Around the World in 80 Books discussion
ATW in 80 Books World Challenge
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Alice - Rogue 2015
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Pitcairn Island - Lost Paradise: From Mutiny on the Bounty to a Modern-Day Legacy of Sexual Mayhem, the Dark Secrets of Pitcairn Island Revealed by Kathy Marks 51 books
Netherlands - Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City by Russel Shorto - An interesting examination of the evolution of Amsterdam - how it both values the collective and the individual; how it both values free markets and social liberalism. Interesting and comprehensive.54 books
French Overseas Territories (St. Pierre et Miquelon, Martinique, Guyane, French Polynesia, New Caledonia & Reunion) - Bonnes Vacances!: A Crazy Family Adventure in the French Territories by Rosie Millard55 books
Tahiti, Bora-Bora, New Zealand, Australia, England, Niue, Tonga, US (Alaska, Hawaii) - Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz62 books
Galapagos Islands - Satan Came to Eden: A Survivor's Account of the "Galapagos Affair" by Dore Strauch66 books
Saudi Arabia (and other parts of the Muslim world) - Islam: A Short History by Karen Armstrong - Another really interesting and enlightening book by Karen Armstrong - she analyzes the basic scriptures and tenants of Islam and relates how Islamic societies have either followed or strayed from them over the centuries.67 books
Germany - In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson - Interesting look at pre-WWII Germany when Hitler was amassing power, and the world wasn't sure what to think of him. With all we know now, it's difficult to imagine what it was like at the time, when people really didn't know whether Nazism was a good or bad thing for Germany - and for the world. This book covers the time during which we all, unfortunately, found out.68 books
England - Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - Not bad, somewhat creepy - but I could see the plot twists coming well ahead of time.69 books
Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea - The Future Eaters: An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People by Tim Flannery70 books
Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq - Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women are Transforming the Middle East by Isobel Coleman - The author does a good job throughout the book explaining how Islamic Feminists go to the Koran and other early Islamic sources to sift through what is religious and what is cultural with respect to women's rights. As with other religions, sexist rules are rarely actual religious decrees - but rather male interpretations based on culture and patriarchy. Unfortunately, I think the author does herself a disservice at the end by stating that the Islamic Feminist movement will eventually become secular if they truly want to promote women's equality. It undermines the whole message of the women in the book; the message that religion and equality are compatible.71 books
Malawi - Laugh with the Moon by Shana Burg - Good older kids story about Malawi. Shows both the good and bad of living in a poor country without access to modern health care, reliable electricity and running water.72 books
Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil - Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Rain Forest by Mark Plotkin73 books
British Virgin Islands - Swimming with the Dead: An Underwater Investigation by Kathy Brandt74 books
England - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - I was sort of getting tired of the "reckless detective who's investigation makes them a target" storyline, but this one has an interesting twist on that old formula. Nice, light read (and a little disturbing, to boot!)75 books
Saudi Arabia & India - Mumbai To Mecca by Ilija Trojanow - OK book. Not the best description of the Hajj.76 books
Around the World in 80 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Mumbai To Mecca: A Pilgrimage to the Holy Sites of Islam (other topics)The Girl on the Train (other topics)
Swimming with the Dead (other topics)
Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice: An Ethnobotanist Searches for New Medicines in the Amazon Rain Forest (other topics)
Laugh with the Moon (other topics)
More...
49 books