Greater Nowheres: Wanderings Across the Outback [Paperback]

Dave Finkelstein (Author), Jack London (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

A wildly funny journey through the outback-a forbidding adventure for even the most daring Aussie explorers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A classic of travel literature. It's unthinkable that anyone would go to Australia without first reading this book."--Jim Harrison

From the Back Cover

Armed with a Toyota truck, insect repellent, and an esky full of beer, intrepid journalists Dave Finkelstein and Jack London set out for the Australian bush in pursuit of the deadly salty - a real man-eating crocodile. Though the croc proves elusive, the authors find an entertaining cast of characters – imaginative entrepreneurs and hearty pioneers – who color the baked and barren landscape.
From one-horse shantytowns and desolate stretches to cosmopolitan Sydney, they experience a peculiar variety of uniquely Australian phenomena: a dwarf-throwing contest, cold spaghetti sandwiches, and a regional rash called "Karumba rot" – the inevitable souvenir of a visit to this sweltering port city.
Rich in the history and geography of a vast, fascinating continent, Greater Nowheres is also an exploration of solitude, mateship, contemplation, and adventure.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592283969
• ISBN-13: 978-1592283965
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,451,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate!, August 21, 2005

By 

Swamp Fox (Morehead City, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greater Nowheres: Wanderings Across the Outback (Paperback)

Anyone with the least bit of wanderlust in them will find this book thoroughly enjoyable. And even those who have never wanted to travel to far distant places also will find this an excellent read. The Outback of Australia is intriguing by itself and the alternating sections written by the authors is a clever way to get separate views of their experiences across to the reader. The history of each area blends in smoothly with their living experiences and their sense of humor adds immensely to the enjoyment of the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest encounter with the Aussie outback, August 14, 2008

By 

footnote (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Greater Nowheres: Wanderings Across the Outback (Paperback)

I don't get time to read books. I'm one of those people that takes years to finish them. However I finished this one in a week. Has some hilarious moments, and provides a great insight to outback Australia. As an expat West Australian, the book made me homesick for the desolation and space that I've only found in Australia. The authors' wit and sense of humour enhanced the description of the experiences they "endured".

5.0 out of 5 stars "America's favorite librarian," NPR's Nancy Pearl, includes GREATER NOWHERES in her list of "best nonfiction", August 9, 2011

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David Finkelstein - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greater Nowheres : Wanderings Across the Outback (Paperback)

Nancy Pearl, known as "America's favorite librarian" and "America's rock star librarian," who regularly recommends books on National Public Radio's Morning Edition, lectures widely on books and reading, and herself has authored a series of books listing her favorite books, has in her recent "Book Lust To Go" (published in 2010) included "GREATER NOWHERES: WANDERINGS ACROSS THE OUTBACK" among her choice of "best nonfiction" connected to 120 destinations around the world.

Her citation reads as follows:

"I've been lucky enough to spend some time (with family, librarians, and readers) in Australia. It's one of my favorite places not only to visit but also to read about. Some of my top picks follow:
'GREATER NOWHERES: WANDERINGS ACROSS THE OUTBACK' is by two American writers and outdoorsmen. Dave Finkelstein and Jack London (not the same man who wrote 'The Call of the Wild') set out to find a man-eating crocodile known as the 'deadly saltie' and along the way encounter enough unusual sights, sounds, and experiences to make this book so enjoyable."