Customer Reviews

One More Day Everywhere: Crossing 50 Borders on the Road to Global Understanding

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a voracious reader. I've read probably 30 books, fiction and non-fiction in the last few months. This book was the most exciting. More than a travelogue, Glen Heggstad is at least an equal to Paul Theroux in describing his encounters with different people in strange places. I pre-ordered the book from Amazon, so I received my copy on the day it was released. It was fascinating reading! The colored photos of his trip were a bonus. I'm also an avid motorcyclist, having ridden at least a quarter of a million miles in my 75 years, covering most of this continent on two wheels. But reading about Glenn's adventures made me wish that I was young again. My son-in-law grabbed the book from me when I finished and my cousin Bob, also a biker, wants to borrow my copy when the son-in-law is finished. I advised them to get their own copy, but they can't wait. So, buy this book. You won't be dissappointed. As a side note, I don't think that Glen would mind if I told you that all royalties are donated to international aid organizations dedicated to building schools in the developing world.

I read Glen's earlier book several years back. I kind of had to force myself to continue reading through some parts to get to the good stuff.
What a difference with the new book. The author is humbler and more open than before. He takes chances just to see what's there. His writing is more fluid and less confrontational than the TWTT book.
This one is a keeper. I will read it again next winter!

I am only half way through this book, but I can hardly put it down except to write this review, and I have never before written a review of anything. Glen's writing is so eloquent and descriptive that I feel like I am there with him. His courage and tenacity are beyond amazing, and his zeal for freedom and adventure provides me with authentic excitement and passion even if it is vicarious. He has become my temporary hero, and I look forward to savoring each and every page.

Glen is, in fact, an "anthropologist on a bike", a title for his book that I might have chosen. He is brilliant, and is able to dance with a broad spectrum of human nature, revealing it in the most positive and healthy of ways; ways that generate hope for our world. He is able to let go of the conditioned biases and prejudices that we are all programmed to adopt as we endure the constant fear based interpretations of the media.

If you would like to travel the world to places you will probably never get to experience directly, and if you would like to engage with people through a filter of appreciation, read Glen's book. You will not be disappointed.

What a wonderful book except for two common criticisms. First is the dearth of pictures -- is Heggstad the only person to travel around the world and not snap more than a few pics -- we don't even get a decent or clear picture of the author! Therefore, go to the author's website listed in the book for hundreds of [uncategorized] digital photos of this book. My second criticism is the poor mapping included -- it's handy to have an atlas at hand -- Rand McNally's Notebook World Atlas is perfect -- to follow each subchapter as Heggstad's maps are small and vague, nor do they list all the points of his travels! Still, this is a worthy book because the author does it alone. Compare this account to Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman's horribly ill-prepared Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World. MacGregor and Boorman spent every day crying for their wives and children wanting to go home, and they spent the rest of their time ditching and wrecking their bikes. Heggstad broke up with his gal when she called him three weeks in and issued an ultimatum to come home or else. Heggstad notes that it's far easier to travel alone on a bike than in teams of two or more; people greet and welcome an individual more openly.

Heggstad himself must be semi-insane. Like every world cyclist, he insists on going through Siberia. China is essentially closed to wanderers and he explains how before you would be allowed to ride a bike around China, the government would want to know where you're going, whom you're seeing, what you're writing about them, and more importantly, you're not allowed private, foreign vehicles there for fear you'll sell them. Therefore China gets excluded from everyone's "adventure" itinerary. But Heggstad also failed to spend much time driving around Europe. He zipped into Munich, popped over to Czech and Hungary, and then almost straight to Istanbul. You can read between the lines when he gets to Thailand, the tone of the book changes and he gets giddy. Apparently the sex can't be beat as he's getting blown and happy endings every time he steps off his bike, perhaps even while on the bike! He definitely did not want to leave Thailand, and can't wait to get back. He even debates whether to pay a hefty fine to remain over his expired visa!

His dime store wisdom could use more historical study, but he's right that god-belief and gold/control of resources is the root of all evil. Still, his belief that "People get along, governments do not" is clearly illustrated throughout the pages. Over and over, you see that muslims are the source of violence throughout developing regions. When dealing with shy people or government bureaucrats and border patrols, his Will Rogers' "Aw shucks, how is everybody!" gets him out of the toughest jams over and over. I recommend this book to anyone, and I can't wait to buy another Heggstad title.

This is a book you won't want to put down! Great adventures, written by a great storyteller. It is unfortunate the publisher was not able to include more of the outstanding photographs. Fortunately, the book contains an internet link to more photos, which are really fun to view after reading the book. It lets you compare the pictures you have formed in your mind after reading Glen's vivid descriptions with the actual scenes themselves.

This book could've been so much better. I got the impression that Glen was a USA apologist who felt that ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE was better than America.

In many, many parts of the book he ridiculed silly Americans for visiting sterile foreign countries and enjoying themselves! And, for shame, they even spent capitalist dollars in ritzy restaurants!

His mantra of, "Why can't everyone be like me?" got old very quickly. While traveling through filthy, corrupt countries where he was robbed and threatened by the "wonderful" natives, he constantly reminded the reader of the evils of America. Classic example: the way he yearned to be back in his beloved California, while three pages later he tore down the USA's way of life as decadent.

No, Mr. Heggstad missed numerous opportunities to write about the facts and keep the America-hating vitriol to himself.

But, like others of his ilk, he just couldn't help himself and all the reader gets from reading his account is a bitter, angry "world citizen" who attempts to shed his American skin by celebrating the "rich" cultures of 3rd world countries.

Another beautiful and ironic example of Mr. Heggstad's naïve and misguided : He ridiculed US State Department warnings as silly and intended to scare Americans from visiting wonderful countries. Hmmm, tell us about your experiences with the "wonderful" natives in Colombia. Were you treated like a world citizen? (SPOILER ALERT: Fore those of you who haven't read Mr. Haggsted's book about that trip, he was taken hostage and tortured by Columbian terrorists...just like the State Department warnings had cautioned Americans against.)

Sorry, I am selling this book for whatever I can get for it and buying Jupiter's Travels. I have read--and prefer--One Man Caravan; I recommend those two books for those who loving adventure motorcycling AND love this country.

This is a fantastic book to have on your kindle! I can appreciate this book from two different perspectives:

1. Purely as an interested reader learning about cultures and societies
2. As a fellow rider

So here goes:

for #1: He does a great job illustrating that "people are people" no matter where he goes in the world. For the most part, they show him kindness, support and enthusiasm. He is innundated with invitations for tea, lodging, meals etc. While he does have some negative experiences with theft and less than welcoming governments, overall the folks he meets wish him success and safe travels. It's a testament to the human spirit.

for #2: I also recently downloaded "Ghost Rider:..." by Neil Peart. Neil's journey was a little different and filled with a little more cynicism (sp). Neil took to the road to 'find himself' after the tragic deaths of his daughter and wife within a year of each other. Given that Neil is an incredible lyricist, as 30+ years of RUSH has shown, his descriptive narrative is phenomenal. I wish that this book had more descriptive narrative of the places visited. Peart decribes the Artic circle, Alaskan wilds, and the warmth of Coastal Mexico and Belize with such incredible imagery that (as a rider) you yearn to hop on your bike and ride there to see it yourself.

having said that, this book is a great choice for a relaxing day on the beach, by the pool, on your hotel balcony, or while flying/in airports. Highly recommended!

I have recently spent 3 weeks in China, so have some firsthand experience interacting through a language barrier with people in a developing country. Glen is able to get accross the "flavour" as well and the geographic and political differences of the countries he visted and the people he met. I feel the book gave me a basic familiarity with the countries he visited. It is not so much a book about Motorcyling as it is a book about the interaction of different cultures one on one.

Bought the book after reading parts of his travel diary on ADVRider board. His style is concise, sharp, funny and self-deprecating.

It's impressive that someone can keep a consistent journal amid such intense adventures.

Although such a book will automatically appeal to fellow riders, it would be of interest to anyone needing that little nudge to go travelling.
The book does not get weighed down with technical details but is instead packed full with insight and thoughts about the people, cultures and countries met first-hand from a lone traveller's perspective.

Thoroughly glad I got the book, would recommend this to anybody and not just to bikers. cheers.

I was a bit skeptical to read another "travel book". I have found some -most- to miss the true essence of the actual experience of travel.
This book not only is an inspirational travel log that made me want to get out and see the world, it reminded me of why I myself travel. Very well written and quite honest. I definitely recommend this great-easy- read!