Customer Reviews

Traveling Route 66

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

 

 

It's small but its got it all. Rather than turn out another normal size book on Route 66 the publishers had the great idea of making it pocket size, four by six inches, landscape and with FOUR-HUNDRED all-color pages. I predict that this will be the standard book for those who want to make the trip. Each of the eight states that 66 goes through has a chapter, they start with a simple map, comments about landscape and climate, then the text details what to look for along the way, with the help of historical and contemporary photos, a linear map with places and mileage goes across the top of all of these pages.

Between all the route pages are some lovely spreads of Route 66 Americana which repeat themselves throughout the book, Route Food (pages 174-175 has Red-Hot BBQ Beef Ribs) Transport (168-169 has a 1936 Harley-Davidson) Music of the Road (Woody Guthrie on 156-157) and Famous Sites (Wigwam Village, Holbrook, AZ, on 294-295). The books production is excellent, good choice of photos, well laid out pages (a tip of the hat to designer Phillip Clucas) with colourful graphics behind the text on most of them. The back has a book list, useful resources guide (including websites) and index.

I recently reviewed 'The Final Cut Route 66' by German photographer Gerd Kittel. Eighty-three wonderful photographs of what he saw along 66 and I think it is the perfect book to complement Nick Freeth's travelogue. Kittel has the knack of producing really good color in his photos. Both books do justice to a unique and fascinating bit of America.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Compared to other Route 66 books, this one rates far below them. I can appreciate the love for the mother road in it, but there's too much fluff. I don't care about what songs the author recommends, or the cars. There's also some glaring mistakes, which could throw you off. If you want to travel '66, this is NOT the book you want to use.

For a "look see" book, OK, but your money would be better spent on something like "Route 66: The Mother Road" by Michael Wallis.

If you want to travel the route, spend you money on "Route 66 Adventure Handbook: Updated and Expanded Third Edition" by Drew Knowles or "Route 66: EZ66 Guide for Travelers" (best choice) by Jerry McClanahan.

If I had it to do over again, I would not have purchased this book.

Don't let the size of this book fool you. Approximately the height & width of a post card, it is packed with vibrant full color pictures and information. Archive photos, current conditions of Route 66 icons and roads, and text that is very well written. Even regional culinary receipes from the Mother Road! What more could you ask? An excellent book for both actual and arm chair Route 66 travelers.

This book has become my introduction to the Mother Road legacy and it was unforgettable experience! Perhaps, its most thrilling feature is in a "stereoscopic" layout of the pages where vintage and contemporary photos neighbor "native" food receipes and period vehicles. Now that I have sensed ambience of the past and have get my kicks I can readily recommend reading this book before, during and after a real trip.