Guidebooks Books - Page 13

India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette

Nicki Grihault

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Culture Smart! provides essential information on attitudes, beliefs and behavior in different countries, ensuring that you arrive at your destination aware of basic manners, common courtesies, and sensitive issues. These concise guides tell you what to expect, how to behave, and how to establish a rapport with your hosts. This inside knowledge will enable you to steer clear of embarrassing gaffes and mistakes, feel confident in unfamiliar situations, and develop trust, friendships, and successful business relationships.

Culture Smart! offers illuminating insights into the culture and society of a particular country. It will help you to turn your visit-whether on business or for pleasure-into a memorable and enriching experience. Contents include:

* customs, values, and traditions
* historical, religious, and political background
* life at home
* leisure, social, and cultural life
* eating and drinking
* do's, don'ts, and taboos
* business practices
* communication, spoken and unspoken

"Culture Smart has come to the rescue of hapless travellers." Sunday Times Travel

"... the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries." Global Travel

"...full of fascinating-as well as common-sense-tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas." Observer

"...as useful as they are entertaining." Easyjet Magazine

"...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world." New York Times

San Francisco Then & Now (Then & Now)

Bill Yenne

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Welcome to America's Most Conservative City! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I'm not using "conservative" in the current political sense, obviously. Everybody knows that John McCain has less than a snowball's chance in Gomorrah of winning in SF. I using the term conservative in its root meaning, something like "saving what was valued in the past." Preservation and conservation have the same Latin root. San Francisco has conserved more of its past than any western American city, and I could make a case, I think, for its preservation of more old-fashioned city life even than Boston or Savannah.

Except for the tiny downtown financial district, San Francisco "looks" old. The vast majority of houses, churches, and schools were built in late Victorian styles and have been lovingly restored in the same styles. Even the relatively "new" streets of the Sunset are old-fashioned now, predominantly in modest Art Deco style of the 30s and 40s. And it should be no surprise that ATT baseball park is a booking success, since it's strikingly old-style brick in construction, with a street car stop at the front gate.

San Francisco is a bastion of old-fashioned independent mom 'n pop businesses. There are thriving corner groceries and open-air once-a-week markets: independent restaurants ranging from very cheap to ultra expensive, but hardly any chain restaurants in the neighborhoods. The big chain grocery stores like Albertson's struggle to stay open in competition with locally owned stores like Andronico's, which has six stores around the whole Bay Area. There are more independent fitness centers and gyms in the neighborhoods; 24-hour fat farms are not the norm in SF. There are no malls that would be recognizable to most Americans in downtown or neighborhood San Francisco. The only malls - and very small they are by US norms - are on the suburban fringes.

Even Boston is cut up by freeways today, though the traffic is no better managed than when I lived there in the early '60s. Seattle is sliced in half by its ineeffective central freeway. San Francisco is the place that blocked freeway construction in the late '60s. Several freeways have been demolished in SF in the last ten years! Streets in SF are narrow and parking is tough, but a measure to build more parking lots was recently defeated at the polls, and any attempt to chop wider streets through SF would meet with armed resistance.

Baseball is the number one sport in SF. The fans of the football team pour in from the 'burbs to the hideous modernistic but crumbling stadium just at the edge of the city. The basketball team plays in Oakland. Any town where baseball rules has got to be considered conservative!

People in SF are conservative dressers, especially by California standards. I know women who live in LA, who carry clothes they consider drab to SF when they visit, so that they will not stick out like the inflamed rear view of a peacock's tail. One never sees "his and hers" outfits on the streets, especially not pastels. Men wear less bling per capita in SF than in Omaha. A neck chain and an open shirt would get you sneered out of polite society in SF.

Sweet old-fashioned window boxes are everywhere in SF. Street tree plantings are lovingly maintained. Open space is all-important to San Franciscans, and it's by stubborn resistance to development than SF has preserved more open space (finangling the take-over of decommissioned army, coast guard, and navy bases) than any comparably populated region of the USA. Nature is inherently conservative.

The half-mile strip of upper Haight Street, which gets the attention of the "screaming heads" on TV and radio, is not populated by San Franciscans. It's the runaway and stumble-away refuge of the discontented - the "poor abused confused missused" - of all the dysfunctional "conservative" families and communities from Modesto to Miami. They come to SF to enjoy the true conservative values of privacy, tolerance, and neighborhood friendliness.

Editorial Review:

The natives call it simply "the City." This is the story of the changing face of San Francisco, and how it has become one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Seventy modern color photographs are compared side-by-side with seventy archival photographs from the 1850s to the 1950s. While focusing on famous vistas and familiar landmarks, it also explores well-known neighborhoods. The Then and Now series includes: New York, Washington, Boston, and San Francisco.

The Rough Guide to Japan Fourth Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Jan Dodd, Simon Richmond

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent - Makes planning very easy (unlike Lonely Planet) 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

I have been dissapointed with Lonely Planet over the last few years.

So I again bought both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. This is my last time, from now on Rough Guide it is.

The best thing about the guide is that it organizes information in a way that makes planning very easy. Overview of country, overview of region, overview of town. I planned my two week trip in a matter of hours.

Lonely Planet, in contrast, essentially lists places, one after the other. Unless you follow one of their 5-8 itineraries, the only way you plan your trip is reading the book cover-to-cover.

Also, a friend of mine lived in Japan for 10 years. All the tips he gave me were in the Rough Guide.

Editorial Review:

The Rough Guide to Japan provides invaluable advice on everything from getting there (including overland routes) to tracking down the latest and best places to sleep, eat, drink and shop. There is comprehensive coverage of all the major sights – and many off the beaten track - from the northern tip of Hokkaido down to the islands of Okinawa, closer to Taiwan than Tokyo. Full-colour sections introduce manga and anime, arguably Japan’s most successful cultural export, its rich variety of festivals and its stunning traditional gardens. All this is accompanied by in-depth coverage of Japan’s history, religions, arts, movies and music plus a discussion of environmental issues. There are maps of all the main towns and tourist destinations, together with separate colour maps of the Tokyo subway system and the rail network in Osaka.

Eyewitness Travel Guide to France

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> France -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Best Planning Guides I have used 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

We have traveled to France the past 3 years and are in the process of planning the 4th at this writing. As always (since discovering these guides)I started with this guide to determine which part of France we will visit and the potential route. I also own the guides to Paris, Loire Valley and Provence. The Green Guides offer much more detail but are infuriatingly arranged in alphabetical order. Eyewitness guides are arranged by area and include some theme tours (wine,cheese,troglodyte, etc)This and the beautiful pictures make planning a joy. I just wish they published an area guide for Southwest France, where we are headed in 2003!!

Editorial Review:

The guide that shows you what other travel books only tell you!

With more than 1,400 full-color photographs, street-by-street maps, and illustrated aerial views guiding you to all the points of interest DK's Eyewitness Travel Guide: France captures all that this magnificent European destination has to offer. Experience the Louvre, Ameins Cathedral, Mont-St-Michel, and the Abbaye de Fontenay. Travel the Route de Vin, a scenic wine tour that takes you through historic wine villages and renowned wineries. Whether shopping on the streets of Paris or a drive through the picturesque French countryside, this is one travel guide you will not want to be without.

Rick Steves' European Christmas

Rick Steves, Valerie Griffith

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From England to Norway, Burgundy to Bavaria, and Rome to the top of the Swiss Alps, Rick Steves’ European Christmas gets you a seat at the family feast, up in the loft with the finest choirs, and into the kitchen with grandma and her best-kept holiday secrets. With enchanting photos and more than a dozen recipes, this great gift book captures the spirit of the season perfectly.

After producing a hundred travel shows, Rick Steves and his public television crew finally went to Europe for Christmas. And the cameras were rolling. As only they can, Rick and his gang brought home a vivid and authentic portrait of how Europeans celebrate the holiday. This book is the companion to that PBS special.

The Christmas we know today is a rich and fascinating mix of traditions that came over on the boat — an ancient celebration with pre-Christian roots. From Yule logs to mistletoe, from singing shepherds to the split personalities of Santa, from traditional recipes to the top ten ways to celebrate in Paris, you’ll learn something new — or old — about Christmas.

Americans' Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary

Rusty Geller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

TWO COUNTRIES SEPARATED BY A COMMON LANGUAGE... 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Having travelled back & forth between the U.S. and Australia for 30 years, I thought I knew my way around Down Under pretty well. However, once we decided to move over permanently, I soon realized I might as well have come from another planet!! If only we had a survival guide like this to combat the daily head scratching and keep our sense of humor alive!

If you are making the trip for the first time, planning to stay awhile or just curious about the cultural differences, this little book will open your eyes to the subtle variances that are discovered only by interesting experiences. Highly recommended for keeping you safely to the left, in harmony with the Aussie attitude of 'no worries' and out of socially embarrasing moments when you might say the 'wrong' thing! Enjoy the book and the country!!

Editorial Review:

This is the Operator's Manual for Australia. This book covers the basic and essential information the author and his family learned in order to survive their first few years living in Australia. It will help you avoid making the same embarrassing mistakes and asking the same dumb questions they did. Includes a 1,500 word Australian-American Dictionary. An essential tool for tourists, business travelers and migrants.

Brazil (Country Guide)

Regis St. Louis, Kevin Raub, Gregor Clark, John Noble, Gary Chandler, Robert Landon, Mara Vorhees

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best guide out for Brazil - With room for improvement 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Initially, I took three guides with me on my 5-week journey through Brazil: Footprint, Frommer's and Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet gets the nod.

No other guide except Footprints (see my review) comes close to the covering all of Brazil. Lonely Planet is the best guide to have if you are backpacking and/or thinking of crossing into other countries at remote border crossing.

Lonely Planet has EXCELLENT sections on Brazil's history, economy and culture. Lonely Planet segregates Brazil into five geographical areas and introduces each city or region by explaining the history and climate. KUDOS! The descriptions of the towns and cities are top rate. There are many maps, easy to use and well defined.

Sadly, unlike other L.P. guides, this guide has few sidebars or text boxes that give you interesting tidbits about the country. Lonely Planet gives you enough restaurant and accommodation recommendations, but most all have terse descriptions that leave you wishing for more, i.e., "menu is low-key, most pizza and standard rice-beans-meat dishes."

Though this is the 2008 edition (I also reviewed the 2005 edition earlier), I found (too often) places that were recommended but were closed or had moved. Thus, the editors did not `due diligence' and send the writers of this edition back to the places that the 2005 guide raved about and lists. Rather, they just transferred them over. NOT GOOD. Beware. This was especially prevalent in Manaus. Best to call first before you spend the taxi money.

Speaking of money... If you are from the European Union, sing praises for the Euro. If you're from the USA, weep. The fall of the dollar's value is very evident in Brazil. Reality check: Rio, a decent hotel (not great a hotel, just decent) is at least $100 and up. A good, not great, meal is at least $20 to $30. I traveled during the "Low Season" and I found that I needed $100-$150 a day to travel at a 3-4 star level and eat OK (not including my airfares). You should add at least 20-30% in high season and at least 60% at Carnival. Backpackers can do it for less, but not near what the guide quotes. Be Aware - Be Prepared for money shock.

Lonely Planet is my first choice, but I have it on good authority (Amazon.com) that Footprint Brazil 2009 will be out this December. IF you are going to Carnival 2009 then get Footprint over Lonely Planet, it does a much better job of guiding you through this huge event. Also, I highly recommend Culture Shock! Brazil 2007 for anyone wanting to know more about the ethos and customs of the diverse, colorful country. Happy travels.

Editorial Review:

Discover Brazil

Wander the streets of bohemian Lapa, where samba spills from every doorway
Swim eyeball-to-eyeball with hundreds of exotic fish in crystalline waters
Brave near-vertical descents on a wind-whipped dune buggy ride
Sling a hammock and relax as your riverboat glides up the Amazon

In This Guide:

Seven authors, 375 days of in-country research, 33 types of transport (including water buffalo, mine car and canoe)
50% more coverage of chic, dynamic Sao Paulo
A samba musician, a wildlife tour guide and other locals introduce you to their Brazil

Rick Steves' Germany and Austria 2008

Rick Steves

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great for planning a brief trip 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Planning a brief trip to a country as varied and historic as Germany is demanding, but this book has been my best resource. As in all of his books, Steves states his approach to travel clearly: he doesn't cover everything, just the "best" places, the best according to him, of course. My tastes and orientation align with his (interesting, moderately priced travel, including as much local immersion as is reasonable), so I rely on his books to provide the wonderful backbones of great trips. For visiting places other than his "best" I use a more comprehensive guide book, like Lonely Planet, in addition to (rather than instead of) his.

For myself, a traveler with only a few days passing through Germany (on this trip), Steves' approach works well. His recommendations about transportation choices, especially the vast array of train tickets, are especially helpful. I imagine that I will want more detailed descriptions of major buildings and museums once I am on the spot, but his room-by-room descriptions are excellent for determining whether a particular site should be on my itinerary.

-Lynn Michelsohn, author of Roswell, Your Travel Guide to the UFO Capital of the World!

Editorial Review:

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers how to take the Do-It-Yourself Dresden Baroque Blitz Tour or the Short and Scenic Black Forest Joyride? With Rick Steves’ Germany and Austria 2008, travelers can experience Steves' favorite destinations in Munich, Bavaria, Baden-Baden, Rothenburg, Würsburg, Frankfurt, the Rhine Valley, Dresden, Berlin, Vienna, and the Danube Valley — economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, this guide includes opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans, walking tours and trip itineraries, and clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot. America’s number one authority on travel to Europe, Steves' time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

Rick Steves' Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler

Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Great Book for a bit History and Art "sort-of-interested-person" 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book for.......as it said on the book "Europe History and Art 101." Nothing too heavy but very informative. It's really nice easy reading....

some of the jokes were funny at the beginning but not so much at the end because it's bit boring.... but, if you just like to have a easy read then I strongly recommend it. Enjoy~

Editorial Review:

Now in full-color, a witty and engaging look at Europe's history and art, from America's European travel guru. Rick Steves' Europe 101 helps you make the most of your sightseeing. A fun but informative guide, this "professor in your pocket" features:

* Chronologically organized chapters--from the pyramids to Picasso--that explain the forces behind Europe's most important cultural and artistic periods * Handy lists of sights that allow you to link your newly acquired knowledge with the specific paintings, sculptures, and buildings you'll see on your trip * A humorous, readable style that is a joy to read compared with the history textbooks you slept on in school * Timelines, maps, drawings, and photos that illustrate Europe's story and round out your education

Map of Hawaii: The Big Island : Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawaii (Reference Maps of the Islands of Hawai'i)

James Allen Bier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Big Island Map 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Purchased this map for our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii and found it to be most helpful!

Had to return, not what I was looking for 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This map was not what I was expecting, so I returned it. Thanks anyway.

Better than expected 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Thank you Amazon.
I received my order(map of big is) quicker from Stateside than I get some
mail here in Australia . I received my map 2 and a half weeks quicker than promised , and to think I don't need it till Nov .
Thank You.
Regards
Patrick
Patrick Richardson

Good Map, but better ones on the island. 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

We moved here and I like it, but there are better ones that I've seen around.

excellent map 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Our first trip to the big Island of Hawaii and this map came in handy when we were plotting where to go and what was nearby and reference points. It's a good buy.

Editorial Review:

This is a reference map of Hawaii.