Travel Books

Yes, these books are very simply written, but if your child hates reading, as mine did, then this book series may be a godsend. My 10 year old son finds reading very difficult (dyslexia and ADD) and "good" writing is lost on him -- complicated sentence structures, convoluted plots, and general "wordiness" just confuse him rather than adding to the story. He reluctantly agreed to read Dinosaurs Before Dark because there was a dinosaur on the cover -- and then he couldn't put it down! Not only did he finish the book in a day and a half, he begged for more books in the series. He has now read every Magic Treehouse book at the local library, and I have bought him 6 more. He wants to complete all 37 of them -- and this is a boy who used to sob when he was assigned reading homework! There is a website for this series where you can print out stickers that look like passport stamps as you complete each book, as well as a "passport" to stick them in. It's an excellent incentive for kids who are not usually enthusiastic readers.

I don't care if these books aren't exactly War and Peace -- they taught my 10 year old (and millions of other children) that reading can be FUN and can take you to another place. In a few years he can move on to bigger and better things, but props to Mary Pope Osbourne for getting him started on that road.

My sister gave my five year old daughter the first four books of the Magic Tree House series. We read the first book "Dinosaurs Before Dark" last night together and loved it. While some of the reviews are written negatively, referring to the simplicity of the story and lack of depth of the characters and the plot, I feel the simplicity is what makes it popular with the target age group. My daughter has a vivd imagination and was not bored in the least by Ms. Pope Osborne's writing style. We sat in bed talking about each chapter. Not only did we discuss the story but my daughter began to ask questions about the structure of chapter books. I read "Charlotte's Web" to my daughter awhile back. While she did enjoy that particular book, she had no interest in having me read to her other chapter books. I think the Magic Tree House series is an excellent way to graduate children from illustrated books to chapter books without overwhelming them. Don't underestimate the power of simplicity. When used properly it can open ones mind to greater possibilities. I think Ms. Pope Osborne has mastered that skill wonderfully. I look forward to reading each and every book in the Magic Treehouse series.

I was surprised at the poor reviews I read. Yes, if you are old enough to read on your own, these books are not for you. But here is my take on it: My son (who was able to read these on his own at age 5, but with a little help on new or longer words -- just to give you an idea of the reading level for these) read these at age 5/6/7 and he has a great imagination. He really enjoys these books BECAUSE they are so simple -- ok, the book is read and now he can go act it out and he adds all sorts of aspects to his own play plot. That is exactly what should be encouraged in a kid that age. Not only that, but when he pulls another friend in -- one who may not be familiar with the series -- he can explain the storyline quickly and simple enough to keep them interested.

And what is wrong with "nice"? Isn't that what we want to teach our kids? We tried another couple of chapter books and there were monsters and bad guys and violent people. I don't avoid that stuff altogether, but at bedtime I'd rather not have to scare my son into nightmares later. Like I said -- a good imagination.

So are these as good as tolkien or lewis? No, please. But they are good simple readers for kids just getting into chapter books. Plus they so far have seemed to hit upon a lot of topics that interest my son. Like the Titanic, the Moon, Pompeii...

And the subliminal message .. that books take you on adventures ... is a great thing to teach! :)

Several of my second graders read this book, then wrote and typed their own book reviews. Enjoy!

Sara---4 stars
I like Annie because she is always ready when danger is near. I like Jack
because he always has ideas. I like when Annie petted the Pteranodon and said it felt like Henry. I like that there is a lot of adventure. I liked the part when Jack told Annie "promise you won't kiss it, promise you won't hug it, promise you won't talk to it!"

It was short and I wish it was longer because it had a good ending and I want it to go on.

I think that 2nd graders to 4th graders would like it because it is too easy for 5th graders.

Daniel ---4 stars
I liked when the Tyrannosaurus was chasing Jack and Annie and I liked the
adventure in it. I liked the part when Jack said "Don't hug it, don't
kiss it, and don't pet it!"

It was to short because it only had 10 chapters. I wish Mary Pope Osborne added more parts when they where in the Cretaceous Period, like them meeting more dinosaurs.

Kids from 2-4 year olds should have this book read to them but not them reading it. People older than that should not read it by themselves but they can still listen to it. Older kids like 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders would like it because it is in between long and short.


Matthew---3 stars
I liked the part when the Tyrannosaurus Rex was standing in between Jack and the treehouse. My favorite part was when Jack rode the Pteranodon.

I think that the book should be longer because at the end they didn't write if they had breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I wish they met another dinosaur.

I recommend this book to kids from 2nd grade to 3rd grade. It should not be for 4th or 5th graders because it would be too easy. If you are learning about dinosaurs, you should read this book.


Nathan-4 stars
I liked that the author really put a lot of research into it. I also liked the adventure that she put into it. Example: When Jack and the T-Rex have a "chase!" I like it that Mary Pope Osborne could put some good "meat" in the book.

I didn't like that the book was short. They could have an "adventure" with dinosaur fossils. They could do many things that I could not think of in the book.

I think kids from 2nd grade to 6th grade would like this book. If people other than that are not in this range want to read it, they may.

I think these books are a pretty good intro to the chapter book concept. You CANNOT expect these books to be literary masterpieces. We are not dealing with Charlotte's Web or A Cricket in Times Square. In fact, we're not even quite dealing with Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys series. But ... when your child is getting a little too advanced for picture books and is ready to read a few chapters, this is a pretty decent place to start. The text is pretty easy to read; there are black and white pictures about every 4 pages, and the plot is at the kids' level. Note - the plot is NOT at the ADULT's Level. It is not sophisticated - but it is not bad -and there is some continuity between books which is nice. My only real complaint is sentence structure. The author loves to write in sentence fragments. Like this. And like this. And it is annoying. Especially for children. Because incomplete sentences goes against what they are taught in school. (Actually I think the sentence fragments are an attempt at a casual literary style that might mimick one's thoughts ... but it just isn't necessary and it gets annoying.)
Aside from the sentence fragments - just be aware that much of the text is in conversation form. That might annoy some parents - but it makes for fairly quick and easy reading. Generally speaking, the treehouse topics are fairly gender neutral - but may especially attract boys who sometimes need to be "won over" with "cool" topics like dinosaurs. Overall, I think the books are pretty enjoyable - just don't expect a masterpiece, and you might be surprised to see that your child likes the series. A final caveat - these books are not meant for an adult to read aloud to a child - there are much better books for that purpose. These are meant for the early reader to read all by him/herself

For someone who has been searching for a thorough guide book on the restaurant management like me, this book is a gem! It's packed with invaluable advice, practical tips and thorough guidelines on virtually all essential aspects of the restaurant business. It is well organized and written in such a clear, simple language. In short, an extraordinary guide in many ways!

This book is beautiful, but not in the traditional sense. It shows well-loved and decaying mainstays of small towns all across the U.S. Not so much the "Route 66" kitchy America, but the regular, everyday sights and signs that we seldom focus on but are there, nonetheless. The photographer took pictures of what was on the other side of the street, and it is poignant and a little sad to see some of that stuff in such a state of decline. I'm glad I purchased the book and I love to remember the small town I grew up in as I flip through its pages.

This book is full of wonderful pictures - too many, in fact. It could be half as long as it is and still be worth the cover price and more. The result of such overly generous editing is that the layout is downright awful - crowded, jumbled and ugly. But that in no way diminishes the fact that there are some stunning, evocative pictures in here, pictures of the backbone of America many of us have never seen and will never see. A book to come back to again and again.

The subtitle to this fascinating book is The End of Main Street and Michael Eastman has taken it upon himself to record as much of it as possible before progress or neglect flattens what's left. Flick through the pages and you'll see more than two hundred shots of small town commonplace. The five chapters (Theaters, Churches, Hangouts, Doors, Signs, Stores, Services, Autos, Hotels and Restaurants) pretty much cover what you'll see in any town across the country.

Nearly every photo is an exterior and I thought one of the strengths of Eastman's work is the no-nonsense straight-on compositions. These buildings with their signs, peeling paint or structural modifications are visually intriguing enough not to require odd angles, soft focus or other gimmicks and even though they are photos of record the rich color and choice of subject lifts the contents of the book above similar photography.


The book's production is as impressive as the photos, the square format, matt art paper and 175 screen all come together beautifully. Four stars? Though the book was designed by Pentagram it does have, in my view, a rather annoying fault: there are several pages where photos are butted together which makes for initial visual confusion and I think weakens each relevant photo. A thin black or white line, just to give the minimum separation, would have solved the problem. Fortunately most pages don't have butted photos and on the rest the photos are allowed to sparkle by themselves and they do.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

If You're a fan of Michael Eastman's fine art photography, as I am, you must get a copy of his latest book, "Vanishing America." You must get it, but you'll be disappointed in it--disappointed in the layout, particularly, but also in the reproduction.

As to the layout, the photographs are given no respect. They are presented full bleed, that is, without margins. A typical two-page spread has a large picture full-bleed on the left side, and an array of smaller pictures--also full bleed and butting up against each other so it's hard to tell where one ends and the next begins--on the right.

This is not a book of photographs so much as it is a book of Americana, the kind you see on the bargain racks of the large chain bookstores.

As to the reproduction, I remember seeing a large (50x40 inch) print of "Shotgun House, New Orleans" at a show a few years ago. It was $5000 framed and I wanted it, but I had neither the wall space nor the money, so I contented myself with a free, postcard-size promotional reproduction. This reproduced the colors of the larger image very well and it served as a good reminder of why I liked it. This picture is reproduced in the book, slightly cropped, for no good reason, and with a decided magenta cast, compared to my postcard copy. Looking at the picture in the book, it doesn't remind me at all of my feelings for the original print.

I assume books of American are more profitable than books of photographs. If so, I can forgive this disappointing book. Fine art photographers need all the support they can get.

Ned Henry and Verity Kindle are historians from the second half of the 21st century. Their job is to travel back in time and study the past up close and personal. Ned has been stuck in 1940 for the past several weeks searching for a monstrosity called the Bishop's Bird Stump (which was located in Coventry Cathedral) for a wealthy patron of Oxford University and which was lost during the bombing of Coventry.

Verity finds herself in Victorian England (1888) and while there inadvertently brings something back to the 21st century that could change the course of history itself.

Now, Ned is sent to 1888 to help correct the timeline and get historic events back on track. There, along with Verity, both must not only figure out what has gone awry with history, but must also locate the Bishop's Bird Stump in time for the consecration of the newly rebuilt Coventry Cathedral in the 21st century.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is a wonderful old-fashioned mystery, awash with hints and clues throughout the book, yet the final puzzle is not solved (at the end, of course) until the characters use a path of logic way too complicated to ever to be fully understood...let alone determined by the reader before the ultimate denouement. And yet... the characterizations are extremely solid and the setting exquisitely detailed.

The main drawback to this book is that it took way too long for the plot to approach anything near interesting for more than brief half-page/page mini-spurts. Indeed, it took a full third of the book for the plot to begin focusing on the what the story was actually about (finding the Bishop's Bird Stump and getting history back on track) in a coherent manner that went beyond mere exposition. While exposition is generally a good thing and certainly necessary to construct a solid, focused plot, too much exposition, as in this book, can leave the story floundering to a point where some may just give up reading it entirely.

And that would be a shame... because once one gets past the first third of this book, one would see that it is a true work of art (even looking back on the first third) with an incredibly intricate plot, rich characters that one actually cares about and full of a literary "flavor" that one rarely sees in science fiction these days.

Hmm. Let's see. This is kind of complicated. First of all, we've got a "historian", Ned, whose mission is to find something called the bishop's bird stump from Coventry Cathedral which was destroyed during an air raid in 1940. (There's a certain Lady who wants to have the Cathedral restored.) This isn't quite as simple as it should be, and to give him a break (traveling back and forth in time can give you a really bad "time lag"...) and to save him from the hands of the aforementioned lady - who does have quite tyrannical tendencies - he is sent on a very simple mission to correct one mistake of a colleague in 1888, where he is afterward supposed to spend some time getting rested. Of course, things start to get wrong here (even more wrong than they were, that is.) He happens to meet a young man who as a consequence of this meeting does not meet the girl he was going to marry. Instead he meets someone else - someone he wouldn't have met without this historian, and falls in love with her. Moreover, this girl just happens to be the great-great-great grandmother (I'm not sure of the number of greats there) of that aforementioned lady. (Here I couldn't help thinking that hey, here you've got your chance to get rid of the lady for good...)

This grandmother-girl in question is, of course, supposed to marry someone else, but funnily enough they don't know who. Even though this girl is an aristocrat, there doesn't seem to be any record of her marriage but in her diary, which conveniently is damaged so that all they know is that his name begins with C. I'm not at all sure how likely this is, but whatever. It's too small a thing to ruin a fabulous book.

All in all, it's a lovely mess. A cat plays an importnat role in it, and there's also a fake medio, an Oxford professor who keeps on sprouting quotes (mainly in Latin, naturally), and of course, a dog. Everything is, in the end, connected to everything. Much of the book consists of the main characters trying to keep the two lovebirds apart and finding out who this Mr. C is, though there are much... should I say "grander" things behind it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, and also Willis' portrayal of the Victorian society. As for the problem other reviewers have pointed out, Willis's use of American expressions... I'll take their word for it. I'm not a native English speaker, so I didn't notice anything... (I keep on happily mixing American and British expressions in my English, I know that.) In my mind, this is a well-written and very fun book, and I'm certain to check out what else Connie Willis has written. (Well deserved Hugo, I think.)

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG is considered one of the best sci-fi novels of the last several decades, and I can see why. Connie Willis does a great job here of blending multiple genres, including sci-fi, romance, a comedy of manners, and alternate history. Once this novel gets moving, it's quite hilarious as well. I'm amazed TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG works as well as it does, and it's a remarkable achievement.

This book does start quite slowly, and I found the first fifty pages or so to be a struggle. Too many characters and strange concepts are introduced at once, which makes for a confusing experience. But once the characters are transported to Victorian England, the story finds its rhythm, and it becomes quite engaging and enjoyable.

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG isn't for everyone. Willis is clearly an Anglophile, and enjoys writing about the silliness of day-to-day Victorian life. She is also an intellectual who is fascinated with history, science, and philosophy. If you don't share her passions, it's possible that you may find this book rather dry in certain sections. This novel does tend to split people, although most people I know really enjoy it.

This is considered by many to be Willis' best novel, and I encourage all fiction lovers (not just SF ones) to give TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG a try.

I wish l lived in a parallel universe where every book in the world was written by Connie Willis. And, if possible, was a prequel or sequel to To Say Nothing of the Dog.

Denied that, I'll just continue with my life, reading the book again from time to time just in order to remind myself how witty, multi-layered and joyable a work of science fiction can be. It's a masterpiece, and to quote the Man in the Black Mask looking at Inigo Montoya's blade in the Princess Bride, "I have never seen its equal".

It's one of the best time travel books I've read; Willis' explanation of how the universe allows time travel is so brilliant that at times I think it's actually true.

It's also one of the best detective stories set in a sci-fi environment I read. Asimov did it many times, but never to this extent.

It's also a charming love story.

It's definitely a tome of knowledge on day to day life in the Victorian Era, making you wonder if this wasn't the best time you could have ended up in if your time machine left you stranded.

It's also the funniest fiction book I ever read. In fact, To Say Nothing of the Dog is so full of wit, humor, intelligence and charm that if someone photos you as you're reading, chances are the photo will come up with you having a grin on your face.

Bottom line: this is a must for every sci-fi reader. Unless you're completely lacking a sense of humor and devoid of any shred of intelligence, you will LOVE this book.

To Say Nothing of the Dog is an extremely entertaining and very fun read. This book is an odd hybrid - a cross between hard (time travel) sci-fi, historical (or should I say, hysterical) fiction, and good, old fashioned mystery. It is classic time travel verses paradox book. It is a laugh-out-loud comedic romp through the Victorian era, with an extensive collection of literary allusions. (Most are recognizable; a few you need to look up. But I like that in a book - when it makes me go learn something.) It is also a traditional "whodunit" mystery...with the traditional culprit, of course!

Connie Willis has created a true treasure. Fast paced and full of laughter, the plot is top-notch; the characters are well developed, memorable, and extremely enjoyable; the writing is crisp and clever. To Say Nothing of the Dog is a page turner from beginning to end. I could not put it down.

I first heard of this book on an Amazon forum where the participants were discussing sci-fi favorites that they re-read for comfort and pleasure. This book appeared on numerous lists, so I felt I had to give it a try. I am so glad I did. It has become an instant favorite. One I KNOW I will re-read again and again.

I had re-read Under the Tuscan sun, I love Frances Mayes style of writting and I love I Italy, I could litterly see it in her writing and when I did see actual pictures it was as I imagined love the book and will re-read it to at some time, have gotten her other 2 books as well

I LOVE IT!!! When I read the words,I feel as if I'm there. Wonderfully written.

Lovely, light book all about Tuscany and life in the author's adopted village and her renovated old stone house and garden with such a view! Wonderful characterizations of people, great foods, travels here and there. Enjoyable and very well written.

I cannot understand why the first book was a best-seller. It was about an ultra-rich, ultra-materialistic women that has only a very superficial understanding of Italy and the Italian people. I bought this book to read for my book club. It was even worse than the first. No more Frances Mayes for me, ever! One of the most self-absorbed authors the book club has ever read. Hope she finds happiness in her eternal quest for the perfect stuff.

I had heard about UtTS and how wonderful it was, so when a copy of Bella Tuscany came my way, I grabbed it happily. Perhaps I didn't give Mayes enough of a chance: I assumed she would be a female version of Peter Mayle, and write with joy and humor.

After about a third of the way through, I was thoroughly sick of her whining and sniveling. Her descriptions of food and landscape and wine, I thought, were less than dazzling, less than enamoured - they were more like descriptions from a creative writing class. Mayes became a traveling companion that annoyed me, someone who could not appreciate her good fortune, a drain on anyone's good humor.

I never did finish the book. I couldn't see my way to spend another moment with Mayes.

I have read both of Kira Salak's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am hoping she will write another one soon. Four Corners was great and I was able to compare much of my trip to hers (although mine was not quite as adventurous). I don't feel she spoke too much on the dangers of PNG, as one reviewer wrote. The dangers are very real and different than other countries. I also enjoyed the excerpt on her travels through Mozambique included in this book. She has a gift for writing. Hurry up Ms. Salak and write another book soon!

This book was fabulous. It kept me riveted from page one. What Ms. Salak accomplished in New Guinea (with her intelligence, guts, wit, courage and luck) is truly amazing. Hands down the best book I read all year. A true travel adventure.

The book is full of personel feelings. I read travel journals and that is what I am looking for. If I want a guide I buy a guide. I admire writers who leave the reader with an understanding of who they are as well as where they are. Ms. Salek does a fine job doing just that.

WOW! This book blew me away, and like the title of my review states, there were several times throughout where my heart was literally pounding. Any writer who can transport a reader like that knows how to write. This book is definitely among my "Top 5" favorite travel narratives.

Some reviewers suggest that there was too much inner reflection on the part of the author regarding why she was in PNG and what she was trying to reveal about herself. While this was definitely a thread running through this book, I do not believe that it takes away from the overall "picture" in any way. Any traveler who embarks on a similar trip and who doesn't reflect on why they're doing it has simply been on vacation. Those that do choose to reflect have been on a journey.

If you are a seasoned traveler to PNG, like one reviewer annoyingly overstates, why would you want to read a travel narrative by someone else about the same place? Being there is always better and I make it a point to not read books about places that I have already visited extensively. What would be the point? So, if you've spent a good deal of time in PNG you probably will not get much from this book. If not, then I highly recommend it! * Side-note: Just because you've been to a place does not neccessarily make you qualified to review a book that takes place there.

While I agree that some of the situations that Ms. Salak gets herself into do seem very dangerous she herself is honest about the immensity of these situations and does not try to down-play them in any way. Lucky for readers because this makes the book that much better. The suggestion by one reviewer that Ms. Salak in not respectful of PNG and the people that she meets there is unfounded and I do not recall anything in the book indicating that this was the case. This book is not a "PNG how-to" and the suggestion that the author's journey is irresponsible (and even unbelievable) is ridiculous, she is simply telling her story and it is fabulous! If you are looking for something to help you travel in PNG then pick up the Lonely Planet guide. If you're looking for a great adventure story that takes place in PNG then this is the book for you.

I have resisted reading Ms. Salak's second book, "The Cruelest Journey" for some time now because I will then have nothing of hers left to read and that's a depressing thought! I eagerly await more work from this author!!

This is by far the BEST travel adventure book I've ever read. The first chapter is so intense I guarantee you won't be able to put the book down! Without giving away anything from the book (you can read the description on Amazon yourself), I'll tell you this book is exciting from the first page all the way to the last. Does this woman have a death wish traveling alone through Papau New Guinea? I've read her other book, "The Cruelest Journey" and that was also incredible. I can't wait until she writes another book!

Well done Cheap Bastard!! You could take some of the ideas in this book and do them anywhere!! Some of the things you'd have to actaully live in New York but if you're trying to stick to a budget I'd recommend this book for sure, however...you NEED to plan!! Some things need to be booked at least 2 weeks in advance and if you leave a message be prepared to follow up...give yourself enough time to plan on some of the free tours!!

I do not think I have ever returned a book after I bought it (grad school books don't fall in this category). But sadly, I had to return this book to Barnes and Nobel a week after I bought this particular book. The mistake was mine. I did not check to see when it was printed. The copy that I bought for close to $15 in Oct 2006 was printed in 2004...it was 2 years old! No wonder I did not find it useful. For starters, quite a few of the phone numbers were incorrect, and then from there things went downhill for me.

Two years ago, this must have been a useful book to have, but today with the Internet, and specifically Google a reader's patience and threshold for incorrect information is very low. And, I clearly fall in that category.

If you happen to see it in your local library or a book shop, do browse through it for there are useful nuggets of information to travel and live in the Big Apple.

This was a great purchase!! It came in good time. I'm not sure about the content because It was a present for a friend but she hasn't had any complaints so as far as i know excellent!!

This book gives great info for the budget minded person who is planning a move to the Big Apple (me). It's written with a sense of humor. Very honest, good information!

If ever there was a city where it pays to be cheap, it'd be in New York, one of the most expensive cities in the world - and from a native New Yorker comes a book which packs in over a thousand listings of free opportunities to be found there, from wine tastings and music to dance, games and fitness. From small clubs and select, limited events to low-rent, no-fee apartments, THE CHEAP BASTARD'S GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY is a must for any visitor or new resident on a budget.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I bought this book as a gift after a review in Wired. It has major routes, and large area pictures of main land features and discussion of the routes. I wish it had more pictures, more analysis, and and more blowups of the land features. Perhaps looking at the images by computer on the CD (which comes with the book, and which is a copy of the book) would allow zooming in on features in more detail (which I haven't tried). I was a little disappointed in the book expecting even more discussion and analysis of 'what one sees from air'. Most of what was pointed out I already knew. However, my spouse has taken the CD on several trips and hasn't complained.

The pictures are still great.

I'm so surprised by the poor reviews. First, this book is definitely not meant for the coffee table. It is a travel guide of the very finest sort. It is designed to be used in-the-field (or, rather, above it) to orient air travelers to the views outside their window and it does so with aplomb. But it does so much more than that. The authors skilfully synthesize a history of earth's natural features with human history and demographic data. In addition to locating rivers and valleys and mountains and seas, it points out the contrast in urbanization and crop colors on the US/Mexico border, identifies Fermilab, windfarms, and the Atlantic City boardwalk. It also interprets the impact of forest fires and forest pests, and describes things like center pivot irrigation. It is well researched, well referenced, and well written and does an excellent job illustrating the remarkable relationship between humans and geography. I can't wait for my next flight.

Got this for my father-in-law and grandfather for Christmas - both of whom are former pilots. They especially enjoyed reading about things they had flown over but never known about. The entire family enjoyed the great photography, descriptions, and the CD-ROM in the back cover. We are all now taking turns looking at the CD-ROM - it's a great little perk!

The review I read on this book was that it was a Coffee Table book. I define a Coffee Table book as an oversize book with lots of excellent pictures and a little bit of writing. This book fails on all 3. It is half the size (no problem). The pictures are small and lack sharpness, and there are way more pages filled with writinig than pictures. It may be an interesting read, but that's not what I purchased it for.

There is a CD that comes woth it. I have not seen it, but it may be it's redeming grace.

The idea is excellent - what, exactly, am I flying over right now? Selecting the most traveled air routes in the country is a great way to constrain the scope to a manageable effort. Unfortunately, this is a great idea that is very poorly executed.

For starters, the routes are very confusing to follow as they often have alternate paths. Just show me what LA to New York looks like, don't divert my attention by diverting me to Las Vegas or Phoenix or whatever.

Second, the pictures aren't very good. It is safe to say that very few of the pictures were taken from the window of a commercial jet. As a result, the view is not even close to what you would see from your window seat (unless you regularly fly in a satellite).

Again, a great idea. And kudos for making it a low-cost paperback. But the execution is poor.

Thank you for the book i am sure that i will be using it a lot during school. Thanks for the quick service, also the book looks brand new. :)

I'd first heard of Karl when I got the Ricky Gervais podcast from a friend for my birthday. His book comes across just like he does on the podcasts. It's a collection of his travels around the world from his Parents' house to Los Angeles to Ibiza. Some are written in story format, others as journal entries and sprinkled liberally throughout are poems and comic strips of "friend-of-friend" tales.

It is a mix of non-sequitur and absurdism. It's as if Karl stops thinking after the first thought that crosses his brain. Sure, I might have had the same thought, "hey, if my head were on backward, I'd be able to face the audience if I were a pianist." But then, being normal, I would follow that thought up with all the other side effects of having my head on backward.

Pilkington, however, does not move past the first thought of childlike wonderment of having his head on backward and doesn't seem to realize there is anything much past that initial thought. The end result is absolute hilarity.

I can't sum it up any better than what's in the title of this review. I wish I could be in a room with Karl, Stephen and Ricky...I think I'd die laughing.

Just like Ricky Gervais said, "I've seen him blossom from an idiot into an imbecile." Karl has such a different way of viewing the world and it's like no other. Maybe it's because he's borderline retarded, yet extremely observant and curious. This book is HILARIOUS!!!

P.S. WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR SERIES 4 OF THE PODCAST, KARL. HURRY UP AND FIX YOUR DAFT BOILER AND GET BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH RICKY AND STEVE.

Great book. Karl IS a genius, Ricky is the idiot, I know this cos im a genius and if Karl isn't one then im not, but I am, so he is, so there. Love it!

Karl is the king, but he has become a lazy king, and his subjects are getting restless. MORE PODCAST NOW YOU ORANGE HEADED MONKEY FREAK!!!!

...And there better be new monkey news included in the podcast...I'm just sayin'....

But about the book....Great book. Karl's an idiot, but strangely, his book creates a very enjoyable read. I esp. liked when he talked about the squirrles in Carmel, CA. I live by there, and I've seen those squirrles, and I want to go back and see if they've been traumatized by meeting Karl.