Customer Reviews

World Stompers; A Guide to Travel Manifesto, 3rd Ed.

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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)

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 ...

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.

This book helped me quit my job and travel around the world for 1 1/2 years. Sure I probably would have done it without the book, but reading and re-reading the inspirational chapters in this book helped me to attain my goal. The country maps and descriptions are also a great resourse when planning your trip.

Not sure what the reviewer is talking about in relation to racism. This book, and the author, seem to be very open minded and responsible when it comes to other travelers.

Even if you are not planning a trip as extensive as his, Olsen will open your eyes to the beauty of the world around you. World Stompers is an adventure book, not about death-defying feats of strength or endurance, but about the advenutre of the everyday world both inside and outside our own country's U.S. borders. He encourages the reader not only to seize the opportunity to travel, but to live life to its fullest every day. I have been trying to locate similar books but have been unable. I can only hope Olsen continues his fantastic work.

I'm dissappointed that I spent my money on this book. For a world traveler, Olsen is about as provincial as they come. He distrusts nearly all natives (except those with bongs to share) and encourages readers to travel to distant lands so they can hang out with other westerners and protect each other from the native population. Unadvertised as well, much of his tips relate to how live on $5 or less per day, which even most college students will find unappealling. His advice is overly simplistic and oft repeated.

On the positive side, a few of his travel anecdotes are amusing and he is very enthusiastic about seeing the world. I recommend this book to anyone who's under 21, has no money and wants to get stoned in 19 different countries.

If you're 20 years old and love to drink beer until you puke-- this is your travel guide. It's written as though the author were competing in a frat contest to be the most obnoxious American on the road. He is the CLEAR winner. If you're looking for something more useful - get The Practical Nomad or The World Awaits.

Wow. After reading the love-it-or-hate-it reviews, I decided to borrow this from the library before buying. I am so glad I did.

This book could be titled "the spoiled kid's guide to making Americans even more hated abroad." There is a complete and total lack of respect for other cultures, and a definite sense of "I'll do whatever I want, whereever I want, and if you're offended and you feel like I'm spitting on your culture, then *&$^% you."

If you want to perpetuate the image of americans as spoiled, loud, rude, and culturally insensitive, please buy this book.

I feel like I should apologize on behalf of all Americans that this book even exists.

I read the first edition of World Stompers several years ago and that book, along with Think and Grow Rich, were the two books that changed my life.

I was trying to figure out how I could travel on a budget and World Stompers was a godsend. It helped me tremendously.

Keep up the good work Brad!

Not meant as a definitive guide for traveling, this book is a fun perspective of what's it like to travel to various parts of the world. With drawn maps of each area and cute symbols to designate good cities (smiley) smelly bad cities (frowny) and good vs. bad beaches, highlighted attractions, smoker-friendly, etc. etc. It gives you a feel of what it would be like in certain areas which can be good to target where to go, but also made me feel pre-disposed to a stereotyped vision of what to expect.
It's a fun guide to read before you go, but you'll need other books to reference for your travels.