The Gift of Travel: The Best of Travelers' Tales [Paperback]

Larry Habegger (Editor), James O'Reilly (Editor), Sean O'Reilly (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Travelers' Tales | Publication Date: May 1998

The award-winning Travelers'' Tales books are based on the simple premise that the experience of other tr avellers is our best map to a strange land. This volume pres ents a selection of stories from the series. '

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Take a room full of peopleAartists, writers, educators, but travelers all. One volunteers, "Let me tell you about this great experience I had in the Canary Islands" and then proceeds to tell about being taken in by a family and treated like one of its members. Someone then describes a Tibetan picnic at 16,000 feet in a mountain pass, another relates being drenched with overripe tomatoes at a carnival in Spain. Others tell of travel experiences in France, the remote Chinese island of Hainan, and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and of special people like a leper in Nepal and an idiosyncratic Thai language teacher. They also relate events like a bus ride in rural Mexico and an encounter with a wounded pelican near Malibu. These and other personal yet very arresting stories collected by Larry Habegger and James and Sean O'Reilly make for enjoyable reading. Recommended for public libraries and highly recommended for those that do not have any of the earlier editions of "Travelers' Tales."ADavid Schau, Kanawha Cty. P.L., Charleston, WV
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Travelers' Tales Inc (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885211252
• ISBN-13: 978-1885211255
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,110,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very enjoyable read and a traveler's inspiration!, July 25, 1998

By 

Maria A. Barnowl (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift of Travel: The Best of Travelers' Tales (Paperback)

I so enjoyed reading this book that I just bought six more in the series! In the introduction the editors write that for some travel is "a salve for weary body and soul." This phrase could aptly be applied to the book as well. It soothed the worries of my day and refreshed my perspective on the good things in my life. The stories evoke a sense of adventure, the pleasure of an unexpected kindness, the opening of new worlds, and the discovery of one's self along the way. There are one or two stories that I almost skipped, since they represented a lifestyle that seemed awkward to me - but that is often what travel entails, and the discomfort offers sparks of excitement to the journey. Most of the tales carried me to distant lands and warmly reminded me of past trips or stirred me to consider future ones.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made me ache to travel again., October 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift of Travel: The Best of Travelers' Tales (Paperback)

So many of the stories in this book hit me in the heart, they made me want to get on a plane TOMORROW. Reminded me of the magic of travel, and why I want to be out there wandering the world again.

3.0 out of 5 stars weak narrative limits potential, February 12, 2004

By 

Erin Holloman (Tuscaloosa, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of Travel: The Best of Travelers' Tales (Paperback)

Success is an aspiration that all Americans desire. In work, relationships, and daily life we strive to accomplish our goals. Andy Andrews offers insightful and compelling advice in "The Traveler's Gift." He clearly establishes the seven decisions that determine personal success.

The main character David Ponder travels through time to meet important figures that teach him life's lessons. The author, Andrews, chose promising leaders to illustrate his point. Both common people and famous leaders that demonstrate success through the decisions they chose to make.

I was disappointed with the narrative. It was redundant and lacked originality. I became annoyed with positive encouragement that was sappy and unrealistic. The brief moments of unique and inspirational comments were overshadowed by clichés and fluff.

The highly acclaimed review elevated my expectations and left me dissatisfied when I finished. The positive message is admirable and the core advice is insightful, but the execution and plot limited its potential.