General Books - Page 14

Rick Steves' Spanish Phrase Book and Dictionary

Rick Steves

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great little phrase book 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This phrase book was a great resource. My Spanish is okay, but not stellar, and this book gave me the extra that I needed to feel comfortable with my spoken Spanish. When I needed to know how to say something, I was always able to either find it, or piece it together from this book. The organization of the book made sense to me, making it easy to find what I was looking for as quickly as possible.

Editorial Review:

From ordering tapas in Madrid to making new friends in Costa del Sol, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling; an English-Spanish and Spanish-English dictionary; the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice as you wait in line at the Guggenheim Bilbao. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' Spanish Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's mochila.

Let's Go 2009 Western Europe (Let's Go Western Europe)

Let's Go Inc.

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 1.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Packed with travel information, including more listings, deals, and insider tips:

• CANDID LISTINGS of hundreds of places to eat, sleep, drink, and feel like a local
• RELIABLE MAPS to navigate Western Europe’s busy cities or idyllic towns
• INSIDER TIPS on the best hostels, gay and straight nightlife, and travel deals
• VOLUNEER AND WORK OPPORTUNITIES, from Svalbard to Malta
• HIKING, BIKING, and CAMPING, from the Norwegian fjords to the beaches in Greece
• The world’s most exciting FESTIVALS, including Hungary’s Sziget and Italy’s Spoleto
• A PHRASEBOOK with essential vocab in nine different languages

The Italians

Luigi Barzini

By: Bantam Books Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $1.67

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Superfluous Cynicism. 4 out of 5 stars.
17 of 20 people found this review helpful.

This elegant, but dated book appears to fit Mr. Barzini's pessimistic generation. Which after living through two world wars & the great depression is understandable. However, as he stated in the preface this is not a scholarly or scientific analysis. The reader should take his observations with a "block of salt." It is safe to say that the vast majority of books on national character are usually oversimplifications.

But, at times the author hits the target of the elusive Italian national character. I would read the forward & conclusion first, & than the book in its entirety. The heart of the book for me is on pages 331-4. As for the chapters, I will critique each in order, & give the most informative pages. Ch1, Visit Italy & you will find out for yourself. Ch2, history entices visitors. The main pages are 25-7. Ch3, This is very subjective, & all individuals must find out on his/her own, main pages of interest are 54-7. Ch4, This was repetitive, spectacle an ancient habit, main pages 68-70. Ch5, There is some truth for sure, pages 80-1, 92-3 & 100 are very intruiging. the latter page was even funny. Ch6, About the economics of the country as a whole. This was very dated even when the author wrote it. Ch7, hero or Benito lite? You will find this one very deep indeed.


Ch8, it is true enough that double delusions can increase chaos in ones society. Ch9, comfort with the status quo? Ch10, the Italians never truly adopted the farce of feudalism. Ch11, The refuge & torment of family. Pages 190-2 are very good. His analysis about the vast commonalities between Italian, Jewish, & Chinese families was truly striking. The economist Thomas Sowell noted the same traits in his 1981 book, Ethnic America. Ch12, this chapter could easily apply to any western society, there was nothing new here. Ch14, this was an enigma inside a labyrinth, pages 260-70 made for some noteworthy observations. Ch15, pages 283-92 will make the reader think deeply about life. Ch16, perhaps, the most interesting chapter? pages 309-13 were filled with the most fascinating facts. On the whole the author addresses the problems of a very divided society with some brilliant historical analysis. The pervasive problems of Italian society are there for all to see. But, Mr. Barzini gives no solutions. In certain ways he hints at the answers in chapter 7, "The Obsession With Antiquity." When the reader truly wants to know how & why Italians have remained so divided over the past fifteen centuries you will have to go back & study the late Roman empire. I suggest any books by Michael Grant or Adrain Goldsworthy as a good start.

Editorial Review:

The 'fatal charm of Italy' has held Lord Byron - and millions of tourists ever since - in its spell. Yet, beneath 'the brilliant and vivacious surface', what are the realities of Italian life? Few writers have ever painted a portrait of their compatriots as crisp, frank and fearless as Luigi Barzini's. Cutting through the familiar cliches, he instructs us with a cascade of anecdotes and provides a marvelous guided tour through centuries of history. He examines Machiavelli and Mussolini, popes, pilgrims and prostitutes, cliques and conspiracies, Casanova and the crippling power of the Church. Yet alongside the Baroque exuberance and spectacular display, the love of life and the life of love, he also shows us a divided nation, injustice, ignorance, poverty and fear. All this is Italy, a country of dazzling achievement and an uncanny aptitude for getting round problems; both its virtues and its vices are celebrated in this sparkling book.

The Innocents Abroad (Signet Classics)

Mark Twain

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Take a Tour of Europe and the Holy Land with Mark Twain the inimitable Missouri traveler 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mark Twain is the Lincoln of our literature. Sam Clemens (1835-1910) wrote Huckleberry Finn in 1885 which has been acclaimed as our greatest American novel. Lesser known are his wonderful travelogues: "Roughing It' "Following the Equator"; "Life on the Mississippi and "The Innocents Abroad" published in 1869. This book is worth reading even 140 years after its publication. Twain style is a joy to read for he was a born storyteller and communicates his thoughts well on the page.
Twain was a reporter who joined the six month expedition to Europe and the Middle East on board the steamer "Quaker City." The pleasure tour had
been organized by the famous pastor Henry Ward Beecher (sibling of Harriet Ward Beecher) and Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. Neither of these notable made the trip citing other obligations.
Twain roomed with a young man from Elmira New York. He would later visit Elmira and meet his friend's sister Olivia. She would become his wife and the mother of the couple's three daughters.
The Innocents Abroad is a long book of 400,000 words covering over 500 densely written pages. Twain takes a sardonic, humorous view of European art as he guides us through the Louvre, Florence Italy and Rome. We visit London, Paris and meet with Czar Alexander II in the Crimea. Twain had a keen reporter's eye and a humorist's ability to paint word pictures of his fellow passengers,tour guides and natives of the fascinating cities and countries he visited on a busy itinerary.
As a Presbyterian pastor I found the most interesting part of the book dealt with Twain's tour of Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece and Israel. He was upset by the filth, disease and cruelty he saw in the land of Moses and Jesus Christ. Despite all his asides and digressions the observant reader can gain a good picture of what these places were like in 1869. Twain was an agnostic but knew his Bible.
Mark Twain was our greatest author. In this fine book you will get to know this fascinating man better as he shares his globe trotting journey with his readers.

Editorial Review:

One of the most famous travel books ever written by an American, here is an irreverent and incisive commentary on the "New Barbarians'" encounter with the Old World. Twain's hilarious satire impales with sharp wit both the chauvinist and the cosmopolitan.

Denmark (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

By: Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $15.39

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Colourful and informative 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I am planning a family vacation to Denmark and I wanted to get some information on places other than Legoland. I found the information in this guide very useful.
It is well organized and easy to look up places in the book. For example, the publishers have divided Denmark into a number of regions and these are colour coded. Southern Jutland and Legoland? Look in the yellow section.
It is informative: I learned about Danish history, customs and culture. There is a good overview of Danish design and this is followed up in more detail in the respective entries. The section on Danish history is illustrated with pictures of paintings, sculptures and photos again in full colour.
My only reservation about this book concerns the scrupulous fairness of all the entries. Visitors are looking for information and insight, both good and bad. Is Tivoli really worth the time or is it an overrated tourist trap?
Overall, however, I am happy that I purchased this book over the others.
I did some time consuming searches on the internet for information about Denmark but I should have saved myself the trouble and bought this book first.

The Middle Ages

Morris Bishop

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Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Enjoyable and witty overview of the history, culture, and society of Medieval Europe 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 20 people found this review helpful.

_The Middle Ages_ by Morris Bishop is an enjoyable and witty overview of the history, culture, and society of Medieval Europe. The first chapter, "The Long Dark," looks at the beginning of the medieval period, the author arguing that the Middle Ages should be seen as both a continuation of the language, institutions, and artistry of not only old Rome but also of cultures independent of it, such as that of the Franks and Saxons and a formation, the beginning of our modern world, the end of pagan classical civilization. Charlemagne is a major figure in this chapter; his coronation as the first Roman emperor in the West in more than 300 years (in the year 800) marked a major shift in power, from the East to the West, the development of a culture that was not a satellite of Byzantium but rather firmly European, and the very birth of European civilization.

Chapter two focused on the history of the High Middle Ages, focusing in large part on the year 1000 as a major turning point, that despite Viking threats "one could point to certain gains, to certain justifications for hope," as the West was in generally a better shape and the broad outline of the major modern states had begun to take form. Technology continued to advance, with the advent of the spinning wheel, mechanical weight-driven clock, compass, and fixed rudder. Notable in the chapter is King Henry II (who laid the foundations of English common law and the institution of limited monarchy).

The next chapter focused on knights and the crusades. Bishop noted that the crusades were "the first wars fought for an ideal" and that they were promoted with all the tools of the propagandist, among them atrocity stories, lies, and inflammatory speeches. Also interesting was his coverage of Saladin (the "pet enemy" of the West), the description of crusade battles (Richard the Lion-Hearted took Acre in 1191 with the help of a catapult known as Bad Neighbor), and why the crusades ultimately failed (they did not correspond to any temporal aim, as Europe had no need for Jerusalem or Syria, and Europe would have benefited more from a stronger Byzantine Empire though the crusades achieved in fact quite the opposite).

Chapter four focused on the life of the noble, on what in fact feudalism really was, the bloody nature of the family feuds of the nobles, the "bundle of paradoxes" that was the noble (he could be both gallant and bloodthirsty, charitable and immoral), and many of the elements of their daily lives. We learn for instance that window glass was rare for centuries and for long time was treated with great care, as Bishop tells of some nobles who removed and wrapped window glass before long journeys. Throughout much of the Middle Ages pockets were unknown, blonde hair was much prized in Italy (ladies spent a great deal of time bleaching it), hard soap was a luxury item and did not appear until the 12th century, and dinner guests were provided with spoons but had to bring their own knives (forks were a rarity).

Chapter five looked at Christianity, arguing that the church, in many senses, was more than merely the patron of medieval culture, that it was medieval culture. He argued that the pope's involvement in political affairs blunted church authority, laying the papacy open to "mockery and shame" by overuse of crusades and excommunication for temporal gains. The coverage of the cult of relics was fascinating (so morbid was this that Saint Romuald of Ravenna, visiting France, heard people propose he was more valuable dead than alive and barely escaped). The life of the monastery was well covered, as well as St. Francis and the Franciscans, Dominic of Caleruega and the Dominicans, the Waldenses (early evangelical, almost Protestant, Christians), and the Cathari (dualistic heretics).

Chapter six looked at towns and trade. Interesting tidbits include the fact that the last name Walker comes from the cloth trade (walkers stamped on cloth to shrink and compact it), that bankers first appeared in medieval trade fairs (money changers or "bankers" got the name from the banks or benches that they laid out their coins), artisans kept virtually no stock in stores (they worked only on orders), and our hook-and-ladder companies comes from the hooks supplied in medieval cities to pull burning thatch from roofs to the street.

Chapter seven looked at the life of labor. Bishop looked at how the manorial system functioned, the daily life of the peasant, leprosy, and the state of medieval medicine.

The eighth chapter focused on the life of thought, the author examining how schools worked and what it was like to have been a student, the origins of medieval science and secular scholarship (as scholars realized that the physical world was "no mere ugly training camp for the soul" but worthy of study in its own right), and famous medieval writers like Dante and Boccaccio.

Chapter nine dealt with medieval art, architecture, and music. Fascinating coverage of the evolution of building styles, the construction of cathedrals, the use of stained glass (which told the stories of the Christian faith through "colored sunshine", though Bishop felt the term stained glass was incorrect, as it was not stained with color but rather infused with it), the work and role of artisans in society, and the origins of musical notation (developed during the eleventh century into our recognizably modern form, which was also when our notes were named - ut, re, mi, fa, so, la - from the opening syllables of the successive lines of a familiar hymn).

The final chapter dealt with the end of the Middle Ages. Major topics include papal conflicts such as the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism, the challenges posed by John Wycliffe and John Hus, the "greatest calamity" to befall the Western world (the Black Death), the Hundred Years War (a "futile war,...it achieved little except destruction, misery, and death"), and Joan of Arc.

Editorial Review:

In this single indispensable volume, one of America"s ranking scholars combines a life"s work of research and teaching with the art of lively narration. Both authoriatative and beautifully told, THE MIDDLE AGES is the full story of the thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance — a time that saw the rise of kings and emperors, the flowering of knighthood, the development of Europe, the increasing power of the Church, and the advent of the middle class. With exceptional grace and wit, Morris Bishop vividly reconstructs this distinctive era of European history in a work that will inform and delight scholars and general readers alike.

Insight Compact Guide Turkey (Insight Compact Guides)

R. Bockhorni

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Cross cultural lifeline. 5 out of 5 stars.
33 of 33 people found this review helpful.

Insight guides offer a rich history, political analysis and cultural insight to the countries they cover. By using locally based writers they get the insiders view of what the various camps believe in. For a discerning traveller who wants to know about the country, the people, geography, food, industry etc and for those who wish to travel independently, this is the book to read. It is not tourist guide which says stay here, eat this menu, see this statue. All that is left to the standard tourist guide writers. If you never travel to a country, you can know it through the insight guide. Because Muslim and Turkish cultures are so different from ours (and Turkish is different to Arabic Muslim) it is important to be aware of the behaviours that are considered polite and those that are considered to be rude. This book equips you to deal courteously with salesmen who would be considered pushy by western standards. Did you know for instance that it is rude to kiss your partner in the street in Turkey (or any muslim country) even if it is only a peck on the cheek -whereas it is polite for men to kiss each other in public. Why were Turks feared by all of Europe for seven hundred years? Why do the Greeks still hate them with such passion (if you want to insult a Greek just call him a Turk and see the reaction). For depth of analysis on culture, history and geography, to understand what makes the people tick, you should read this book. Then if you travel to Turkey you may, like me, find the Turks to be the friendliest people you have ever met. You may also understand why such friendly people are capable of being represented in quite a different way in Movies like Midnight Express. Vive la difference!

Editorial Review:

One of over 400 titles in the Insight series,

Insight Guide Turkey. This 438-page book includes a section detailing Turkey's history, 6 features covering aspects of the country's life and culture, ranging from the amazingly varied cuisine to the stupendous Bosphorus skyline, a region by region visitor's guide to the sights, and a comprehensive Travel Tips section packed with essential contact addresses and numbers. Plus many lovely photographs and 21 maps.

When in Germany, Do as the Germans Do: The Clued-In Guide to German Life, Language, and Culture

Hyde Flippo

Amazon Price: $10.36 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $6.11

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Undertones of disdain towards the German culture 2 out of 5 stars.
27 of 32 people found this review helpful.

Having lived in Germany for a year now, I decided to finally flip through this book, given to me as a parting gift in April 2005. As I read, I was appalled at Mr. Flippo's seeming dislike for Germans. The book is more of a warning for all the traveling American's to be on their guard rather than an informative guide. My favorite quote is, "This "pushy" behavior is not limited to Germans. It's a European thing" (p.31). This extraordinary generalization is quickly followed by the warning that you must either bring your own shopping bags or purchase one in a German grocery store and, as stated by Flippo, "to add insult to injury, you usually have to bag your own groceries". Gee, reducing waste by encouraging the reuse of shopping bags and keeping prices low by simply putting your Müsli in your own bag instead of hiring some prepubescent bag boy to do it for you is a pure abomination and should be henceforth considered "insult to injury" (I'm hoping you're noting my sarcasm). The book continues in this fashion, with hardly a bright comment to be had about this amazing culture. The only reason I'm giving this two stars instead on one is because the author does have a few nuggets of truth and interesting observations woven within his cleverly placed one-liner biases. If you still purchase this book, remember to read critically and differentiate opinion from facts.

Editorial Review:

Never feel like a stranger in Germany again!

On entering a restaurant, should you find your own table or wait to be seated? What is a suitable topic for small-talk with a stranger? In what circumstances might you ask to borrow ein Handy? All these answers and more can be found in When in Germany, Do As the Germans Do, a fun and intriguing book that teaches you about Germany's culture, language, and people.

It features 120 intriguing multiple-choice questions that are cross-referenced to fascinating articles on pop culture, customs, behavior, history, consumer trends, literature, tourist sights, business, language, and more. Also included are key terms and useful expressions, informative charts, and websites for further reference.

Good Beer Guide to Belgium

Tim Webb

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Indispensible! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

With the Good Beer Guide Tim Webb does a superhuman job chronicling the staggering array of breweries, beers, and bars in the Benelux region. I took a trip to Netherlands and Belgium expressly for the beer and for me the book was indispensible. It is organized and indexed very well.

If you are reading this review you are likely at least somewhat interested in Belgian beer and if you are, then you probably can't afford not to use this guide. Not all beers or bars are created equal, even in Belgium. With a limited time and traveler's budget it would be impossible to have savored as many beers as I did without Webb's help.

Because the Benelux countries are among the most pleasant in the world and easiest to get around and travel in, you will not even need a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide--the important stuff (the beer!) is in Tim Webb's book. You can easily find hotels, sightseeing info, and food when you are there, because the region is highly traveler-friendly. However, many of the local beer menus include thousands of offerings and so you can imagine how a guidebook like this might come in handy.

The Good Beer Guide to Belgium will also help you decipher those book-long beer menus and select the right brew for you. With the guide in hand you also might find yourself in towns and villages you never would have visited otherwise, because you were drawn there for a Trappist monastary or a special little bit of brewing history. There are a smattering of other beer guides to the region but none even come close to this one!

Editorial Review:

First published in 1992, the Good Beer Guide to Belgium has developed a cult following among committed beer lovers and beer tourists. It is the definitive, totally independent guide to understanding and finding the best of Belgian beer and an essential companion for any discerning beer drinker visiting Belgium or seeking out Belgian beer in Britain. With details of the 120 breweries and more than 800 beers in regular production, 500 of the best hand-picked cafes, and every known brewery tour, beer festival, and museum of brewing, this is the definitive guide to Belgian beer, whether you are touring by train, bicycle, car, or armchair.

Frommer's Iceland (Frommer's Complete)

Evan Spring, Zoë Preston

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Editorial Review:

Experience Iceland’s amazing diversity and many attractions the way the locals do with America’s #1 bestselling travel series. Frommer’s Iceland is a complete guide to everything Iceland has to offer, from cosmopolitan city Reykjavik to outdoor activities like taking a dip in natural thermal pools. No matter what your age, desired activity level, or interests, this guide will show you exactly how you can enjoy Iceland. Utilize the outspoken opinions, exact prices, suggested itineraries, detailed map, off-the-beaten-path experiences, undiscovered gems and an easy-to-read two-color design for a customized adventure.