Lonely Planet The USA Book: A Journey Through America (General Pictorial) [Hardcover]

Karla Zimmerman (Author)

Book Description

Series: General Pictorial | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

The USA Book combines arresting photography with sharp and compelling content, organized by state with additional sections on popular themes, regional identities, road trips and US territories. More than 400 photographs illustrate the unique qualities and diversity of the 50 states. The book contains informative and engaging details on each state, including history, culture and traditions, politics, myths and legends, trademarks and essential experiences. The Best Road Trips chapter and maps highlight the USA's top six road trips, from Route 66 to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Special spreads highlight key themes and issues, from arts and architecture, to innovation and exploration, and oddball America.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 1 edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741047323
• ISBN-13: 978-1741047325
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lavishly illustrated coffee table style book, January 4, 2010

By 

Ripple (uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet The USA Book: A Journey Through America (General Pictorial) (Hardcover)

Lonely Planet has always had a penchant for the slightly quirky approach - and this is no exception. It's a beautiful, interesting, coffee table style book lavishly illustrated throughout.

The book starts with its least successful bits - brief chapters on the biggest, longest etc, and then a series of themes too large to be at all meaningful in a book of this nature on Arts & Architecture, Music, Food and Drink etc. There are also brief looks at the major regions and several great Road Trips.

Then, we get into the meat of this large tome. Each state is given around four pages looking at:

- history
- landscape
- natural beauty
- trademarks
- people
- representations (particularly interesting)
- culture and traditions
- cuisine
- economy
- urban scene
- did you know?
- myths
- essential experiences

And each state has a number of full colour pictures - not your typical tourist images but often of people, food, etc.

It's totally dip-into-able and frequently fascinating. I've docked the book one star though because while some of the images are fantastic, the quality of others is not quite up to what I'd call "National Geographic standard".

In a country as large as the US, it's all too easy to identify omissions from various chapters (why no mention of the Sopranos in New Jersey for example) but that misses the point of this book in my opinion. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK!!!!, January 5, 2012

By 

Jennifer M Pinta (Carbondale, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lonely Planet The USA Book: A Journey Through America (General Pictorial) (Hardcover)

This was the best book that I ever purchased. In fact, I baught as many as they would let me. Meeting friends from all over the world, it was the best book to gift for those whom are not from the US. It explains so much about us, its scarey. 4 pages for each State...I even asked my friends if the 4 pages from their State were acceptable...and the authors were right on. From redneck games to route 66....I would definately recommend giving these to your friends overseas. I wish I had found this book earlier.