The extraordinary popularity of books and magazines dedicated to travel comes as no surprise, given that more and more Americans are traveling each...
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reviews
Jun 27, 2011
Gary
rated it: 
Acquired from a pile of duplicate library books made available to the public, I picked up this book for two reasons; Bill Bryson edited it, and other than in magazines, I hadn’t read very many short pieces. The bottom line is that I’d forgotten how enjoyable travel writing can be. My three favorites in this compilation were, Tom Clynes’ The Toughest Trucker in the World, Dave Eggers’ Hitchhiker’s Cuba, and Amy Wilentz’s Marseille’s Moment. In fact, I found all the stories to be interesting and e
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Jul 16, 2009
Matt
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a great collection. read while traveling and you discover the little things each new place you visit.
oddly (for me), the most memorable story - the last safari (mark ross) - is quite dark for what is normally considered travel writing and leaves you a bit uneasy.
this teeming ark (tim cahill) and hitchhiker's cuba (dave eggers) were 2 other memorable tales.
oddly (for me), the most memorable story - the last safari (mark ross) - is quite dark for what is normally considered travel writing and leaves you a bit uneasy.
this teeming ark (tim cahill) and hitchhiker's cuba (dave eggers) were 2 other memorable tales.
May 02, 2009
Andrea
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A truly enjoyable collection of short travel stories that has expanded my definition of 'travel writing'. The only common thread from one piece to the next was my joy at discovering a new world - time and again - unfolded in such a brief number of pages.
A pleasurable companion to vacation planning ...and for me further proof that, when done well, the short story genre deserves it's place beside its more verbose brethren.
A pleasurable companion to vacation planning ...and for me further proof that, when done well, the short story genre deserves it's place beside its more verbose brethren.
Jun 20, 2010
Eric
rated it:
i've discovered i'm a tremendous sucker for travel writing and have mentally/emotionally/spiritually glamorized the art so much that i find myself thinking of a massive career change....
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May 14, 2009
Erin
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I love these collections of travel writing, as they always have excellent stories about fascinating places. I particularly enjoyed"Hitchhikers' Cuba" by Dave Eggers in this collection.
Nov 10, 2008
Nice collection of articles. They range from absorbing to god- when is this thing going to be over. The toughest stories are the ones where every other twentieth word is some unpronounceable jumble. There was one story the other provided phonetic spellings. That's a huge help. I feel inferior when I can't pronounce the names of people and places. It detracts from my enjoying the story. The best story by far- the on that left me simply stunned- was The Last Safari by Mark Ross. He describ
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Aug 19, 2011
Jenn
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Pretty entertaining, though a couple were a bit boring. Be forewarned - The African Safari is rather harrowing!
And now I really want to try the cheese mentioned in Confession of a Cheese Smuggler....
And now I really want to try the cheese mentioned in Confession of a Cheese Smuggler....
Jan 30, 2011
Jaga
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Really? This is the best American travel writing of 2000? French cheeses, crowded streets of India and children begging at Angkor? I am a bit disappointed.
May 20, 2011
Bhan13
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This is an uneven collection ranging from quite good to rude, and I'm disappointed if this was the best of American travel writing in 2000.
Jan 31, 2010
heather
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great collection of stories with a wide range of styles and countries represented. very good plane reading.
Jan 04, 2009
Amy
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Compilation of travel stories, edited by Bill Bryson, including one by Dave Eggers picking up hitchikers as he drives through Cuba. Another one to note is the horrifying The Last Safari , about a safari group taken hostage by rebels and marched over the border from Uganda into the Congo. All the authors recall unique experiences gained completely off the tourist track, so you can either live vicariously through them and admire their efforts from an armchair, or get inspired to plan a trip of y
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Aug 18, 2009
Michael
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Some were better than others... I don't really believe the Uganda story was in fact a "travel story."
Jun 28, 2007
Ryan
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Living vicariously through other people. Getting to experience exotic places like Bhutan and Tibet. Definitely makes you want to travel even more and experiences places off the typical path of everyday tourists.
Mar 20, 2011
Mom
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i always like reading these short stories, since this was from before 2000 interesting to see what is happening in some of the countries now
Jan 04, 2008
Robin
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The male writers in this collection are one macho group. I was glad to live vicariously and to have not been on their adventures with them.
Feb 11, 2012
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