Route 66 Quick Reference Encyclopedia (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

With this handy reference, novices and seasoned roadies have quick and easy access to essential information about this famous highway. Providing a list of important terms accompanied by descriptive articles and illustrations, the guide details the route's history—including the origin of the slogan "Get your kicks on Route 66"—commemorative festivals, useful highway terms, maps, and its most famous and quirkiest attractions. A Question & Answer section with trivia questions and their unexpected and fascinating answers provides further information that will allow road warriors to impress friends and fellow travelers with their knowledge of the route, while a supplemental list directs dedicated fans to more detailed information on one of the most historic and beloved drives in America.

About the Author

Drew Knowles is a photographer, writer, and member of the Texas Photographic Society, the Society for Commercial Archaeology, and the National Historic Route 66 Federation. He is the author of Route 66 Adventure Handbook. He lives in Hurst, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press; illustrated edition edition (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595800344
• ISBN-13: 978-1595800343
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #842,703 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Author Responds, November 25, 2009

By	D. Knowles "inveterate roadie" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am the author of the Route 66 Quick Reference Encyclopedia, and, at the risk of sounding defensive, I really must respond to the previous review so that future readers are not deceived and will get useful information here to make informed decisions:

1. The reviewer is correct in stating that there is no index. However, since the main body of the book is an ALPHABETIZED listing of terms and definitions, an index would be mostly redundant. Does your dictionary have an index?

2. The criteria for including topic entries may be obscure, but that's really the point--a Route 66 novice NEEDS an experienced hand to guide him in his quest. As stated in my preface, I've spent many years exploring and otherwise learning about Route 66, and this book is a compilation of the many things a budding Mother Roader should know about, some of them a trifle obscure, but all worth knowing, according to MY EXPERIENCE. If the reviewer thinks "many seemingly important pieces of information don't make the cut," then (a) perhaps they only SEEM important superficially, and (b) what's stopping our friendly reviewer from writing his own compilation?

3. On this the reviewer is confused, and it's partially my fault. The points of interest he refers to on the strip maps are actually somewhat whimsical mock-decals of my own invention, and the titles on some of those "decals" do not appear as defined terms. But I think most readers will readily comprehend that the decal that says DWIGHT ILLINOIS and AMERICA'S MAIN STREET is not intended to refer to any one landmark, and so does not warrant a unique entry--to cite just one example.

4. Finally, the reviewer says, "if you're looking for a Route 66 guide," he'd recommend something else. Again, as with #1 above, I agree. Anyone looking for a "guide" should look for something that has "guide" in the title. This book was never intended as a tool for determining where to make your next left-hand turn--other authors have already provided those tools.

The Route 66 Quick Reference Encyclopedia is very good at what it purports to do: provide quick, pithy access to the type of information one needs to know to hold one's own when chatting with veteran roadies, and perhaps even settling a friendly bet or two.

Happy Travels!

1.0 out of 5 stars Worthless, October 11, 2009

By	Johnny "BarJohn" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Although this book contains some interesting information, it all seems to have been cribbed from other, better, more comprehensive sources - sort of like a high school honors English class project that would have gotten a C.

Specific shortcomings:

1. There is no index. Thus if something is mentioned only inside one of the topic-specific paragraphs, there is no way to find it again.

2. The criteria for becoming a topic entry are very obscure. Minor and intuitive definitions lie side-by-side with obscure and largely irrelevant information. Many seemingly important pieces of information don't make the cut.

3. There are strip maps at the beginning of the book which highlight by city a very few point of interest. However, most of these points of interest ARE NOT MENTIONED in the book itself.

If you're looking for a Route 66 guide, I strongly recommend Jerry McClanahan's EZ 66.