Editorial Review

"Not long after I moved with my family to a small town in New Hampshire, I happened upon a path that vanished into a wood on the edge of town."

So begins Bill Bryson's hilarious book A Walk in the Woods.Following his return to America after twenty years in Britain, Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.The AT, as it's affectionately known to thousands of hikers, offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to test his own powers of ineptitude, and to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.

For a start, there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa who accompanies the similarly unfit Bryson on the trail.Once Bryson and Katz settle into their stride, it's not long before they come across the fabulously annoying Mary Ellen, whose disappearance ruins a perfectly good slice of pie, a gang of Ralph Lauren-attired yuppies from whom Katz appropriates a key piece of equipment, and a security guard in Pennsylvania who, for no ascertainable reason, impounds Bryson's car.Mile by arduous mile these latter-day pioneers walk America, along the way surviving the threat of bear attacks, the loss of key provisions, and everything else this awe-inspiring country can throw at them.

But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike.Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this fragile and beautiful trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness.An adventure, a comedy, a lament, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature. ... Read more

Reviews

More than a hiking narative., May 10, 2000
This is much more than a travelogue of two neophyte hikers on the Appalachian Trail, and readers looking for a blow by blow account of the travails of Bill Bryson and his companion, Stephen Katz, will be disappointed. Hiking provides only a backdrop to a heartfelt discourse on the social condition of America, local history, the environment, and the complexities of friendship. The pretext for the book was Bryson's return to the United States after twenty years in Britain, and his interest in "rediscovering America" after such a lengthy absence.

The vast majority of the reviews of the book cite its hilarity (one reviewer called it "choke-on-your-coffee funny"), and indeed there are very many funny parts. However, the deeper I got into the book, I detected a strong shift in the author's sentiment from satire to deep introspection. His observations became more acute, more angry, and more individualized as his long hike constantly brings to his mind the fragile environment of the Trail, the insanity of bureacrats entrusted with the AT, and his own personal limitations.

This was my first encounter with Bill Bryson, and while I found him entertaining, a beautiful writer, and an astute observer, some readers will be put off my his sharp satiric wit. It is certain that he will offend somebody. A friend of mine, who also read the book, was very much upset by the fact that Bryson and Katz didn't hike all 2,200 miles of the Trail, and that somehow their "failure" should prevent the telling of the story. This is utter nonsense and just throws more manure onto the present dung heap that has accumulated from the participants involved in peak bagging, wilderness races, and experiential therapy groups.

Bryson and Katz at least tried to hike the entire AT, and they returned from their hike as changed men who learned many lessons about the wilderness and friendship. Towards the end of the book, the two men are talking about the hike. When Katz remarks that "we did it," Bryson reminds him that they didn't even see Mount Katahdin, much less climb it. Katz says, "Another mountain. How many do you need to see, Bryson?" I agree with Katz (and ultimately Bryson). They hiked the Appalachian Trail.

I strongly recommend it to anyone, February 7, 2000
A Walk in the Woods is a travel memoir on the Appalachian Trail, one of America's greatest hiking routes. The author, Bill Bryson lived in England for 20 years and came back to the United States with the urge to go on a long hike. Stephen Katz, an old college friend, and a former alcoholic accompanies him. Both men are out of shape, and beginners at hiking, so it is a wonder how they can endure such hardships along the trail. They had to carry a pack that contained their tents, food, water, clothes and other items. Katz and other interesting characters provide the book with much comic relief to keep the reader involved. At some points in the book I was laughing out loud. Along the journey they meet many people including Mary Ellen a slow-minded woman who follows them around, and Beulah, a fat woman with a very angry husband. The commentary about the long, rich history of the Appalachian Trail brings insight on the wilderness that we hardly know about. It also speaks for the preservation of the forestry and animals that we take for granted in the city. After reading this book I have more appreciation of the wilderness, and an interest in going hiking myself. One downside of the book was that some points in the book the author expanded the book with knowledge that made it a little less interesting, then the actual story. But I liked how Bryson went back and forth to discuss his journey and the history, creating a balance of interests. This book will offer something to any type of reader because it is funny, and contains a lot of historical information, and is interesting enough to keep the reader to keep going. But for someone who wishes to go on a hike, this is not a how to guide. It is also not an amazing adventure of two men and the great outdoors. What this book has to offer is an entertaining journey of two regular guys, who decide to go on a hike along one of the most difficult trails in the United States. I am highly recommending this book, and it will truly leave the reader entertained.

Interesting history of the trail, second half less compelling than the first., September 23, 2006
As both a Bill Bryson fan and a long distance hiker myself (although I have not done the Appalachian Trail yet) I really expected to love A Walk in the Woods. I was a little bit concerned, since when my partner handed it to me (he finished the book first) he said, "I don't think you're going to like it..." But still, I was really looking forward to reading it.

For the first half of the book, I also really did enjoy the book. I wasn't bothered by the fact that they were unprepared or out of shape. Nobody is really prepared for their first long distance hiking trip until they are a few weeks into the trail. I remember my own experience of staggering along under my overly ambitious pack. I also enjoyed that he talked honestly about the experience of hiking, and I liked the way that he interspersed history and facts about the trail with the travel writing.

The second half, however, got much less interesting. The day trips and the abortive Maine portion were actually kind of disheartening. The whole feel of the prose got sort of mean spirited. He didn't have to walk the whole trail to feel like he walked it, but I honestly would have preferred to see him expand the first half and leave the second half out completely.

There is still quite a bit of good stuff in here, particularly if you are interested in the southern part of the trail. There is also quite a bit of truth about the culture of the long distance hikers. I laughed quite a bit while I read. I guess that the complaints boiled down to not quite being as good as it could have been.

Laugh out loud funny!, January 8, 2000
Very seldom do I read anything that makes me laugh out loud. To do so more than once or twice in a single book almost never happens. With "Walk," I became almost hysterical over certain chapters - in an airport, no less, while waiting for my flight. People must have thought I was nuts! Anyway, this is the story of two middle-aged and out of shape men (Bryson and his buddy, Katz) who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. The AT is the third longest nature trail in the US, stretching from Georgia to Maine, along some incredibly rough terrain. Not all of their journey is rustic, however, as they often take a break to spend a night in the closest little town off the trail to have a shower, sleep in a "real" bed, and wash the grime from their clothes. It is during one such trip to the laundromat that Katz has a rather interesting encounter with 300 lb. Beaulah, her extra-large-sized panties, and a washing machine. Aside from the comical adventures, Bryson also has a great deal to say about the AT itself, and in particular, how much the National Parks Service needs a giant kick in the pants to help preserve these Trails.

It's not only funny, it's educational., March 19, 2007
Bill Bryson has a great sense of humor and an excellent, precise way of expressing it. My husband had just had heart surgery when I started reading this book. I was concerned that my LOL while reading A Walk in the Woods might disturb him as I sat next to his hospital bed. However, on the other hand, I thought it might expedite the healing process. He told me later he heard me laughing and it made him feel better. So, there you go, Bill, your book is good for heart patients!!

Bill and buddy, Stephen Katz, the only person to take Bill up on the offer to join him as he hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1997?, began their odyssey on March 9 (this just happened to be the day I began reading the book...2007). The laughs came early and continued throughout, though parts of the book are more history and information than comedy. I took notes in these sections.

Both Bryson and Katz were out of shape when they hit the AT, but Bill noticed his body slimming and becoming more svelte right away (one thing I looked for, but never found, was word on how the adventure affected Katz's weight and figure. I would've been interested in knowing that). The men hiked the AT in two segments and, incidentally, did not hike the entire trail, which they decided was okay. I agree. At any rate, they hiked a few weeks in pre- and early spring and again in the heat of August. While they were off the trail, Bryson took day trips to walk parts of the AT between where he and Katz left off and the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Maine they planned to hike in August. This book not only tells the tale of two men attempting to walk the 2,200 miles of the AT, but is full of history lessons, geological and geographical information, stories of lost/doomed hikers, and social intercourse (i.e., the more than rude, self-centered, and boorish hikers the boys meet on their next to last day on the trail the first time).

This book is a good companion so read it slowly, digest it thoroughly, and you will enjoy it immensely.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Nature writing and a travelogue with "oomph"!, August 18, 2007
Perhaps it was a fit of angst dealing with his own personal version of a mid-life crisis that led Bill Bryson to tackle the challenge of hiking the 2,100 mile Appalachian Trail! It was certainly a solid understanding of his own personality and clear recognition of his own physical and mental limitations that prompted him to invite his friend, Stephen Katz, an overweight and out of shape recovering alcoholic with an inordinate fondness for snack foods and cream soda to accompany him on this daunting challenge. The demands of the AT ultimately proved too much for Bryson and Katz who sensibly (and with an almost relieved sense of philosophical acceptance) decided to abandon the notion of a complete through hike. But the resulting story, drawn from Bryson's daily journal of the summer's efforts, is an overwhelming success and pure joy in the reading.

"A Walk in the Woods" is an extraordinary, entertaining travelogue on both the AT - the Appalachian Trail - and the people and places of small town America that dot the trail's path along the eastern seaboard from Georgia to Maine. At the same time, it is much, much more. Bryson is scathing in his political commentary and almost enraged criticism of the ongoing state of mismanagement and the sadly misguided policies of both the Parks and Forest Services of the US government. "A Walk in the Woods" is also a deeply moving introspective examination on the nature of friendship, family, perseverance, joy and despondency. As he and Katz amble along rock strewn trails dappled with sunlight broken by the leafy forest canopy, Bryson frequently, effortlessly and almost without our even noticing the change, wanders metaphorically off the main trail and onto a side path of lightweight but nonetheless informative and educational sidebars of nature writing on an amazingly wide variety of topics. Glaciation, bears, bugs, ecology, continental drift, hypothermia, hypoxia and weather are only a few examples of the topics which he elucidates for the lay reader with his clear, concise prose.

Then there is the humour! It is perhaps an understatement to say that, in this regard, Bryson has a rare gift. He has treated his readers to laughs originating in every imaginable corner of the vast world of humour - wry sardonic wit; biting satire; slapstick; self effacement; sarcasm and insults; fear; and even extended comedy sketches worthy of stage or television. His description of the astonishingly stupid and entirely self-absorbed fellow hiker Mary Ellen who has the annoying habit of constantly clearing her sinuses with a grating honk is definitely laugh-out-loud material.

Pure entertainment and enjoyment from first page to last. I believe Bill Bryson would consider it a compliment if I suggested that "A Walk in the Woods" is the first book I've ever read with a smile on my face during every single moment of the reading. Highly recommended - even if you've never spent a single night under nylon in the woods.

Paul Weiss

Funny and informative., February 27, 2002
Bill Bryson's travel writing has influenced my personal life in no small way. His 1989 book "The Lost Continent" (which I first discovered in 1996 and have since revisited many times), documenting his (mis)adventures driving cross-country in the United States, played a significant role in my own decision to hit the road and see this fascinating nation for myself. (Coincidentally, I am currently writing this review from Iowa, Bryson's birthplace and frequent target of his signature dry wit.) Having spent the greater part of his adult life abroad in England, Bryson returned to the United States with his family several years ago, settling in a small town in New Hampshire, to rediscover the land he'd left as a youth. He has since written two books about his time spent in America, one of them being "A Walk in the Woods", Bryson's account of his experiences hiking the renowned Appalachian Trail.

Considered by many to be the Holy Grail of hiking trails in the United States, the Appalachian Trail runs approximately 2,100 miles long, stretching from Georgia to Maine and passing through 12 additional states along the way. Every year, hundreds of people attempt to walk the entire length of the trail from beginning to end, with only a small portion of them successfully completing the endeavor. Known as "thru-hikers", the majority of these aspiring individuals underestimate the sheer scope and arduousness of the undertaking. Most drop out well before the halfway point. Those who persevere are treated to extreme temperatures hot and cold, gruesomely harsh terrains, unrelenting winds and rainfall, a wide variety of wild predators, and some of the most awesomely scenic sights of natural beauty on earth.

Bryson begins his own trek along the Appalachian Trail admittedly inexperienced and somewhat out-of-shape. Accompanied by an oafish college buddy named Katz with whom he shares a decidedly odd love-hate relationship (it often feels like Katz's sole purpose in being there is so that Bryson will always have someone to make fun of), the two set off with full backpacks on what promises to be a journey filled with humor, wit, insight and adventure. Along the way they encounter other hikers (some highly eccentric in disposition), endure the hardships of bad weather, visit neighboring small towns, and cover more ground on foot in a scant few weeks than most of us will in an entire year. Eventually they end their first phase of the hike in northern Virginia and part separate ways. Bryson continues to investigate key points along the trail in short spurts over the next several months, embarking on daytrips and brief overnighters in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New England. In the last section of the book Bryson and Katz reunite to tackle the final hundred-mile stretch of the trail in Maine. Although Bryson never actually completes the entire length of the trail in true "thru-hike" fashion, he explores enough of it from enough different places to ensure that his description of the Appalachian Trial overall is valid and well-informed.

If you have read any of Bryson's previous books, you will be familiar with his penchant for digressing from the main line of action to muse on various tidbits of history, factoids and trivia. In one paragraph he'll be admiring the splendid view from a mountaintop; in the next he's providing an overview of the trail's origins. Some of this information, especially when it pertains to the ecological aspects of the Appalachian Trail, is genuinely fascinating. Bryson is also well-known for his wry and witty observations about virtually everything he encounters: from the exasperating science of shopping for hiking gear, to the shoddy upkeep of certain portions of the trail. Though not as laugh-out-loud funny as some of his other works, there are plenty of moments scattered throughout the book that will inspire a hearty chuckle. He also does an admirable job of conveying the beauty and grandeur, not to mention the less attractive elements, of the Appalachian Trail. Although you never obtain a true sense of actually "being there" from reading his descriptive passages, Bryson nevertheless provides an adequate depiction of what it must feel like to embark on this epic journey.

There is something agreeably comforting in reading a book by Bryson, who comes across as a friendly, educated, next-door-neighbor type of guy who would make a fine traveling companion. His informal, chatty writing style is ideally suited for a warm, lazy summer's afternoon sitting on the front porch with a glass of lemonade by your side. It's a pleasant, light reading experience that provides equal doses of laughter and insight. Although "A Walk in the Woods" is not particularly romantic, it is affectionate and sentimental in the right places, and may very well inspire me to someday throw on a pair of hiking boots and head off for a little 2,100-mile walk of my own.

You will LOVE this book!, November 18, 1999
Fair Warning -- do not read this book while commuting - you will be laughing so uncontrolably you will risk being committed by your fellow commuters. I have loaned this book to 3 friends - in each case, the spouse was so intrigued by the constant belly laughs that they also read the book before returning it. One friend bought copies for Christmas presents. The appeal is that universal. I dare say even those with no interest in backpacking or the Appalachian Trail would find the book highly entertaining.

Laughing out loud while I'm riding the train, April 7, 2007
I'm about 2/3 of the way through this amazing book and have to let everyone know that you need to read this one. I have been reading it during my train commute, grinning from ear to ear, and cackling out loud every few minutes.

The book alternates between a hilarous telling of a lengthy hike along the Appalachian Trail by the author and his out-of-shape buddy Stephen, and a well-researched description of the AT's construction, history, & ecology. The stories of their hiking-gear research, the author's deathly fear of bears, and their run-ins with neurotic fellow hiker Mary Ellen had me in tears.

This book ties with "Catch 22" as the funniest I've ever read, just ahead of Palahniuk's "Lullaby".

Half good read, half disappointment, August 30, 2004
If you are looking for a book that describes the experience of hiking the ENTIRE Applachian Trail (a.k.a. "the AT," per hiking lingo)in a year's time, then do NOT read this book.

Yep, you read that sentence correctly. This is NOT that kind of book.

Knowing this one important fact in advance (as the book jacket copy does not disclose this), then you won't be disappointed as I was when I hit the point, midway through the book, when Bryson and Katz, a friend from high school days who decides to accompany Bryson on the AT, make the decision to stop at Front Royal, Virginia, part ways for a few months, and then resume the hike later that same year in Maine's Hundred Miles Wilderness. (They don't even bother to hike the entire segment from the start of the AT to Front Royal, getting into a cab at one point to take them further along the trail.)

The first half of the book is incredibly funny and educational as Bryson prepares for the hike and begins to learn about the history of the AT. He also begins to face the truth of what it means to make this type of journey. Hiking the entire AT in a year is, after all, not your typical Sunday afternoon hike or 3-day backpacking holiday in the Sierra Mountain range. The piece on the dangers of bears is especially fine writing, and places the issue of bears in the larger context of the wilderness lands that surround us, even in large urban centers. Bryson skillfully weaves current events, history, and anecdotes about the AT.

However, the quality of the book suffers once Bryson and Katz finish the first part of their great adventure. Bryson's writing almost mirrors the disappointment he must have felt, knowing he wasn't going to finish the trail but still had to complete the writing of this book. The writing in the second half is sketchy and almost haphazard, seemingly written in bits and pieces that lack the loving flow, attention to detail, and story-telling that mark the first half of the book.

This is my first book by Bryson, and I may pick up another of his books, although I'll probably borrow it from the library rather than buy it. "A Walk in the Woods" is probably best saved for readers who already know Bryson's work from other books and are already-won fans of his writing style. ... Read more

Editorial Review

All New Journeys From The New York Times Bestselling Author Of A Life On The Road

I keep thinking I will find something wonderful just around the bend.

Ever since October 1967, when he set off in a battered motor home to explore America and talk to its people, Charles Kuralt has been one of our premier chroniclers -- a man who has helped us see and celebrate our country in a way we never had before.

After retiring from CBS News in 1994, he set out to spend a perfect year in America -- traveling to his twelve favorite American places, in just the right month for a visit to each. With his well-known warmth, humor and insight, he shows them to us now in Charles Kuralt's America.

From Montana in September and Alaska in June to winter in Cajun country and the North Carolina mountains in spring, Kuralt's accounts are filled with people, stories and experiences. Suffused by a poet's love of language and rich in the spirit and flavor of this infinite and varied land, Charles Kuralt's America is, like its author, a national treasure. ... Read more

Reviews

This book is an excellent journey for the senses., January 11, 1997
The book "America" by Charles Kuralt is an exciting journey from one corner of America to the other, and from one part of Kuralt's life to another during "a very special year." Memories of "On the Road" are easily evoked as you start your adventure among the uniqueness of New Orleans. Areas sampled along the way vary from the seacoasts of Maine and California to the mountains of North Carolina and the vibrant streets of New York. The reader discovers the warmth and beauty of our nation as shown in the diversity of people and activities that Kuralt revels in during his magical year. This book may be of special interest to those who are not intimate with the USA, and can be used as a starting point for planning one's own journey of discovery and delight. I heartily recommend this trek through America.

Makes you feel like you were there, September 9, 2001
When Charles Kuralt retired from CBS he decided to do something enjoyable.... spend a year vacationing at his favorite places in the country. He selected twelve places, and spent one month in each place in it's peak season: January in New Orleans, October in Vermont, August in Maine, etc. Each chapter gives a 20-30 page account of his experiences in each individual location.

Good: Kuralt is just an excellent writer. After reading each chapter you feel like you've visited each place yourself. In my opinion his most interesting visits were Twin Bridges, Montana; Ketchikan, Alaska; Key West, and New Orleans. He gives brilliant, flavorful descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and personalities he runs into in each part of the country.

Bad: Kansas wasn't included in his travels. Also, it would be interesting to see how someone from my generation would do a book like this. Kuralt's perspective seems more geared towards his own generation. But that certainly didn't keep a young buck like me from enjoying it.

Opinion: This book is a great retreat for those of us who would like to travel to the wonderful places this country has more often but have neither the time nor the resources to do so.

Touching and Inspiring, November 28, 2000
This is one of the best books ever! It was a gift given to me a while ago, and I have listened to it several times. I actually own it on audiocassette, and I think that this is one of those books that are better listened to and experienced that way than through reading. The sound of his voice adds so much expression and emotion to his recounts, and the stories are entertaining with an underlying "life lesson" in each. His appreciation and admiration of the world are simply, absolutely beautiful.

You simply cannot pass up such a wonderful book.

Kuralt a Genius, December 10, 2004
Charles Osgood called Kuralt "The only genius that television news ever produced." I'll go with that. People were surprised when Kuralt retired abruptly. We later learned that he was in the process of succumbing to a fatal disease. So Kuralt was not just touring America, he was saying good bye to it. It is a brilliant work. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A joyous exploration and celebration of the infinite gastronomic pleasures of France.

Ranging far from his adopted Provence, Peter Mayle now travels to every corner of the country, armed with knife, fork, and corkscrew.He takes us to tiny, out-of-the-way restaurants, three-star Michelin wonders, local village markets, annual festivals, and blessed vineyards.We visit the Foire aux Escargots at Matigny-les-Bains–a whole weekend devoted to the lowly but revered snail.We observe the Medoc Marathon, where runners refresh themselves enroute with tastings of red wine (including Chateau Lafite-Rothschild!).There is bouillabaisse in a beachside restaurant in St. Tropez.A search for the perfect chicken that takes us to a fair in Bourg-en-Bresse.There is even a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches, a sacred event at which thanks is given for the aromatic, mysterious, and breathtakingly expensive black truffle.We learn which is the most pungent cheese in France (it’s in Normandy), witness a debate on the secret of the perfect omelet, and pick up a few luscious recipes along the way.

All the glory and pleasure on the French table in the most satisfying audiobook yet from the toujours delightfully entertaining Peter Mayle. ... Read more

Reviews

Mayle Eats His Way Across France, July 7, 2001
It's an assignment that would make even the most jaded writer pick up his pen: Travel around France and report back about the oddest, most unusual ways that it celebrates its cuisine. Frog legs, snails, truffles, poultry, and, of course, its wine. Sheer heaven!

Peter Mayle accepted the challenge and here's the perfect book for curling up on the porch alongside a glass of cool refreshment. "French Lessons" charts a year in Mayle's life as he travels across France, describing with a combination of droll wit and wine-soaked facts (many times, he couldn't read his notes the day after some festival) how a country blessed with not only a variety of climates and cuisines, but also a people willing to spend large amounts of money on their enjoyment thereof.

I am a longtime fan of Mayle's writing, back when he was writing about pastis and other subjects for "European Travel & Life" magazine, but I hope not an uncritical one. I was disappointed in his account of his return to France in "Encore Provence," and "Hotel Pastis" did not engage me at all. Sometimes, I wonder if, with skills learned in the advertising trade, where he was an executive, he doesn't succeed in giving the French a gloss it doesn't otherwise deserve. Certainly, when discussing chickens from Bresse, the only poultry to have its own label (called appellation contr�l�e), he touches only in passing, how most chickens we eat are raised (if we may call it that) in horrible conditions. Not for nothing is it called factory farming.

But "French Lessons" went down like a lightly garlic-flavored escargot. This is a book which celebrates eating and drinking well, and is a balm to the soul as well as incentive for the appetite. Needless to say, it should only be taken in short dollops, after a good meal.

Not everything has to do with cooking. There's the Le Club 55, a restaurant in Saint-Tropez where the Beautiful and mostly undressed people meet to eat and be seen, where an expert on plastic surgery was able to tell which surgeon worked on which lift ("Cosmetic surgery has its Diors and Chanels, and when looking at a suspiciously taut and chiseled jawline or an artfully hoisted bust, the informed eye can identify who did what.")

Then there's the Marathon du M�doc, where, amid the serious runners, jog several thousand more in fancy dress amid the ch�teux of Bordeaux, where wine is offered at the refreshment stations, and the winner earns his weight in wine. Rounding out the book is celebration of frog's legs on the last Sunday in April in Vittel, where 30,000 people will eat five tons of the stuff. If you want to know what they taste like, Peter will inform you down to the last bite of the marrow.

And if you wish to attend these fetes, addresses and other notes are listed at the back of the book.

"French Lessons" represents a return to form for Mayle. So long as he is willing to go out and hunt up new stories to tell, he'll remain an entertaining and informative writer.

Vintage Mayle, March 12, 2002
Last year I was lucky enough to take a month long holiday in the south of France. Naturally, "French Lessons" is one of the books I chose to take with me.

"French Lessons" is vintage Peter Mayle. While I enjoy Mayle's fiction as a light and fun change of pace, I really think he is at the top of his form when writing non-fiction. "French Lessons," like the classic, "A Year in Provence," is simply charming. There is just no other way to describe it. The book charms and beguiles you; you lose yourself in it and time just flies. No one seems better able to describe the "real" France than Peter Mayle. And it shows. Most definitely.

Just as with Mayle's previous non-fiction books, I found I could relate to just about everything he wrote in "French Lessons." I had had similar experiences in Provence, in Paris, in the Loire, in Burgundy. One can learn about more than food in this book; Mayle also details the social customs of the areas and the idiosyncrasies of the people. I learned there are people who attend Mass to give thanks for the truffle, a festival where snails are eaten by the dozen and washed down with Gewurztraminer, and an actual "cheese hall of fame" in the town of Livarot. The person honored with the award from this particular hall of fame is expected to eat as much livarot cheese as possible. In another such festival, frogs' legs are the celebrated foodstuff. The annual celebration of the bleu footed poulet in Bourg-en-Bresse and the Marathon du Medoc made for especially hilarious reading.

Mayle takes us from region to region and from town to town...all in the name of great food. We visit festivals, restaurants, chateaux and so many town squares, I lost count. Mayle's descriptions of the festivals and his historical notes are particularly interesting, especially to anyone who is planning to visit France. After reading this book, he or she will surely come away knowing what is, and what isn't, authentic French food.

Throughout this book, Mayle writes in his characteristically charming, witty and urbane manner. His is a style that suits the subject matter of this book perfectly.

I do think that those readers who have actually traveled to the south of France at least once, will find more to love in this book than those readers who are unfamiliar with the area. But familiar or not, Mayle and this book will certainly charm. "French Lessons" is a witty, and sometimes hilarious book that is guaranteed to ensure an enjoyable afternoon in the sun.

e (excellent) mayle!, May 21, 2001
This is another wonderful book by Mr. Mayle. It is interesting, informative and very funny. I think some critics give Mr. Mayle the short end of the stick, as it is sometimes felt that his books are just "fluff". What's wrong with being entertaining, though? And if anyone bothers to take a careful look, Mr. Mayle is a very, very good writer. His sentences are polished gems, and I would put him right up there with the best novelists in terms of sheer writing ability.

If you like France and you like food, you will like this book. Mr. Mayle travels around going to various festivals that celebrate the eating of snails, or frogs legs, or cheese, etc. There are a couple of absolutely hilarious chapers, one dealing with the "beautiful people" being undressed for lunch in a seaside restaurant in St. Tropez, and the other dealing with going to a health spa, French style. (You have the choice between eating off of the low calorie menu or the gourmet menu. Caloric content is not given on the gourmet menu. After all, this is France!)

Scoop this book up as quickly as you can and enjoy every bite. Bon Appetit!

Disappointing: Is Mayle Running Out of Ideas?, May 27, 2001
I have read every Mayle book and thus eagerly bought French Lessons with the hope that the downward trend of Mayle's efforts would be turned around. It was not, and it is getting worse. Mayle has been coasting on the extraordinary A Year in Provence for many years. He seems to have lost a good deal of his wit and cleverness in French Lessons. One gets the impression that he was pressed for another volume (which would certainly be a best seller irrespective of its merits due to Mayle's prior successes), had neither inspiration nor energy to maintain his prior efforts, and figured he might as well arrange for and then write about a few potentially enjoyable--and tax-deductible--excursions in France. He may have had fun, but the reader really doesn't receive his or her proper share of it. For a much better book of this genre, try Pasquale's Nose, Extra Virgin, or Driving Over Lemons.

Light and fun -- Mayle rebounds, May 31, 2001
Since "A Year in Provence" is such a charming memoir I was prompted to read Mayle's subsequent works in the now Provence series. However, while amusing, the latter works pale in comparison with the jewel like quality of the original. Though entertaining "Tourjours Provence" was a disappointing "sequel." Last year after reading "Encore Provence" I felt that Mayle had squeezed out all the juice he could get from the "Provencial" rind. So, with trepidation and low expectations I bought "French Lessons" and was pleasantly surprised.

While not nearly as clever or heart warming as his initial work, "French Lessons" is fun, entertaining, and will heighten your appetite. It is an ideal work for the Francophile, or simply the reader who wishes to travel vicariously to France. It is a perfect summer beach, or long plane ride book.

Passport to Pleasure, October 18, 2003
French Lessons may sound like something that should come with a syllabus, but it is in fact the latest witty look at French culture from British advertising executive turned writer, Peter Mayle. Page after delicious page, this book is pure enjoyment!

Even if you haven't read Mayle's other wonderful books (which I highly recommend), this is a great read for anyone who loves French food, French wine and has a good-natured sense of humor about the people who both produce and consume it. It's like a trip to France without the inconvenience of transatlantic travel. If you're a Francophile like I am, you'll be laughing hysterically and pulling out your passport at the same time!

If you are planning a trip to France, get the book as reference material, and a great way to get excited about your trip. On our honeymoon, my husband and I used Mayle's books as a guide to Provence and had a great time on our pilgrimage. If you are going to Paris and not the countryside however, I recommend reading "Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik. Mayle is in love with the real French, not the Parisians (and if you've ever traveled both places you know exactly what I mean) so he spends his time in Burgundy, Provence and other countryside areas.

One warning to the serious reader though, you'll be done in a couple of hours with this book. You'll fully enjoy those hours, but it is very much a quick read. I think of books like French Lessons as a vacation for the brain. It's great fun and not much thinking. So give that big brain a rest and pull up a fork for what I consider one of the best books about life in France published to date.

What's not to like? Surely not french food!, July 12, 2001
I have read and enjoyed most of Mr. Mayle's books on Provence and was eager to read this one, especially since I was traveling to Provence the following week.

Yes, at times the stories (a different event per chapter) may seem a bit "too cute", but in my limited experience from two trips to France, he is right on the money. The French have such a passion for food that it spills over into all parts of their lives. Food (and of course drink) is always a celebration - whether it's a simple lunch at a roadside cafe or a 5-course meal.

The final chapter is about the Guide Michelin and his visit to the restaurant at the Hotel D'Europe in Arles - which has been rated for more than a hundred years now. Days after reading this chapter, my wife and I were dining there. One of the best meals of our lives.

Read the book, laugh, shake your head and then plan a trip to France!

Cest genial, June 2, 2001
"French Lessons" is not Mayle's best book, but it is not one to be passed up, either. I recommend "A Year in Provence" and "Tojour Provence" for a better flavor of Mayle's love affair with France. For the art and fiction aficionado, "Chasing Cezanne" is quite a hoot. Peter Mayle has turned me into a Francophile with his wonderful books about everyday life in Provence. Mayle describes the French as wonderfully expressive people who are eager to share their knowledge and passion about food and everything else that may come up in conversation. I have a feeling that Mr. Mayle could find that positive reaction in people where ever he went in the world because his approach is curious, friendly, and whet with a tremendous appetite for life (as well as for alcohol, cheese, bread, etc.) Mr. Mayle gives me motivation to conquer my reclusive habits in order to better enjoy my stay in Provence some day on my way to Giverny.

A delightful armchair read, September 12, 2001
Peter Mayle returns to France in his latest book, French Lessons, which focuses on French cuisine and culinary experiences. Here he travels from Provence to all corners of France, exploring small restaurants, village markets, food festivals and vineyards alike. Recommended for anyone with an interest in French culture and cuisine, French Lessons is a delightful armchair read of encounters with the French and their foods evolves.

I only wish it had been longer, July 6, 2001
First off, I hadn't read any reviews of this book when I picked it up in the store, but I had read a couple of Mayle's other books and been struck by the charm of both his writing and his subjects. Mayle has found a way to make a living out of everyone else's fantasy -- perhaps those who view him harshly were simply meant for colder climates... As for "French Lessons" itself, for god's sake, if you love food read it. As much of a francophile as I am, the French as a people take a backseat to the simple, overwhelming pleasures of their food. If anything, the culture emerges through the value it places on gustatory pleasures. I was hungry for 227 pages, and Mayle's obvious love for his subject changed my mind about a few "delicacies" that only the French seem to love by nature. (I never thought a description of frogs'legs would make me hungry...) Frogs, escargot, the chickens of Bresse, pungent cheese, and vast, vast quantities of wine. If you fantasize about chucking your computer, flipping off your boss, and running off to the French countryside to be a writer, this is your book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Now, the New York Times bestseller - Unabridged

On the even of World War II, America's newest submarine plunged helplessly to the bottom of the North Atlantic during a test dive.  Miraculously, thirty-three crew members survived.  While their wives and girlfriends waited in nearly unbearable tension on shore, their ultimate fate would depend on one man.

In this thrilling true narrative of terror, heroism, and courage in the depths of a malevolent ocean, prize-winning author Peter Maas brings us in vivid detail a blow-by-blow account of the disaster and its uncertain outcome. The sub was the Squalus. The man was a U.S. Navy officer, Charles "Swede" Momsen, an extraordinary combination of visionary, scientist and man of action. Until his advent, it was accepted that if a submarine went down, her crew was doomed. But Momsen, in the face of an indifferent, often sneering naval bureaucracy, battling red tape and disbelieving naysayers every step of the way, risked his own life again and again against the unknown in his efforts to invent and pioneer every escape and rescue device, every deep-sea diving technique, to save an entombed crew.

Now, with the crippled, partially flooded Squalus lost on the North Atlantic floor, Momsen faced his personal moment of truth: Could he actually pluck those men from a watery grave? Had all his work been in vain?

The legacy of his death-defying probes into our inner space remains with us today, and in this depiction of the perseverance and triumph of the human spirit, Swede Momsen is given his rightful place in the pantheon of true American heroes.

Reviews

This book is a MUST read!, November 29, 1999
This book is a MUST read for anyone interested in U.S. Navy history. Maas's account of the loss of the USS Squalus & subsequent rescue efforts is exceptionally well done. The reader truly feels what it must have been like for the 33 crewmen trapped in their crippled submarine at the bottom of the North Atlantic as they prayed for rescue. The book also provides a biography of U.S. Navy officer "Swede" Momsen. Often at the risk of his own life, & sometimes with minimal support from the Navy, Momsen developed the deep-sea diving devices that made it possible to attempt the rescue.

Unknown Til Now, But One of the Century's Best, December 13, 1999
Peter Maas gives us a tale that brings the heretofore unknown Swede Momsen to the forefront of the American heroic tradition. In describing how Momsen performs the first deep sea rescue of a marooned submarine crew, Maas tells a first-class tale. He describes how Momsen became one of the Navy's best officers, often not by blindly saying "yes," but more often by challenging conventional wisdom and practicing relentless innovation -- even when it was not welcome or understood. He risked his life many times. The rescue of the crew of Squalus off the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire, is enough of a story to merit a place for Momsen. But Maas proceeds to describe Momsen's entire naval career, which includes a hand in bringing about nuclear submarines and even a stint at solving the worst problem in the entire fleet -- namely, bringing order to the Navy's worldwide mail. Momsen has been dead for more than 30 years, but his life and work are a story about leadership, innovation, practical organization politics, and being personally effective. It's a great book, a real page-turner. The only drawback is an occasional spell of technical briefing which produced nothing more in me than a desire to skip a few pages and return to the spellbinding story of this man's life's work.

Bravery, fear, courage - and the lessons of history., December 9, 1999
Peter Maas has a gift. His words make men and women whom we'll never know personally come alive. In his telling of the tale of the Squalus, Maas also provides a shocking glimpse into the rigidity of the pre-World War II Navy, presents a picture of domestic life that we no longer enjoy (and probably are worse off for it) and the willingness of men to willingly endure danger. It is also the story of one very brave, very determined man who fought a stolid bureaucracy in order to save the lives of his comrades. Maas' reporting - and that's what it really is - is solid. He never gets into phony histrionics, but his descriptions of the reality are frightening - you can imagine the terror of being trapped in a submarine, 240 feet below the surface, not knowing if you will be dead or alive in a matter of hours. Maas also captures the unassuming and unfailing courage of the rescuers who fight inadequate equipment, foul weather and fate itself. The Terrible Hours is adventure of the most terrifying kind because it recounts a reality most of us could never endure.

Jerry

A tribute to an American Hero, June 17, 2000
Though ostensibly about the first successful deep water submarine rescue in American History, "The Terrible Hours" is really the heoric story of Swede Momson, the dedicated U.S. Naval officer who overcame reams of red tape and mountains of bureaucratic ineptitude to develop the equipment that allowed the successful operation to take place. His story is an inspiring one for any American. Author Peter Maas first reported on Momsen's story nearly thrity-five years ago, and this project was a labor of love for him. His account of the sailors aboard the trapped submarine is quite harrowing. And the rescue is detailed with the right amount of white knuckle suspense. Overall, this well-written book is an excellent and informative piece of reporting.

The Terrible Hours, February 20, 2000
A real page turner. Content of this story made me believe that there are still true American heroes, and "Swede" Momson was one of them. The story is written as though you very much cared and knew the men trapped on that sub. I felt with Maas' descriptions, that I was actually in the sub suffering the cold and horror that the men endured during their entrapment. I highly recommend this book as it is a true story and the writing is as excellent as it is fast paced and descriptive.

An excellent read about a truly amazing man, February 15, 2000
This book clicks along at a pace that rivals a Tom Clancy novel. The difference is that "Swede" Momsen actually lived and the story told here is true.

It's hard to imagine a time when even a minor submarine accident meant certain death for her crew. It's equally hard to imagine being on the surface, listening to the men trapped below banging on the hull with hammers, begging to be rescued...and knowing it was simply impossible.

Momsen's life's work made those tragedies a thing of the past. This book tells the story masterfully and is highly recommended.

An illustrated edition is a good idea, December 15, 1999
Maas provided a riveting read and a naval history lesson. Swede Momsen was truly a hero. The book is a tribute to his character and dedication to his work. The difficulty of raising Squalus while solving technical problems and performing scientific research critical to your mission at the same is so daunting that most men would have thought it impossible at the outset. Even today the task would be a near impossibility. I agree with other reviewers that illustrations and/or diagrams of the submarine, rescue operation, and diving apparatus would have been very helpful to the average reader. As an ex-submariner, I could easily visualize all of descriptions of scenes Maas recounted, but I can easily see how other readers less familiar with submarines could have difficulty with visualizing the predicament of the Squalus crew, their brave rescuers, and the extreme danger inherent in the entire operation. Well done, Mr. Maas. Now carry on with an illustrated edition.

As close to Momsen's own telling as we will ever get., October 9, 1999
Many times the early works of an author are offered again after the writer has attained 'best seller' status. The truth can not be changed, and so it stands to reason that the story told in THE RESCUER sounds familiar in THE TERRIBLE HOURS. I have read them both and see the similarities and the differences. It is good to tell the story again in a time when the world yearns for heroes, and to offer the truth in a world where honesty often takes a back seat. I have heard this story all of my life, as VADM Momsen is my grandfather. Peter Maas spent nearly a decade interviewing him and sharing his life before he died. This is not a small story. Peter told me just last night that in spite of all his forays up the best seller list that "this is the one that counts." He told me, "I have been as dedicated to your grandfather's story as he was to his work. The man was a true hero." My grandfather longed to tell the story himself - and I own his original attempt to do that. But he was an inventor, and Peter Maas is the writer - and Peter has taken the tale out of the scientific information and turned it into a wonderful story of an exceptional man. There may be tellings of the story by those who were on the Falcon from the start to the finish of the rescue, but they surely can not rival the story told by the man who developed the rescue devices in the face of skepticim and opposition, risked his own life to test them, and came at last to that certain hour when the lives of 33 men rested on the sum total of everything he had ever done or learned or dreamed. His whole life was dedicated to underwater rescue and the Navy's submarine service. It is time for the scope of his accomplishments to be told - or told again to a more listening world - and Peter Maas has done an exceptional job at the telling.

5 Stars For Survivors, The Dead, Mr. Momsen, The Families,, November 24, 1999
Everyone involved in the rescue, and for The Author for bringing this piece of History to one who was unaware of it. I do not have the technical expertise of many of the reviewers so I too would have found pictures or drawings very helpful. The story is not diminished by their absence, but for those who don't have the knowledge it would have helped to clarify and expand on certain issues and the equipment used. I read through the book almost without pause as there is no let up at all in the story, it is an excellent piece of historical writing, and if it hadn't happened, it would have made a great novel. I do not mean to infer it is light reading, simply very well written even though a few more details/explanations would have helped the layperson. My Father served in the Navy, and he always has spoken about the Men that served in the Submarines as people that were a "Certain kind of special, and who had a lot of guts". I didn't fully appreciate that comment until this book. These men were closer to amazing than just special. The craft they were using may have been state of the art in their day, but I don't know how much comfort could be derived from that fact. Mr. Momson, the rescuers, the crewmen that survived, and those that did not, are all heroes, as are their Families. I do not believe that we hear enough about heroes and heroines to the extent that we should. And the next comment may generate some nasty letters but that's fine. Today heroes and their female counterparts are often those who endorse sneakers and other forms of Athletic Equipment. Sports are important; excellence in sport should be celebrated, but kept in perspective. These submariners, their counterparts on ships, the men and women who served on the ground or in the air, are not celebrated nearly enough, our standards have gotten badly out of line. All that we enjoy, and all that we are free to criticize, and the lives we have to pursue our goals with, ALL are owed to the men and women who have served their Country in Peace and in War. I have never been to war, but for those who have given me my freedom a thank you, my respect, and a promise to raise my Children to know who gave them the Country in which they live, is what I can offer. It's not much compared to what you have done, but I believe many more citizens than not know they owe what we have to those who defended us.

Swede Momsen's story, at last!, April 5, 2001
If you followed the Russian submarine incident with interest, you must read Peter Maas' book "Terrible Hours". In the year 2000, Russian submariners perished while the whole world watched and waited. In the year 1939, an American submarine, disabled and sitting on the bottom in 250 feet of water, was located and its crew rescued, thanks to the determination and guts of one Swede Momsen.

Maas does an excellent job bringing to light the early days of American submarine warfare and his portrayal of the pioneer days of underwater rescue is fascinating.

The US Navy wasn't very kind to Momsen in his day. Maas notes that Momsen's efforts to develop and test rescue techniques and equipment were actually frowned upon by the brass. Momsen's accomplishments were achieved mainly on the sly and at great personal and professional risk.

"Terrible Hours" is truly a must read, not only for those interested in submarines and submarine history, but for anyone moved by the gripping human drama of crewmen trapped on the ocean floor, waiting, waiting for that tap on the hull. ... Read more

Editorial Review

On June 8, 1924, George Leigh Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine were last seen climbing toward the summit of Mount Everest. Clouds soon closed around them, and they vanished into history. Ever since, mountaineers have wondered whether they reached the summit.

On May 1, 1999, Conrad Anker, one of the world's strongest mountaineers, discovered Mallory's body lying facedown, frozen into the scree and naturally mummified at 27,000 feet on Everest's North Face. The condition of the body, as well as the artifacts found with Mallory, are important clues in determining his fate. Seventeen days later, Anker free-climbed the Second Step, a 90-foot sheer cliff that is the single hardest obstacle on the north ridge. The first expedition known to have conquered the Second Step, a Chinese team in 1975, had tied a ladder to the cliff, leaving unanswered the question of whether Mallory could have climbed it in 1924. Anker's climb was the first test since Mallory's of the cliff's true difficulty. In treacherous conditions, Anker led teammate Dave Hahn from the Second Step to the summit.

Reflecting on the climb, Anker explains why he thinks Mallory and Irvine failed to make the summit, but at the same time he expresses his awe at Mallory's achievement with the primitive equipment of the time. Stunningly handsome and charismatic, Mallory charmed everyone who met him during his lifetime and continues to fascinate mountaineers today.

The Lost Explorer is the remarkable story of this extraordinarily talented man and of the equally talented modern climber who spearheaded a discovery that may ultimately help solve the mystery of Mallory's disappearance. ... Read more

Reviews

Mallory's Legend Preserved, July 3, 2000
I became interested in finding out more about George Mallory after watching a television documentary describing the discovery of his body in May,1999. When I learned that one of the climbers on that expedition had co-authored a book describing the historical find I knew I wanted to read it.

By reading it, a lot can be learned about climbing, even by a "grounded" reader like myself. Being a non-climber, I really wasn't aware of the mystique and high regard in which Mallory is held within the community of men and women who challenge themselves to the extremes of mental, emotional and physical endurance by pitting themselves against the unforgiving mountains "because they are there".

The book provides extensive insight into the psyche of Mallory and Conrad Anker, the man who found his body. The talent to climb, the courage to confront the ultimate challenges and the respect and awe held for the mountains, especially Everest, seem to be shared by both.

In my estimation the book accomplished what it set out to do. Most importantly, it preserved Mallory's legend. He was treated with reverance and his feats and accomplishments become more mind boggling when you consider the technological limitations with which he worked.

It helped provide insight into why people climb mountains. Mountaineering taps into the competitive nature of man; Everest is seen as an opponent that needs to be conquered. It is the proving ground that measures a person's mettle and stimulates the instinct for self survival.

The book spends time desribing Andrew Irvine, incredible in his own right, and sheds light on why he was chosen as Mallory's partner for that fateful climb.

The book also addresses the question on most readers' minds, "Did Mallory summit?". Anker followed in Mallory's footsteps and attempted to duplicate the climb. That helped him theorize that Mallory did not make it to the top. He explains clearly why he reached that conclusion and identifies several points that justify his conclusion. He even hypothesizes how Mallory and Irvine died and where Irvine's body might be located.

Finally, this illuminating book offers several anecdotes that both entertain and educate about the most dangerous and exhilirating sport known to man.

Incredible Story, November 1, 1999
This book provides a great story about an incredible discovery. I really enjoyed the balance between Roberts' historical perspective and Anker's first-hand experience. While we may never know for sure whether Mallory and Irvine made the summit, or what exactly happened on their final attempt to reach the summit, this book provides solid information and analysis via thoroughly enjoyable writing, which is more than we've ever had before. Excellent job!

An honest, well written, historically important book, October 30, 1999
This is the best of the Mallory books for several reasons. It is by far the best written, and it also has the most believable, most rational analysis of Mallory's disappearance.

Anker did not sell out. He simply didn't agree with the party line that Hemmleb/Simonson/Johnson were trying to foist on the world--that Mallory climbed Everest--so he decided to do his own book, in order that his own ideas could find an audience. If you read this book carefully, and compare it to the horrible writing and irresponsible speculation of the Hemmleb/Simonson/Johnson book, you will appreciate what an important book "The Lost Explorer" is.

It's sad that the Hemmleb-Simonson camp has launched a smear campaign against Anker. If Anker hadn't been on the expedition, they would never have found Mallory, they would never have climbed the Second Step, and they would never have reached the summit.

I am glad Anker wrote this book. If you read it, you'll be glad too.

Concise and fascinating, February 25, 2006
This is an interesting, concise account of the 1999 discovery of George Mallory, possibly the first to climb Mt. Everest.

In 1924 Everest veteran Mallory and his promising junior partner Andrew Irvine famously disappeared some 1000 feet below the summit. Did they reach it before they perished, 29 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? In 1999, Conrad Anker of the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition found Mallory. Yet the great question remains.

In this book Anker and fellow climber David Roberts discuss Mallory's life, the discovery, what Mallory and Irvine mean to them. Anker recounts his attempt to replicate a key part of Mallory's climb. Roberts' biography of Mallory alternates with Anker's account of the events of 1999.

After finding Mallory, Anker's team removed key items he was carrying, which were both clues and historic artifacts. They also published photographs of part of the body. Some called this desecration. Anker responds.

Interestingly, Anker and his collegues all initially thought they had found Irvine.

Mallory's camera was absent, much to everyone's disappointment. A few days later, Anker and his partners assisted in a rescue. Afterwards, fresh snow obscured the search region, scrapping a planned search for Irvine and the camera.

Roberts discusses Mallory's somewhat bohemian youth, his attitudes about bottled oxygen, his prior climbing achievements, and his famous quote: "Because it's there". A full chapter is devoted to the 1924 expedition, discussing why Mallory chose to climb with Irvine, Teddy Norton and David Somervell's record climb just before Mallory's attempt, and Noel Odell's tantalizing last sight of the lost pair.

The book concludes with Anker's account of his own summit climb, his near-disastrous descent, and his best speculation about George Mallory and Andrew Irvine's fate. His reluctant conclusion: the key obstacle called the Second Step was most likely unclimbable under 1924 conditions, the two turned back there if not earlier, and they fell to their deaths descending as fresh snow fell.

This fascinating book is dedicated to Mallory and Irvine, who both authors greatly admire regardless of the exact events of June 8, 1924.

I belive in his theory! Excellent coverage!, November 2, 1999
Anker's opinion on the M/E Team was very well noted in TLE and I found this an excellent read. In fact, I was overjoyed that ONE TEAM can participate on the same expedition and have TWO different opinions on what happened in 1924! Since, I will never set foot on this mountain, I need both trains of thought to guide me to my own opinion of what could've happened. I'd say read both The Lost Explorer and The Ghosts of Everest!

Even better to HEAR Anker tell it..., June 3, 2003
They found George Mallory's body on Everest. I had the pleasure of hearing this story- before I read the book- from Conrad Anker himself at a Wilderness Medical Conference this past year. What an amazing story. Some have been critical of the handling of the remains and possessions but there is no doubt in my mind after meeting the man that the intention was to 'do the right thing'. It's just that the right thing isn't so clear in this situation. What do you do when you find the remains of a legend in an environment as inhospitable as Mt. Everest? The profits or a portion thereof of book sales at the conference were donated to charity-the Alex Lowe foundation and the possessions recovered, as I recall, were turned over to family members or historical societies- it's not like Anker is selling them on Ebay. Also, maybe there is some pride or ego in the discovery but rightfully so. I think it would be hard to accurately describe the events without sounding a little boastful, although again, Mr. Anker seems like quite an unassuming man and I didn't get that impression in person. The book is interesting and a quick easy read to gain historical perspective about George Mallory, Sandy Irvine and company and the early exploration of Everest and about the discovery of Mallory's body which is monumental in mountaineering circles. In fact, I think I'm going to go read it again.
...just some thoughts, not a full review of the book...

The Lost Explorer, March 22, 2002
Quite recently I picked up a book titled "Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine." A fascinating book, extensively documented, the story Mallory's final attempt upon Everest caught my imagination, as did the man himself.

While "Lost Explorer" may not have all of the details about the 1924 expedition, or lengthy lists of sponsors for the expeditions, it has something that I found lacking in "Ghosts of Everest." Anker, while maybe not the most eloquent of writers, provides readers with an intensely personal view of his experiences. His version of the story seems altogether more truthful and honest than "Ghosts of Everest" which takes a more picturesque view of the events. Anker goes on to tell about a harrowing, high-altitude rescue and his own summit of Everest. Also, "Lost Explorer", though David Roberts's writing, provides the reader with a more intimate view of Mallory's life.

"Lost Explorer" is a passionate, fascinating, and, most importantly, personal story about extraordinary men (both past and present) and their journey on the same mountain.

Ego trips to Everest, December 15, 1999
I read this book after getting interested in Everest by reading Jon Krakauer's excellent tale "Into Thin Air". This book explores the search and subsequent find of George Mallory who disappeared on Everest in 1924. The book is told from two perspectives: Conrad Anker's who was the climber that found Mallory's body, and David Roberts who gives historical background on Mallory and his expedition. I was most impressed by Roberts' descriptions of Mallory and the information he provides on the man and his trips to Everest. The comparisons between the folks of Mallory's time and the self-aggrandizing climbers of today's generation was especially interesting. I found Anker's descriptions of his trip to be very egocentric and off-putting when compared to Mallory and his quest for exploration. A telling example was Anker's recount of the rescue they performed for a Ukrainian team caught in a storm. This coupled with the photos they took of Mallory's body for what seems to me to be pure sensationalism only confirmed my lack of respect for these Everest glory hounds of today. All in all I enjoyed the historical accounts of Mallory by Roberts but could have done without Anker's ego trips.

I've read most of the Everest Books and this is the Best!, December 23, 1999
I have read most of the books written on the subject and I loved this one the best. While many of the other books dwell on the 96 disaster, this book truely discribes the effort and danger of climbing Everest, both yesteryear and today. I especially enjoyed learning more about Mallory. I am not a climber, nor ever will be, But I love this Everest stuff! Thanks Conrad!

The best of the Mallory books, February 27, 2000
If you thought "Oh no, not another Mallory book!" then think again. For me this one is the best.

Like the other reviewers I noted the flashes of ego in Conrad Anker's account, but what a story he has to tell: HE found the body, HE climbed the second step, and HE was the clear driving force in reaching the summit. He relects on all these events with a calm and fascinating intelligence, and crucially, with the insight that comes from actually being there doing it, not looking at it through a telescope from Base Camp.

As Anker and Hahn make their way up the mountain one even has the tingling sensation of walking a few paces behind Mallory in 1924. Could he have negotiated this terrain? There's an oxygen bottle! What other clues lie ahead? There's lots of detail here that you won't find in the other books. The action on the mountain is interspersed with background and supporting chapters by Dave Roberts which serve to give a welcome breather.

All the Mallory books have their pluses and minuses. The photographs in "Ghosts of Everest" are difficult to beat. "The Lost Explorer" gives the most persuasive account of what really happened to Mallory and Irvine. ... Read more

Editorial Review

"McCarthy's Bar" is the result of a lifelong love affair with Ireland. Written and read by the presenter of Channel 4's "Travelog", it is both an entertaining journey and a personal investigation into a past, and a country populated by hundreds of McCarthys, where Christian Brothers rub shoulders with Van Morrison and Saint Patrick, and a perfect pint of Guinness is a joy that's always worth waiting for. ... Read more

Reviews

McCarthy's Bar: A Journey of Discovery in the West of Irelan, June 18, 2001
As a native Irishwoman I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Mr McCarthy definitely understands the Irish at their best and worst. He truly captures the Ireland and Irish of today and not the American version that includes scenes from The Quite Man or chapters from Angela's Ashes. I would recommend that anyone who is of Irish descent or plans to visit Ireland read this book it will give you a good understanding of the Irish people: were an irreverant, funny and unique bunch.

Excellent!, June 12, 2001
I was unsure about buying this book, but for the price I thought "what the hell!"

I opened it and read the first sentence on the bus...what a mistake! I roared with laughter, much to the chagrin of my fellow travellers who weren't sharing in my experience. For your information, the first sentence is: "The harp player had just fallen off the stage and cracked his head on the Italian tourist's pint." Another sentence, and this is only from the prologue, I haven't even reached the first chapter yet, is: "At one point, the harp player fell off again, only backwards."

This book is an amazing insight into the Irish way of life, and those who visit Ireland, by one who desperately wants to discover his Irish roots.

Pete McCarthy is an astute and accurate observer.

If you found the sentences I've quoted humorous, this book will have you in stitches.

I'm not one to roar out loud to a book, but this one creased me up time and time again.

For the craic, if nothing else, buy it!

Gleeful misogyny with an Anglo-Irish accent, December 13, 2004
Pete McCarthy and his aging Volvo, known as the Tank, spend a picaresque summer pottering around Ireland, flittering from pub to bed-and-breakfast to pub and back to another pub again. McCarthy's mother was Irish (although he himself was raised in England), and this fact has generated in him an Irish lilt to his prose, if not to his actual voice.

McCarthy's tone exactly captures an Irish skill for simultaneous disdain and affection for everyone he runs across. All tourists, including himself, are faintly (or more than faintly) ridiculous. McCarthy gets chased by cows while out looking for prehistoric Irish monoliths. He gets admonished by priests with spitshined brogans while on a barefoot 3-day fasting pilgrimage. He drinks a lot (a LOT), and for some odd reason, he seems to stop at every Chinese restaurant in Ireland.

If you can overlook McCarthy's paradoxically happy good-humored dislike of almost everything (and you should), you'll find the book funny, appealing, even charming. McCarthy would be a very entertaining fellow to run into at the pub. A perfect read in anticipation or in memory of your own vacation to Ireland.

Funny, acquired taste for an American reader, March 31, 2004
Pete McCarthy's style quickly reminded me of America's P. J. O'Rourke, who has made a significant contribution to humorous travel writing. McCarthy is English-Irish and his affinity for his roots shows through his writing. He looks for and finds humor in the little things about travel - talk radio, second-hand cars, hitch hikers, tourist traps, off-the-beaten-path finds, bad food, good company, pleasant and unpleasant surprises, nosy hoteliers, apparent (to McCarthy and the reader, at least) ironies, rapid changes in the weather, obnoxious tourists, embedded cultural curiosities, and, well, you get the picture.

For an American reader, some of the history, terms, and geographic references are not unexpectedly foreign. Some humor and lessons are lost in the 'translation'. And McCarthy is pretty hard on American tourists in Ireland, although not noticeably harder on them than on other foreigners searching for quaint elements of Irish tradition or cheap land to buy. Hippies, yuppie Englishmen, rich Germans, and other demographic and ethnic groups earn his disbelief and, often, mild contempt. He catalogs the changes he has seen in Ireland in his lifetime, and many of them are not pretty. The Celtic Tiger has lost some of its charm and sold out some of its character to tourism and those eager to buy inexpensive land.

Consistently observant, funny and insightful, my one, major negative from the book is that it left me much less likely to visit Ireland. There may still be a chance to save the country from foreign invaders, so I'll do my part.

Rest in Peace Pete McCarthy, September 12, 2005
While it is old news, I just completed a google search to find out when Pete McCarthy might be releasing a new book. I was stunned and saddened to hear of his passing in October following an 8 month bout with cancer. I had no idea.

I loved this book. If you don't take yourself too seriously, nor are you one easily offended when someone takes the mickey out of the Irish, then you too will find yourself howling as you read Mr. McCarthy's observations. Look at the reviews. Obviously, Pete McCarthy was not for everyone. I however, thought he was the most hilarious travel writer out there. It is one of those books that I can pass along to someone and say, "If you don't think this is funny, then we have absolutely nothing in common."

Next time I'm in a pub, I'll steal a quiet moment, say a small prayer, drink one for Pete McCarthy and look for something completely absurd happening around me. Rest in peace Mr. McCarthy.

Lost soul seeks a place of resurrection, January 30, 2005
Author and humorist Pete McCarthy, son of an Irish mother and English father, has an identity crisis. His feeling of belonging in the English Midlands having gotten lost somewhere along the way, he searches for his roots and a sense of "home" in the west of Ireland - a journey of discovery and social commentary as related here in McCARTHY'S BAR, the first of his two books on the joys and angst of an Irish heritage.

Whether he's climbing to the top of Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick, stopping for a pint at every "McCarthy's Bar" he stumbles upon, enduring a three-day ordeal of fasting, sleep deprivation and barefoot praying at the country's last remaining place of rigorous religious pilgrimage, St. Patrick's Purgatory at Lough Derg, crashing the touristy medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, taking the dodgy cable car across treacherous waters to Dursey Island, or seeking out the "Ryan's Daughter" commemorative stone on the Dingle Peninsula, McCarthy's narrative is a revelatory introduction to Eire's rugged western counties. And, Pete's strength is always his keen eye for and pungent commentary on the absurdities of the local human condition.

"Outside the church (in Castletownbere) half a dozen shifty-looking men are lurking by the porch, observing their obligation to attend mass, but without actually entering the building and being spotted by the priest ... Hunched and restless, their furtive, well-practiced body language doesn't say 'Church' so much as 'Unemployment Office' or 'Magistrate's Court'. Ireland may be becoming a more secular society, but some deeply ingrained vestige of belief has convinced these guys they're more likely to avoid eternal damnation if they spend an hour every Saturday night having a few smokes outside the church before going out for a skinful. It's a complex business, modern theology."

McCarthy and Bill Bryson are my two favorite travel essayists. But whereas the latter's gentle observations are fueled by a certain bemused inquisitiveness, Pete's, though basically benign, seem to be colored by a mild case of indigestion. I can't say that I prefer one over the other; it depends on my mood. Certainly, if McCarthy proves to be as prolific a writer as Bill, then his publisher is assured of my dollars.

McCarthy perhaps hit his stride with his second book, THE ROAD TO McCARTHY, to which I awarded five stars. McCARTHY'S BAR seemed a bit forced at times, e.g. in the chapter about the author's travails in St. Patrick's Purgatory. However, as a half-century resident of Southern California, in which place I've never felt entirely comfortable, I can relate to the quote attributed by the author to his friend on Inishmore Island, Father Dara Molloy, a Catholic priest - now married with three children - gone rogue from established Church doctrine:

"The Celtic monks would wander round Europe until they found the place that was calling to them ... They had an expression for it: seeking their place of resurrection. They believed that they were beneath that spot in the firmament that would one day lead them to heaven."

PS: Today, 7/19/05, I received an email from Pete's literary agent that the author died of cancer in October 2004. This is a great loss to the travel essay and humor genres.

McCarthy's Bar, August 15, 2002
Thank You Pete McCarthy for giving me the gift of enjoying reading, I up until I bought your book would only read technical or factual books,(not that the bar is one of fiction). But I hope you know what I mean, I bought it by pure chance at Heathrow airport while waiting for my grilfriend who was arriving from South Africa, I was strolling through the book shop when the cover couaght my eye, I picked it up and read the back cover, and purchased it. You know those special moments in your life when you can actually pin-point a change in your habbits, well that was one for me, I couldn't put it down, normally I might read ten or fifteen pages and that was it for the book. My friend thaught I was cracking up, but they couldn't see the caracters that could and some that I could relate too as people I knew in Ireland! I would laugh out loud on the tube, I loved it, My brother on his way back from Crotica read it while stopping over for a couple of night, he loved it, even my South African Girlfriend loved it! I am reading 'The Road To McCarthy at the moment, Another one please Pete.

Realworld Ireland, June 10, 2002
As an Irishman living in the US I often encounter misty-eyed Americans who long to visit "the ould sod". Seldom, if ever, do these hapless travelers have any idea of the magnitude of the departure from their sensible and predictable life state-side that they will encounter in their idealized mental vision of the Emerald Isle.

This book provides a Windex clean window through which to peer at the idiosyncratic Irish (and would-be Irish) that dwell within McCarthy's Bar.

I never dreamt I would read a belly laff review of a place such as Lough Derg, that stark, brutal and monastic bastion of Irish Catholicism in the wilds of Donegal.

I recommend this book to anyone who dares to remove the shamrock-green colored glasses before venturing forth to meet the larger than life, hilarious (to some) characters that will inevitably be encountered in the unpredictable terrain of economic boom Ireland.

A side splitting but genuine view of Ireland, July 14, 2005
Pete McCarthy is a highly skilled comic writer. This book had me in stitches with great belly laughs throughout. Born to an Irish Mother, but growing up in Warrington, he can adopt both an insiders and an outsiders perspective of life in Ireland.

McCarthy finds humour in the simplest of things. He points out how his home town of Warrington is an unlikely place for Irish imigrants, being the home of Oliver Cromwell, scourge of the Irish.

As he says himself, his "research" for this book was far from unenjoyable, involving as it did long trips to ireland, days on end spent in pubs chatting to locals and tourists and downing copious amounts of alcohol.

He gives us the secret for measuring the level of value or rip-off you face in any town in Ireland - the singapore noodle index.

He spends a lot of his time when outside of pubs or bed and breakfasts searching for neolithic and pre-celtic monuments. He trudges up lonely hillsides searching for standing stones and stone circles, avoiding where he can the ones that contain a tourist office or interpretive centre. He brings you to realise the depth of history that lies around every bend and on every hill in Ireland. He also points out in the most gentle way that the Irish walk over, abuse and even paint over this unique heritage, often without knowing what it is.

Along the way McCarthy meets Americans, Italians, Germans and English touring or living in Ireland and manages to cram in plenty of hilarious national stereotypes into his encounters. I especially like the story of the German taxi driver in West Cork, who came for the relaxed lifestyle, but insists on to the second punctuality from his fares. Give him time I say, we'll wear it out of him.

The climax of his travels is the pilgrimage to Lough Derg. This is a brutal pilgrimage undertaken by Irish Catholics who must sin like divils all year to deserve to go. It involves three days of starvation, sleep deprivation and being forced to hopple bare footed over cruel sharp stones. Strangely enough people volunteer to do it. McCarthy's description had me weeping I was laughing so hard. In particular I loved his description of the daily meal (dry toast or oatcake with black tea or coffee) where he describes it in the form of a review for a fancy restaurant.

The question posed by McCarthy in the book asks if it is possible to have a genetic tie to place. Is he in some way Irish? The answer to this is easy. Anyone reading this book can see instantly that such a witty raconteur can only be an Irishman.

A rival for Bill Bryson, January 24, 2003
This is more than a travel book - it's an entertaining group of tales of the past and present in the style of Bill Bryson, with all the funny bits (some may think more so!)
Pete McCarthy travels around an Ireland that has changed immensely from his childhood holidays but, despite the exhorbitant price of Singapore noodles, is essentially still the same.
A fabulous read for both armchair and real traveller. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth -- and for himself -- has touched and changed an entire generation.At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a lengthy motorcycle trip through America.But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an elemental work that had helped to shape and define the past twenty-five years of American culture.This special audio edition presents this adventure in an exciting new way -- for the millions who have already taken this journey and want to travel these roads again, and for the many more who will discover for the first time the wonders and challenges of a journey that will change the way they think and feel about their lives.
... Read more

Reviews

Why I'm Writing Review Number 473 of a 30 year old book, November 2, 2006
I'm compelled to write this review after browsing the others, because something has to be said about book that isn't being pointed out for someone who is interested in the book for the first time.

At this point, this book can be found on the front table in your local bookstore. Other philosophy books can be found in the philosophy section either collecting dust, or being perused by someone intensely interested in philosophy who is well versed in debates that have gone on for centuries.

I have listened to the author, Robert Pirsig, being interviewed, and it seems that he did, in fact, intend for this book and its premise of "Quality" to be the great, all encompassing philosophy, presented in a straightforward, readable manner. However, despite Pirsig's intention, that is not quite why this book has become so famous.

This book is famous because it fills a perfect niche in that it introduces some very complicated philosophical questions in a form that the common reader will find interesting. Pirsig is attempting to create a practical philosophy and sets the book against the background of actual experience to make the questions he ponders real for the reader.

With that in mind, if you are not clamoring for a debate with someone else who is knowledgable on the ins and outs of Kierkegaard and Spinoza and are simply looking for a readable book that makes a real attempt of answering the big questions in life, this book is for you.

What I find interesting, and somewhat disturbing, is that many choose to deride this book because it doesn't agree with their notions of philosopy, but fail to grasp that the people who are most likely to read this book won't even be at the table to understand their objections to it unless they read it.

Probably no book has ever been more successful in interesting people in philosophy in the first place. So why are people who are interested in the subject eager to send them away because it disagrees with something they read in some banal tome?

Bottom line, if you ran across this book at your local bookshop or had it recommended to you by a friend, you must read it. It is an awesomely thought inspiring book and asks questions you never thought to ask or at least didn't know how to put your finger on. It's both a good novel and a great introduction to philosophy for people who have an interest in greater questions but not all the time to pursue them. I don't think you should worry about the fact that someone with a Masters Degree in Philosophy, or an equivalent knowledge, is bothered by the book. Also, I wouldn't be thrown by the title. The book isn't trying to sell you a newsletter or convert you to any church (despite the use of the phrase "The Church of Reason") and is only using a bit of Zen philosophy as a grounding for its premise.

Pirsig's premise does have a tendency to never be overtly stated, but I believe that he does this because he doesn't want it overly simplified in the way I'm about to do it.

Pirsig's premise is that we live in a world of both the "Classical" and "Romantic" or, as I'll simplify it, "function" and "form", respectively. Pirsig sees the problems in our world as the result of an overemphasis on form, when function is more essential. However, pure "function" has problems of its own. For example, our bodily organs carry out the function of allowing us to live, but one doesn't really desire for our skin to be translucent so we can watch these functions. In fact, we would have a revulsion to such a thing. Therefore, we have a combination of both of "form" and "function"; our organs work very well without our having to see them. This is the desirable state. This desirable state is called "Quality". Good "function" seems to bring about its own desirable "form". May the decorative towel be damned. That's grossly oversimplified, but there it is.

Finally, one shouldn't be thrown off Pirsig's premise by the fact that, quite frankly, he tends to be an impatient father and not very easy to get along with. While reading the book, it becomes apparent that Pirsig is sharing this with us because he is oblivious to it himself. He makes it obvious that he doesn't understand why no one is pondering the philosophical implications of repairing a motorcycle or why his young son isn't arriving at all of the conclusions he is, despite the fact his son is eleven. He seems to be trapped in the context of his own view of the world.

So, if you want to wade your way through all of the pontificating, please take the time to read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". If you really, really like it, you'll have to read Pirsig's other book "Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals". Though "Lila" takes a narrative approach that's a bit less readable than "Zen and...", it gives a more comprehensive view of Pirsig's philosophy. Read both. Then you can debate with the philosophy majors.

Over 2000 Years of Wisdom in 373 Pages, May 2, 2000
In my (1/e)*100 years on this planet, during which I devoured at least ten times as many books, I have read only two more than once - "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is one of them. In this monumental 1974 work, Robert Pirsig has achieved what few others have managed before him and, to the best of my knowledge, nobody else has accomplished since: a perfect unification of philosophy, adventure and mystery. His "Chautauqua," or traveling tale, takes the reader on a profound tour of ancient Greek philosophy, the steppes of Montana, and even a little bit of Zen Buddhism, with endless surprises and much original if not truly inspired thought along the way. Through his self-portrayal by means of the unforgettable and eerily enigmatic character Phaedrus, Mr. Pirsig shares his far-reaching search for the meaning of life, and himself. His fundamental concern is with the following seemingly simple but in effect infinitely complex question: "How can one distinguish "good" from "bad?" The question is posed and addressed in many different forms throughout the book, and in the process the concepts of truth, value and quality are dissected, reassembled, and again dissected and reassembled many times. Mr. Pirsig has an uncanny sense of timing, and he never allows the heavier passages to labor on too long. This is avoided by craftily interspersing his philosophical discourse amongst very down-to-earth and charming observations made during a motorcycle trip that takes the narrator and his seemingly troubled son Chris from the American Prairies to the Pacific, and forms the prevalent background for the entire "Chautauqua." "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is a totally unique creation. Not being one to lend himself easily to corny clich�s, I nevertheless believe that this is one book that definitely could dramatically change your life, whether or not you believe in Zen or have ever sat on a motorcycle. If you love somebody, buy them this book

Well-written, thought-provoking, and courageous., December 18, 2000
Part road novel, part philosophy, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance ("ZMM") met with huge critical and commercial success when first published in 1974. Narrator and son ride from Minneapolis to San Francisco; meanwhile, both are haunted by the narrator's past insanity, brought about by his "chasing the ghost of rationality". A series of philosophical monologues addresses questions both mundane - how to fix a motorcycle - and metaphysical.

Today ZMM retains a sizeable following, although criticism of it is very polarised: Pirsig's fervent self-assurance when dealing with philosophical questions converts some readers into "followers" and tends to exasperate everyone else. Mostly structured as a "solution" rather than an "inquiry", as the title claims, ZMM's philosophy is too often accepted without question, and it is frequently and regrettably true that the more positive the review, the more philosophically na�ve the reviewer. Nonetheless, this should not disallow ZMM from being considered on its own merits.

ZMM is not an introductory philosophy text, more a "once-in-a-lifetime" philosophical statement; the comparison has already been made with Hofstadter's "G�del, Escher, Bach", and Hofstadter's description - "a statement of my religion" - could well describe ZMM, too. When one considers the motivation required to sustain Pirsig's long and solitary struggle in writing and publishing ZMM, the rhetorical fervour of his arguments becomes more understandable. Those who attack Pirsig as pompous or narcissistic fail to appreciate the degree of self-belief needed to complete such a highly individualistic work. So, we can certainly admire him for trying - but is ZMM any good?

Some of Pirsig's arguments rest uneasily, such as his blithe acceptance of scientific relativism; and in rejecting subject-object dualism, he paints himself into some peculiar corners, such as his disquiet at the lack of beer cans littering Crater Lake National Park. But there is much in ZMM that is good and thought-provoking, too, especially where education is concerned: all teachers should read this book. And even during his tougher metaphysical monologues, only the driest, most rigid mindset could fail to find Pirsig's rhetoric engaging. Here, his wild claims about the importance of his philosophical arguments are gently counterbalanced by his acknowledged previous insanity: Pirsig takes care to label them the "ramblings of a madman", though not without a certain knowing irony.

ZMM is not just philosophy: it is also a fine piece of travel writing, and a history of Pirsig's teaching career. It remains a novel, however, and not an autobiography: whilst the events described did occur, subtle details have been changed. Most importantly, Robert Pirsig "the author" differs from the narrator, who in turn differs from his former personality ("Phaedrus"). The subtle conflict between the narrator's unifying philosophy, and the barely resolved tensions between narrator/Phaedrus and narrator/son, produces a fully intended irony. Criticism of the narrator is unfair and misguided when it is directed at the author.

Pirsig writes with great clarity. Well-structured sentences and careful use of italics give his writing great explanatory power, reminiscent, for this reviewer, of the biologist Richard Dawkins. We may not agree with Pirsig, but we are rarely in any doubt about what he means to say. Nonetheless, there are inevitable uncertainties at the core of ZMM, concerning reason and its limits. The antipsychiatric "insanity as enlightenment" nettle is never fully grasped, though one senses that this is Pirsig's belief; moreover, the analytic intractability of the Eastern philosophy that he embraces means that ultimately, the "inquiry" never reasons its way to an answer. Those seeking an absolutist metaphysical system will not find it here, and one can imagine Pirsig's sense of unease at becoming a latter-day religious guru.

ZMM is very much unique: four and a half years in the writing, but decades, one senses, in the germination. Fans will enjoy the 25 or so extra pages, cut from the original manuscript, available in DiSanto's "Guidebook to ZMM" - but skip the dreadful philosophy chapters. Pirsig wrote a sequel of sorts, "Lila", in 1991, but its sour atmosphere and slack reasoning make it strictly for the converted. Evidently Pirsig coped badly with his post-ZMM fame: one can imagine the sackloads of witless fan-mail. Unquestionably, for this reviewer, ZMM can stand alone: a model of clarity in written argument, a fine American road novel, and an inspiring demonstration of one man's ability to think for himself.

The Joy of Engagement!, October 24, 2001
Before reviewing Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, let me mention that most people will either love or hate the book. Few will be indifferent.

Those who will love the book will include those who enjoy philosophy, especially those who are well read in that subject; people who ride and maintain their own motorcycles; readers who are interested in psychology, particularly in terms of the mass hypnosis of social concepts; individuals who are curious about the line we draw between sanity and insanity; and people who want to think about how to deal with troubling personal situations, especially as a parent. As someone who has all of these interests and perspectives, the book fit my needs very well.

Those who will dislike the book are people who like lots of action in their novels, dislike the subjects described above, and who want easy reading. This book is very thick with concepts, ideas, metaphors, and layering which reward careful reading and thought. Most text books are considerably easier to read and understand. Few modern novels are any more difficult to read from an intellectual and emotional perspective.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has several story lines that intertwine to create a synthesis of thought and experience:

- a father and young son take a motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California
- the father has an internal dialogue with himself about what he observes about the people around him and their engagement with life and technology
- the father attempts to reconstruct the ideas and perspective he had before being treated as a mental patient (which treatment destroyed and distorted his memory and personality)
- the father looks at the great philosophers of western and eastern civilization and attempts to integrate their thoughts into an aesthetic built around our ability to know quality when we see and experience it
- the father deals with the incipient signs of mental instability in his son and himself.

The book is almost impossible to characterize, but let me try anyway. Perhaps the closest book to this one is Hermann Hesse's Siddharta. At the same time, there is also a strong flavor of Zen and the Art of Archery. On the Road by Jack Kerouac covers some of the same intellectual and emotional territory. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men considers some of the same questions of personal perspective. In terms of challenging the constrictions of society, there is also an element of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit here.

What is most remarkable about the book is the way that it pinpoints the spiritual vacuum in the pursuit of more and shinier personal items. Unlike many books from this time, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance upholds a concept of nobility and worth connected to pursuing material progress in ways that reflect eliminating low quality and replacing it with high quality. Think of this as being like the joy of craftsmanship, compared to the dullness of the assembly line. By setting high standards, expanding those standards, sharing those standards with others, and inspiring people to experience life more fully, we can move forward spiritually as well as intellectually. The motorcycle maintenance details connect these abstractions back to the practical issues of every day, as we roll along across country with the author and his son dealing with the realities of keeping our bike running where the repair and parts options are very limited.

The book's afterward is particularly interesting, in which Mr. Pirsig opines about why this book has had such great and lasting appeal and tells you what happened after the book ends.

Ultimately, I felt uplifted by the high respect that Mr. Pirsig has for his readers. He takes us very seriously, thinks we are intelligent, and pays us the compliment of believing that we can learn to fundamentally change all of our perspectives and experiences.

After you finish this book (if you decide to read it), I suggest that you think about where you disengaged from the challenges, tasks, and people around you. Then, pick out one area and get deeply involved. As you master that one, take on another. And so on. Soon, you will have new and greater respect for yourself . . . and more rewarding relationships.

Get your hands dirty!

Where is the Quality in science and technology?, March 28, 1999
If you are thinking of reading this book there are some things you should know right off. 1. This is not a book about Buddhism, or Zen. It explores the ways in which eastern philosophies can help western thinkers move toward Quality. 2. This book covers a lot of ground, very quickly and is not a philosophical textbook. If you don't know much about philosophy, this book will not change that fact, but it will make you question a lot of the assumptions you have made. 3. This book will change your life! This book is about Quality. If you have read the Tao Te Ching, you have already read a book which attempts to explain Quality. It is the unnamable, the One. Pirsig asks us to question whether science and logic can really bring us closer to the "Truth." Ever since Socrates began using the dialectic to try to discover Truth, humans have been on a quest to find it. The tool we use is known as scientific method. We have been using scientific method for a long time, and it has given us a lot of useful knowledge. It has not, however, brought us any closer to finding an absolute Truth, which is true for everyone everwhere. Quality is undefinable. It comes before thought, and before actions. Any attempt at describing it is useless, because as soon as you attempt to categorize it, you are only talking about one aspect of it. What Pirsig does in this book, is attempt to show us ways that we can use Quality in our lives. He calls his main character Phaedrus. Which comes from Plato's dialogue by the same name. Reading this dialogue will help you immensely in following the arguments he presents. Don't be fooled by this into thinking that Pirsig is a Platonist. Phaedrus was a Sophist, as is the Phaedrus in this book. Neither the historical Sophists, or Pirsig, buy into Plato's concept of absolute "Truth." If you are at all interested in the ideas of subjectivity and the influence of location (in time and space) as it relates to philosophical, religious and scientific claims, this book will greatly interest you. If you're a "post-modernist" you've probably already read this book, and if not, this book will help you to crystallize a lot of your objections to Modernism. If you feel that the world is becoming more and more empty and hollow, and think that part of your basic humanity has been stolen by alarm clocks, concrete, automobiles, and (can I say it?) computers, this book may help you in finding the Quality that resides within technology, yet is so often ignored by those who wield technology like a biological weapon. If you've ever thought that the whole world was crazy, and want to learn more about what really makes a person "insane," you should know that this book is written from the perspective of an insane man. If you are searching for answers, this book will give you a few more questions, and help you realize that life is about the questions, not the answers!

A Narrative and Philosophical Masterpiece, July 11, 2000
I first read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a college senior twenty-five years ago. I remember then being frightened by how this man's determination to pursue a philosophical idea to its conclusion, even if it were against the grain of established conventions of thinking, drove him insane. I was afraid deeper study and questioning might do the same to me. I know now, however, that I'm not insane. I also know that twenty-five years ago this story of a man and his son travelling by motorcycle from Minnesota to the Pacific Ocean took deep residence in my soul.

I've been a teacher now for twenty-three years, long enough to forget some of my initial influences. But, as I read this book all these years later, I realized that my philosophical view points, examples I use to illustrate ideas with my students, what I believe the purpose of an education is, and several other bits of pedagogy and ideology originated in Pirig's story.

I highly recommend this book, maybe especially if you are unread in philosophy and would like a readable, enjoyable, and provocative entree into the history and vocabulary of philosophy.

It's a deeply moving, intellectually stiumlating story. Its devotion to story-telling and philosophical inpuiry is indeed most rare.

An Exhilarating Ride Well Worth Taking!, January 5, 2001
I first read this book in 1975. I particularly appreciated then the concrete illustrations used in the development of Pirsig's philosophy. However, I was not prepared at that time to follow the details of the logic used to develop his main point, namely, that in ancient Greece rationality had unfairly toppled mysticism as a valid source of knowledge.

I always intended to read the book again and finally last month I found an open week, bought a copy of the new 25th anniversary edition, and went at it. The text is unchanged in content but the print is larger and much easier to read than in my old paperback edition. The margins are wider and allow more annotations. It is well worth getting this Anniversary edition.

This time I got much deeper into Pirsig's main premise--the one noted above. Pirsig believes Quality to be the missing element in today's culture, but he says it must be kept undefined so that rationality will not be able to kill it again as it did thousands of years ago.

My major satisfaction from this novel still comes from the unusually perceptive and cleverly-wrought metaphors that Pirsig presents to advance his philosophical arguments. I have so many favorite ones it is difficult to choose among them. For instance, he labels the University as "Church of Reason," indicating it fanatical devotion to rationality at the expense of other values not approachable through rational means. No wonder professors of philosophy feel threatened. Rationality is their bread and butter!

Other illustrations: He compares the experience of looking out of a framed car window with the frameless view you get riding a motorcycle and uses this as an example of breaking down the subject/object boundary. He indicates that his objective is not to deal with "the 'news,' the silt of tomorrow" which accumulates when the river of culture bends, but to try to deepen the channels of "the best" that lies ahead along the river's future course. He likes to follow "an arrow that enlarges sideways in flight" rather then tracking its forward path in order to find "lateral truths" that point to falseness of axioms which prevent hitting the target. He points out that "institutions such as schools, churches, government, and political organizations of every sort all tend to direct thought for ends other than truth, namely, for the perpetuation of their own functions." I have often pondered this telling truth.

Ultimately, he finds Quality to be the uppermost element of the triad of truth--the creator of both subject and object, residing in the interface between the two. His comparison of Quality with the ancient text of the Tao is exhilarating!

The Quality of this novel is extraordinary for me. It exhibits many of the aspects of Quality in writing such as integrity, imagination, flux, continuity, suspense, insight, pathos, and allegory as it attempts to find the missing element in today's technology-dominated world. It is one of the five formative books in my life, and has a place on my "favorites" bookshelf next to Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" and the poems and essays of D.H. Lawrence.

Resonance Required for Highest-Quality Experience, August 26, 2001
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is an entire experience in philosophy and spirituality condensed into what I found to be a very thought-provoking anti-novel. It has three main "streams" of thought: the story of the motorcycle-riding narrator and his son, the story of Phaedrus, and the Chautauqua that is the narrator's way of explaining Phaedrus' philosophy.

Though the first two chapters of the narrator's musings are slow to bring the reader into the plot, intriguing mystery elements are revealed by the end of Chapter 3. By this time, the reader should know that Phaedrus spent his whole life searching for a ghost, found the ghost, "thrashed it good," and became one himself. However, the nameless narrator cannot tell Phaedrus' story without also giving the reader a crash-course in history, philosophy, and of course, motorcycle maintenance (through the Chautauqua, of course). I now warn those who cannot bear long lectures about dead historical figures, slippery concepts or technical minutiae to leave this book alone.

Part I of the book is set chiefly in the Dakotas. During this part, the Chautauqua mostly discusses the classical-romantic split in people's thinking. What makes Robert M. Pirsig's discussions unique is how he deftly brings Zen concepts into the reader's understanding of the split.

Part II begins with the narrator's arrival in Montana. It is the reader's first real encounter with Phaedrus (an unforgettable, though hardly endearing, character) and the first introduction to the "ghost" that he so passionately pursued. (The ghost's name: REASON. One of its popular haunts: SCIENTIFIC METHOD.)

Part III takes place during and right after the narrator and his son's hike up a mountain. The chapters in this section are almost entirely devoted to the Chautauqua. The discussion of the ghost of Reason is dropped and a full, in-depth explanation of something outside Reason, Quality, is taken up. Pirsig takes great pains to say how Quality determines our values, creates our mythos and touches our hearts. Those who like taking detours when an interesting topic distracts them will love this part. Those who don't care for such detours and want to get on with the story will find this part long-winded and over-written. (This is their second warning!)

Part IV continues and ends Phaedrus' story as the narrator and his son go through Oregon and California. In the Chautauqua, Quality is joined by Reason once more. The reader finds out how Phaedrus travelled to the University of Chicago, took his philosophical inquiry to its logical end, and finally became a "ghost" himself. His conclusions about what is Real, about what is True, about what is Beautiful, and about what is Best, can prove liberating to anyone who has been independently wondering about them. The ending also contains an interesting twist in the story of the narrator and his son.

I can find connections between the ideas in this novel and those in the essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the parables of Kahlil Gibran, the poetry of T. S. Eliot, the books of the Bible, and other great spiritual or philosophical literature that generations have read and shared. (Pirsig even explains the why and how of this phenomenon in the Chautauqua.) To best enjoy this story, the reader must relate to it--or resonate to it.

Bridging the gap, October 19, 2003
Pirsig takes us on a literary chautauqua that dives into the split between romanticism and clasicism, and speaks magnitudes about the philosiphies and sciences of Eastern and Western Cultures. The book has seized rave reviews across the globe, and held best-seller status for record amounts of time. One wonders, what could possibly be in this book that has made it so accredited for such a long time? The answer is that the book takes the reader on a journey that was never supposed to happen. Pirsig elucidates, in four hundred pages, about the conflicts with his son, and himself. Phaedrus, Pirsig's former personality, is represented as a ghost from Pirsig's past. Phaedrus takes the reader through Greek logic, Eastern culture, and Buddhist beliefs. The book gives a good explanation of the differences in Eastern and Western cultures, and how the splitting of the two has caused problems throughout the world.
Coming from a background of the dry sciences, my reading of classical literature is hardly amazing. These two topics do not go together and rarely have anything to bridge the gap. This book does that job wonderfully. For the first time, I understood literature of this complexity, because it deals with the sciences and the arts; it kept me interested and also made me relate my life to the characters lives.
So, what do I suggest? If you have the time, the patience, and an open mind, this book will do you wonders and will stick with you for years to come.

Courageous and Unforgettable, July 12, 2001
Many of my thoughts keep returning to ZAMM. It has been a while since I read it last, and I am going to read it again. I have spent the last couple of hours reading reviews here, and it's evident that there is wide disparity in how readers receive this book. One has to wonder what that says. Is Mr. Pirsig onto something or not? Personally, I am confident that he is, and the way that it is done is so masterful as to be almost magical. At times, I can spot something that doesn't ring quite true, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because the truth that he is trying to tell is still there.

Multiple themes are woven together: the ride across some of America's best with his only son and the relationship that's theirs alone, a narrative about insanity through the clouded memory of someone that had/has been labeled as such, an examination of western philosophy and its influence on western thought, an alternative eastern perspective, and more.

For many of us that are writing reviews here, Persig begins to unlock a whole realm of possibility. The possibility that awareness of existence (quality, truth, God, whatever you want to call it) may be approachable by non-rational means. Neither logic, anlaysis nor the scientific method may provide the ultimate path. And, without these familar touchstones we are threatened to lose our certainty. Accepting this possibility is both liberating and frightening! It is to stand on the threshold of . . . In a sense, it's a simular place in thought to where the world stood when Columbus discovered the new world.

To be willing to follow Persig with Phaedrus and participate in his Chautauquas is an adventure in courage. One must look into the frailities of our own sanity. It is tempting to deny to oneself this vulnerability, and doing so may render this book meaningless and shallow. However, the participative reader finds the captivation of an "Alice in Wonderland."

Not a text, not a novel, not fiction. It is an autobiography! It's hard to believe that it's true, and the book ends before the story ends -- just like life and the reality that endures. Robert Pirsig is a hero to have gone so far in pondering the "deep channels", and then in sharing his bounty with us.

I'm going to read it again. Thank you Robert. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this sequel to his history of the English language, "Mother Tongue", Bryson takes an informed and fond look at the history of Americans through their popular culture and language. He explains why they drive on the right, say "lootenant", and call a certain type of sandwich a "hamburger". ... Read more

Reviews

Makes American history & language interesting, March 17, 1999
Having read Bryson's The Mother Tongue several years ago, I was delighted to find Made in America was going to explore the American variety of English with much the same humor and insight. As a teacher of both British and American literature, I've always tried to include a brief foray into the development of our language on both sides of the Atlantic. I have been able to spice up an otherwise pretty solid lecture presentation with Bryson's witty tidbits and elevate it to the level of the captivating (in my opinion, of course). Next year, I plan on assigning Made in America to my single honors American literature class; I have this suspicion that they will learn more lasting American history from this book than their regular text. When I had read a couple of chapters of the book, I bought an additional copy and sent it to my son, a history major at Notre Dame, who is currently studying in London. He called a few weeks later and was brimming with enthusiasm for the book and told me that he had not only finished it (before I had) but also that he was making all of his friends read it. His roommate read it in two days! I heartily recommend Made in America to anyone who is interested in food, travel, health, movies, history, or just about anything else. If all history and language texts were written with Bryson's flair for the interesting, our task as teachers would be significantly eased.
This last section is added in August 2004: I did, indeed, use the book with my junior class in my last year of teaching in Ohio before "retiring" and moving to Tennessee. It was very well received by the advanced readers and less so by those for whom any book assignment is, well, an assignment. Nonetheless, I'm back teaching in TN and am considering using the book again this second semester. (D.R. Powell at Hendersonville HS-since I didn't intend to make the original review anonymous)

An English Language book for the rest of us!, June 4, 2000
I'm not a student of the English language, though the history of words does interest me, therefore I've tried to read William Safire's books but with little success. I picked up this book only because of Bill Bryson. The book is not what you think, "An Informal History," describes the book exactly. Bryson fills the book with more historical antidotes than a formal study of the English language in the United States.

Bryson takes you along for a history of the United States and how our language has changed from English into its current form today. The other half of the book contains chapters dealing with specific topics such as names, the movies and cooking. Each of the subjects deals with the words and phases that entered the language at the time or involving the subject.

There are some reviews that question Bryson's accuracy on some of the items, and this book is not filled with Bryson's usual humor, but the writing is enjoyable with just the right amount of wit throughout. Make sure you check out the chapter dealing with Puritan morality!

Fab, Grouse, Awesome!, March 24, 2000
I love language and all its peculiarities and variations. Scholarly works like David Crystal's Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language are great reference books. So is this, in a very different way. Not only is it a good "people's history" of some aspects of US history, it is one of those books you reach for when your 'favourite' language pedant starts waxing on about how terrible it is that noone speaks's proper any more, or "the kids of today..." As an Australian, and therefore being trilingual (British, American and Australian English) I love to be able to stop some fool in their tracks with the information that some 'vulgar Americanisms' are actually much older forms of English that were transported and survived, at the same time as English mutated in its homeland. The Grammar Pedants won't have it that English is a living language, that usage, spelling and grammar 'rules' change ... this book shows how it does and also demonstrates how some of the most common words we use to deal with life in our age were once US-invented neologisms or even slang. All this (and more) delivered in Bryson's wry and ironic (read witty) tone.

Bryson Breaths New life and Wit into American History, March 21, 2001
This book is a wonderful and very witty look at the English language and how it has evolved in America. Did you ever have an English teacher that lectured you about the use (or more likely misuse) of a certain word? Forget all of that! (Or at least loosen up about it!) This book is a testament to the fact that language is alive and a reflection of the culture that uses it.

Bryson walks you through American history as he presents story after story usually leaving you laughing and often simply just amazing you with how some word came into common usage. As he tells his story of the English language in America, you will probably learn more about American history than you ever knew before--and all of it is very entertaining.

Don't miss the amazing story of Squanto, the Indian who helped the Pilgrims survive at Plymouth, Massachusetts. There is more to Squanto's story than you think and it is just one of hundreds of gems that Bryson has uncovered.

This is a fast reading, educational, and very fun book.

Thoroughly enjoyable, May 22, 2001
After reading "The Lost Continent," Bryson's often whining and largely overrated travelogue on small-town America, I hesitated before picking this one up. However, this is a very enjoyable book. Ostensibly a study of American English, its development and impact on the English language in general, this book is more of a compendium of linguistic facts and historical trivia that cover the entire scope of U.S. history from the colonial period to the present. Bryson quite unabashedly plunders the works of historians, other scholars and writers who dealt with the same subjects, so what he offers here is hardly new. But the presentation and organization are impeccable. While informing us of the origins of many words and expressions common to American English, he also provides a wealth of particularly useful information on things like American cuisine or the origins of America's highway system and car culture (one of my only criticisms is that he failed to mention the origin of quintessential car-related Americanisms like "rumble seat" or "to ride shotgun"). Bryson's engaging writing style and dry humor keep the book moving, so it is never dull and always very amusing - it seriously lives up to that old clich� about how learning can be fun.

thoroughly enjoyable, but keep the word 'informal' in mind., March 3, 2004
Bill Bryson's book, "Made in America", is thoroughly enjoyable on many levels. First, he blithely debunks many of our folk legends - legends which we learn as schoolchildren and carry with us through life as if they were fact. Things like: the Puritans actually landing on Plymouth Rock; the ringing of the Liberty Bell on independence day; Patrick Henry's famous death-defying words about liberty or death, just to name a few. If these anecdotes are as true as he claims, then our school history textbooks seem canned and artificial by comparison.
Second, by saying aloud the early American pronunciations that Bryson describes, the reader can clearly grasp how 18th century colonists sounded in speech.
Third, Bryson's wry style gives the reader a good laugh on just about every page - a comparable textbook on early American language would never do that.
However, it's very important to keep in mind the word 'informal' in the book title. Several geographical errors in the 'Names' chapter led me to realize the potential number of inaccuracies in such a thick book. For instance, in that chapter he mentions the towns of Ipswich and Agawam as being quite close to each other in Connecticut. In fact, the two towns are in Massachusetts, on opposite sides of the state. One quick glance in an atlas by Bryson's editor would have cleared that up.
So read this enjoyable book for its humorous take on history, and not as a scholarly work.

Brilliant, funny, informative..., August 18, 1999
Brilliant, funny, informative...and extremely interesting. Read it for detailed research on the history of American English or just read it for fun. You will be amazed at the background and origins of so many of the words we use on a daily basis.

READER, ENJOY! BUT, READER, BEWARE!!, October 4, 1997
I have just finished Bryson's "Made In America" and came away both thrlled yet annoyed. Bryson certainly writes in an enjoyable hand but I must question some of his conclusions. There are phrases and catchwords which other writers credit with different origins. So be it. Everyone is allowed one's own opinion. For instance,"bought the farm" I believe came from the trenches of WWI whereby soldiers were given an insurance policy by their governments and in the event of their death, their beneficiaries would have enough money to purchase said real estate. Also, the term "so long", as I have researched, was a New England nautical term from the 18th or 19th century; when a sailor on land recognized a sailor friend on ship heading out to sea, the former would hold a rope between his hands over his head to plaintively ask how long the latter's voyage would be. In response, the seaman would likewise hold a rope and indicate time by the distance between his outstretched hands. The book is completely enjoyable. But,I recommend that the Gentle Reader should have a grasp of American history before being entertained. Bryson, I believe, has made some careless errors, to wit: Curtiss began his aviation experimentation in Hammondsport,NEW YORK, not Hammondsport, Connecticut. There seems to be a problem with the quality of the book, probably not attributable to Bryson but, rather, to the publisher. I must have counted at least 30 typos in the text; obviously an error by the publisher's proofreaders in not studying the galleys closely! Still, I do highly recommend reading this book for its entertainment content. But, be careful if you plan to quote from it....

Funny, Addictive, Smart, June 14, 2001
Bill Bryson's Made in America is a joy from start to finish. The only problem is that it may be slow reading as you will want to call all your friends after every page to say, "Did you know ..." (A brief warning: They will begin to be annoyed if you do this too often but just try and stop yourself). The book is more than an informal history of the English Language in the United States (as per the subtitle) as it covers all of American history, both political and social, in the author's delightful style. One story will lead into another and you will have forgotten where you began but the ride will always be worth it. Before your very eyes he will dispel many of the myths of America and build up America with some solid truths. An wonderfully funny and smart work.

Amusing, entertaining, and highly educational, August 26, 2003
This wonderful book's title is something of a misnomer. It is as much a plain history of America -- albeit in very loose, mostly anecdotal form -- as it is a history of the English language in the country, though it does that very well. The word "informal" in the title is key. Though the book is, unquestionably, a scholarly work, and clearly was exahustively-researched, Bryson writes in a very loose, personal style, such as a scholar might share with you over a drink (if you've ever managed to corner an English or History professor in a non-classrooom setting and engage them in conversation, you know the feeling.) His writing style is very appealing, and it keeps the book going smoothly: though absolutely bursting with information and endless factoids, the book is a very quick read, thanks to Bryson's personable writing style. Bryson begins his story with the landing of the Mayflower, and then proceeds to give a pre-history of America, and winds his way all the way up to the very latter part of the 20th century. He examines the English that was spoken by the early colonists, and how it has since evolved. The book is then split into chapters that deal with various aspects of American life -- shopping, war, sex, travel, etc. -- and how they have altered and added to our language. In every such chapter, Bryson details how the words that we use in relation to them came about, where they come from, when they were first used, and much, much more. Along the way, he discourses on such perenially-interesting topics as swear words, slang, cultural taboos (the chapter on sex is particularly enlightening), and he even takes a -- quite thoughtful -- swipe at the PC debate. Many of these facts are, to say the least, quite surprising. Trust me, however much you know about the subject of American English going on, you will know a lot more after reading the book (I, for one, had no idea that there was such a wide difference between American and British English.) That said, the book is almost as much a history book as it is an etymology book. Quite thoughtfully, Bryson not only gives us information on the origins of words, but also relays to us the social contexts in which they emerged -- a background without which much of the etymological information would be rendered meaningless. In a stark contrast to the standard high school textbook interpretation of history, Bryson gives us a highly anecdotal fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants history of the United States; buckle up, friends, it's one wild ride. These stories are almost consistently interesting, frequently witty, very often funny, invariably surprising, and sometimes quick simply shocking. They are the kind of stories that will make you want to stop in the middle of your reading, find the nearest person to you, and shout out breathlessly, "Did you know...?!" Along the way, Bryson manages to debunk many of the most-cherished American stories -- I won't spoil any of them for you here, but rest assured that you will be quite shocked -- while confirming others, and creating some anew. As one commentor on the book succinctly said, If there is a more popular American pasttime than creating myths, it is trying to debunk them. Bryson, an American living in the U.K. at the time this book was written, seems generally proud to be an American, affirming the greatness of many of its folk heroes while holding the bright flame of truth up to some of its longest-standing fables, all in the admirable spirit of fierce, if tempered, patriotism. Due to this dichotomy, some sections of the book get very weighed down in almost list-like paragraphs detailing the origins of words, while some chapters, conversely, consist almost entirely of anecdotal histories with hardly any etymological content at all. All in all, it makes for very fun, interesting reading that goes by quickly and smootly; you'll learn a lot while reading it, and you'll enjoy yourself while doing it. This great book, which is much, much more than the title suggests, is a great read for anyone interested in the subjects it deals with, and an absolute must for scholars of American English and American History. Such is the enjoyment inherent in its nature, that I even recommend it to the general reader. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A majestic tale of discovery thatchanged many long-held views about the world

In 1519 Magellan and his fleet of five ships set sail from Seville, Spain, to discover a water route to the fabled Spice Islands in Indonesia, where the most sought-after commodities -- cloves, pepper, and nutmeg -- flourished. Three years later, a handful of survivors returned with an abundance of spices from their intended destination, but with just one ship carrying eighteen emaciated men. During their remarkable voyage around the world the crew endured starvation, disease, mutiny, and torture. Many men died, including Magellan, who was violently killed in a fierce battle.

This is the first full account in nearly half a century of this voyage into history: a tour of the world emerging from the Middle Ages into the Renaissance; a startling anthropological account of tribes, languages, and customs unknown to Europeans; and a chronicle of a desperate grab for commercial and political power.

Reviews

What a ride!, February 1, 2004
I loved this book.
The amazing story of Magellan's circumnavigation of the world practically writes itself, especially with access to the journals of Antonio Pigafetta, a Venetian "passenger". The key for any author is not muck up this incredible story. Bergreen succeeds wonderfully by offering a smooth read. The books 400 plus pages fly by. Bergreen seemingly omits nothing and, the journey is here in all its gory, exciting, repellent, horrifying, shocking, wondrous, cruel, beautiful, nerve-wracking, spine-tingling detail.
Bergreen presents about as clear a picture of Magellan the man as possible from nearly 500 years away. The reader is left to admire his leadership and navigational skills and lament his capriciousness and hubris.
Coming on the heels of the vastly overrated Columbus journeys, Magellan's expedition was to prove equally significant, though more calculated and replete with many, many more adventures and tragedies.
A scant few of the original crew and only one of the five ships completed the journey. Along the way there were horrendous storms, mutinies, executions, horrible accidents, illness (scurvy in particular) and all manner of encounters with natives. These encounters could lead to everything from feasts and orgies to murder and dismemberment.
Bergreen does a wonderful job of framing the story within the perspective of the times and the religious, political and social climates.
To me the real hero of the journey emerges in the person of Pigafetta who did a superlative of chronicling the adventure. His must be some of the most thoughtful and thorough journals of their times.
Bergreen's book does him and Magellan's journey justice.

True to life sea adventure, November 4, 2003
Historical achievement is, of course, about people. So no matter when it occurs, achievement is driven by technology, greed, politics, ambition, mistakes, courage, religion, culture, sexuality, and even diet. Good History is as much as about explaining the context of achievement, as it is about detailing facts. This is good History -- and it's a great read.

For most of us, the facts about Magellan have been boiled down to Spanish galleons, funny helmets, and the first circumnavigation of the globe. Bergreen recovers the context to tell a story of a religious man, driven by vision, ambition, and personal slight. Along the way he explains the strategic urgency of Magellan's quest and details the logistics of undertaking the voyage. He helps us understand why cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg were matters of national security to sixteenth century Europeans.

Bergreen leaves us with no doubt that Magellan was courageous. His Magellan is not evil, though the evils of the Age of Exploration are already evident in him and his men. As in other tellings, Magellan's death on the beach at Cebu is an obvious metaphor for the collision of East and West, but Bergreen leaves it to others to belabor the notion. He's much more interested in describing the local politics that set the scene for the tragedy.

With such rich detail and engaging writing, the story of Magellan comes to life as a vivid adventure and an enlightening history.

Page-turning history, December 11, 2003
Does a history book have this much right to be a fun page-turner? Yes, and Laurence Bergreen exceeds to great story telling, marvelous adventure, creating a just plain enjoyable read. Taken either as history or read like a novel this is an amazingly detailed telling of three year voyage which ended in 1522 with only one ship and 18 survivors out of the original five ships and 260 who left Spain with this Portuguese Captain. Even the early chapters, which tell how a Portuguese ends up leading the Spanish fleet, is a marvelous story. But in the end, what stays with you is the shear terror, boredom, disease, and strange island customs all left for us to enjoy because of basically one man, Antonio Pigafetta who was taken on to chronicle the voyage and some how managed to survive mutiny, the voyage through the strait, the native peoples defense of their territories (which resulted in the death of Magellan himself), and in the end being cast aside for a more "official version". Bergreen could not have told his story without Pigafetta and Pigafetta could not have found a better writer to bring his story to a modern audience. I highly recommend this great read!

Frustratingly Uneven, December 31, 2003
Despite its obvious merits as cited by other reviewers, I found this to be a frustratingly uneven book. Yes, it has the compelling flow of a good novel, yet that flow was too often broken by unexpected failures to properly explain or illustrate key points.

I was frequently distracted by the lack of good maps to supplement Bergreen's prose accounts of the Armada's route. Most saliently, the author or his editors have chosen to not include a map of the Strait of Maglellan itself. Instead there are some admittedly fascinating depictions of portions of the Strait and a NASA photograph from space that I found utterly indecipherable.

While Bergreen's long asides on peripheral topics often hit the mark -- such as his discussion of scurvy and its eventual decoding -- others, including some crucial to his account, fall substantially short. Despite the issue's importance, none of Bergreen's numerous attempts to explain the Pope's demarcation of Spanish and Portugese spheres of control (the Treaty of Tordesiillas) adequately clarify how it applied to the Spice Islands on the other side of the world and already explored by Portugal. Of course, this could possibly be the result of my own denseness; others may find his explication perfectly comprehensible. I did not.

Also in this category of incomplete clarification is the author's mention of the International Date Line and the fact of its non-existence in Magellan's day. He references this drawback twice and both times he is satisfied with saying that the Dateline now extends westward from Guam. Of all the facets he could emphasize, this seems an odd choice given that the Dateline does (and must) run for the most part North-South. The location of the Date Line is in fact a highly complex subject (see http://www.phys.uu.nl/~vgent/idl/idl.htm), yet no map that I'm aware of shows it running near Guam. Yes, as a U.S. possession, Guam maintains an idiosyncratic relationship to GMT. And, yes, Guam was Magellan's first landing after crossing the Pacific. But Bergreen should have provided greater context for his remark.

These and other examples of what I deem to be distracting lapses often brought me up short. But the book is obviously the product of prodigious research (in, for the most part, attractive places to do such research), and the faults I cite may not seem so for many readers. The power of the story and Bergreen's skill in telling it will carry most readers through to the end, just as it did for this reader.

But ... it definitely needs more maps.

detailed, vivid, interestingly digressive, November 28, 2003
Mention Magellan and most will tell you he's that guy that sailed around the world. There their knowledge ends, or such as it is, since as Bergreen reminds us in wonderful detail, it was some of Magellan's crew that actually sailed around the world while the majority of it, along with Magellan himself, actually only survived part of the trip.
Packed with historical detail supplemented by first person accounts and side stories that some will find of equal or surpassing interest and others might find too digressive, Bergreen gives us a satisfyingly full look at the man and the journey.
The focus for the first three-quarters of the book is of course on Magellan. His early life history is quickly covered, enough to inform us of his abilities and motivations without bogging the reader down in unnecessary detail or too much psychohistory ("rejected by his father at age six, young Magellan turned to the sea to prove . . . "). The details start to come in Magellan's early attempts to convince his native Portugal to sponsor a journey to the Spice Islands and accumulate even more fully once he takes his leave for Spain and the planning for the trip begins in earnest.
The trip itself is covered in sharp and vivid detail--the political in-fighting, the mutual antagonisms of class and country aboard ship, multiple mutiny attempts, successful and not-so-succesful contacts with natives, and of course the nautical travails themselves--deathly storms,a myriad of navigational obstacles and pursuing Portugese. Not to mention the fact that the entire trip was based on an idea that the world was much, much smaller than it in fact turned out to be.
Most of the trip is seen through the lens of Magellan, and while a clear fan of Magellan, Bergreen is also unafraid to criticize his many errors with regard to ship policy, to politics, to contact with the natives. Magellan comes across as a complex all-too human figure rather than an icon or simple villain. Brilliant at times and amazingly stupid at others, he never fails to hold our attention. Other important figures in the crew are offered similar respect with regard to the fullness of their portrayals.
Beside the journey's details, the reader is treated to digressions into royal relationships, international maneuvering, the importance of spices to sixteenth century economies, the running battle for economic and nautical supremacy between Spain and Portugal, and maybe most fascinating of all, a brief history of the Chinese Treasure Fleet. While some might think Bergreen goes into too much detail here, other might wish for more. I personally fell somewhere in between, able to live with less on the royal personages and wanting more on the spice trade itself (those who feel the same way could do worse than turn to Nathaniel's Nutmeg for more on the topic)as well as on the Treasure Fleet.
I thought at times Bergreen could have left the "European" perspective a bit more, giving us a more full glimpse at the journey from the other end of the spectrum. I also could have done with more frequent use of maps throughout the book to have a more immediate and visual sense of Magellan's progress (or lack thereof). While I felt the lack of both several times, these flaws were relatively minor and only detracted somewhat from the work as a whole. Money, lust, greed, politics, mutiny, pride, betrayal, tragic accidents, man versus nature, battles, shipwrecks, castaways, man versus man, heroism and cowardice, man versus himself. The book has it all, with the added luxury of being true. Well-recommended history.

Around The World In 3 Years And 60,000 Miles, October 28, 2003
Why couldn't they have used books like this as history textbooks back when I was in high school? All I was taught back then was that Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe (even though he himself died along the way); that the voyage took 3 years; and that although Magellan was from Portugal, he sailed for Spain. Here's some of the good stuff they left out (but which Mr. Bergreen includes): Magellan tried to get King Manuel of Portugal to finance the expedition. Magellan didn't have any luck. (Not surprising, since the explorer already had "a history" with the king, and the king didn't like him.) What could have been the last straw for Magellan was when, after an audience with the king, Magellan tried to kiss the king's hand (as was customary). The king withdrew his hand and wouldn't allow Magellan to kiss it. Magellan finally decided to give Manuel the kiss-off, went to Charles I of Spain, and had better luck. Charles was quite interested in the potential profits from the spice trade. (He was broke after borrowing a wad of money from the Fugger family. The reason he borrowed the money? He had to pay a lot of bribes to the electors who were going to decide who the next Holy Roman Emperor was going to be. Charles wanted the position even though, as Voltaire later said, the Holy Roman Empire wasn't holy, wasn't Roman, and wasn't an empire.) Manuel of Portugal was quite upset with Magellan for offering his services to Spain, especially because he brought secret Portuguese navigational charts with him (which Mr. Bergreen explains would be equivalent to the theft of nuclear secrets during the Cold War). Manuel sent an envoy to Spain to try and talk Magellan out of the trip. When that didn't work, the envoy bad-mouthed Magellan to Charles I. That didn't work either. After Magellan sailed, Manuel really got mad: he sent some thugs to harass Magellan's family and to vandalize the family home. For good measure, excrement was smeared on the Magellan escutcheon. Manuel also sent out his own expedition to try to catch up with, and stop, Magellan. I guess you could say the king was a sore loser. Anyway, this all takes place in the beginning of the story. Things get better after that. (For example, we learn that Charles I's mother was called Juana the Mad. One reason for this just could have been that for several years Juana kept the remains of her late husband, Philip the Handsome, next to her bed. She expected him to come back to life and wanted him in a convenient spot. After Philip's death Juana also insisted on only dressing in black and she refused to bathe.) The book is chock full of 16th century realpolitik, mutinies, torture, natural history, as well as information on spices and the erotic practices of various Pacific Islanders. We also get to read some interesting material about the 15th century Chinese Treasure Fleets. Mr. Bergreen is obviously a big Magellan fan, but he doesn't put the great navigator's faults below deck - Magellan could be overly strict, arrogant, and close-minded. As the voyage went on and he finally made it to the Pacific he seemed to forget that his primary mission was to find the Spice Islands and he got sidetracked into converting islanders to Christianity. If any groups resisted, Magellan would resort to hardball - in one case, burning down a village. His "bull in a china shop" tactics resulted in his death. Still, the author leaves you with no doubt that, on balance, Magellan was admirable. The book is incredibly far-ranging in scope and I've only skimmed the surface concerning what is between the covers - and we're supposed to keep these reviews relatively brief. In conclusion though, let me say if I were doing the advertising for the book I'd write, "If you read only one book about an explorer this year...make it this one!"

great account of one of the legendary journeys, October 17, 2003
Laurence Bergreen provides a deep look at Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan's sixteenth century quest that led to the first known navigation of the world. This journey is a pivotal point in how Europeans viewed the world as people realized that not only will one not fall off the globe, but that Europe is not the epicenter of the orb. Mr. Bergreen followed the ill-fated journey through what is now the Straits of Magellan at the tip of South America and uses satellite images to further enhance the trek. Of interest to historical buffs is the daily journal that encompasses known research from around the globe. This includes sailor Albo's log and the comments of scholar sailor Pigafetta. The author debunks several modern day myths such as Magellan's mission was not go around the world, but to find a water route to the Spice Islands; and that the voyage was not glorious but brutal and filled with tragedy and misfortunes including the Captain having died in the Philippines. Magellan never made it. The trek took three years with only one ship with eighteen survivors making it back to Spain.

This is a great account of one of the legendary journeys of history. Supplemented by maps, inserts, and first hand accounts, readers join on the harrowing trek that proved once and for all that the world is round. No one will feel over the edge with this great look at the "Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe" by Magellan and his crew.

Harriet Klausner

An amazing, exciting and meticulously researched book., October 14, 2003
This book is a combination of exciting, fast-paced narrative and meticulous research that is hard to put down. Bergreen places the reader alongside Magellan as he seeks backing for his trip, and then on Magellan's flagship, the Trinidad, with the Captain General on his historic voyage. In the end, Magellan succeeded in changing mankind's fundamental understanding of the world, overcoming obstacles, adversaries and long-held views to do so.

Particularly absorbing are the book's insights into the strengths and flaws of the players involved. Magellan was clearly a masterful navigator, a man with a vision and the single-minded ambition to pursue it. When the Portuguese refused to back his venture and made a point of disdaining him, Magellan turned to their rivals, the Spanish, who agreed to support him -- but also somewhat unsubtly undermined his authority on the voyage. (The mystery of Portugal's refusal is made clear late in the book; it is an incredible piece of irony that resonates with current events.) As the voyage proceeds, facing hostile natural conditions, resentment among a crew with divided loyalties, and the unknown, Magellan emerges as a complex personality, a man with a sure hand in some matters but blind spots that prove increasingly costly.

The objective of the mission was ostensibly to bring home (to Spain) spices and, more specifically, cloves. Men died, nations clashed, ships were lost, and mankind's knowledge of the world was expanded to this end. And, ultimately, when the survivors of Magellan's fleet returned to port, their reception was a mix of skepticism, hostility, and amazement, filtered through a political lens of faltering monarchies and changing times. This is a well-told story that is fraught with current relevance.

An Incredible Journey and an Excellent Book!, June 11, 2004
I rarely give books a 5 star rating, but this one certainly deserves it. The book gives full account of Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe, in all its horrifying and glorious details. While it is clear that the writer is a staunch Magellan admirer, he does not hesitate to criticize Magellan's style of leadership, the Captain's over-inflated ego or the needless risks he took (one of which ultimately resulted in his death).

Reading this book, I found myself transported into 16th century Europe, an era full of intrigue, magic and of casual disregard for human life. The book was absolutely captivating and I was not able to put it down. From my perspective, the most interesting thing about the story is that while today Magellan is recognized as a hero and as one of the most important explorers of all time, in his day Magellan received no recognition and was the target of suspicion and hatred.

For the most part, Bergreen's writing style is fluid and easy to read, however at times it is a bit too flowery for my taste. The book also suffers from a shortage of illustrations and maps which could have been instructive. For example, an illustration of Magellan's ships, the weapons and armor of the era and current pictures of some of the main locations involved, would all have been nice. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book for any fan of popular history books.

Not an Advertisement for a Cruise Line!!, April 9, 2004
When I was in Junior High School, my History teacher told us that Magellan took some ships from Spain, found the straits that now bear his name and then was eaten by cannibals in the Philippines. That pretty much summed up my entire exposure to Magellan's journey until I read this fanatastic book. Begreen tells the tale in such a way that would put my Junior High School teacher to shame and I would say that this should be required reading in high schools throughout America. Not only does Bergreen write very well, but he puts the story of Magellan and his crew into the proper historical perspective by relaying what is going on in the world at the same time as this voyage. The disputes and distrust between the Spanish and the Portuguese, the influence of the Chinese and Arabs on Southeast Asia, the effects of the Inquisition on the crew, are all brought out to the forefront of this story and this allows the reader to fully understand who Magellan was, why he and the crew did the things they did and why the entire mission almost failed.

At the same time, Bergreen totally immerses the reader into every detail of life at sea in the 16th Century. I doubt anyone alive today could stand what those sailors had to survive, trapped aboard those leaking, rotting wooden ship, without proper food, healthcare, or even fresh water. Anyone taking a Caribbean Cruise should read this book first to fully appreciate that life at sea is not one All-You-Can-Eat Buffet and shuffleboard. Make sure your kids eat their fruits and vegetables, as scurvy is not a problem you want to have in your family!!!

I totally recommend this book. It's a quick, enjoyable read that puts the reader right onto the deck of a 16th Century caravel for one of the most courageous and daring voyages ever undertaken by man. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The bestselling author of The Endurance reveals the startling truth behind the legend of the Mutiny on the Bounty -- the most famous sea story of all time.More than two centuries have passed since Fletcher Christian mutinied against Lt. Bligh on a small armed transport vessel called Bounty. Why the details of this obscure adventure at the end of the world remain vivid and enthralling is as intriguing as the truth behind the legend. Caroline Alexander focusses on the court martial of the ten mutineers captured in Tahiti and brought to justice in Portsmouth. Each figure emerges as a richly drawn character caught up in a drama that may well end on the gallows. With enormous scholarship and exquisitely drawn characters, The Bounty is a tour de force. ... Read more

Reviews

The Bounty, September 22, 2003
I read the "Bounty Trilogy" over 40 years ago, and I never forgot the fascinating story of the Bounty. As the years passed,I read other books on the subject, including Bligh's account of the voyage and mutiny. All were interesting.

Finally, we have a wonderful new book on the subject. "The Bounty" could not have been a more enjoyable, and fascinating reading experience. I am still depressed the book is finished.

The book tells as true a story of the muntiny as one could expect. It was not,of course, like the old "Bounty Trilogy," but it was written as well, and told a wonderful non-fictionl account of the events. I learned more background, and the fate of the crew and others involved in the mutiny. The section on the court martial was extremely interesting.

I think this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A superbly well written adventure, May 25, 2004
Caroline Alexander takes a story you perhaps thought you knew-the 1789 mutiny on board the HMS Bounty-and says something new about it, in a style that is both economical, elegant, and exciting. In a first chapter that is a masterpiece of simple story-telling, she structures the fantastic story: "Captain" William Bligh (in fact, he was only a lieutenant) commanded the HMS Bounty to Tahiti, suffered the mutiny of part of his crew, and navigated a simple row-boat across many thousands of miles of the Pacific to be rescued. A second voyage, undertaken by the HMS Pandora, discovered many mutineers on a distant island, taking them into custody, only to be broken up in a terrible storm, its survivors (crew and prisoners) enduring a second open-boat voyage to safety. On return to England a length court-martial condemned many of the mutineers to death, but left unscathed young Peter Heywood, convicted but later pardoned.

The traditional view of things (i.e. the one you `know' from the movie versions) has Bligh as a torturer, the famous Fletcher Christian as a defender of the ordinary sailor's rights, and Heywood as an innocent bystander. Through careful reading of seemingly every contemporary document-including every bit of the trial transcripts-Alexander subverts the story to one of privilege rebelling against authority: whereas Bligh came from a family of extremely modest means, Christian and Heywood both came from old and well-connected families who, after the courtmartial, ensured their own good names by besmirching Bligh's.

This is not sensational journalism but careful scholarship, and even if you don't agree with Alexander's `take' on the subject, you will enjoy hearing the sailor's own first-person narratives, as well as Alexander's careful reconstruction of what actually occurred.

This book was nominated for the National Book Critic's Circle award for non-fiction; it was richly deserved. "HMS Bounty" receives my highest endorsement as well!

A Deeply Rewarding Meditation, September 29, 2003
of the infamous Bounty Mutiny that eschews the ususal Hollywoodization of the drama (Fletcher Christian, handsome, romantic, agonized/Capt.(actually Lieut.)Bligh, cruel, dictatorial, insensitive. This book offers a reconsideration of the character of Bligh, especially placing it in the contemporary setting of 18th century naval life. It finds that the answer to why this mutiny happened must be assumed to lie within the psychology of Fletcher Christian, rather than any supposed shipboard tyranny of Bligh. The latter was, she points out, a student of Cook, and thus sparing of the lash as well as takiing pains to see that his crew was nourished, clean and well-exercised so that fatalities on the long voyage were minimized. Those who take their image of Bligh from Charles Laughton or Anthony Hopkins, might be amazed to learn that Bligh was all of 35 years old at the time of the voyage.
Along with her delineation of Bligh, the book offers a fascinating and probing portrait of Peter Heyward, a Bounty midshipman who somehow did not enter Bligh's launch and yet, through family connections, managed to get a King's pardon from his mutiny conviction.
Overall, this book offers a sober, grown-up examination of one of the most dramatic, romantic and still enigmatic episodes in British naval history. It would seem to be impossible to write a dull book about the Mutiny, and Caroline Alexander has written one of the best considerations of this endlessly fascinating event.

The manufacturing of history, September 5, 2005
A book worthy of study by students of history. I say that as a history teacher because it combines metriculous research with a compelling narrative. In addition, it is contextualised within the French Revolution and slavery and Romanticism among other significant events. It reveals the importance of who you know to how YOUR history is going to be manufactured, eg Midshipman Peter Heywood of THE BOUNTY, convicted mutineer, but pardoned by the KIng as the consequence of family connections. Or the diligence of Edward Christian (d.1823) sometime professor of law at Cambridge, who helped to inflate the case for Fletcher Christian, indeed could be considered michievous in honouring him(p324) and diminish the character of Lieutenant Bligh. Fascinating examination of men in confined cirumstances overcoming astonishing difficulties and surviving. Lieutenant Bligh must be remembered as one of the greatest sailors in history having sailed the Bounty's 23 foot long two foot deep launch from Tofua in middle of the Pacific to Coupang in Timor over 3000 miles after having been set adrift by the mutineers and as one who suffered a "bad press". On the evidence, there was very little romantic about Fletcher Christian and his fateful decision may have been a matter of hurt pride and a hangover - far less noble impulses than the allure of a possibled heaven
on a tropical island freed from a tyrranical "captain".

An effort to reverse revisionist history..., January 2, 2007
I enjoyed reading Tony Horwitz's Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before and Nathaniel Philbrick's Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, The US Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842. So I decided to fill in the gap by reading The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty by Caroline Alexander. While The Bounty is fascinating in spots, Alexander could have streamlined things a bit by leaving out much trivia about the less important characters.

Lt. William Bligh was assigned to the Breadfruit Expedition, the purpose of which was to transport breadfruit from Tahiti and transplant them in Jamaica. Unfortunately, the British Navy was readying for war and the Admiralty was not willing to make a full commitment to the expedition. The Bounty was too small, there were not enough men assigned and the navy failed to promote Bligh to Master and Commander before his departure. To make matters worse, Bligh was assigned not one commissioned officer nor one marine (Captain Cook traveled with at least a dozen).

Alexander provides us with an in-depth look at the backgrounds of the key characters, the expedition and the events leading up to the mutiny. She also recounts efforts of The Pandora to capture the mutineers, and their subsequent court-martial. Nine of the mutineers were never captured, although eight of them died on Pitcairn Island within several years of the mutiny. The author uses journals, letters, Admiralty records, wills, etc. to find answers to many pressing questions including what was the real reason for the mutiny? What was Fletcher Christian's state of mind during the mutiny? Was Lt. Bligh really an overbearing officer? And who exactly took part in the mutiny? She also seeks to undo some revisionist history written by the families of Peter Heywood and Fletcher Christian in order to discredit Lt. Bligh and to redeem some family honor.

Unfortunately, I dislike the way Alexander organized the body of her work. She first recounts the efforts of The Pandora to capture the mutineers before she provides the history of the expedition and the mutiny. I found myself going back to re-read these sections. Also, with any book involving large numbers of people, it was often times difficult to keep them all straight. Also, sometimes she gave just a little bit too much information about less important characters. The author does provide us with a list of characters, however. She also includes many maps, drawings, paintings, portraits and photographs to enhance her book.

Overall, The Bounty is a first rate book and Alexander is to be commended for the lengths she went to find the true story behind this famous mutiny.

"I've been in hell this past fortnight, absolute hell.", November 4, 2005
Fletcher Christian's repeated statements that he has been "in hell," just before he seizes Captain Bligh and takes over the Bounty, feature prominently in Caroline Alexander's careful study of the mutiny and its participants. Probably the most thoroughly researched analysis ever undertaken of this event, Alexander begins her vividly written account with a short-story-like summary of the major events leading up to the mutiny and the actions which followed it. She then delves into the backgrounds of the major characters--Bligh and the men who accompanied him in the launch into which he was forced, and Fletcher Christian and the men who took over the Bounty.

Alexander's scholarship is awe-inspiring, tracing as she does the genealogies, the connections, the educations, and the talents of the various officers and able-bodied seamen who take off on the Bounty, determined to obtain breadfruit trees to use as a food supply for the West Indies. Bligh is depicted as a very different person from his mean-spirited portrayal in Hollywood films. Anxious not to use the lash, he reveals in his logs, both official and personal, his pleasure (at first) at being able to maintain order without floggings. He is also determined to avoid the nutritional problems, such as scurvy, which have plagued other, earlier voyages. Mentoring several young men, including Fletcher Christian, he hopes to teach by example, rather than by orders.

Fletcher Christian's character is more difficult to understand, and his constant statements that he has been "in hell," attested to by many witnesses, suggest that he may have been suffering some sort of breakdown. Alexander uses the logs of the journey, Bligh's private records, and the public and personal records of every officer and seaman in an effort to depict the exact order in which events happened before and during the mutiny. Court documents and the trial transcripts from the eventual courts martial of ten of the mutineers further illuminate the human side of these events.

The aftermath of the mutiny, the futures of the men who remained with Bligh, the sentences passed on the captured mutineers, the lives of the men who escaped to Pitcairn Island, and the speculation regarding the fate of Fletcher Christian bring this fascinating history full circle. Thoroughly researched, with every possible document gleaned for information, Alexander's fascinating study is a masterpiece of scholarship--exciting to read, full of previously unknown information, and an enduring challenge to the popular wisdom. n Mary Whipple

Bounty Of Details, May 17, 2006
"The Bounty" by Caroline Alexander, is not only a thoroughly researched book about the infamous mutiny at sea that took place well over 200 years ago, but the story is told in a way that will keep you turning the pages as if you were reading a captivating adventure novel. I was most impressed by this account of the events, and learned new and interesting details in every chapter.

From logs and journals, personal letters, court martial records,and many other reliable sources, Alexander pieces together the story, and makes it an exciting read, From the planning stages of sending a crew for Breadfruit, to events transpiring at sea, the mutiny itself, Bligh and his loyalists dangerous but miraculous sea voyage home, the search and capture of the mutineers, the court martials, the consequences,and events and people pertaining to the years of aftermath,the events unfold in remarkable detail .

Everyone involved, including not only the ship's company, but the natives of 'Ohtaheite'(Tahiti), the families of all involved, the Sea Captains that made up the jury, and even the descendants of the mutineers, come to life with Alexander's detailed descriptions of their characters.

The story is a complex one, and as with most stories, there is more then one side. Was Bligh really a monster? Perhaps no one will ever know which side is the more accurate, but through testimony of the court martial and personal writings and quotations, we get a good look at what took place and a good idea of why it happened. The Author makes the maze of the people and places easy to follow. Included to refer to while reading is a complete list of the ship's company, denoting who were mutineers, and which loyalists were detained with them. Charts following the various journeys indicating the routes and pictures of portraits of nearly everyone important to the case are shown, as well as drawings and paintings made of the islands and the natives(even the descendants of the mutineers).

A most enjoyable and informative read. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this famous historical event.

"I have been in Hell this fortnight past and I am determin'd to suffer it no longer"...reportedly said by Fletcher Christian as told by a witness at the court martial.....Laurie

also recommended:
South: A Memoir of the Endurance Voyage

outstanding, December 31, 2005
I've read everything I can find about the Mutiny on the Bounty and Alexander's book has to be the definitive telling of the story. A small ship, only about 85 long and 25 feet wide, with 60 or 70 men aboard ranging in age from 12 to 42, every man a volunteer. Sent out on what should've been an obscure and forgotten botanical mission, instead it sails into history and becomes perhaps the most epic story in the history of the sea.

A meeting of utterly contrasting civilizations, the English and the Tahitian. A struggle of social class between the officers and men and between the officers themselves. A betrayal of friendship between Christian and Bligh. An impulsive decision by Christian to seize the ship but why? Depression? Heartbreak of leaving a woman and child behind on Tahiti? Mistreatment by Bligh? Bligh and the loyalists, condemned to death in an open boat sailing over 3,000 miles to safety with Bligh navigating only by memory and losing only one man along the way---without question the greatest feat of sailing in world history. The hunt for the mutineers. Perhaps the most famous court trial of its time with the upperclass families of Christian and Heywood doing all they can to spin the story and exonerate their loved ones. Christian and his loyalists disappearing only to be found years later after having tried to establish a utopia on a deserted island only to have it descend into murder and disaster and saved only by religious awakening.

No novelist could've credibly conceived of such a story and yet it really happened.

Everything you would want to know about the mutiny except..., April 25, 2005
Since reading this author's earlier book on the Shakelton South Pole misadventure, I looked forward to this text on the Bounty mutiny long immortalized by novels and movies (Clark Cable playing the best Fletcher Christian, Anthony Hopkins the best Mr. Bligh).

Here, the author gives infinite details of the event including personality descriptions on some of the sailor's family members (few if any came off as very complimentary, but perhaps that was the author's choice to focus on the more "colorful" characters). She also gives many facts that I had not earlier known (e.g., Mr. Bligh was not a captain during the voyage, but a lieutenant, and Fletcher Christian's brother was himself involved in a mutiny-like act just before the Bounty sailed).

The author's intent was to only present information on the adventure that has a reasonably high amount of veracity. According to the author, this leaves Mr. Bligh's account with the less amount of calumny, while the accounts of some of the Bounty's family members were much more suspicious. In this regard, the author's conclusions appear to be very sound and a welcomed closure on the story of crime on the high seas and a vindication for Mr. Bligh. She also gives a full bibliography for those desiring to further investigate.

What disappointed me, though, was the author's less detailed interest in the plight of those dismissed from the Bounty. Here, Lt. Bligh took an overloaded and ill-equipped launch boat and over 48 days navigated thousands of miles until safely rescued. Not one in the boat perished in the boat, although, some did die after being rescued and one died when attacked by natives on an island.

The author did not completely pass over this incredible event without comment and she did acknowledge the high public and professional acclaim Bligh received. However, as detailed as she was with some minor material (e.g., sappy poems by Mr. Heywood's emotionally fragile sister), the author gives relatively bits of information on this great sea adventure. This despite there having been several accounts written at the time for public consumption including those written by Bligh. Perhaps this latter story is waiting for yet another author's pen.

Bligh and Christian Reconsidered, October 30, 2003
In historic narrative, and especially in the movies, we all know about one particular naval mutiny, that of the _Bounty_ in 1789. The movies do their job of simplifying and giving form to a history that actually was extremely complicated and lacking in some basic documentable facts. This realization runs throughout _The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty_ (Viking) by Caroline Alexander. Even in her detailed recreation of the court-martial of the mutineers, for instance, she cannot reproduce the testimony of Captain Bligh, for he was off at sea and did not participate, nor, of course, can she tell us what the chief mutineer, Fletcher Christian, had to say. Not only was he never brought to trial, but he never wrote down his story, and we don't even know for sure how he eventually died. Nonetheless, Alexander has taken what we can know, informed us what we never will be able to know, and has produced a vigorous history that, even with its inevitable voids, makes compelling the crime and its outcome on the participants.

Bligh was the prot�g� of Sir Joseph Banks, the naturalist, who had sailed with Captain Cook in the Pacific and who took up the pet project of importing breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies to be a staple for the slaves there. Bligh's model for captainship was Captain Cook with whom he sailed, and whose example of humane treatment he meant to emulate. He fed his men well, was careful not to let them get scurvy, and he tried to avoid flogging any of them. He did wind up flogging them, but far less than their previous commanders did. Alexander shows how Bligh's insistence on minute detail and his harsh tongue may have been part of the explanation for the mutiny, but it would be odd if sailors were so oversensitive to being closely overseen or to strong language. Absurdly, the mutiny was sparked by a theft from a shipboard supply of coconuts. Bligh accused Christian of being a thief and scoundrel, and this was too much for a man of honor, or so Christian's supporters tried to make out. When Bligh arrived in England, having made the amazing 48-day, 3,600 mile trip to Timor via the overloaded open boat in which he and 18 loyal crew members had been set adrift by the mutineers, he was a hero. He went on to further nautical successes, but families of the mutineers started a series of attacks against him. In the end, what sealed the reputation of Bligh was "a force more formidable and unassailable than any enemy he would meet at sea - the power of a good story." It is a tale of the young hero triumphing over his master into an island paradise. What is more, it is the brooding romantic breaking chains from the stern rationalist. It was at the dawn of the Romantic age, and Alexander shows how writers like Wordsworth and Coleridge took up Christian as a romantic hero.

Alexander's book is far more than a fair reevaluation of the reputation of Captain Bligh. She has given details about sea-going, class struggle, and especially the complicated legal wranglings by the accused mutineers, including the ones who successfully used what we would now call spin against their former captain. The _Bounty_'s story here is exciting, but Alexander's fascinating narrative of the repercussions shows how history is made, or in some cases, made up. ... Read more

Editorial Review

One part adventure story, one part archaeological detective work, one part spiritual exploration, Walking The Bible vividly recounts an inspiring personal odyssey -- by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel -- through the greatest stories ever told.

Feeling a desire to reconnect to the Bible, award-winning author Bruce Feiler set out on a perilous, 10,000 mile journey retracing the Five Books of Moses through the desert. Traveling over Lee continents, through five countries, and four war zones, Feiler is the first person to complete such a historic expedition. He crosses the Red Sea, climbs Mt. Sinai, and interviews bedouin and pilgrims alike, as he attempts to answer the question: Is the Bible just an abstraction, or is it a living, breathing entity?

Both a pulse-pounding adventure and an uplifting spiritual quest, Bruce Feiler's Walking the Bible is a stunning and elevating work of courage, scholarship, and heart that revisits the inscrutable desert landscape where the world's great religions were born and uncovers fresh answers to the most profound questions of the human spirit.

Reviews

Part travelogue, part history book, part pilgrimage, July 18, 2001
This book really should have been called "Walking the Torah," since it covers the Five Books of Moses and is written from a primarily Jewish perspective. I suppose the marketing people felt that "Bible" would have a wider sales appeal or something. Be that as it may, the most interesting thing about this book was the profound change in attitude that the journey brought to the writer himself. No, he didn't "get religion" and run off become an Orthodox Jew. However, he did gain a new appreciation for the Bible stories themselves, as well as the various people and places that the Bible describes.

By his own admission, Bruce Feiler was a secular/Reform Jew who started out simply wanting to connect to the physical places mentioned in the Torah, i.e., to literally walk where his ancestors had walked. At first, Feiler thought of the Bible as a sort of Baedekers travel guide. He spent most of his preparation time reading history, geography, and archaeology. Once he got on the road, however, he soon discovered that the Bible is also "in the people" (his words). Whether they are true believers of many faiths or secularists who see the Bible as literature, the people who actually live in these biblical locations have a deep, almost mystical connection to the land itself -- a bond which goes beyond merely occupying a particular piece of real estate. Feiler grew to have this inner experience, too. As he himself explains, somewhere along the line he stopped thinking of The Book as a travel guide, and started seeing it as The Bible.

Feiler's prose style is both creative and highly readable. While some have criticized his incessant junk food metaphors (chocolate mountains, cinnamon hills -- he was getting hungry maybe?), I found them rather amusing. On the one hand, here he is, talking about places mentioned in a Holy Book that is sacred to millions of people. On the other hand, he doesn't pontificate, nor does he idealize. He duly notes the the rampant commercialism at holy sites and, with a wry sense of humor, he comments on many strange justapositions of traditional and modern life. (The fire extinguisher kept near the "true burning bush" in St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. Sinai had me laughing out loud. Was the burning bush was expected to catch on fire?)

As with most personal travelogues, there are things in this one that Feiler doesn't get right, even with his famous tour guide, Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren. (Who, by the way, was paid by Feiler to do this project, but so what? Hiring a guide is a time-honored travel practice, and more than one scholar has financed his research with moonlighting.) What I got out of the book was a deeper understanding of how the lay of the land in the Middle East influenced the Bible. This, in turn, opened up many Torah passages in new ways for me.

A Refreshing New Pilgrimage Through the Bible's Stories, May 17, 2001
Walking the Bible is an absorbing & informative travel memoir of Feiler's journeys through the first five books of the Old Testament. Feiler presents a refreshingly different perpective on this subject because he admittedly comes to the project as a young, semi-inactive-in-the-faith Jewish man. What he learns through the trip by reading, interacting, and observing doesn't seem to give him concrete "proof" of the historical veracity of the events, but nonetheless leads him down a path to understanding faith and to realization of the enormous meaning found within the Holy Land. His appreciation for that land and the conflict and beauty found within it are apparent throughout the book, and I found that appreciation to be contagious.

The best thing about this book is that it enlightens and entertains on spiritual, historical, and travel adventure levels. Scholarly views on the interpretation of Biblical events as well as the geography and culture of the Holy Land are researched and well-presented. Avner Goren was a fantastic guide/mentor who has a greater knowledge of pre-historic and Biblical archaeology than most anyone else around -- his input is priceless. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a thirst for more knowledge about Old Testament times in the Holy Land, and particularly to those in their 20s or 30s who may come to the book with backgrounds similar to that of Feiler. I learned quite a bit, particularly in regards to the motivations of Israeli immigrants and Judaistic views on God's interaction with his people during Exodus. And yet that book does not proselytize in any way -- it simply presents the experiences on the journey.

As to those reviewers who critize Feiler's undertaking of the Biblical journey as unoriginal: "Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." - C.S. Lewis, MERE CHRISTIANITY

I believe that most people will walk away from reading this book glad that they read it, laden with new information and, perhaps, new questions.

Uplifting and Life Changing, March 20, 2001
A rare book changes the way you live and experience the world. Walking the Bible does just that and more. It is gracefully written, hugely entertaining, and enormously thoughtful. It is filled with great thrills ... riding camels up Mount Sinai, standing on the very spot where Moses received the Commandments, tasting the salt pillars at Sodom and Gomorrah, crossing the Red Sea in a row boat, beholding the burning bush. Above all, it is a profound, deeply intelligent exploration of the Bible as a vibrant force in our lives and the world. Take the journey -- feel the desert wind, smell the Bedouin feasts, climb inside the great pyramids -- and soon, like the author himself, you will be transformed by the experience, even touched by the Holy Land and God.

Recommended, but not highly, May 25, 2001
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that Walking The Bible is NOT great prose; for example, Feiler likes his junk-food metaphors such as when the desert landscape is described as resembling "trail mix" one place and Cracker Jacks in another. And the story IS too drawn out. And there isn't even all that much actual walking; Feiler rides camels up Mt Sinai and Mt. Aaron and drives to the top of Mt. Nebo.

Nevertheless, Feiler presents a lot of interesting thoughts on the meaning of the Old Testament Biblical stories, their applications to ourselves, and the possible roots of the development of the Jewish people and their culture which is so foundational to Western morals and culture. Whether or not you agree with Feiler, I'm sure some of his theories will stimulate your own counter-thoughts and inspire additional research.

Therefore, although I don’t believe this will prove to be either a travel or spiritual classic, I suggest you read it if you have an interest in Feiler's topic.

I discovered a number of odd errors in the book which make me concerned as to how many mistakes there are on topics I'm not familiar with. Feiler asserts on page 4 that Mt. Ararat "is the highest peak in the Middle East (and the second highest in Europe)". That is only true if you simultaneously define Iran as NOT being in the Middle East (even though it is) and redefine the Middle East as part of Europe (which it is not). Even then, the highest mountains in Europe are in the Caucasus and there are at least three peaks in that range higher than Ararat. He also describes a vehicle as a "Toyota Land Rover"; the Land Rover has been a world famous British-made vehicle for many years while Toyota has makes an excellent vehicle called the Land Cruiser.

Another ... reviewer wonders why famous Israeli archeologist Avner Goren would bother to spend so many months traveling with Feiler. Without Goren's knowledge, field experience and contacts Feiler wouldn't have had much of a story to tell. Well, as they say, "follow the money". According to an interview with Feiler I saw in a newspaper in Virginia last week, Feiler paid Goren to travel with him as his guide for most of the trip.

In his last chapter, Feiler describes a number of books he relied on in planning his travels and writing the book. One he mentions favorably is Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain, which covers almost the identical trip as Feiler except rather than following the route of Old Testament events, Dalrymple follows the route of a 6th century Christian monk. Although the topic is not the same, I found Dalrymple's book both better written and more insightful (it regards Christianity, of course, rather than Judaism) and I recommend it very highly.

An amazing journey - an insightful view, May 22, 2002
This is an amazing book. While I doubt any of us would have the opportunity (or the traveling companion) that Feiler had in his quest to review the Pentauch, we are richer for his trip. Launching from the premise that the Bible had roots in history and developing culture (if not exactly a fact by fact account), the travelers look to tread where the stories come from, and to read the portions of the first 5 books of the Bible that relate to that location. Thus they can take the land, which is forever written about and under conflict, and the word, which often gets more remote from us, and joins them back together to see what we can learn. The connection begins with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and the fertile crescent giving birth to Genesis and the patriarchs, and continues through Israel, Egypt and Jordan until Feiler stands on the mountain top where Moses may have seen the promised land and then died.

In addition, there is an exploration of what the bible means today, and what it means to the people who live in the area where the stories take place. The five books of Moses are extremely important becuase they form the starting off point for Judiasm (and later Christianity) and Islam. Thus the area, and the book, have varying importance to a large amount of the world. But does a book written 2-3 thousand years ago still resonate today in the lands of desert and oasis? Feiler finds that it does, even more so than he expected. In the way of discovering a new nuance of our heritage - what is part of our collective cultural history.

The writing is easy going, insightful and fun. The author is able to draw out new visions and stories from one of the most written about areas of the world. I came away from the book with a much better and new understanding of the early stories of the Bible and look at their place in history in a new light. A great read, that teaches you without lecturing to you.

Travel, Adventure and the Bible, April 30, 2001
I don't think I've ever read a more delightful book on Biblical history. Bruce Feiler has done a remarkable job of creating an engaging, readable account of his journey through the first five books of the Old Testament. His actual physical journey takes him as close as possible to the original paths traveled by those famous Biblical characters from Abraham to Moses. The journey takes us across five countries, thousands of miles, into deserts, to the tops of mountains and into ancient cities and long forgotten sites. Along the way, he continually reads the accounts of these areas as set forth in the Bible intending to tie the story to his own physical presence at each location. His traveling companions, the people he meets and his vivid descriptions make the journey come alive. Most importantly, he reinforces his belief in the Bible as the living word of God. Regardless of your personal beliefs, reading this book will be a big plus in your life. I only wish I could have tagged along on this trip!

Walking the Bible..., October 20, 2001
I liked this book so much that I even read it while on red lights. This book is about a journey into the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Torah) and the author begins with an adventurous geographical quest and ends with a very touching spiritual one. The language that Bruce Feiler (a young American Jew who lives in New York) uses is so descriptive that reading this book is like virtually taking the journey with him. It was so neat to read it! It was also very nice to learn about the Hebraic religious system and the roots of Christianity. Aside from learning with profound interest about The Bible, Abraham, Moses, the Bedouin (his wife's tribe), the Middle East, the desert, Archeology, and much more, I also discovered that there is a personal and unique lesson for everyone to learn by the time you get to the end of the book. Find out which one is yours! In the end, I found myself inquiring as to Who my God is and what type of relationship I have with Him or if I have one. I also learned to have a total new perspective in understanding or making sense of the Bible as well as humanity.

PS: If you read this book, you will learn to have a better understanding of what is going on in the Middle East. You will also discover that what is going on there has been going on for more than a couple thousands of years. There is a part in the Bible that says that nothing that is happening now or will happen, has not happened before. I don't understand this well but it must have to do with the circles of life! Maybe??? So, I believe that there is nothing new in life and that what we are facing now, happened even way back when Moses was leading his people out to the promise land. It appears to me that the hatred of terrorists is the hatred that generations in those areas have passed along to the newer generation; until here, today in America, and with the rest of the world, we are harvesting the hatred that those generations have sown. In fact, I see Osama bin Laden as the pure body and flesh of the hatred of all of those years of wars and fights.

Eating the Bible, November 29, 2002
Two incidents happened as I read "Walking the Bible" which convinced me of the book's success. First, a string of terrorist incidents in Israel and Kenya, on the U.S. Thanksgiving, which illustrated the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict that's repeatedly described in the book. Second, while I read the chapter set in Petra, the ancient Jordanian city featured in the climactic battle of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", I was interrupted with the news that "Last Crusade" was on TV that very minute. Since "Walking the Bible" is utterly devoid of pictures, I put the book down momentarily to watch the real thing for myself.

It was easier for Bruce Feiler to experience the many personal revelations he undergoes in "Walking the Bible". He had remarkable company -- archaelogist Avner Goren, his walking companion for most of the book's episodes, is former chief archaeologist of the Sinai peninsula. Feiler also interviews a bevy of other biblical archaeologists, and sits down with former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. No typical tourist will ever receive this much direct insight into the region.

However, Feiler has written a great armchair journey for the rest of us. He divides his book (of course) into five parts, matching the Five Books of Moses he seeks to recreate. He journeys from Turkey to Mesopotamia to Israel, Egypt, the Sinai, and Jordan, reading passages from the Torah along the way to illustrate key moments in the story. "Walking" is part travelogue, part spiritual journey, part textbook, and part recipe book. The hunger Feiler feels in the desert is never explicitly mentioned, but the Georgia-born author must have been well and truly starving, because every three pages, a bit of timeless Biblical landscape is described in food metaphor. These are too numerous to mention, but I will say that the most bizarre is the Israeli truck that reminds him of a box of Sweet Tarts.

Because Feiler does so much wandering, both geographically and emotionally, some parts of "Walking the Bible" are inevitably less enjoyable than others. I felt that the strongest writing occurs in Jordan, at the end of the book, at the end of Moses' life. When Feiler gets into a Biblical argument with Muslim bedouins about just who Moses was, over discrepancies between the Torah and the Koran, it becomes easier to see just why the Middle East conflict has persisted for so long. The journey through the remnants of Petra, a city carved from sandstone cliffs, is truly awe-inspiring (again, despite the lack of pictures). I also enjoyed his journeys to Mount Ararat, the Great Pyramid, and the Wailing Wall.

As to the book's brief descriptions of 20th century conflict, some readers will doubtless be offended by the appearance of a Jordanian minister (whose own words reveal him to be a narrow-minded hypocrite), or by Feiler's interviews with American-born Israelis living in the disputed territories of the West Bank. However, in the context of the larger story -- four thousand years of history, in which little has truly changed -- I feel that these detours are necessary and well-balanced.

This Book is a Keeper, April 6, 2001
This is an ingenius idea for a book and will have a long shelf life; the topic after all is a perennial. There is only one problem which is that the book walks through so much terrain, literal and biblical, that it gets tiring. Perhaps the author should have made this a two-volume collection because then he could have condensed it, made it more punchy, less tiresome. But, he's a good writer and it's worth owning. I recommend reading it slowly, as one would read the Bible, in fact.

A Journey of Truth, October 10, 2001
Bruce Feiler's Walking the Bible is a must read for any one desiring to edge themselves closer to the land where the Bible was born and continues to live. As an American student studying in Israel for the year, I am simply amazed by how true-to-life Feiler's descriptions are as he paints a picture of all of the history which stands in this land. I am so grateful to have found this book, for it brings everything to light-- It puts pieces of history and culture, both past and present together to depict the history of the lands of the Bible as an everliving presence. If one could create a detailed written map of the Bible lands, then this is exactly what Feiler has done. If you have never been to the Middle East and to the lands of the Bible, reading this book will transport you here and give you a starting glimpse at all the amazing history which is continually being uncovered. If you have been here (or are living here like me), the book adds to the very reality of the setting. Now, if you can just drum up all the money Feiler needed to make this trip (his tour is amazing because of its extensiveness!), you can follow in his footsteps. :-) Nonetheless, I think this book makes an excellent prelude to a trip to the Middle East, whether you are coming here definitely or just thinking or dreaming about it. Enjoy the read... You will learn so much from the book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The master humorist and bestselling author of A Walk in the Woods now guides us on an affectionate, hysterically funny tour of America's most outrageous absurdities.

After living in Britain for two decades, Bill Bryson recently moved back to the United States with his English wife and four children (he had read somewhere that nearly three million Americans believed they had been abducted by aliens--as he later put it, "it was clear my people needed me"). They were greeted by a new-and-improved America that boasts microwave pancakes, twenty-four-hour dental-floss hotlines, and the staunch conviction that ice is not a luxury item.

Delivering the brilliant comic musings that are a Bryson hallmark, I'm a Stranger Here Myself recounts his sometimes disconcerting reunion with the land of his birth. From motels ("one of those things--airline food is another--that I get excited about and should know better") to careless barbers ("in the mirror I am confronted with an image that brings to mind a lemon meringue pie with ears"), I'm a Stranger Here Myself chronicles the quirkiest aspects of life in America, right down to our hardware-store lingo, tax-return instructions, and vulnerability to home injury ("statistically in New Hampshire I am far more likely to be hurt by my ceiling or underpants than by a stranger").

Along the way Bill Bryson also reveals his rules for life (#1: It is not permitted to be both slow and stupid. You must choose one or the other); delivers the commencement address to a local high school ("I've learned that if you touch a surface to see if it's hot, it will be"); and manages to make friends with a skunk. The result is a book filled with hysterical scenes of one man's attempt to reacquaint himself with his own country, but it is also an extended, if at times bemused, love letter to the homeland he has returned to after twenty years away.
... Read more

Reviews

BILL BRYSON AND HIS SATIRICAL HUMOUR AT ITS BEST, July 20, 2000
So what's this then? A collection of columns written by Bill Bryson for the British Night & Day magazine, assembled into a book? I was sceptical when I first picked it due to the unfamiliarity here; I thought he was a travel writer. But then I started reading through the first few pages and am delighted to report that they were so entertaining and accessible that I ended up finishing the book very satified.

This book is about America, about consumerism, hypocracy, politics, culture and everything else in between, such as motels and boring interstate highways and the condition of AT&T service these days. Why should all this be so interesting? Because Bill Bryson's voice shines throughout, dissecting normally more complex subjects into bite-sized articles which are eminently readable to the extent that it is at times impossible to stop. Of course, his trademark humour is present too. If you read this in public, there is the risk of embarrassment by your involuntary snorts of laughter.

However, 'I'm a Stranger here Myself' isn't perfect. Much of the book is predictable, and 85% of the time, Bill appears to be complaining. Someone as talented as Bill Bryson should know not to engage in such indulgence because the end result is that the reader occassionally feels frustrated over the ostensible monotony. You also can't help but feel that an assemblage of brief columns is not enough to make a book.

Although this book is not standard Bill Bryson fare, it still manages to excel. It really is exceptionally enlightening, to read what he has to say subsequent to spending 20 years in England. He compares the contrasts between the two nations and questioning so many aspects of life that Americans take for granted, such as driving from shop to shop when they are merely footsteps apart, or the blatant excesses of junk food. Each article (in my edition, Black Swan) covers only five pages so they are very easy to get into.

If you are an American, perhaps you will enjoy this book more than anyone else as you will undoubtedly find it compelling to look into the views of an outsider in the process of 'assimilation'.

'I'm a Strange here Myself' doesn't feel like a book, more like a colelction of columns binded together. If you are willing to accept this, it is an extremely rewarding, insightful and refreshingly diverting read. This is enough to gain a hearty recommendation.

This Book is a Great Comfort to Foreigners, April 29, 2005
About two years ago when my husband and I made up our minds to study abroad in the U.S., one of my friends, who have lived in Boston for many years recommended Bill Bryson's I am a Stranger Here Myself to me. She told me this book reflects American life and will help me learn American ways of living. I kept her words in mind, but didn't read this book until it was chosen as our assigned material in a reading class in the U.S. After reading through this book, I realized why my friend suggested me read it. This book is really a great comfort to foreigners, because what Bill Bryson told the readers mostly resonates with what we've encountered in our daily lives in the U.S.

As foreigners, we usually assume that lack of proficiency in the language is the cause of ineffective communication and it puts us in a very awkward situation. However, in the chapter, "What's Cooking," we know that though a native speaker, Bryson is also bewildered by the complicated terminology the server uses to introduce the special dishes in a fancy restaurant. And in "How to Rent a Car," Bryson has a difficult time figuring out the complexly tiered options in the contract just as I did when I rented a car in the U.S. for the first time. Sometime it makes foreigners feel secure and relieved when realizing that a native speaker is in the same boat.

I am so glad that I got the chance to read this book. Not only did I understand more about American customs and culture, but I also benefited greatly from the author's funny expression and vivid description in English. For foreigners, making ourselves acquainted with American ways of thinking and speaking is crucial to dealing with daily events in a foreign country. In my opinion, Bill Bryson plays the role of a spokesperson for Americans as well as foreigners. In his sarcastic but intriguing tone, Bryson candidly points out some ridiculous phenomena in American society. Some may regard him as a grumpy man complaining a lot in his book, but I was fascinated by his unique humor. I sincerely suggest anyone who would like to travel to the U.S. read this book beforehand. This book is of great help to getting a broad outline of the life style in America.

Some parts of this book are classic Bryson, others not!, January 17, 2000
This book, which consists of columns Bryson wrote for an English paper after moving to the US, is a mixed success, in my eyes. Bryson is one of my favorite authors, and some pieces were classic, classic Bryson---so funny you really do laugh out loud for a good long while! I liked best the pieces on pop culture---diners, motels, TV, dieting, etc. However, a few pieces were about subjects you can read about in almost any newspaper editorial any day of the week---government waste and stupidity, how hard tax returns are to prepare, and the overactive legal system, to name some. I found those pieces were not really done as well---they could have been written by any skilled writer and did not have the distinctive Bryson voice. Maybe this is because they were not written for an American audience originally, and maybe those topics are not as overdone in England. Overall I still did like this book a lot, although I think I would have liked better something that was less a collection of thoughts and more a real tale of coming back to America, from a more personal viewpoint.

Life in America, Compared to Life in Great Britain, August 2, 2000
This is unfamiliar territory for me--a collection of articles written for a British public. I was drawn into the book mainly because of Bill's sarcastic wit, and was held there by a humorous look at life in America, written by an ex-expatriot.

The book is really well done. The chapters are short, originally written as newspaper articles. Several of his chapters bordered on boring--taxes, how to assemble a computer, etc. Mostly however, they were charming, well-written, and surprisingly personal. Bryson is at his best when tackling travel, and perhaps this is no surprise as he has written several well-received travel books.

Originally I bought this book for someone else, but as I was traveling myself I began to read it, and found I could not put it down. The format lends itself very well to readers like me, who can often only read in short bursts. Finally, while Bryson's readers in Great Britain may have learned something of life in America, I also learned about life in Great Britain--what an experience at the post office is like, what renting a flat is like, and the great furniture debacle.

Honestly I very often laughed out loud, drawing curious looks from others in airports and train stations. Highly recommended.

No Stranger to Laughter, January 8, 2002
"Oh, what the heck? I liked 'A Walk in the Woods,' so let's see if this is any good."

That was my line of thinking as I checked out this book from my local library. On the way home, I opened the cover (akin to opening a bag of my favorite chips) and sampled a bite. And another. Soon, I was eight chapters into the thing, wiping tears from my eyes to the amusement of my wife and children. Then, the ultimate test: I read a page out loud to my wife. Now I'm not intimating that she has any laughter inhibitions--she'll laugh up a storm within the first minutes of a good comedy flick--but to subject her to oral readings is to watch her mood take a serious downswing. Must be the expectation levels I project. ("Come on, honey, don't you get it? Are you listening?")

Test results: A+

Next thing I knew, I was fighting my wife for moments to gobble down another chapter or two. No kidding. Bill Bryson, in his inimitable manner, adds punch and humor to subjects normally as tastless as...well, as week-old chips. He pinpoints the lunacies in our daily routine, the frustrations of red-tape, and the nostalgia of yesteryear. He makes me wonder why we Americans behave in such ways, then leaves me shaking my head at the idea of living anywhere else.

We're all strangers, in one way or another, in this diverse land of ours. And that's just it...it's our crazy kaleidoscope of ideas and customs that make us the colorful nation we are. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thanks, Bill, for helping me let off some steam so that I can fall in love with this place all over again.

Affectionate- he criticises because he cares!, December 24, 1999
I am a Bill Bryson reader in England and I would like to say I have read the UK edition of this book and several other Bill Bryson titles, and I think Bill Bryson has done a lot to enhance the image of the USA in Britain, not harm it, and has increased understanding between British and American people. I think Bryson is so popular in America because British people like America so much and so are interested in his commentary of it. I am glad to see most reviews by Americans here are positive, but I think the ones which aren't are missing the real point of what Bryson is trying to do. To begin with I feel that the criticism offered of the USA can constructive, rather than just complaining for the sake of it. Bryson obviously loves America but is saddened by some aspects of it and wants to offer an alternative view of how, in his opinion, the USA could be improved even further. I find that people rarely bother to suggest improvements for countries they don't like because they don't care about them. It's only because Bryson obviously loves America that he cares enough to try and suggest ideas to improve the areas in which he feels the country has lost its way. Also a lot of the criticism is not actually comparing America unfavourably to other countries, but to America as it was before he left it- he's suggesting that some things have improved but others used to be better in the past-there's nothing anti-American about suggesting that some older American ideas and values should have been preserved. I think criticising Bryson for a "phoney accent" is a little unfair- he did live in England for almost two decades and it is well-known that people tend to pick up the speech patterns of those around them, which explains why Bryson may have a sort of American/English hybrid accent. Bryson certainly can be said to love England and be an Anglophile, but that doesn't mean he can't love America too- being patriotic does not mean you have to love your own country so much that you can't be allowed to see anything good or even better in another country, or enjoy living in another country- and remember that much as Bryson loved England, he still moved back to America to live- not something he would have done if he disliked America. This book contains much praise for America as well as criticism and I think it is balanced and fair. Bryson certainly exaggerates some of his experiences but it is obvious when he is doing it and it is just for comic effect, not to be misleading. This book has made me want to visit the USA more, not less. I would suggest US readers try and obtain copies of his excellent book "Notes from a Small Island" about Britain- they will find Bryson offers exactly the same blend of praise- AND CRITICISM!- of Britain as he does of the USA. I found his book on my country to be inspiring- certainly it was nice to read the praise but instead of feeling upset by the criticism I found myself agreeing with most of it and thinking about how Britain might change for the better. It's only through balanced criticsm a country can keep constantly re-evaluating itself and so keep cutting-edge through constant improvements. Bill Bryson is offering the USA his own opinions on how America might be improved because he genuinely loves the country- whether you agree with him or not, I think that's a statement of his confidence in the USA, not his dislike of it! Whether you come from the USA, Britain or elsewhere, buy this book- and enjoy!

Actually, I give this book six stars, May 15, 1999
I am English and have to say that the highlight of Sunday mornings was reading Bill's Column in the Night and Day magazine of the Mail on Sunday. To say that I was devastated when he announced in there that he was finishing these columns and doesn't plan to write anymore was an understatement.

However, now I have this book, a collection of all of the columns and I have to say that it just goes to show why the English love Bill so much. He is funny, insightful, clever, self-deprecating, ironic. Did I mention funny??

I love the way he makes the most ordinary of everyday activities seem completely different. He talks a lot in the book (and even in the book's title) about how everyone around him seems to think of him as English and that gives him his distinctive edge. Sometimes its for comic effect - like going into a hardware store and announcing "I need some stuff to fill in holes in the wall with. My wife's people call it Polyfilla" (we do)and other times it gives him the opportunity to observe America and American attitudes from the perspective of an outsider.

The Brits love Bill and his wicked sense of humour, and also his ability to laugh at himself. They also understand when he is being ironic, and when he is truly despairing of his fellow Americans, whether it be setting up a hot-line for dental floss questions or the litigation culture that has sprung up in America and other such examples.

So, Bill Bryson, long may you continue. I look forward to your book on Australia.

Laugh Out Loud, September 10, 2005
I loved this book and told all of my friends about it. In addition to being funny, it was well-researched, interesting, and informative. The author is humble and gracious and is able to laugh at himself, a quality I find admirable and refreshing. He is honest in his opinions without being self-righteous; and even in his criticism of the country, he expresses a hopefulness that it is possible to correct social injustice if we work together as a nation.

However, none of that is the main point of the book. It is simply a collection of his columns written for a British audience in which he makes observations about Americana that are hilarious most of the time. I found myself laughing out loud in a waiting room full of people and then explaining to others what I was reading. If you're looking for a book that will make you smile on an otherwise dreary day, this is the book for you.

Divided into short chapters, it's a book that's easy to read in short bursts--a great book for someone who has difficulty commiting to a lengthy novel.

An excallent piece of non-fiction!, February 20, 2000
Bill Bryson did a fantastic job on this book. It tells a accurate (and hilarious) view on American and English culture. He brings up intresting points, that you'd never think about. Like his other books, he sees things in a thoughtful yet funny way. He is not your typical travel writer. While some of his writing get's repetitive, most of it remains fresh and humors. Anyone who enjoys a funny look at culture, travel, and people's behavior will enjoy "I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After Twenty Years Away".

A FUN READ, A GOOD READ., July 8, 2008
After quite a number of years living and writing in England, Bill Bryson returned to his native land, the United States, with his family and apparently continued his writing career. Mr. Bryson wrote a series of weekly articles, a column, for a British newspaper, recording his experiences, thoughts and observations on his native land and his return after a long absence. This book, I'm A Stranger Here Myself is a collection of these articles which were printed in that British paper.

I like Bryson. I enjoy reading his books. This one was no exception. I suppose the first thing I like about this author, is that we both have the same attitude toward life. We are both rather inept in many ways. We neither of us seem to take ourselves very seriously. I can relate to that. One of the big differences between is though, is that he has the ability to articulate his thoughts, attitude and experiences, in a way I never will be able to. They guy can write and he can write well.

When I first picked up this book, I did with a bit of a sense of dread. I did not want another "lets get together and bash American" book. I need not have worried. Yes, he does point out some funny, amusing, odd and silly things about our culture, but he is just a quick to point out that these different little oddities can be found around the world, only in different forms and customs. Let's face it, there is a lot a bout this country that is absolutely great, in fact, most things are. The author is quick point this out. On the other hand, there is much about our culture, our people, our government and our lives in general that is, if viewed from a certain angle, absolute hilarious. Bryson is quick to point this out too.

Everything is free game in this little work. Everything from the postal service, cars, diet, computers, holidays, work, play, language, government, family relationships, and so much more, are free game to his pen. Through all of his work though, he is constantly laughing at himself more than anyone else. Most of the articles are funny, many of them absolutely hilarious, and some of them are quite serious, simply due the subject matter. Each article the author has written (he even rather humorously refers to making money on his recycled work), makes up one chapter in this book. It is well written, easy to read, and, if you are like me, addresses subjects we all feel the same about, but just cannot say them in the way Bryson can.

Enjoyed this one and it was a well written, relaxing read.
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Reviews

Historical Washington DC -- A Primer, March 20, 2006
As a child growing up in Washington DC, I had the privilege of meeting Bryson Rash at the old WMAL Studios at Military Road & Connecticut Ave NW during his "Tailwaggers" show. At that time in the late '40's early 50's, he would launch into one of his historical anecdotes which would leave even jaded native Washingtonians in bewildered awe.

This book is pure gold! No amount of mentoring or preparation for the DC Tour Guide licensing credentials would ever reveal the pearls contained within in its covers.

For those with any interest at all in the wonderful stories associated with this town outside of mainstream tourism, this volume is a must! Enjoy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moins, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after ten years in England he decided to go home - to a foreign country. In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this amusing state-of-the-nation report on small-town America. From the Deep South to the Wild West, from Elvis's birthplace to Custer's Last Stand, through dire places he renamed Dullard, Coma and Doldrum, he embarked on an optimistic odyssey in search of his American dream. He found only a greedy, polluted nightmare. ... Read more

Reviews

Wicked humour, May 26, 2000
Bryson was born in Des Moines, and moved to England in his early twenties, marrying and settling down there. This book documents a trip by car around America, starting and ending in Des Moines, after many years in the UK. The ostensible theme of the book is a search for the perfect small town; a sort of Ray Bradbury idealization of fifties America. There's no such town, of course, but Bryson just uses the theme as a springboard for some of the funniest descriptions, stories, and digressions I have ever read.

When I started reading this book, I laughed so much my wife wouldn't let me read it in bed. Then she picked it up and discovered how funny it was, and wanted to read it before me. Eventually we compromised, and kept it in the car; the rule was that whoever was driving had to read it to the driver. Several times, however, the reader was laughing so hard that they couldn't get comprehensible words out, and the driver had to pull over to the hard shoulder and grab the book for themselves.

Yes, he's a curmudgeon, as other reviewers here have noticed. That's just his style. He's not deep, either; his occasional ruminations aren't negligible, but he's no Mark Twain. But he has an acidly sharp eye for inanity and stupidity, and his anecdotal technique is flawless.

His other travel books are along much the same lines, but to me this is the funniest, though "A Walk in the Woods" does show he is capable of good introspective writing. "The Lost Continent" is sharp, satirical, acute, and unkind--wickedly funny in every sense of the word.

Depressing and repetitive. Move on to his other works, May 31, 2006
I had high hopes for this book since I thoroughly enjoyed and laughed out loud while reading Bryson's 'In a Sunburned Country'. I was more than a little disappointed after finished `Lost Continent' I came away feeling more than a little disappointed.
Before I bought this book I was puzzled at the contrasting reviews here and I initially took the most of the negative reviews with a grain of salt. I figured these were written by people who mostly just took offense way too easily and were unable to laugh at themselves as Americans. I have to say though, after reading the book I find myself agreeing with some of the negative reviews of this book.

First off, as an American that has lived overseas for 3 years now, I feel I'm more than capable of looking at America with an objective eye. I'm completely aware of America's many shortcomings - ie. the propensity for urban sprawl, the seemingly declining interest in it's rich history, the ever growing dependence on technology and increasing laziness that invariably comes with it etc. etc.

Having said that, I still regard this book primarily as just one endless, tiring, repetitive rant by an unhappy man. One would be hard pressed to find more than a couple instances where Bryson spent more than three of four sentences at a time describing anything he found ENJOYABLE. As one reviewer pointed out, Bryson comes across as being exactly like the kind of people he constantly complains about in this book...rude, ignorant, and, just like Bryson himself, overweight (apparently he hasn't stepped in front of a mirror lately). One has to wonder why someone would put out a book that is so consistently sour in tone. If I had just finished such a thoroughly unsatisfying and unhappy trek as this, I would be hard pressed to come up with a good reason (other than a quick buck perhaps) to actually write a book about it. Let me get one thing straight, if this were a book about Canada or anywhere else outside the U.S. I would feel the same way. Yes, there are a few funny passages in his book, but his air of superiority along with the overuse of metaphors pretty much dampen it at times. As demonstrated in `In a Sunburned Country', his strength lies in sharing facts and history of the places he finds himself in, and the humor is always much more engaging when it isn't over the top and written as if he's trying to impress himself.

There was a span of about 12 years between the writing of `Lost Continent' and `In a Sunburned Country', and it shows. This is a younger Bryson, a man who seems to have a problem with every little detail, and it becomes increasingly tedious and irritating as the book goes on. He rarely displays anything other than contempt for the places he finds himself in. A couple of other reviewers also made valid points when they found it curious that (with the exception of his Iowa drug buddy) he never manages to engage anyone in anything resembling a meaningful conversation to actually get a handle on their mindset (as he did in "In A Sunburned Country' for instance). His interactions with locals are mostly limited to ordering food at local restaurants and asking for directions. He seems perfectly content coming to conclusions about entire groups of people based on no real substance and communication whatsoever.

In this book, sadly, he comes across as nothing more than a sarcastic, anti-social loner with a bone to pick with just about everyone and everything. Any remotely kind words he has about anything (and they are few and far between) are all but smothered by the sour tone of the book as a whole. I SO wish I could recommend this book for others to read, but I'd be lying if I said it's time well spent.

Young Bryson Can't Match the Mature, September 6, 2001
This is my third Bill Bryson book. Thank goodness this was not my first, for I probably would not have picked up "In a Sunburned Country," and "A Walk In The Woods."

Where Bryson's latest books are droll, witty and endearing, "The Lost Continent" is frequently petty, forced and mean. In this book Bryson travels around 38 states in a beat up Chevette, often through small towns and out of the way places not usually visited by many. He didn't have a very good trip.

Most of this book revolves around the author's put-downs of people he sees and caustic comments about places he visits. After a few hundred pages, the observations seem awfully gratuitous. Where disappointments, angst and difficult people were treated with amusement in his later books, here he often dismisses similar trials here with the brilliant and trenchant observation "FU". Not much authorship in those moments.

Not to say that there aren't some funny passages. Several times on the train, I found myself reading out loud. However, I also found myself speed reading ahead several times, an unfortunate first for a Bryson Book. Bryson's later works also weave a good deal of interesting historical background and place descriptions into the book. That is almost totally missing in this effort.

He occasionally comes up with some awfully good writing. For example, he described driving toward the mountains in Colorado as "driving into the opening credits of a Paramount Picture." (sic). Unfortunately, there are not enough of those moments and instead too many paragraphs describing how he had another bad meal in another bad town with too many ice cream and pizza parlors and not enough ambiance or fetching waitresses to suit his tastes. Bryson has produced much better. But don't let this book (or review) put you off an author whose books can be very satisfying companions. Just go for his more recent stuff.

Possibly Bryson's funniest book, May 15, 2007
It would be a real stretch to say that Bill Bryson thoroughly researches everything he writes about, goes out of his way to learn about and see and document only the most interesting aspects of places, and presents his portraits of places fairly and with an effort to see every side of both places and issues.
A real stretch.
But, it wouldn't be a stretch at all to say that Bill Bryson is undeniably loaded with wit and humor. This book is, I believe, Bill Bryson's very funniest. I laughed so hard at his descriptions of eating in small town diners that I woke my wife up who was sleeping next to me, several times. I tried to read passages from it to my brother over the phone, but couldn't get certain words out because I was silenced by laughing, by the sort of full-body laughing usually only high schoolers drinking milk get to enjoy.
This book is not an objective or a thorough or a totally accurate picture of America; its passages about the West, places I'm especially familiar with, almost appalled me at the total lack of effort Bryson made to go out of his way to see anything other than major attractions like the Grand Canyon. Even there, he just stood on the edge and looked over. However, what this book is, is funny. Very funny. Dangerously funny, especially if you ever find yourself hiding in an Anne Frank-style bunker, living secretly in fear of the government, where laughing very loudly could end your life.
I highly recommend this book. Writers about American subjects will find quotable quotes on almost every region, and lovers of good comedy will find a very enjoyable read.
Plus, and I couldn't believe this, it's really well-indexed.

Humor -- and much more, June 19, 2001
Since many of the reviews below do a fine job of describing this book's general attributes, I'll just mention a few things you'd best remember when reading a Bill Bryson book, particularly The Lost Continent:

First, Mr Bryson's doesn't write guidebooks or serious travelogues. He writes anti-guidebooks. Much of The Lost Continent is a counterpoint -- indeed a cure -- for the attacks of 'Meaningfulness And Insight' one sometimes suffers when reading even the best of the 'serious' travel writers such as Jonathan Raban.

Second, he's not making fun of the places he goes, the people he meets, and the things he sees because he's a big old meanie. He's trying to be funny, and he tells the unvarnished truth about what he sees and experiences, unlike many travel writers --both professional and amateur -- who simply cannot admit they've come a long way to see something, only to find it disappointing. Mr Bryson is criticized in many reviews for being a 'tourist' not a 'traveler', but it's only tourists who think every sight they see is fascinating simply because they've chosen to see it.

Third, Mr Bryson's not 'arrogant' because he doesn't praise everything about America and Americans. In fact, if American readers can hold back their splutters of outrage, they'd realize very quickly that he's *including himself* in nearly all the jokes he makes. A surpassingly ignorant reviewer below has asserted, for example, that our Bill's a hypocrite because he makes jokes about fat people, but then dines on a six-pack and candy bars. Well, of course he does -- Mr Bryson's acknowledging that, for all his griping about fast food and convenience stores and fat bellies, he's no better able to resist temptation than any other American. How many other travel writers -- or any writers at all -- allow us to see them being so fallible? This is arrogance?

Finally, I would recommend that the careful reader of The Lost Continent will find much more here than humorous description and anecdote, although both abound. There's also a story. Its only real character, of course, is Bill Bryson, but it's a character who is ultimately open to and changed by his experiences, both in making his comic journeys and in the remembrances of his boyhood his travels evoke. Mr Bryson is seeking more than just an elusive epitome of small-town America; he's trying to learn how to be an American again after a long time away, and he's finding it tough going at times. As an American (an Iowan, even) who's lived overseas for more than a decade myself, I find this story more and more compelling every time I come back to visit both 'lost continents' -- the real one, and this fine book.

Highly recommended.

An unsparing look at America, January 5, 2003
This book was mean-spirited, misanthropic, and cruel--I loved it. I think most of the negative reviewers of this book would benefit by lightening up a little and getting a sense of humor. If you're a blind, gung-ho, flag-waving, patriotic America-booster then this book will deflate your bubble. I think America is the greatest country the world has ever seen and I love it, but if you sincerely love your country then you will be able to criticize it and laugh at it sometimes. Bryson's hilariously sharp eye catches all of middle America's absurdities, but what saves the book's harshness is that he doesn't forget to target the biggest absurdity here--himself (yes, the [sad man] who whines about how boring everybody is around him but spends most of his time alone in a motel room drinking beer and eating candy). For me the main joke of the book is that Bryson spends most of his time trying to escape from somewhere rather than looking forward to his next stop. Yes, perhaps some of his targets are a little too easy, but still hilarious. As a travel book: 1 star. As a comedy: 5 stars

A TRAVEL WRITING GENIUS AND FUNNY TOO !!, August 10, 2000
I rather like Bill's writing style and lets face it when it comes to humourous travel writing Mr Bryson is a genius. Before setting out to comment on this book I read a sample of the reviews already penned and what a disappointment! I note the reviews are mainly by Americans who, some of them it would seem, have taken it all a little too seriously, have lost the plot, and quite obviously dont take to criticism.

The human race and this rock we call Earth is diverse and varied and Mr Bryson has had the immense fortune to have swallowed a large chunk of it. This book is penned in his own inimitable style and reflects his own personal views/opinion, which we are all entitled to give and should respect. I like the way he seems to stand back and with time seemingly to have been slowed to an imperceptible pace he captures all the myriad foibles and characteristics of the American way of life. So what if America is loud, brash and over commercialised, dont ya just love it! I'd love to see the waitresses with beehive hairdo's, the awful, mind numbing television shows, the small town tacky museums, the endless plains and digitless/limbless farmers of Iowa - all so I could say "yup Billy boy, yer were right". I rather think dear old Mr Piper got a hard deal seeing as he is now pushing up the daises but maybe the good lord thought that the Brysons had suffered enough.

I am fortunate to live in Yorkshire, England where Bill lived for 20 years and is quite obviously where he got his zest for life. I have been enjoyed America's enchanting character many times and I love her just the way she is - may she never change. This book is a dammed good read, it kept me gripped from the word go and its a crying shame that any criticisms appear here at all. Buy the book, dont have any preconceptions, read it through Mr Bryson's eyes and enjoy the finest piece of narrative I have digested in a long while!

Flawed but entertaining, January 17, 2001
I should state up front that I am a huge fan of Bryson's and usually snatch up his books the moment they hit the bookstores. I re-read this one recently and had a few thoughts to share.

Compared to his books about England and Europe, this one falls a little flat. There's a lot more personal observation and anecdote and less history. The constant references to his father (cheap, bad driver, obsessed with historical trivia) grow a little wearing. One can't help wondering what the rest of the family thinks of all this.

As a veteran of long road trips across North America myself, I can sympathize with the boredom he feels. If it weren't for the changing geography, it would be hard to tell where you are sometimes; everywhere you see the same tourist junk, fast food and strip malls. Bryson is rightly outraged at the disappearance of local "character" and the cheesiness of mass culture.

I think many of the negative reviews come from people outraged to find their own hometowns, states or regions slighted, which is understandable but does colour their opinion too much, I think. Try to set aside the outrage and ask where Bryson is coming from.

There's one thing Bryson consistently does in his books which I find very tiresome: pointing out women he finds fat or disgusting, enumerating their faults, and even extrapolating on their character flaws, personality defects, etc. Bill, I'm a big fan, but you're no poster boy for sculpted abs yourself. ;) Even if you were, it wouldn't give this observations any validity. It's a cheap, nasty, adolescent thing to do and frankly I expect better. (OK, off my soapbox now)

Overall, a book that locates the tackier, more disappointing sides of American life in a very amusing fashion. Let's not try to pretend that everything about America is always wonderful, pretty or important.

Small Town America Like No Other..., May 28, 2005

It was the coffee stain that first caught my attention. I was walking out of the bookstore and there sat a book with a coffee ring on it. I paused and smiled. The book looked like it came from my desk, coffee stain and all. I smiled at the yellow roadside sign with the red arrow. I had observed many of these as I crisscrossed the United States over the last several years. With all these associations, how could I not pause and begin reading?

A few minutes later I walked out of the bookstore with a smile and the book under my arm. Here was a kindred spirit, a sojourner lost in his own country, navigating his way through all that was familiar and strange.

Mr. Bryson encircles the United States in a large figure eight with Des Moines, Iowa in the center, as it should be. He covers every region of the nation, aghast and agape at what he sees. He describes it in dry prose punctuated by laugh-out-loud comments. Mr. Bryson is pithy and riotously funny.

If you are not planning on traversing the byways of the U.S. soon, by all means read this book now. If you have a trip planned, hold off reading this. Have your own experience, then pick up this book and see how many times your paths crossed. You'll laugh out loud too.

A Crank Insults People and Places Nationwide, November 11, 2001
It seems that Bill Bryson is into the same things as me. In "A Walk in the Woods" he tackled my top hobby, hiking ridiculously long distances. In this book, he covers my other hobby, driving ridiculously long distances. Bryson's travelogue through small towns in 38 states is very observant and often hysterically funny. He's got good insights into the attitudes and friendliness (or lack thereof) of people in different regions of the country, and he writes thoughtfully on the destruction of America's small town charm by never-ending stretches of strip malls and fast food joints.

But even though Bryson is very thoughtful and funny, this book can really get on your nerves at times. This is because Bryson is an extremely arrogant and tactless man. He dislikes everybody with different backgrounds than him, and every place that is different from his home area. He calls people and even entire groups of people obscene names throughout the book. He's got a serious problem with fat jokes, obsessively ripping on overweight people in extremely cruel ways. (By the way, look at the picture of Bryson on the back cover. You can only see his head and shoulders, but he still doesn't look like the skinniest guy in the world). Bryson demeans people who choose to live in big cities, which he can't understand, and he demeans people who live in the countryside, which he also can't understand. He hates people who can't follow directions, but gets lost several times in the book himself. At the lowest points of the book, Bryson mentions how he wants to punch an old lady in the head for cutting in line, how he wants to whack a panhandler with a stick, and how he would like to slap a little boy in Vermont just for being ugly. And he's going to get in a lot of trouble if he doesn't tone down his descriptions of poor black people in the South.

Bryson also can't stand any of the places he visits. Through most of the book, he obnoxiously rolls into a location expecting simplistic stereotypes, then criticizes each place for not living up to his unrealistic expectations (a major problem in the section covering New England). He calls almost every small town backwards and boring without taking the time to explore, and passes judgment on large cities (Cleveland and Detroit) after driving right through without stopping. He even finds a way to hate the tremendous national parks out west, like Yosemite for having road signs that aren't descriptive enough, or Sequoia because he couldn't drive his car through a tree (and manages to insult the trees in the process). So I can sort of enjoy Bryson's books on a general level, but I sure was glad when he got back home and brought this book to a close. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Travel/adventure writer and co-founder of Outside magazine, Cahill reads eight enthralling essays from his books Jaguars Ripped My Flesh and A Wolverine Is Eating My Leg. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Reviews

Curiously Addictive, May 25, 2000
This was yet another thrift shop purchase for under a dollar and it was a dollar well spent. Tim Cahill's travel writing is punchy, funny and downright irreverent in places. It is also poignant, and darkly humorous, a travel book with a difference. Peru, Africa, Austrailia and even America are discussed from his unique point of view. An especially good chapter is "Life and Love in Gorilla Country" a journey through Rwanda and the secret world of the Gorilla. It is not a sentimental chapter, it is brutal, sometimes funny but more often that not eye opening. He talks about how Gorillas have died at the hands of poachers and mentions the work of the Naturalist Dian Fossey. This travel book is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted. Also it meanders a lot, jumping from place to place, subject to subject. You have to prepared to read it as a series of essays, travel logs articles that Cahill has written over the years and then put together to make up this book. However in this case it works and it is excellent from page one onwards. If you want a read with a sting in its tail, then this is definitely the book for you.

20th Century version of Homer's Odyssey, September 18, 2000
If Cahill lived in Ancient Greece, he would be writing about encounters with the Cyclops and the Scylla and Charibdis. Maybe it's because Cahill writes about all the stuff I would do if I could quit my job and still pay the bills--exploring ruins in Peru, sea kayaking in Alaska, watching Mt. St. Helens erupt, saving the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, scuba diving with sharks, riding in a C-130 Hurricane Hunter, and living in Montana--but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While Cahill might not be as witty as my favorite travel writer, Bill Bryson, he makes up for it by writing about adventures that would make Indiana Jones quake with fear. All of this is presented in a down-to-earth style that makes you wish you could hang out and drink a few beers with the guy.

Tim Cahill is lots of fun, August 29, 2001
The best thing about Tim Cahill books, this one included, is that they are made up of perfect end-of-the-day-sized chunks that whisk you off to far points in the company of a humble but articulate and informed travelling companion. For everyone who may never spelunk, rappell, canoe down the Amazon, or face bison in mid-winter, but wishes they could!
If you liked this, you'd probably like "Pecked to Death by Ducks" even more.

"Cahill has perfected the art of the short travel essay", September 2, 2004
One of my favorites. Author of Pecked to Death By Ducks and A Wolverine is Eating My Leg, Cahill, a founder of Outside Magazine, has perfected the art of the short travel essay. There are man-eating sharks, dangerous cave diving, eating cheese in a yurt in Mongolia and all sorts of ridiculous first hand escapades all over the globe. He is brilliant and brilliantly funny. Perfect travel book to take along on a trip. If you want to learn how to write, read Cahill and pay close attention to his introductions and conclusions.

Real adventure writing with great comic relief, December 7, 1999
Cahill's books were recommended to me for some time before I read one. I just couldn't imagine that 'humorous adventure writing' was something that would appeal to me. Wrong! What is great about Cahill's pieces is that the humor is strictly at his own expense and the adventure is real. Make no mistake, this guy can really write. For example, when he ruminates about what is in store for him on a proposed dive in shark infested waters, he conjures up images of terror that any of us can relate to and then takes us to laughter with his description of his own terrified reations - which wouldn't be funny if it was US and WE were going to face the killer sharks.

These pieces are a real treat; a taste of a lifestyle that we can only dream of, and laughs that keep us from being too covetous of it. Cahill is an American original.

Well, three-and-a-half, January 6, 2000
Cahill is fun to read; not as funny as Dave Barry, and not as (what?) thoughtful or thought-provoking as John McPhee, but fun. Cahill is (or does a good job of convincing us he is!) a Regular Guy in the Dave Barry sense, but he gets paid to go to interesting places and do exciting things. He tells us what that's like in a friendly journalistic style laced with well-done humor.

One warning: the sequencing of the essays leaves something to be desired. In particular, the last four or five pieces are all rather dark and dismal contemplations of tragedy and mortality, with almost no humor. You might want to read them first, or sometime in the middle, rather than come away from the book on such a depressing note.

more climbs, strange beverages, dives, and adventures, November 21, 2000
If you are familiar with other Tim Cahill books, this contains similar stories; sky dives, sea dives, caving, climbs, and so on. It has more stories than usual about his own part of the world (Montana near Yellowstone) and lets us see in one story a strong sense of outrage at events surrounding endangered species in Mexico. If you prefer your authors to at least have strong feelings about some topics (I do), and the heck with dispassionate journalism, there's some satisfaction here.

Everything from proper approaches to mountain gorillas to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens is here, and the stories are usually quick reads. Perfect reading for those who grab their moments of reading enjoyment in blocks of 5-10 minutes in between other activities.

Can't see how it could fail to appeal.

For the Vicarious Adventurer, February 16, 2003
Cahill's writing is somewhat of an acquired taste. This is a compilation of outdoor stories which do not always seem self contained - some missing context, some missing closure. And they are not necessarily adventures in the conventional sense, as stories may focus on nature, archaeology, sociology, etc. While the book cannot be construed as an outdoor reference, there is good information (ex. "wisdom" of cave diving). Some stories hit the vicarious adventurer's sweet spot. The author is at his best in this book when relating his experience caving in Kentucky, engaging the reader with educational content (ex. barometric effect on air flow), spectacular descriptions(ex. lightening igniting bat guano), and hair raising suspense (ex. getting lost in a maze of passages). Not all of the stories held an equal level of interest for me, but they are short enough to peruse and ponder as time permits.

A adventure traveling Dave Barry, August 27, 1998
Tim Cahill is the Dave Barry of the outside world. I subcribe to "Outside" magazine just to read Cahill's articles. Most of his stuff is funny, but he is serious at times, but not for long. This book is a nice anthology of his earlier articles. If you like the outdoors and like to laugh, get this book.

interesting and hilarious, June 9, 1997
At the bookstore where I work, a customer once came in to ask for this book and asked for "Sharks Ripped off my Arms."! This is not a travelogue so much as a collection of essays, most originally published in `Outside' magazine, of which Cahill is an editor. As such, these make for interesting reading whether or not you are planning an excursion to any of the places Cahill talks about. His focus in these essays is understanding the undercurrents of place - whether he is in Montana or Peru or the Australian Outback - the culture, the history, and the complex relationships between travelers and residents. Some of the author's excursions have been downright life-threatening, such as when he and two other men went on an extended trek in the state of Chachopayas in Peru in a search for unexplored ruins. Wherever his travels take him, Cahill describes the scene with humor, intelligence and balance. This is not a tourist who expects hot showers and a McDonald's at every stop, this is a world adventurer who wants to see and experience everything he can. And then write about it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

ACCESSWalks knows the way through the City by the Bay. Fourteen tours takes listeners from the grandeur of the Golden Gate to the vertiginous vistas of the Filbert Steps; and much more. Each two-cassette audio in this series includes more than 200 destinations, an overall map of the city, and an insert sheet listing the table of contents and an index. ... Read more

Reviews

Action-packed AND clean! Wow!, October 13, 2004
This is the second book in a trilogy, and it doesn't disappoint! (The first book, Seventh Seal, was great, too!) The characters are real, interesting and I could really relate to them. It is superbly written, and the action grabs you and doesn't stop! You get to the end of the book and, after the initial burst of "No! It can't be over!", you want to immediately pick up the next book! Fortunately, the last one (Rising Storm) is FINALLY out! If you like masterful stories about interesting characters and are tired of the filthy language we often have to suffer through, then you'll like this trilogy--even if you're not "religious"!

Too complicated and violent, November 13, 2004
I was really looking forward to this sequel. I read the Seventh Seal and loved it. The Seventh Seal had a great plot and interesting characters. I especially liked Merry, one of the primary characters in The Seventh Seal. Unfortunately, Merry is mentioned only a few times in passing in this book. Too many complicated story lines are riddled with violence, hate, anger, and hopelessness. I'm not one for violence and some of the violence is described quite graphically. To be fair, I must say that the final days will probably be as wicked as they are described here. But I think I prefer not to read about the wickedness in quite so much detail. I cared about only a few of the characters in this book, and persevered to the end reluctantly. I was quite disappointed.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Welcome! is an intermediate level course for people who need to use or who are preparing to use English in their day-to-day work in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries.Welcome! is for people working or planning to work in the tourism, hospitality and travel industries. The core language skills are developed through a wide range of work-related tasks. Particular emphasis is placed on realistic and integrated communication tasks which give students the opportunity to build confidence and improve fluency.The second edition includes updated content, extensive practice in writing emails and further communication activities aimed specifically at busy professionals. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Hailed by the Washington Post as "a spontaneous act of generosity," The Road Less Traveled has already given more than two million grateful readers an inspirational framework for achieving profound personal growth and satisfaction.Now Dr. Peck, a practicing psychiatrist, reads from his extraordinary work in the first of a series of audio programs drawn from the book.Dr. Peck's crucial premise---that life is hard---is challenging for even the strongest among us, but his art lies in his ability to lead us to accept, and ultimately transcend, this idea.The key is discipline, and with Dr. Peck's assistance, you will learn to master the four principles of discipline needed for every healthy, life-affirming act:Delaying Gratification Accepting Responsibility Dedication to Reality BalancingThe Road Less Traveled is a landmark.Never before have psychological and spiritual guidance come together so powerfully.It's not the easiest road---but it is the only one worth taking.Let Dr. Peck's remarkable achievement help you find your way as you journey today, and every day of your life. ... Read more

Reviews

Good Book, November 11, 2000
I am a therapist. The two books I recommend to my clients that seem to produced lasting results are The Road Less Traveled and An Encouter With A Prophet. I also recommend both books to all of my friends and relatives.

LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST; STRIVE TO BE HAPPY!, May 3, 2001
"The Road Less Travelled" is a unique blend of psychology and spirituality; it is food for the soul and the heart. As a counsellor, I have recommended this book to clients, especially to those with addiction problems, and received very positive feedback. One comes to terms with the realization that it is not how many years we spend on this Earth that is important, it is what we do with the little time we have here that truly matters. Dream a little, laugh a lot; cry a little, love a lot. Accept life's challenges and obstacles and CHOOSE to be happy, anyway. If you think life has dealt you a bad deal, and perhaps it has, just look around and you will find others with far greater challenges than you ever imagined.

There is nothing quite so sad as one who has lost hope, or has set no personal goals or expectations. This book gives the reader a fresh insight and courage into setting goals, accepting what we cannot change and finding the courage to change what we can. One of the best ways we can overcome our own personal difficulties is to reach out and touch the hearts of those in greater need, and the world is filled with people desperately in need of understanding, love, acceptance, food, warmth, and shelter. By doing just one good thing for someone else each and every day, you will find your own life truly enriched a thousand times over.

This book provides courage to those who are afraid, hope to those in despair and strength to those who are weak. The author gives the reader much food for thought, and is bound to leave you soul searching for the true meaning and purpose of life.

Wonderful book by all means, December 16, 2000
This is a book that could change your life, like it did for me. I have read a lot of books on philosophies of life, psychology and stuff of that kind. All the books give ways to a "successful life" or even "happy life" and sorts.. but unfortunately, in practical life, most of them are very difficult or even impossible to follow. This book is different. It will NOT advise you. It will talk about life in a way that YOU will be able to analyse your own life and know what's wrong with you. And then YOU will be able to solve your own problems.

That's like a very very good psychotherapist.

The author doesn't insist that his thoughts are right. He doesn't make any apriori assumptions about the thoughts of readers. He talks a lot about God, and yet in a way that would suit fine even to blatant atheists.

Similarly, the portions on love and discipline are just fantastic. You can't deny them as being facts even if your thoughts are different.

Rather than teaching you new things, this book will lead you to self-discovery.

I definitely recommend it to everyone who can and likes to think.

The Uber-Self-Help Book, January 25, 2002
M. Scott Peck's brilliant description of the human condition is the uber-self-help book. If you want to know why the world today (and twenty some-odd years ago when the book was written) is awash with narcisists, liers, responsibility shirkers, loveless relationships, and instant gratification consumers, this is the book for you. And yes, you will find that you exhibit some symptoms of every problem he describes. But how do we combat our own weakness? He explains all. As Dr. Peck says (paraphrased), "Why do people lie? To avoid pain." Simply stated and direct, he writes with a style that exposes the elephant in the room. Every person owes it to themselves to read this book and look in the mirror. This book is not a substitute for therapy, or a spiritual guide. This book is an eye opener, to show you the way towards a healthy mind and spirit...hence the title. Highly recommended.

Informative, September 23, 2000
I am a volunteer youth minister who recently started taking counseling classes for a Master's degree. This book has been an wonderful resource to me. Peck's descriptive explanations are educational on certain behaviours, the reflective nature allows a better understanding of them. Peck allows a person to become self-reflective, to realize and accept the fact that "life is difficult." He incorporates that all of us are composed of parts to make a whole, and the need to heal the whole person.

If only common sense were truly common, October 27, 2001
I tend to avoid self-help books but the title of this one intrigued me. After reading a little of it in the book store I bought it and have not at all been disappointed. Among all the books promising secret formulas for success, in a society which reads horoscopes and seems to be the repository of all the talismans in the history of the world, it is most refreshing to read a book that dares to tell the simple truth - life ain't easy.

I most like Peck's discussion of love. True love requires a lot of work. It requires a lot of communication. The act of truly listening to someone is at one and the same time the simplest and the most difficult thing a person can do, the least and the most that can be done. There are so many people who could benefit from taking this message to heart.

Having said this, I do have some criticisms of the book. Peck does not relate his thoughts to that of others. What he says resonates with the existential idea that we create our own meanings. It would have been nice to have had a discussion of this. I also do not care for his discussion of religious grace. It is not just that I am an atheist. It is that the idea that God's love works magic is at odds with the message about the work required for love. I have also looked at some of the books that Peck wrote after this one and found them disappointing. Nevertheless I whole-heartedly recommend this work. It contains a simple morning after sobering message that society as a whole can benefit from and that I as an indvidual found very useful.

an owner's manual for the glove-compartment of the soul!, August 1, 2001
It's now creeping up on 25 years since this book first came out, but the subtitle still seems as valid as it would have been then... a NEW psychology of love, traditional values and spiritual growth. Because Peck speaks so deeply of the needs and longings that cut to the very fundamental elements of human nature, a post-millennial reader (perhaps as yet unborn in the 70's) can still find Peck's "new" insights relevant and even revolutionary. So many of the truths found here along The Road Less Travelled are timelessly true. For instance, how "timely" would be a new worldwide appreciation of Peck's definition of love, which is "the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth." The pages that follow that definition, along with his explanation of how "falling in love is invariably temporary" are in themselves worth the purchase of the book.

What kind of reader will NOT like this book? My answer would be, one who needs to think simplistically, and is in denial of the paradox that makes up nearly every day of normal adult life. This reader needs a formula, tends to think one-dimensionally... perhaps when he reads the opening sentence "Life is difficult" this type of person will think "Really? I had no idea!"

What kind of reader WILL like this book? One that knows his present day problems may require something beyond "that one thing Grandpa once told me" and someone who is willing to be attentive, to learn, to think multidimensionally. Rather than ramming his head into the sand, this person will respond to the opening sentence "Life is difficult" with something like "No kidding! Tell me about it!" The Road Less Travelled will not disappoint this second type of reader.

This Book Could Change Your Life!, July 19, 1996
One dismal day, while wallowing in the depths of despair, I came upon a wonderful saviour: "The Road Less Travelled" by M. Scott Peck. This is the only comprehensive and thought provoking psychology of love, life, and spiritualism I've ever encountered. Every other book I've ever read on the subject has been completely irrational, preachy, unwavering, or worse. M. Scott Peck has struck a delicate balance between guiding the reader and letting the reader guide herself. The concepts covered in this book ring true universally, and the exploration of self that is the result of having read this book is nothing short of spectacular. A must-read

Perceptive, but Needs Updating, January 4, 2002
Dr. Peck is an acute observer of human nature, and backs up his case with powerful case studies. His points about love being an act of willed generosity and attention to another still resonate twenty years plus after the book's publication.

That said, it could use some updating to incorporate some social changes off the last twenty years. There's a particularly discordant note struck about midway through, when, unless I'm misunderstanding something, Peck suggests that the moment "the passive homosexual gathers the courage to ask a girl on a date" represents some kind of courage. This is at odds with the book's message of self-acceptance, honesty and getting together the guts to live your life.

There's a reason this book makes some people uncomfortable!, September 13, 1998
Scott Peck defines how it is possible to embrace all of humanity and restore peace on the planet. Through his definition of love, we are guided toward the ultimate good whether we are Christian, Jew, Buddhist, etc. Of course, what this means is that we must accept the challenge of letting go of judgment and ego. The blame for all our ills as well as the ills of society ultimately resides on the ability of the individual to love. A powerful book with a message for mankind. Don't read it to relax, though; read it to rethink, renew and recommit to fulfilling the call for peace. ... Read more