Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants (Anthology) [Paperback]

Don George (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005 | Series: Anthology

Lonely Planet knows that some of life's funniest experiences happen on the road. Whether they take the form of unexpected detours, unintended adventures, unidentifiable dinners or unforgettable encounters, these experiences can give birth to our most profound travel lessons and illuminations, and our most memorable - and hilarious - travel stories. This collection presents 31 globe-girdling tales that run the gamut from close-encounter safaris to loss-of-face follies, hair-raising rides to culture-leaping brides, eccentric expats to mind-boggling repasts, wrong roads taken to agreements mistaken. The collection brings together some of the world's most renowned travelers and storytellers with previously unpublished writers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the essays in this anthology of travel pieces are by an unusual mix of veteran travel writers and beginners, common threads run throughout: travel is surprising; it often tries your patience; and it teaches life lessons. Selected from entries in a competition on the Lonely Planet Web site, these tales of global journeys are almost uniformly funny. In "Blackout in Ushuaia," novelist and editor Michelle Richmond takes advantage of the lights going out on vacation at a South American ski resort with her husband by seizing the moment for a little lovemaking. Getting locked inside a Dutch men's room has travel writer Doug Lansky feeling like he's doing time in a solitary jail cell. In "The Afghan Tourist Office," first-time writer Alexander Ludwick tries to extend his visa with a nutty singing and dancing official who does a manic jog before applying his rubber stamp to the author's documents. Although a few stories in this book are too short to elicit a belly laugh, others will provide a riotous howl and a yen to wander. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

With the proviso that readers should approach anything labeled "humor" with a 10-foot-long barge pole, this collection of "humorous tales" is a genial enough gathering of "misadventures" from some of travel writing's bigger names. And so Jan Morris shares the instant karma delivered upon her for not traveling first class, as she quotes the British navy as traditionally doing. Simon Winchester describes "the most perfect hotel in the world" (London's Connaught) and the singularly remarkable event that once happened there. And the collection's venerable editor, George (he's now Lonely Planet's "global travel editor"), offers up his experience of grandly and unknowingly ordering an entire octopus in a Neapolitan restaurant. By design a lightweight book, this collection of 32 short pieces will provoke sympathetic nods, if not a steady flow of laughter, from its readers. For the larger travel collection. Alan Moores
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741046068
• ISBN-13: 978-1741046069
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,356,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice traveling companion, May 8, 2006

By 

Bill Staley (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants (Anthology) (Paperback)

A good collection of travel stories. A lot of variety. Almost every story leaves you wanting to read more by that author. Many stories leave you thinking. The collection is a perfect companion on a solo trip, because the stories are short but interesting. When I finished the book, I didn't want to leave it in a hotel room. But I can think of several people who would enjoy it, so I guess I will end up buying more copies. Which I will be happy to do. (Not a big deal, but ... I wish the short bios were at the end of the stories and not at the beginning. I don't care about the author until I read the story. Many bios had a little twist that did not make sense until you read the story.)

1.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe this book got published, June 1, 2011

By 

Bormanator (Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants (Anthology) (Paperback)

I'm sorry, but these stories are so boring and un-funny! I read six to try and find something interesting, to no avail. I've traveled quite a bit and I expected some exotic adventures and humor, but I was disappointed. I expect more from Lonely Planet.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best, March 9, 2009

By 

Courtney Minor "CC" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet By the Seat of My Pants (Anthology) (Paperback)

Admittedly, I've only read the first couple of stories, but they weren't all that interesting or humorous. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it (I'm 20, and need real adventure and excitement). I wasn't able to continue on with reading any other stories.