Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day: One Man, Eight Countries, One Vintage Travel Guide
by
Doug Mack
Prepare to Get Lost on the Beaten Path...
When Doug Mack picked up a 1963 edition of Europe on Five Dollars a Day, he stumbled on an inspired idea: to boldly go where millions have gone before, relying only on the advice of a travel guide that's nearly a half century out-of-date. Add to the mix his mother's much- documented grand tour through Europe in the late 1960s, and...more
When Doug Mack picked up a 1963 edition of Europe on Five Dollars a Day, he stumbled on an inspired idea: to boldly go where millions have gone before, relying only on the advice of a travel guide that's nearly a half century out-of-date. Add to the mix his mother's much- documented grand tour through Europe in the late 1960s, and...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
April 3rd 2012
by Perigee Trade
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
736)
A neurotic, post-modern traveler decides to use Arthur Frommer's Europe on Five Dollars A Day to guide his travels today. An interesting conceit, to be sure, and I was interested to see how that turned out. Unfortunately, it was not as interesting in the telling as it was in the living of it, I'll wager.
The style of this book, like so many of this sort of book, was chatty, almost "bloggish." It probably could have been better edited too. It had some charming parts, to be sure. But a great deal...more
The style of this book, like so many of this sort of book, was chatty, almost "bloggish." It probably could have been better edited too. It had some charming parts, to be sure. But a great deal...more
It's a great premise: tackle modern-day Europe using a 1963 Frommer's guidebook for direction.
I suspect the premise was better-suited to something the length of a magazine article, rather than a book.
Basically, all the restaurants Frommer cited are closed or have become unholy tourist traps, and the hotel business has changed a lot in 49 years.
To be fair, there's plenty to offer in this book, including a thoroughly researched, engaging look at the postwar history of US travel to Europe.
The premi...more
"Refreshing in its intelligence, candor, good-humored self-deprecation, and insightful redemption of the much-maligned tourist, Mack’s account is a trail-reblazing testament to the transformative power of travel in the modern world, and to the enduring richness of those well-trod places where authenticity, history, culture, and fame compose their own never-ending narratives." --National Geographic Traveler
“Exciting and disastrously funny.” --Twin Cities Metro
“A clever idea for a travel book, exe...more
Three stars...fours stars...It was hard to decide. I LOVED parts of this book. Doug Mack captures all of the best parts of travel beautifully; the delicious thrill of being lost as long as you have a working credit card in your pocket, the fact that meeting other tourists and forming relationships with them based purely on the fact that you speak the same language can be the best part of the trip; the self-awareness that you get when traveling alone; the challenges of figuring out the layout of...more
Here is the book for the armchair traveler. Doug Mack started his adventure with an Arthur Frommer's classic "Europe on Five Dollars a Day" travel guide of the 60s. He traveled to 8 countries including Italy where in Florence he heard a tourist responding loudly "Holy crap, look at that adorable little old man in that absurdly lush vineyard-where's my camera;" Paris, France where he was told, "Impossible!Maybe $500 dollars a day"; to Amsterdam where Arthur's guide palled compared to the real 201...more
In “Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day,” Doug Mack, finds an early 1960s edition of Frommer's Europe on $5 a Day and, remembering his mother’s reminiscences of her European trip, takes it to Europe with him, following the advice that is about 50 years out of date. He also takes his mother's post cards and letters from her “grand tour" in the 1960s. He’s proud of his guide book and of finding hotels and restaurants that are going concerns although perhaps not as charming as they were in the 1960s. Mac...more
I loved this book! It's hugely enjoyable and deflates so many of the "required wonders" of the European sightseeing trail - but in a good way. The concept of trying to visit places in Europe from a 60s Fodors guide was amazingly funny and did lead to adventures/discoveries galore. I thought the author was very sympathetic and wise - this is ostensibly a travel memoir but it's very funny and totally absorbing, touching even, at the same time. You will want to continue reading this book and probab...more
I won this in a Good Reads giveaway-a free book--I really wanted to read it as I was an expatriate--many years ago and I often thought of how it would be if I went back to the places I had traveled to.
I did not use any guide books that I remember back then--except one whose title I have forgotten.I was in Amsterdam and took the Euro rail to Brussels from there- Interesting re the red light district of Amsterdam & The Anne Frank House--I related to so much of what he saw and felt there.I als...more
I did not use any guide books that I remember back then--except one whose title I have forgotten.I was in Amsterdam and took the Euro rail to Brussels from there- Interesting re the red light district of Amsterdam & The Anne Frank House--I related to so much of what he saw and felt there.I als...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The author comes across as whiny and self-pitying. He's clearly more of an armchair traveler. Absolutely loved his mother, though. Now she's the real deal! His obsession with German food was annoying. Just go to Mickey Dee's already if you're so paranoid!
I understand what he was trying to accomplish using a vintage travel guide, but it became exasperating, especially when it came to using maps. Why he'd want to use a 50 + year old map is anybody's guess (I would say for comedy relief, but this b...more
I understand what he was trying to accomplish using a vintage travel guide, but it became exasperating, especially when it came to using maps. Why he'd want to use a 50 + year old map is anybody's guess (I would say for comedy relief, but this b...more
view all 5 comments
I expected something more.. captivating when I read the title. Though the concept and premise itself is an interesting one, each chapter felt more suitable for something like a weekly feature in a newspaper or magazine instead. The chapters were long enough to establish a small, minimal glimpse into each city, but not long enough to keep the reader interested. Before you got into the interesting parts of each city, the chapter had ended and you were moving on to the next place.
I did enjoy the w...more
I did enjoy the w...more
I received this book free from goodreads first reads. The first fifty or so pages was hard to read. I was having a hard time feeling sorry for a person going to Europe and feeling sorry for himself for being there alone. Doug was moping and complaining about everything and was hiding in his hostel as much as he could so he wouldn't have to talk to people. He might as well not have gone on holiday if he was going to end up like that.
The story got more interesting when Doug planned to go on a se...more
The story got more interesting when Doug planned to go on a se...more
I decided to read this book when I noticed I'd visited 10 of the 11 featured cities on my recent Europe backpacking trip. The book had a few funny parts and some clever observations as to the validity of traveling the 'beaten path'. However, most of the time I found the author whiney and depressingly pessimistic. He did little to find the magic & beauty of places and instead brooded about being alone. If traveling Europe by yourself is so awful just stay home! I also didn't feel like the cen...more
I really enjoyed Mack's take on modern tourism, and the time gap between Europe on 5 dollars a day and when he went to Europe. I expected more humor from this (screwy marketing departments). The one thing I didn't bargain for, and didn't really enjoy, was the degree to which this was a memoir, especially the sections where he's moping across Europe--though even that added to the picture of tourism Mack portrays (at least, when the moping is done in moderation)
Lots of charming and relatable stories from the perspective of a young traveler/tourist. It seemed like the travel version of Julie and Julia. I learned quite a bit about the many places Mack visited, from random bits of history as well and honest insights. I'd recommend this read to anyone who's experienced trying to fit in while visiting Europe, felt frustrated by other tourists and grumpy natives, or for those who love the anticipation of venturing somewhere new, even if it is a well worn pat...more
I really enjoyed parts of this book, but sometimes felt like it wasn't certain what sort of
Travelogue it wanted to be. Sometimes the author was highly entertaining - but a lot of the time he was boring, when he wasn't being whiny and depressed. I would have preferred to read a book by his traveling
companion, Lee. I was kid of glad to turn the final page on this one.
VERY cute idea to travel using his parents' 1963 guide to Europe, though execution was a little uneven. You can tell the author is really quite nerdy and socially awkward, whereas most travel memoirs are written by extroverts, i think. This is a great easy read if you're traveling to some of the same place as the author, as I did this fall.
This book was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the author's travels through Europe using the travel guide his mother had used years earlier. The premise was interesting and it sounds like something I would like the opportunity to do one day. The only complaint I really have is the author started sounding a little whiney and by the end of the book, I was ready for his trip to end so I could stop reading the complaints.
If you have traveled to Europe with your best friend, you can bet that something you experienced is in this book. Hilarious and holding nothing back, Doug reminds us of the reasons we travel and the joy of wanderlust. His explanation of Belgium is perfect (glad I wasn't the only person disappointed with Mannekin Pis).
An incredibly fun, quick read! As someone who doesn't get to travel very often, I was able to go through Europe vicariously through Mr. Mack. Loved the framing of the story through his mom's letters and the original guidebook. I haven't read a lot of travel books, but I think this one is definitely worth a look.
Mack’s mom went to Europe when she was a young person, and her only guide was the now infamous Europe on $5 a Day. Mack runs across a copy of this classic travel guide and sets off to revisit all the places recommended in this book. It makes for a nice way to pay a quick trip to the high points of Europe.
It took me a couple of months to finish this book. I did enjoy specific parts, such as the introduction & the end, but found myself wishing the wisdom imparted in the conclusion could have been shared throughout the main body. For me, the writer's need to constantly stimulate his experiences with his words, funny at first albeit, started to drag on me. I wondered if it were an avoidance technique. On a side note, the word ubiquitous is a wonderful word, perhaps an unfortunate lesser used wor...more
A stunt book-Mack revisits places mentioned in 1963 Frommers Europe on 5 Dollars a Day. The last 50 years may have been the golden age of travel books (just like it was for bookstores.) With news that Google has bought out Frommers, have to wonder what books will be available 10 years from now.
I think if the author had actually followed his original premise of only staying in places in the original Frommer's Europe on $5 a Day, only eating in recommended restaurants and seeing the recommended sites, this book would have been a lot more interesting. Instead, it's just another travelogue and a not very interesting one at that.
A funny and thoughtful book with a great premise--how successfully can the author travel Europe today using a 1963 edition of Europe on Five Dollars a Day? Enjoyable reading for armchair travelers. Reviewed by TS, Adult Services Librarian. ADULT NONFICTION/914/MAC
This was a fun book to read. Part travelogue, part history of the travel industry, the author goes to Europe using the old book Europe on five dollars a day as his guide. Along the way he has a few adventures, meets some strange people and comes to some personal realisations of his own.
I have to say that i really enjoyed his writing style and his thoughts on the travel industry, modern travel and technology. He has a nice easy style of writing that draws you in and his details of the many peopl...more
I have to say that i really enjoyed his writing style and his thoughts on the travel industry, modern travel and technology. He has a nice easy style of writing that draws you in and his details of the many peopl...more
terrible. not funny, not insightful. chapter after chapter of the narrator being shocked that there are tourist destinations in europe.
the gimmick was the Frommer guide. In almost every instance frommer's choices were gone. so the point of this exercise was...?
the gimmick was the Frommer guide. In almost every instance frommer's choices were gone. so the point of this exercise was...?
The author had some good insights, but sometimes it seemed as though he was straining too hard to write "an important book." I hope he continues though in his quest to be a travel writer because I suspect he will only get better with experience.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. The author is snarky, but not too snarky and is thoughtful about reflceting on how travel (and travellers) have changed since the original Fromer's Guide was released in the 1950s. This was a fun read and it was even better because he was carrying his mother's letters from her early 60s grand tour of Europe to compare her reactions to his...
Not exactly a blockbuster, though I liked Mack's writing. His point that sticking to the well-traveled path is not a "bad" thing - there are worthwhile things to be seen there - struck home with me. He does confirm my wariness that Venice might be a major disappointment.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“I wore only black socks, because I had heard that white ones were the classic sign of the American tourist. Black ones though,- those'll fool 'em. I supposed I hoped the European locals' conversation would go something like this:
PIERRE: Ha! Look at that tourist with his camera and guidebook!
JACQUES: Wait, but observe his socks! They are...black!
PIERRE: Zut alors! You are correct! He is one of us! What a fool I am! Let us go speak to him in English and invite him to lunch!”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
PIERRE: Ha! Look at that tourist with his camera and guidebook!
JACQUES: Wait, but observe his socks! They are...black!
PIERRE: Zut alors! You are correct! He is one of us! What a fool I am! Let us go speak to him in English and invite him to lunch!”
