Book Description
Known at various times as "Abu Sindi", "Timothy Sean McCormick", "Saro", and "Commander Avo", Monte Melkonian was denounced in Europe as an international terrorist, while his adopted homeland of Armenia decorated him as a national hero who led a force of 4,000 men to victory in Azerbaijan. Markar Melkonian spent seven years unravelling the mystery of his brother's road: a journey which began in his ancestors' town in Turkey and led to a blood-splattered square in Tehran, the Kurdish mountains, the bomb-pocked streets of Beirut, and finally, to the windswept heights of mountainous Karabagh. Monte's life embodied the agony and the follies of the end of the Cold War and the unraveling of the Soviet Union. Yet, who was this man, really? A terrorist or a hero? My Brother's Road is not just the story of a long journey and a short life, it is an attempt to understand what happens when one man decides that violent deeds speak louder than words
Customer Reviews:
A great book.......2007-02-22
This is a great book. The book is easy to read and has all the information on Monte from the day he was born all the way to his death. It tells us how Monte gave his life to the Armenian nation. After reading the book I sent a thank you later to his brother for writing the book. This is a must read for anybody who is intereted in Armenian Heroes.
Honest, Moving and Introspective.......2006-04-07
The above title are three words that come to mind after reading My Brother's Road. Markar Melkonian puts a human face on an "American-Armenian" legend, noting not only his brother's amazing accomplishments, but also his failings. Never-the-less, this book confirmed the fact that Monte Melkonian deserves the title of a national hero. His selfless ways and unstoppable drive for a cause bigger than himself are deliniated in the context of historical events. In short, one cannot help but admire Monte Melkonian while reading this book.
I thank Makar Melkonian for producing this fitting text about his brother, a revered son of Armenia.
What a great man, who sacrificed so much for his people.......2006-02-28
I really dont know what else to say. This book details his constant resolve to better the Armenian cause. Though it involves conflicts with other Armenians, his focus is for the Armenian nation (past, during the cold war, present, and future).
He literally gave his life for the Armenian people. Though drawn into political conflicts, he was clearly an apolitical nationalist, and a true hero. May God bless his memory, and his brother, who wrote this book.
I thank Monte and Markar for teaching me so much about Armenian history. Like you, Monte, I am reborn and my spirit will rise up like a phoenix. I am more an Armenian, having learned of your life. You gave yourself for (our) my future, and I will always honor you for it.
It's never as simple as you've been taught.......2006-01-31
In reading My Brother's Road, one can't help being made aware of the inevitable reciprocity of history. Monte, and others like him, were modern-day Maccabees, that cultural paradox of virtue and brutality, ideological fervor and compassion. To his added credit, Markar does not shy away from discussing the hard realities of the NKR conflict. In the end, that kind of honesty is the least his brother would have required.
A MUST READ!.......2005-12-29
Every Armenian and non-Armenian alike should pick up this book and read it.
Book Description
Winner of the 1989 National Book Award for nonfiction, this extraordinary bestseller is still the most incisive, thought-provoking book ever written about the Middle East. Thomas L. Friedman, twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting, and now the Foreign Affairs columnist on the op-ed page of the New York Times, drew on his ten years in the Middle East to write a book that The Wall Street Journal called "a sparkling intellectual guidebook... an engrossing journey not to be missed." Now with a new chapter that brings the ever-changing history of the conflict in the Middle East up to date, this seminal historical work reaffirms both its timeliness and its timelessness. "If you're only going to read one book on the Middle East, this is it." -- Seymour Hersh. "From Beirut To Jerusalem is the most intelligent and comprehensive account one is likely to read." -- New York Times Book Review.
Download Description
Winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction, this extraordinary bestseller is still the most incisive, thought-provoking book ever written about the Middle East. Thomas L. Friedman, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Foreign Affairs Columnist for The New York Times, drew on his extensive experience in the region to write a book that The Wall Street Journal called "a sparkling intellectual guidebook . . . an engrossing journey not to be missed." As the conflict in the Middle East continues unabated, this seminal historical work reaffirms both its timeliness and its timelessness.
Customer Reviews:
From Beirut to Jerusalem.......2007-09-17
Best intellectual book on the Middle East that exists. Friedman is an experienced, thoughtful genius. A must read.
Still relevant.......2007-08-29
Tom Friedman occupies a unique place in the American Foreign Policy establishment elite. Not since Walter Lippman has the voice of a journalist been more influential in Washington DC. "From Beirut to Jerusalem" was his first foray into full-length treatment on critical international issues -- and it is still his best. Moreover, although it was written two decades ago and during a very different time, it is still incredibly relevant to current events.
What makes Friedman's narrative so powerful is his liberal use of personal anecdotes from his time as a New York Times coorespondent in the Middle East in the early 1980s. The story crackles with life as Friedman reconstructs the events of the Lebanonese civil war and Palestinian intifada from a broad spectrum of perspectives, from ultra-ortodox rabbis to American Jewish peace activists, Yasir Arafat and Palestinian schoolchildren, Washington policymakers and enlisted Marines. Friedman's description of life as a journalist at Beirut's Commodore Hotel is especially noteworthy and, on occasion, hilarious.
At the core of Friedman's analysis is the contrast between American naivete and the almost primordial savagery of tribal relations endemic to the Middle East. Friedman uses "Hama Rules" (after Syrian president Hafez al-Assad's brutal 1982 repression of a nascent Muslim Brotherhood insurgency in the Syrian city of Hama) as short-hand for the nature of power politics that shaped the flow of events in the region during his time there. The common demoninator in group identification is religion (by sect and by clan) and the gravest sin is to show weakness to your enemies. Friedman argues that the Reagan administration completely failed to understand this fundamental nature to life in Lebanon in the early 1980s when they committed Marines to help bolster the newly elected Maronite Christian president Gemayel, who was, in fact, more the leader of the Phalangist militia than true representative leader of the polyglot country.
Interestingly, Friedman writes that Israeli leaders often make the same mistakes as the US about the region, although some Israelis, such as Ariel Sharon, understand Hama Rules and act accordingly. Friedman describes the Israeli army reaction to the kaleidoscopic factional environment they found in Lebanon after their 1982 invasion as quite similar to the US army experience upon entering Baghdad in 2003.
Indeed, comparisons to Iraq are what struck me most when reading this book. After reading "From Beirut to Lebanon," I was amazed how optimistic Friedman was about the Iraq invasion in early 2003. He was relatively supportive of the war -- a position most likely held out of a deep desire and hope that it would succeed in bringing democracy to the Middle East, a position he passionately promotes, rather than any reasoned belief that the mixed Iraqi population would welcome a new US-installed regime. The civil war in Lebanon in many ways mirrors the intense factionalism of warfare in Iraq where religious identification -- Maronite, Druse, Shiite -- defines the membership of warring militias and undermines any attempt to use a national army to provide stability and bolster a central regime.
Many of the details about the war in Lebanon or the intifada make the book feel outdated, but the central underpinnings of conflict and discord in the region so lucidly explained by Friedman will not change anytime soon. The reader gets a sense of division and pure hatred that divides the people of that troubled land and seem to guarantee that the "peace process" is a meaningless charade.
Friedman's habitual "cuteness" thankfully absent here.......2007-06-28
As of this writing, 168 reviewers have reviewed this book, so I will be brief. Thomas Friedman, for all his real acumen and gifts with language (both spoken and written) tends to be cute or trite too much for comfort. That said, this book suffers from precious little of this. It is definitely in the genre of "New Journalism" now quite old, where the reporter is part of the story, maybe even the story itself at times, but this does not detract from the boldness of this work in the form of its written style, which is free, easy, yet complex, handling each topic with a certain grace and style and formal beauty. Friedman brings a complex topic to a general audience without sacrificing nuance (in fact, this is his main thrust) to show both Lebanon and Israel as cultures of almost impossibly subtle nuance, where small difference of sects and creeds can be the difference between war and peace, bliss and pain
Just not very good at all........2007-06-08
The writing wasn't terrible, but it certainly wasn't good either. Much of the book read as if it was filler and stories he heard from someone else. The author's account of his time in Beirut was not informative and rather bland. I have read other accounts that really go in depth into either the political, military or personal experiences of those on the ground, but this book did not add anything to what's been written. His analysis of the Beirut conflicts left much to be desired.
I remember a part of the book where Friedman writes about his time in the Commodore Hotel and how this hotel was the place to be for any journalist in Beirut, and then reading Robert Fisk's Pity the Nation where he talks about all the hack journalists hiding out in the Commodore writing their stories from second hand accounts instead of going out and reporting the story with their own accounts. I don't know if Fisk was right, but I thought his book was much better than Friedman's.
I did find his writing on Israel to be informative (still bland though). His analysis of the psychology of the Israeli people I found to be highly insightful, and it gave me a perspective which I had never seen before. The only way to understand the Israeli people is to try and understand how the Holocaust and being surrounded by hostile people has affected their national psyche. The Israeli perspective was the best thing I took away from this book, but not even this was able to redeem the work for me.
One of the reasons I like reading reporter's books is that they are usually well written, entertaining and written with a passion or flare that the academics usually lack. This book had none of that. I felt bored and found myself having to concentrate pretty hard to stay in touch with what I was reading. I would have been fine with the shoddy writing had the analysis or the history been better but it just wasn't. There are just many books out there that treat the subject with much more competency.
If you're looking for a good book to learn more about this topic, keep looking.
The Middle East Illuminated.......2007-06-05
Tom Friedman is a master at using charming, funny and fascinating anecdotes to illustrate broad historic events and cultural phenomena. His grasp of history is profound, and his observations are always spot on. The events he describes in this book may, indeed, be limited to only a very small part of the planet, but the human dynamics involved are universal and have profound implications for us all.
Amazon.com
The Mekong region, which extends south from China through Laos and Thailand to Cambodia and Vietnam, offers extraordinary food. Hot Sour Salty Sweet, which takes its name from the principal taste sensations of the region's cooking, provides an unparalleled culinary journey through this fertile land. Though the book contains a wealth of anecdotal material, its great strength lies in its 175 recipes, explicit formulas for the likes of Shrimp in Hot Lime Leaf Broth, Lao Yellow Rice and Duck, and Hui Beef Stew with Chick Peas and Anise. The breadth and substance of this authentic yet approachable collection is truly exciting; readers who cook from the book (not difficult to do once ingredients are assembled and techniques understood), as well as those searching for the best kind of armchair travel, will be delighted.
Beginning with a discussion of the Mekong region, its people (a complicated mix, among them the Kai, Akha, and Cham), and their characteristic foods, the book then provides recipes organized by ingredients, dish types, and topics such as "Everyday Dependable," "One-Dish Meals," "Kids Like It," and "Vegetarian Options." This latter style of division helps define and "domesticate" a vast array of cooking, often enjoyed at times and places foreign to Westerners. Chapters devoted to such sweets as Tapioca and Corn Pudding with Coconut Cream, grilled specialties, and fare for adventurous cooks, such as Aromatic Steamed Fish Curry (more painstaking technically, though not truly difficult) further widen the book's scope. Illustrated throughout with 150 color photos and containing a comprehensive ingredient glossary, the book is a definitive point of entry to a mostly unexplored culinary port of call. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
Luminous at dawn and dusk, the Mekong is a river road, a vibrant artery that defines a vast and fascinating region. Here, along the world's tenth largest river, which rises in Tibet and joins the sea in Vietnam, traditions mingle and exquisite food prevails.
Award-winning authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid followed the river south, as it flows through the mountain gorges of southern China, to Burma and into Laos and Thailand. For a while the right bank of the river is in Thailand, but then it becomes solely Lao on its way to Cambodia. Only after three thousand miles does it finally enter Vietnam and then the South China Sea.
It was during their travels that Alford and Duguid—who ate traditional foods in villages and small towns and learned techniques and ingredients from cooks and market vendors—came to realize that the local cuisines, like those of the Mediterranean, share a distinctive culinary approach: Each cuisine balances, with grace and style, the regional flavor quartet of hot, sour, salty, and sweet. This book, aptly titled, is the result of their journeys.
Like Alford and Duguid's two previous works, Flatbreads and Flavors ("a certifiable publishing event" —Vogue) and Seductions of Rice ("simply stunning"—The New York Times), this book is a glorious combination of travel and taste, presenting enticing recipes in "an odyssey rich in travel anecdote" (National Geographic Traveler).
The book's more than 175 recipes for spicy salsas, welcoming soups, grilled meat salads, and exotic desserts are accompanied by evocative stories about places and people. The recipes and stories are gorgeously illustrated throughout with more than 150 full-color food and travel photographs.
In each chapter, from Salsas to Street Foods, Noodles to Desserts, dishes from different cuisines within the region appear side by side: A hearty Lao chicken soup is next to a Vietnamese ginger-chicken soup; a Thai vegetable stir-fry comes after spicy stir-fried potatoes from southwest China.
The book invites a flexible approach to cooking and eating, for dishes from different places can be happily served and eaten together: Thai Grilled Chicken with Hot and Sweet Dipping Sauce pairs beautifully with Vietnamese Green Papaya Salad and Lao sticky rice.
North Americans have come to love Southeast Asian food for its bright, fresh flavors. But beyond the dishes themselves, one of the most attractive aspects of Southeast Asian food is the life that surrounds it. In Southeast Asia, people eat for joy. The palate is wildly eclectic, proudly unrestrained. In Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet, at last this great culinary region is celebrated with all the passion, color, and life that it deserves.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful.......2006-08-17
This was given to me by a good friend. I love to cook, and over the years have struggled with South East asian, Thai in particular, cooking. But this book lays it all out in such a way, and has such clear instructions that, in combination with an asian grocery store, it is foolproof. As a bonus, the travelogues and side bars are wonderfully interesting. Even if you don't cook, you will be taken away on a wonderful culinary journey through the region.
Some issues with book.......2006-07-12
Pondering on whether to return book or not. Purchased for Cambodian recipes, having a hard time finding a Cambodian cookbook, this was the best bet = and it does have dishes for things we ate like Khmer soup, pumpkin curry and a similar version to Amok. (oddly i have the amok recipe in my New York Cookbook, a favorite standby)
But as an avid photographer and traveler and cookbook collector, i have to say the travel writing is amateurish, the photos are not great (a mini picture of Angkor wat and i don't think i saw many pictures of places i'd been to in thailand or vietnam - just street scenes - what kind of travelogue is this?) and never seem to match the right page (you would think there would be a photo of what you are reading about next to it) and the pictures of dishes are far and few between. For the huge irregular book format of the book there are not that many recipes. Compare for example "the Cook's Book" for the same heft has 685 recipes.. Compare with Nobu Now for the difference in food photography capability..
if many of these reviews didn't say the recipes are good they are part of daily repetoire, i'm tempted to return. it really is way to big for the content inside.
Very Good Coffee Table Book. Good recipes, but expensive.......2005-12-31
`Hot Sour Salty Sweet' by husband and wife team, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid is a troublesome book to evaluate. Its biggest problem is its relatively high list price ($45) for no more than average culinary content. Much of that inflated price is based on its oversized heft and the fact that it mixes cooking content with comments on culinary regionalism and pure travelogue in text and pictures.
I confess that this is a very attractive book, very similar in appearance to their later volume, `Home Baking' that I enjoyed and very favorably reviewed. And, since the authors have just come out with a new book with similar heft, price, and subject, I figured it was time to attend to reviewing this volume.
Aside from the price, I have one major problem with this book. While its focus is the culinary world of Southeast Asia, the text is far more anecdotal and personal than it is analytical. After reviewing many excellent books on the regional cooking of France, Italy, and other parts of the Mediterranean, I really find this book very thin on substance. Part of the problem for me may be that it tries to cover far too great an area. In 324 pages of material, they cover Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Yunnan Province of China. Thailand alone has required a 675 page book (`Thai Food') from David Thompson. And, on the ingredients of Asia, you can get a far more comprehensive coverage in Bruce Cost's classic `Asian Ingredients'.
In contrast, the books on Italy's regions all include great insights on the origins of culinary mores in these relatively small venues. And, while Arthur Schwartz' book on Naples may include 50 detailed recipes for pasta in Campania, this book gives but 10 for a much larger region. On the other hand, I give the authors extra credit for providing a recipe for fresh, homemade rice noodles. You may have a bit of a problem wrangling this big book around your kitchen and making a decent photocopy of the oversized page, but it is still a good recipe.
If you have no interest whatsoever in acquiring any OTHER books on Southeast Asian cuisine and you have the budget for it, this is a very nice book. I just think that if you are serious about learning about food, you look for books with greater depth and less fluff.
I find it very interesting that none of the blurbs on the back of the book refer to this volume and none are from culinary notables. All refer to the authors' earlier book on flatbreads and most come from general publications such as `The New York Times' and `The Globe and Mail'.
I can really appreciate all the nice things other reviewers have said about this book, as I was impressed with it when I first looked at it 300 cookbook recipes ago. Since then, I find it just a bit too light for the price.
Recommended as a good coffee table book. Look for it at a steep discount!
This literary and culinary triumph is a ticket to SE Asia........2005-06-20
Of the dozen cookbooks I own, this remains my favorite. Mr. Alfrod and Mrs. Duguid bring the sights, sounds and smells of the Mekong river alive with excellent prose, assisted by photos from their travels. I have made about half the recipes in this book, and they are excellent. As the authors mention, their children love it, and I can believe it. Some ingredients and techniques are unusual, but the detailed instructions and indexes make it easy to get into SE Asian cooking. Some days I end up reading a few dozen pages when a just meant to pick a simple recipe. It is as delicious to enjoy in the study as in the dinning room!
Like Southeast Asian Food? Get this book!.......2005-06-18
I have been cooking food from Southeast Asia for over 15 years, so I have quite a cookbook collection. I must say that this is one of the best books on the subject that I own. They got it right in the title: hot, sour, salty, sweet---the combination of flavors used all over Southeast Asia. Great information for beginner or seasoned cook. And, wonderful, authentic recipes to boo! A must have for anyone interested in cooking food from this area of the world. ---Rev. Jeff, www.revjeff.com
Book Description
One man's irreverent and insightful chronicle of his journey into the Arab World.
The deejay put on a James Brown remix, and the club went nuts again. Everyone started singing in English, and people climbed up on all the club's tables and chairs to shake their hipsÃ-On my way home at 4:00 a.m. (the club was still hopping when I left), I couldn't help thinking about all these wealthy Jordanians and Palestinians, dressed in American and European labels, dancing and singing to American music with such sheer joy. . . . As far as I know, there isn't a word in Arabic for "longing for America," but that is what this night, this scene, and this club seemed to be about.--from Live from Jordan
On the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, 27-year old Pittsburgh native and grad student Benjamin Orbach traveled to Amman, Jordan, in search of answers. Young, confident, and optimistic, Orbach anointed himself America's secret diplomatic weapon. He was finishing a degree in Middle Eastern studies, had a working knowledge of Arabic, and possessed the determination to "negotiate a peace treaty."
He also had no place to live, little money, and no friends to speak of in Jordan. As Ben Orbach spent his first few days in the Middle East in search of a hot shower, the address of his new flat, and a decent haircut, he began to discover something much more important. In the cafes and salons, and on the buses and streets of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and Turkey, he found conflicted, curious, and multilayered people who had more to teach him than he ever imagined. From bustling bazaars to an underground brothel, Live from Jordan is the incredible story, told via his eloquent, compassionate, and irreverent letters home, of Orbach's 13-month journey through the Middle East.
Through Orbach's eyes, we begin to see a world where nothing is quite what it seems, a world that is more intricate than what is portrayed in 30-second sounds bites on American television. We meet people like Sundos, a Jordan University freshman who digs surfing the Internet, and Fadi, his sensitive, passionate Palestinian flatmate, who belts out the lyrics of Mariah Carey songs and decries the policies of George Bush. From the privileged young clubbers of Amman to the beleaguered workers who cram themselves into buses every day in search of a meager salary, we begin to see the Middle East as it really is.
As he travels from the throbbing streets of Cairo to the friendly living rooms of ordinary people in Jordan, Ben Orbach offers an honest, balanced portrait of a region in turmoil. Engaging, witty, and evocative, Live from Jordan is a myth-breaking book that transports us to a world that is more multifaceted, more beautiful, and more seductive than many of us have ever imagined.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent "on the ground" account of the Middle East.......2007-09-27
This book is an excellent account of everyday life in Jordan and Egypt, as well as an account of the history, politics and economics of the region. I visited Jordan before this book was published. I wish I would have had it before I went, especially for the perspectives of the Palestinians in Jordan. Highly recommended!
Entertaining and educational.......2007-09-16
I found Live from Jordan to be entertaining and educational. Orbach does an excellent job providing a first hand account of his experiences in the Middle East. He provides great insight into daily life in the region as well as the complex issues and nuances faced in his daily travels. Orbach's stories are well detailed and often humorous making for an enlightening and enjoyable read.
Its approach and presentation are winning........2007-07-09
Any collection strong in modern Middle East issues and studies, whether it be at the college level for sociology courses or in public library holdings, will find LIVE FROM JORDAN: LETTERS HOME FROM MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE MIDDLE EAST to be a winner. On the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq the Pittsburgh native and grad student Benjamin Orbach traveled to Amman, Jordan to finish a degree in Middle Eastern studies. He had no place to live, little money, and no friends in the region - and through his 13-month series of journeys he discovered a land and people not ordinarily presented through media reporter's eyes. Any who would really learn about the Middle East must have LIVE FROM JORDAN: its approach and presentation are winning.
Surprisingly Good Read.......2007-07-05
Being half Arabic, I was skeptical before I picked up the book because I assumed it would be written with a tone in which I wouldn't agree. However, what I found was an insightful novel that was both funny and thought-provoking.
Mr. Orbach writes in a wonderful tone that brings his experiences to life while doing an amazing job explaining the perceptions surrounding the situation in the Middle East - from all sides.
I highly recommend this book as an enjoyable travel read and as a remarkably understandable historical and social account of events in the Middle East.
Travalog as Contrivance for US fForeign Policy.......2007-06-24
Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey
Through the Middle East by Benjamin Orbach
My criteria for liking a book are to meld content
and style. I finally came upon a book that is ostensibly a travelogue but really is a very good discovery of the complexity of the peoples of Arabia, particularly the people of "the Arab street" in Damascus, Amman and Cairo. The peoples have differing cultures, language dialects and are still pulled by tribal instinct.
Mr. Orbach shows that the populations of these
countries are extremely variegated - to the extent
that US foreign policy decision-makers cannot make glib pronouncements on the basis of "truth, justice and the American way."
Victims of exploitative colonialism and greedy
dictators, the common people seem unremarkably passive, with a predilection for regime change if not for revolution. The internet, among other things, has brought: other visions to the common folk; experiences of freedom of thought; and the materialistic comforts as the result of their enterprise.
The spark to ignite the lethal explosive between them and the dictator seems not too far off. And yet, the common people may not have a palatable solution for the Israeli's or Jews. Indeed, the author feared identifying himself as a Jew, thinking it enough of a shock that an American was in their midst - who even spoke their own Arabic dialect.
We learn the living conditions, the oppressive work and the little time for "fun." It makes me wonder what will occur when nation building is accomplished. What type of government overthrow will occur and what role will the United State play in regime change, if any at all?
All in all, this book is well worth the read to
sensitize the Western reader that the "Arabs" are
not a monolithic body, all of whom are terrorists.
Art Finkle
Book Description
Bruce Feiler recently reprised the journey through the Holy Land that led to his breakthrough bestseller Walking the Bible––this time he took along a documentary film crew. The result will be a heavily marketed PBS series in January 2006 and a lush illustrated book, WALKING THE BIBLE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY.
One part adventure story, one part archaeological detective work, one part spiritual exploration, WALKING THE BIBLE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY is a fascinating, unprecedented journey––by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel––through the most famous stories ever told. The combination of beautiful photography and Feiler's evocative prose will irresistibly draw readers into the Holy Land. In these pages the biblical landscape comes alive as Feiler treks though Turkey, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Sinai, and Jordan visiting the actual places where some of history's most famous events took place, from the mountain where Noah's ark landed to the site of the legendary burning bush. He visits the desert outpost in Turkey where Abraham first heard the words of God and sleeps on the summit where Moses overlooked the Promised Land.
Customer Reviews:
beautiful photographs.......2007-01-16
We bought this book for my father-in-law. My husband was skeptical because he wasn't sure he would have the time to read a book. My 8-year-old daughter looked through the whole book before we wrapped it, exclaming on just about every page, "Oh, this is so beautiful!" and then said, "This will be okay for Grandad, it's mostly pictures." He did seem to like it on Christmas Day
Beautiful.......2007-01-11
This book is a great companion to Walking the Bible book or CD set
A striking visual panorama, not to be missed........2007-01-07
WALKING THE BIBLE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY could also have been featured in our Spirituality section: it's reviewed here for its striking photo impact so that artists don't miss the value of its presentation. It's a companion volume to the new PBS series on its way: in 2004 Feiler reprised the 10,000 mile walk through the Middle East deserts which led to his WALKING THE BIBLE. This photographic odyssey blends stunning photos - many taken by Feiler - with a survey of Biblical places and landscapes. A striking visual panorama, not to be missed.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
A beautiful walk.......2006-11-06
This is a real walk through the holy land especially if you can't get there.
Walking the Bible.......2006-11-04
Intellectually written with attention to spiritual doctrines. Page turning photos kept the reader at once connected to the readings.
Amazon.com
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses is the story of Bruce Feiler's 10,000-mile trek from Mount Ararat to Mount Nebo, undertaken for reasons he did not understand at the outset and accompanied by a companion who was very nearly a stranger. In the book's first chapter, in characteristically understated style, Feiler suggests a viable parallel to his journey:
Abraham was not originally the man he became. He was not an Israelite, he was not a Jew. He was not even a believer in God--at least initially. He was a traveler, called by some voice not entirely clear that said: Go, head to this land, walk along this route, and trust what you will find.
Feiler, a fifth-generation American Jew from the South, had felt no particular attachment to the Holy Land. Yet during his journey, Feiler's previously abstract faith grew more grounded. ("I began to feel a certain pull from the landscape.... It was a feeling of gravity. A feeling that I wanted to take off all my clothes and lie facedown in the soil.") Feiler's attentiveness, intelligence, and adventurousness enliven every page of this book. And the lessons he learned about the relationship between place and the spirit will be useful for readers of every religious tradition that finds its origins in the Bible. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
Feeling disconnected from the religious community he had known as a child, Bruce Feiler set out on a perilous, 10,000–mile journey across the Middle East to discover the roots of the Bible. Traveling through three continents, five countries, and four war zones, Feiler is the first person ever to complete such a journey. Camping in the desert, crossing the Red Sea, climbing Mt. Sinai, and interviewing bedouin and pilgrims alike, Feiler attempts to answer the question: Is the Bible just an abstraction, some book gathering dust, or is it a living, breathing entity with relevance to contemporary life? Along with prominent Israeli archaeologist Avner Goren, Feiler treks though Turkey, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Sinai, and Jordan visiting the actual places where some of history's most famous events took place, from the mountain where Noah's ark landed (Feiler meets a man who claims to have found the ark) to the site of the legendary burning bush. He visits the desert outpost in Turkey where Abraham first heard the words of God and sleeps (illegally) on the summit where Moses overlooked the Promised Land. In each place, he gathers the latest archaeological research about the site and sits down to read the stories in their natural surroundings. With vivid, lively prose, he explores how geography affects the larger narrative of the Bible and ultimately realizes how much these places––and his experience––have affected his faith.
Customer Reviews:
Geography 101-Old Testament Style.......2007-09-22
First my background, 18 years of Catholic school education; mostly all the New Testament. If you are looking for an interpretation of the Bible this book is not for you. Feiler describes the land which Moses traveled through leaving Egypt and finding the Promised Land. His description of the locations are awesome. The travel through Sinai, the desert, St. Catherines Monastary, the people he meets along the way. The people he meets I feel add so much to the book. There are many different views on what this land represents and Feiler seems to have found people with different views but at days end everyone seems to be on the same page. I throughly enjoyed this book and I find my self picking it up and re-reading different section.
One of the sections I found most interesting is on page 404, Feiler meets a man who is both a pastor and archaeologist. This man's view is the Bible has divine activity behind it but does not believe every detail is true (it can't be) but the details are not important but the lessons it teach are important. The family he meets in Jordan (with the land rover), that man's point of view very interesting. Who would not love to visit this part of the world, Petra, Mount Sinai, etc. Many referneces are made to TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and his love of the desert but you can't possess it, Lawrence had to leave so did Feiler. The book has made me do further research other things, time lines, people mentioned, etc. Very interesting book for people who enjoy religion and that part of the world.
A Magic Carpet Ride Through The Bible.......2007-06-13
"Walking The Bible" takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through the lands in which the Pentateuch was acted out. Following his own quest, Author Bruce Feiler tries to identify the places at which the Patriarchs of Israel and their successors down to Moses struggled to follow the guidance of God through their journeys of life. Although a Jew primarily interested in the Books of Moses, he frequently includes references to the places and events of significance in or to the life of Jesus.
Feiler approaches the topic through many avenues. He tries to identify the places, understand the world of Biblical times and learn about the Bible from the people who live on the land, both those drawn there by their interest in the Bible and those who naturally follow the ways of life lived by the Patriarchs. Throughout this journey, Feiler gradually absorbs the truth of the Bible, rather than directly learning them.
Along his journey his companion, Avner, a renowned Israeli archeologist, points out significant points and explains the subtleties which facilitate Feiler's understanding of what he is seeing. Throughout their travels through Turkey, Israel, Gaza, Egypt and Jordan, Feiler and Avner stop and read the portions of the Bible pertaining to the areas being visited.
Throughout the trip, Feiler engages people along the way in discussions about what the Bible means to them and how it affects their lives. Much of the book consists of his own thinking and philosophizing about what it all means. The author is obviously on a search for something which he finds in the land, the people, but most of all, in himself.
I found this book to be fascinating. As a Christian, it helped me gain a greater understanding of the stories of the Old Testament. While it helped clear up some questions, it opened up new ones, like, "How is it that the three great Monotheistic religions all arose out of the same desert area of the Middle East?' That one will take some reflection.
Absolutely fascinating!.......2007-05-22
I couldn't stop reading this book. Bruce Feiler makes it seem as though the reader is there every step of the way. The history is fascinating, the writing is intriguing, the journey is amazing.
Absolutely Beautiful.......2006-11-15
Bruce Feiler writes in a way that pulls you into the story, takes you along the journey of the patriarchs, Joseph, and Moses. He questions a lot of tradition and applies it to himself and all the people he meets along the way. His guide seems to know a great wealth and only adds understanding to the story - a pure joy to read.
I have been waiting for a book that describes the Bible in a realistic sense. After all, these humans are just humans. Maybe a little significant in the least, but just people nonetheless. Too bad Feiler hasn't written for other parts of the Bible! Highly recommended for all scholars and readers of the Pentateuch.
I felt the absence of studied Christians and Muslims..........2006-11-05
Feiler is an American Jew and a journalist who, fascinated by the land involved in the Pentateuch (the first part of the Hebrew Bible), undertakes a months-long trek from Turkey to Jordan (Mount Nebo, where Moses was shown the promised land) at times in the company of a learned Israeli archeologist. He admits that he is not `religious' (in the heavy zealous sort of way) but that he feels a pull to the land of the biblical personages, Moses, Abraham, and Jacob, for example. His trip takes him through the Middle Eastern countries of the bible and he examines for the reading the various aspects of the geography he is exploring and the relationship the geography has with the legends, stories, and archeology of the biblical period.
Although I was keen to read this book, having lived in Jordan, I was a little disappointed with the uneven nature with which Feiler dealt with various people depending on their own religions. It was clever that the Jews he interacted with were generally intellectually religious - basing their faith on study and scientific knowledge (like the archeologist) whereas the Christians and Muslims with whom he interacted were identified as sometimes zealous but without any intellectual base - simple people. He was careful not to mock them but I very much felt the absence of studied Christians and Muslims.
Although his travelogue is quite interesting and some of the historical information he provided was quite thought provoking, the book simply did not move me. It was more like reading someone's diary and since I have seen many of the places he describes, I found that our reactions and experiences were different enough so as to leave me hesitant to `buy-in' to his view of an issue or a place.
Lastly, while a good book for the general American public who is unaware of the rich history of the lands he traveled, I agree whole-heartedly with the reviewer who wrote, "(Feiler) also can't resist flashing an 'Admire Me' sign every time he's been 'enlightened' -- and these breakthroughs occur with rather exhausting frequency."
Book Description
In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.
As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.
An Egyptian woman's "richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism." --The New York Times Book Review
Customer Reviews:
Lifesaver!!.......2007-10-05
I needed this book for a course I'm taking, and not one local bookstore had it in stock. I logged on to trusty Amazon, ordered it, and had it in my hands (with assigned reading completed) before my next class. The memoir itself had started pretty slowly (alot of Egyptian history), but has taken off quite nicely.
Leila Ahmed is a great writer!.......2006-12-26
I enjoyed very much reading this book. The level of description used is capable of transporting you to Leila's birthplace and enjoy her life's journey. This book reads like a novel even though it is a biography. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Pre- and Post-Nasser era in Egypt and how it affected the Egyptian middle class of the time. Another book about Egypt during that era I would recommend is Samia Serag El-din's The Cairo House. Happy reading!
I relate to this book on so many levels...........2005-01-26
I wasn't sure what I would find when I chose this book. But Dr. Ahmed's thoughts on creating her identity and the societal forces that crafted her upbringing are astounding. Her tale of defining herself as a woman, an Egyptian, an Arab, a Muslim, and an American resonated very deeply with me.....
An eye opening account of what it means to be a Muslim.......2003-12-17
I thought that this book was amazing. I've read many books about Islam but I think that this book actually gave me a sense of what it means to be a Muslim. Sometimes when reading about religions we often only get an overview of the practices and beliefs of a religion but we rarely hear from believers of a particular religion and how they incorporate the beliefs of their religion into their everyday lives. For me, it was also interesting to read about Egypt during the 40's and 50's because it was something I have never studied before. It was interesting to see the religious diversity in Eygpt and how quickly that all changed with the rise of Nasser. Another thing I had never realized that Egyptians practically had the title Arab forced upon them, but most would never otherwise identify themselves as Arab. I think this book really exposed me to a world and a lifestyle that I had never known existed, and I think this is a must read for anyone who is open to seeing a new perspective on their world.
A Border Passage.......2003-12-15
A Border Passage by Leila Ahmed is an interesting book and definitely worth your time. Within this book Ahmed confront issues of colonialism and differences between the Islam of women and that of men. The story is written as an autobiography as Ahmed recounts her childhood. The juxtaposition of the Egypt and England, where she goes to school, illuminates considerations of post-colonial loss of identity. A book that I strongly recommend for anyone interested in learning more about Islam.
Book Description
This magnificent book accompanies a spectacular exhibition devoted to the artistic and cultural riches of the Turkic-speaking peoples. Essays by leading scholars trace Turkic history and cultural development, while works of art ranging from painting and sculpture to textiles, metalwork, and ceramics reflect the artistic influences that the Turks assimilated, from their early nomadic wanderings to the glories produced during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent. The book takes the reader on a breathtaking journey from the eastern border of modern China to the Balkans in the west.
Illustrated with more than 500 works, Turks is a landmark publication. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the turbulent but vivid history of the Turkic-speaking peoples. AUTHOR BIO: Filiz Çagman is director of the Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul. Nazan Ölçer is director of the Sakip Sabanci Museum, Istanbul. David Roxburgh is a professor of Islamic art at Harvard University.
Customer Reviews:
Ottoman (turkish) Art.......2005-10-16
This book shows the Ottoman Art of more than 1000 years. It is not only the Turkish culture, but the whole Turk culture described by the author.
Various paintings, sculptures, ceramics, etc are also shown in this wonderful book of Turk Art. The emphasis is on Ottoman Art with its heigth of Süleyman the Magnificent in the 17th century.
Book Description
Documentary evidence of Jesus' 17-year journey to the East.
The Gospels do not say where Jesus was between the age of 12 and 30. But ancient Buddhist manuscripts say Jesus left Palestine and traveled to India, Nepal, Ladakh and Tibet during the "lost years." For the first time, Prophet brings together the eyewitness accounts of four people who have seen these remarkable manuscripts--plus three variant translations of the texts. Illustrated with maps, drawings and 79 photos.
Customer Reviews:
A fascinating collection of forgeries and tall-tales .......2007-06-07
This book is published by Church Universal and Triumphant, also known as Summit Lighthouse. The extensive foreword is written by their leader, Elizabeth Clare Prophet. The rest of the book contains documents purportedly proving that Jesus spent his "lost years" (from age 13 to age 30) in India, Tibet and Persia, studying Hinduism and Buddhism. The foremost of these documents is Nicolas Notovitch's well-known "Life of St. Issa", first published in 1894. The book also contains three other texts supposedly confirming Notovitch's discoveries, by Abhenanda, Nicolas Roerich and Elizabeth Caspari. The Russian journalist Notovitch claimed to have discovered startling new stories about Jesus when visiting a Buddhist monastery at Himis, in the Ladakh area of Kashmir in India, close to the Tibetan border.
Virtually all scholars reject these documents, and believe that Jesus never set his foot outside Palestine and its environs. In my opinion, they have good reasons for doing so. For starters, nobody have seen the original manuscripts of these remarkable documents, only the translations made by Notovitch and his backers. There are also various discrepancies between the various accounts. In a foreword to "Life of St. Issa", Notovitch says that he did *not* translate a single manuscript. Rather, the monks at Himis showed him scattered passages about Jesus in several different ancient manuscripts, which Notovitch then re-arranged into a suitable, Gospel-like narrative. Tacitly at least, Notovitch is admitting that he was to some extent using his own creative imagination. This makes "Life of St. Issa" a paraphrase at best, a forgery at worst, even if we accept that the monks did show him some documents. However, both Abhenanda and Caspari claim to have seen a *single* manuscript with the Issa story in it, and Abhenanda even claims to have translated it. (What Roerich is claiming is frankly a bit unclear.)
A curious aspect of the documents, if one takes the trouble to read them, is that Jesus is said to have criticized both Hindus, Jains and Zoroastrians, and he doesn't sound very Buddhist either. Indeed, Jesus sounds like a 19th century liberal Protestant, which makes you wonder what exactly he is supposed to have picked up in India and Tibet in the first place? Notovitch's document can be read as a liberal Western criticism of barbaric India and Persia, rather than "proof" for Hindu-Buddhist influences on Jesus.
Another thing that strikes an out-sider as somewhat suspicious is that all people who confirmed Notovitch's story had *religious* reasons for doing so. Abhenanda was a disciple of the great Vivekananda, the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission. Nicolas Roerich was a Theosophist, and eventually founded a Theosophical off-shot of his own, Agni Yoga. And Caspari was a member of Mazdaznan, a nominally Zoroastrian but actually Theosophical group. In and of itself, the religious convictions of a person doesn't disqualify him or her as a serious witness, but when only people with a vested interest claims to have seen otherwise unaccesible documents (or was it just one document?), one is bound to suspect something. A cover-up? Wishful thinking? A little bit of both?
Be that as it may, I nevertheless recommend this book for students of comparative religion and others interested in these issues. It's the only collection of all pertinent writings on the subject (from the "pro" side) I'm aware of. Therefore I give it five stars, despite the questionable contents of the documents it reprints.
Easier To Go To Original Sources.......2007-04-12
I found this book to be nothing but a rehash of items found in other more authoritative books available on Amazon. Look deeper and you will find better books.
Interesting.......2006-12-10
I had vaguely heard a long time ago a tradition or a legend that Jesus of Nazereth had gone to the Far East in between childhood and adulthood. Then I came across this book several months ago. Very insightful, very interesting; it will definitely make you think. Having read this, about the best I can say is, I will not say for 100% that Jesus of Nazereth was there, but there definitely WAS a Jesus there and a lot of the teachings of Jesus do mirror Buddhist and Taoist beliefs to at least a small degree.
Mostly a travelogue.......2006-06-14
About 90% of the book is devoted to the travels of the 4 people who have reported seen the ancient scrolls that document Jesus' life in Tibet. And after completing the book I was not convinced that Christ ever made the journey.
If you read the reported quotes from Issa (or Jesus) they are quotes that definitely follow the New Testament teachings. But in so much of the Gospels, Jesus taught by parables, not in India. His quotes are more akin to Proverbs or sayings of Confucius. I would be surprised that he changed his manner of teaching so much.
The book also reports that Pilot was the person who wanted Jesus dead and the church leaders did not. While possibly true it contradicts the Gospels and it seems that Jesus was much more inflammatory of Church leaders than of Roman leaders. I do not see support of a motive of Pilot wanted Jesus dead.
I also do not understand the extreme secrecy of the scrolls? The ancient biblical writings are available for all to read. Why do the Lamas want to hide them and only share with a few select people.
If you want to read about the trials and travels of traveling in the Himalayan Mountains at the turn of the century then this is the book for you. But if you want to know about Jesus' lost years I think you will find facts very few and far between.
ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL AND A GREAT SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE.......2006-06-08
Elizabeth Clare Prophet presents the original sources for the belief that Jesus spent time in Asia studying the wisdom of the East. She summarizes the evidence in a well-written Introduction, then gives you long excerpts from the writings of Nicholas Notovitch who traveled to the Himis monastery in 1887 and saw a manuscript that the Lamas told him was the story of "Saint Issa." Notovitch went on to publish a book, The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ. One of the lamas translated the portions of the manuscript dealing with Issa for Notovitch as he was recovering from a broken leg at the monestery.
Notovitch's book created a sensation, but a skeptical public was generally not convinced. Some years later, another man went to Himis to try to verify Notovitch's claims, but reported that the chief Lama denied ever receiving Notovitch and denied that such a manuscript existed. This might seem like proof that Notovitch made it all up, but later travelers were to again hear about the manuscript and even see it.
The lamas who live in the mountain-top monasteries that dot the Himalayas offer hospitality to visitors, but are often wary about what they will reveal. They have apparently found that Westerners often come to plunder their ancient treasures, so they may not tell every visitor about the existence of something like a manuscript about Jesus, especially if they don't trust the visitor.
Two very credible witnesses were to confirm the tale of the manuscript about "Saint Issa." One was an Indian, Swami Abhedenanda, who visited the monastery in 1922. He not only confirmed that such a manuscript existed, he received a translation of it that is almost identical to the one published earlier by Notovitch. And in the late 1920s, Nicholas Roerich began the long trek through India and Tibet that resulted in the breathtaking paintings he made of this region. Roerich was an artist of the highest talent, a skilled archeologist and linguist, and a diplomat who worked for world peace. His son George, who went with him, was also an archeologist and linguist and spoke the Tibetan language. Wherever the Roerich expedition went, they heard stories of Saint Issa. And in 1937, Elizabeth Caspari made a trip to Tibet and was shown manuscripts and the lama who showed them said "These books say your Jesus was here."
I wondered how these travelers could be sure that Saint Issa and Jesus were one and the same, but in reading the Notovitch and Abhedenanda translations, it is clear that this is the story of Jesus, but with some variations. This Jesus praises women and urges men to treat them as equals. This Jesus affirms reincarnation. These original sources are fascinating reading. Interestingly, the story begins with Moses and the Jews and speaks of Issa as coming to bring the Jews back to a knowledge of God they once had. Issa leaves as a teen-ager for India because his parents are seeking a wife for him, according to the Jewish custom. Issa wants to learn from spiritual masters rather than settle into the life of a householder. He returns to his homeland at age 29.
These manuscripts, verified by credible witnesses, are quite convincing. They clearly are old, but could they be simply stories invented by early missionaries in the years when Christianity was taking hold in the Roman empire? Or were these the writings of someone who witnessed the visit of Issa? Is there evidence that Jesus' teachings have an Eastern flavor? I can't answer all the questions that pop into my head, thinking about what I've read in this book. But it has aroused my interest in learning more about this Jesus of the East.
Average customer rating:
- Should have been fiction
- Do Not Read If You are Interested in Cultural Facts
- Not as good as the competition
- Educational and useful for planning a trip.
- Excellent help in planning a visit to Vietnam
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Sparring with Charlie
Christopher Hunt
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Vietnam: A Traveler's Literary Companion (Traveler's Literary Companions)
ASIN: 0385481284
Release Date: 1996-04-01 |
Amazon.com
With a Russian motorcycle as his means of travel and the Ho Chi Minh Trail his itinerary, Christopher Hunt, whose father, Richard P. Hunt, was a television reporter in Vietnam during the war, traveled through postwar Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. In Sparring with Charlie, he describes a country in which water buffalo cool themselves in bomb craters and he encounters "every permutation of amputee." He was amazed that no one pointed an accusatory finger at him--in fact the younger generation seemed obsessed by all that is American. At a museum in Ho Chi Minh City, with exhibits showing the horrors of war, four schoolgirls asked his name and told him, "Chris, America No. 1."
Book Description
When Christopher Hunt set off in search of Vietnam's notorious Ho Chi Minh Trail, he hardly expected to end up on a rickety, Russian-made motorcycle navigating 5,000 kilometers of paths rarely traveled by tourists and on roads missing from maps.
Hunt left the United States expecting to explore the 1,700-kilometer highway that was once the supply route for the North Vietnamese Army. He soon found himself roaming the Vietnamese countryside in need of help and direction. In the process, he found that being an American in Vietnam conjured constant reminders of the past and encountered a country and a people poised precariously between the ancient and the modern.
With adventure, wit, and an eye for the absurd, Christopher Hunt goes beyond the newspaper headlines and myths about Vietnam to capture the color and complexity of Vietnam today.
Customer Reviews:
Should have been fiction.......2006-03-20
I traveled to Vietnam as well and I don't think that Hunt's book is a very accurate depiction of the people or the country. Good thing he's not a good writer or else he would have been the first "Jayson Blair."
Do Not Read If You are Interested in Cultural Facts.......2005-12-30
Hunt provides a highly suspect "non-fiction" account of his trip to Vietnam. Some of his stories referred to Vietnamese people who did not speak English/French...Hunt can't speak Vietnamese, so how can he explain their actions/thoughts? Very arrogant of him.
I have spent an extensive time in Vietnam and I think that Hunt's inaccurate account of Vietnam to be an insult to the people. Then again, he probably made up some of the stories just to make things more interesting for his book. If he knew how to speak Vietnamese, he would have learned more about the Vietnamese culture and at least he would be able to make up consistent stories that are more believable.
For those of you interested in riding through Vietnam...Hunt's woes on his motorcylcle will come true if you choose to be ignorant and unprepared as he was. Hunt is correct that the Minsk is more popular in the North. If you fly into Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) most people there ride on scooters. You will also find old Honda CB 77s and Vespas. I would definitely recommend bringing a leatherman, and a basic metric tool kit (most of the bikes that you try to buy will be missing their stock tool kits). Play it safe, swap out the spark plugs, brake/choke/clutch/throttle cables before your trip. Check your tires, it will be a rough ride and most tires in Vietnam are in poor shape. Roads through the country are very, very dusty too so be prepared for that. WD40 to lubricate your cables will extend the life of your cables too. Good luck if you're heading there...you'll have a great time!
Not as good as the competition.......2004-01-16
If you want a book about two-wheel adventure in communist countries, far more enjoyable is "Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba," a fascinating and sometimes hilarious, sometimes hair-raising story of a 7,000-mile journey and justifiably the winner of both the 2002 "Travel Book of the Year" and the North American Travel Journalist Association's Awards of Excellence "Grand Prize."
Educational and useful for planning a trip........2000-07-25
As both a motorcyclist and a traveller, I found this book both an interesting read and useful for planning a trip to Vietnam.
Excellent help in planning a visit to Vietnam.......2000-07-22
As someone who enjoys motorcycle travel overseas, I found this book invaluable for planning my own motorcycle tour in Vietnam. Some reviews have said the writer is 'shallow' etc, but I think his comments are dead on.
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