifth edition was the most recent I could find, and it's ten years out of date -- not only is Osama still alive, but Dubya is in his first term, Khatami is president of Iran, and the entire chapter on Iraq is pretty much useless. A more recent version would have, I think, been much better...and instead of including, say, the Balkans, there might be a chapter on Venezuela or Honduras.
2) Pelton and his staff go out of the way to show they are not PC. While the benefit...more
The first part of this big tome is a crash course in street smarts fro dangerous places, which can be anywhere. That's followed by several hundred pages of description for the most dangerous countries, such as Yemen, Columbia, and Russia. The first part is fast-moving and engaging. Pelton mixes true anecdotes with practical advice. The second part is long and intended more as a reference, though he does include stories for each location. I found the second part challenging because this version i...more
Lots of amazing resources and advice. In fact, way too much advice and great stuff. While a bit dated due to the fact it was printed a few years ago, it still does a great job of summing up most of the world's hotspots and cuts down on all of the bullshit the news agencies love to spoon feed you. The majority of dangerous locales are written directly from the author's first-hand knowledge as he traveled to those locations and mingled with the locals.
If you are thinking about heading to any of t...more
If you are thinking about heading to any of t...more
This is a very interesting read. I had the 4th Edition and literally wore it out. The 5th Edition is the most recent from Robert Young Pelton. Robert's travels across the globe have brought him to some rather interesting, and in some cases outright dangerous, places and, believe me, all the bad places are in here. Robert gives a first person's perspective of some of the scariest, war torn, corrupt and brutal places such as Chechnya, Israel/Palestine, Liberia and even the United States, but does...more
Is it poverty porn? Probably. Slanted with a Bristish/American perspective? Yes. Boastful? Undoubtedly. Captivating? For certain.
Began reading these books when I was around 10-years-old. Probably shouldn't have read them as my only source of "All That is Foreign," but they used to draw me in more than any other literature could.
Abstaining from a rating, as it doesn't quite fit.
Began reading these books when I was around 10-years-old. Probably shouldn't have read them as my only source of "All That is Foreign," but they used to draw me in more than any other literature could.
Abstaining from a rating, as it doesn't quite fit.
I gave it three stars only because I would like to see an updated 6th edition published. Pelton's 5th edition of The World's Most Dangerous Places is at the same time an entertaining read and a political commentary. The author meticulously instructs the reader on the ins and outs of some of the more volatile places on earth, giving background information on history, political groups, major players in the region, and even offering a rating system of one ("Bad-Rep Lands") to five ("Apocalypse Now)...more
A very lengthy (and badly out of date) description of the most dangerous places in the world by someone who has been there. A good explanation about what makes some locations so much more dangerous than others. Tips for not getting into trouble--or worse--in these places you probably don't want to visit.
I don't know if it's this edition I read or an earlier one, but it's pretty awesome. Not really a book meant to be read cover-to-cover, it's more the kind of book you dip into here and there: find a country you're interested and swoop down on it, coming back with the authors' first-hand experience on a place which will probably always be too dangerous for your bourgeois self to visit.
I guess this book has been revised a few times since I read the first edition years back. I read it cover to cover in a day. Guess its time to read it again. I found all of it to be useful, and most of it to be greatly to mildly entertaining.
I love these books. At the first sign of terminal illness or mental impairment (impairment beyond what most would consider to be an already impaired mind) I'm buying a one-way ticket to any destination in this book. Yee haa!
This has a prominent place along with my Lonely Planets and Rough Guides.
I'm happy to say that I've been able to add quite a few of his countries to my own list.
Of course, read this at your own risk!
I'm happy to say that I've been able to add quite a few of his countries to my own list.
Of course, read this at your own risk!
A thick book with the occasional entertaining, sensational accounts of affluent dilettantes in shitty locales. I wish Pelton was a good writer. He's not.
They should issue this to every US Marine! Provides fantastic insights into those you will meet, learn their culture, their customs, issues that might be of concern, and then you can...
Perfect addition to "Tough tools for a tough world!"
A great book. Semper Fi!
Perfect addition to "Tough tools for a tough world!"
A great book. Semper Fi!
A classic. Better used for reference or topical reading than cover-to-cover reading.
Eagerly awaiting an updated sixth edition.
Eagerly awaiting an updated sixth edition.
Impossible to put down. A very different, no bull look at International Affairs from a brilliant expat.
This is a great entertaining guide about places you will probably never visit. Fun book to read.
Yes, out of date. a lot happens in the world in ten years. But it was still fascinating.
If I taught a current events or recent history class, this would be one of my textbooks.
Don't go to Chechnya. But if you do, here's how...
THE travel book for folks who think its not a real trip unless you've had someone point a gun at them (aren't 'check pionts the best'). Sound advice on everything from how to pack, to what gear is good, to how to organize a crazy dangerous trip, and so on. Required reading for all REAL travelers and all those who fantasize about being Indiana Jones.
This book will actually make you want to go to extremely dangerous places. Unfortunately, it starts getting repetitive and eventually you'll stop reading. I made it to the Great Lakes of Africa and then put it down for a while. Still interesting and informative.
Every time a new edition of this book is printed I have to buy it. Robert Pelton is unbelievable. I had the privilage to meet him at the UCLA book faire about ten years ago and he just ROCKED!! Oddfact: The man has no fingernails.
Fascinating, it has everything from rogue diseases to look out for, how to survive brutal Dictatorships, what country are you most likely to be kidnapped and held for ransom in, you know that classic everyday info I need to know about
I probably could have reviewed this without even reading it: you have to define dangerous before you can decide what is most dangerous. As it happens, Pelton and I disagree on that definition, but it was still a fun read.
Fun read. Kinda good for keeping next to the bed and reading bits and pieces between other books. My favorite parts are the exotic disease section and wandering through the overviews of dangerous countries.
I read this monster in 5-10 page chunks while riding the train...informational and entertaining writing style! Would like to see an update soon as events are through 2002.
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Jan 26, 2008 09:51am