World Stompers : A Global Travel Manifesto [Paperback]

Brad Olsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2001

A newly updated and revised edition of this world travel classic with more illustrations and resources. "This brightly colored post-psychedelic cover conceals what may be more than you ever knew existed about travel." --"Chicago Tribune."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Brad Olsen has four recommendations for today's college graduates: work abroad, study abroad, volunteer abroad, travel abroad. Olsen took his own three-year, self-financed, solo journey to 28 countries on 5 continents after his graduation from business school, and World Stompers, now in its fifth incarnation, is his travel manifesto for other intrepid young people willing to travel for extended periods on the cheap. His is a candid book: while he waxes prolific on the benefits of freestyle traveling, he also lays out the inevitable setbacks and hardships. And while Olsen clearly likes to party while he travels (hence the sections "Stoner's Trail" and "Partyer's Trail"), he's clear about the need for self-confidence and discipline. The book's best chapters discuss setting goals for the three elements essential to planning a stomp: time, money, and desire, with an emphasis on disciplined savings habits, achievable objectives, and old-fashioned hard work; how to deal with setbacks by making backup plans for such mishaps as getting injured, ripped off, or finding yourself plain lonely; and keeping expenses down. The "Stomping Grounds" section scans the various travel circuits (Far East, Europe, etc.) with brief and candid descriptions of each country (in Algeria, "Just the color of your skin may be a one-way ticket home...in a body bag. Bad scene, don't go.") and visa requirements.

"Traveling," says Olsen, "should be an individual statement; don't rely on a guidebook too much." This holds true for World Stompers. While it's an excellent primer, there are some glaring problems. The "Staying Well" chapter includes some very important advice, but never mentions AIDS, a rampant problem in many of the countries discussed. The information on some countries has clearly not been updated--Zimbabwe, for example, which has seen serious interracial violence for well over a year, is described as mostly harmonious. Most disappointing, however, is Olsen's attitude towards locals in the poorer countries. While he raves about meeting people, he's mostly referring to other travelers. He's cautious about befriending locals, an unfortunate attitude among even some budget travelers from affluent nations. Take it from this veteran world traveler, most locals are far more interesting--and interested in you--than Western travelers. Olsen is otherwise gung ho on taking risks; it's a tragedy he missed out on this one. --Lesley Reed

From Library Journal

Adventurous and alternative teens and twentysomethings will find many interesting, and potentially useful, features in this oddball travel book. Primarily based on Olsen's experiences working temporary jobs after college to save $10,000 and go around the world on a very tight budget, his book is more about the overall experience of travel than a traditional guidebook. Although he does include standard information like what to bring, where to camp, and safety, Olsen also plugs in tips on starting up a house-painting business, working for cash and not reporting it as income, learning "The World's Top 10 Stoner Meccas," and how "to get along with Asian men...be their over-friendly drinking pal." If you think your clientele will be served by such travel coverage, then this might be a great addition to your collection. If you want a typical travel reference, you'd best stick with Let's Go or Fodors.?Thomas K. Fry, Penrose Lib., Univ. of Denver
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: CCC Publishing; 5th edition (January 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888729058
• ISBN-13: 978-1888729054
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #600,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BRAD OLSEN's passion for travel goes far beyond his seven currently published travel books. As a professional writer, artist, photographer, producer, and publisher, Brad Olsen wears many hats and enjoys the challenge. When it comes to extensive world travel, few in the business have the "on the road" experience he has acquired. Brad visited 21 countries in 2004 while researching his new book on sacred sites in Europe, and has been to over 50 countries in his lifetime.

PUBLICATION CONTRIBUTOR
His bi-monthly travel column for Heartland Healing Magazine "Sacred Destinations: On The Road with Brad Olsen" is currently being considered for syndication. He is also a Contributing Editor for 'World Explorer" magazine. Brad Olsen has contributed to several Rough Guides titles, including the "World Party" book.

BOOK PUBLISHING
Brad Olsen has been a published artist since he was 14 years old. Starting in 1979 as a political cartoonist for his high school newspaper he continued his craft five years later at Illinois State University's college newspaper. His comic strip was renowned for its witty satire and biting criticisms. A decade later he founded Consortium of Collective Consciousness Publishing in San Francisco, the city where he resides. The company has produced ten book titles including "In Search of Adventure: A Wild Travel Anthology," featuring 80 different authors. "Key to Solomon's Key: Secrets of Magic and Moasonry" by Lon Milo DuQuette continues to sell through print runs. Brad's first book "World Stompers: A Global Travel Manifesto," now in its fifth edition, was lauded by film director Oliver Stone as a "subversive masterpiece of travel writing" and Publisher's Weekly labeled it a "quirky chain pleaser." His travel web site relating to the book (www.stompers.com) was Microsoft Network's "Site of the Week" and continues to rank as a "Top 5%" Lycos site.

BOOK SERIES
His critically acclaimed "Sacred Places: 108 Destinations" series added author Karen Tate last in 2005 with her "Sacred Places of Goddess" title. The first book in the series "Sacred Places: North America" was released as a second edition in April, 2008 to rave reviews. "Sacred Places Around the World" was reissued as a second edition in February, 2004. His newest book is "Sacred Places Europe: 108 Destinations," released March, 2007. Brad is also the author/illustrator of the "Extreme Adventures" series of adrenaline-pumping guidebooks. "Extreme Adventures Hawaii" and "Extreme Adventures Northern California" were both released by Hunter Publishing in 1998. In July, 2005 he was interviewed for the Outdoor Life Network new extreme sports series called "The World's Wildest Rides."

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Brad Olsen has developed a proposal for a television series highlighting the wonder and mystery of worldwide sacred places. It is currently being shopped around at major cable networks. His commentaries have appeared on National Public Radio, CNNfn and the Travel Channel. Brad enjoys public speaking on journeys to sacred places and extended global explorations.

www.bradolsen.com
www.cccpublishing.com
www.stompers.com
www.howweird.org
www.peacetour.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book shows the true spirit of independent travel!, June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: World Stompers: A Guide to Travel Manifesto (Paperback)

I have traveled independently to 64 countries and still found the book very interesting and informative. I'm 38 and still traveling 2-3 months a year by backpack.Once independent travel is in your blood it is hard to shake the feeling.The author has expressed the natural high of world stomping better than any other travel book on the market. I have 100's of books on travel and this book gives me goose bumps when I read it. My 18 year old daughter who hates to read picked up the book and she cannot put it down either. Now Jessica; my daughter is preparing her own world stomp. Looking forward to other books by the author.Steve Kay(AKA: Have Nikon Will Travel)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let me clarify ..., February 13, 2002

By 

Brad Olsen (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Stompers : A Global Travel Manifesto (Paperback)

Dear Amazon shoppers,

Of the seven books I have written this is the first Amazon review I have compiled for one of my own books. There is certainly some wrong information in the other reviews regarding my first book "World Stompers: A Global Tranvel Manifesto" now in its fifth edition. Allow me to address my critics one at a time:

1. I am extremely well-traveled, and I'm certainly not a novice with a backpack by any means. For example, in 2004 I traveled to 21 countries and 12 US states. But "World Stompers" was based on a three-year, self-financed trip around the world in the 1990s where I gathered all the information used in this book.

2. The website with the same name is entirely different than the book. Sometimes negative reviews reflect a disgruntled web surfer, not someone who has read the book.

3. This book is written entirely for first time long-term travelers. All you globetotting travel veterans would have learned this info too, and I can see why it's easy for you to badmouth this book, but understand, IT WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR YOU!

It is written entirely for those who want to see the world, on their own terms, with little $$, for long periods of time. I was doing it in my 20s, now I am in my 40s, but this book is as timeless as its ever been. Every month I get letters thanking me for writing it and motivating them to travel. A few months or years on the road is still the best education any young person of the world can recieve ...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good motivational read for prospective travellers!!, July 4, 2006

By 

Jon Tall (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Stompers : A Global Travel Manifesto (Paperback)

I managed to take a short (7 week) trek through South America during my college days and am currently planning a larger-scale open-ended world trip. This book offers great motivation and shall help one to keep the dream alive as they slave away to save up the cash. Based on my own travel experiences, I found this book to be highly accurate in its descriptions of how the general backpacker circuit functions. However, the chapters on the various individual circuits around the world can be entertaining (On the Stoner's Trail), but they barely scratch the surface. This book should be seen as a general introductory guide to travelling and (contrary to the author's recommendation) should be supplemented with an up-to-date guidebook for the region or country of interest (Lonely Planet and Let's Go are good ones).

This book is worth reading and, if nothing else, shall motivate one to complete the hardest task of travelling; setting off.