Shasta and the Shebang Machine

Average customer rating:
Shasta and the Shebang Machine
Katy D. Oana , and Kay D. Oana
Manufacturer: Rainbow Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0895080664

Book Description

This essential guide offers exhaustive coverage of Peru’s adventure travel highlights. It includes a complete guide to trekking, from the coast to the interior, along with the many eco-options. Detailed listings highlight the most interesting places to stay, eat, drink, and party, including where to get the best deals. The guide also gives the lowdown on Peru’s lively history and culture.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I hoped for.......2006-05-26

I just returned from a trip to Peru and this was about the worst guide book I have used. It provided very minimal information of the kind a traveler can use (especially for someone accustomed to the Lonely Planet series; the only reason I got this instead of LP was it was a bit newer). The maps are not very complete, the listings are even worse and there is very little info on the sights they list. Don't bother.

The best on Peru........2005-07-04

The most experienced writers on South America produce the most complete, objective, relevant, orderly, up-to-date guide book on Peru, now also with the clearest maps.
It has more detail on areas of growing interest like El Brujo, Chachapoyas & Huamachuco, newly opened sites like Caral, & getting to them, than any competitors.
Footprint includes websites & still lists individual tour guides, while Lonely Planet includes out of date email addresses & hopes you will buy services from hotels & travel agents on their website.
Cuzco is already saturated with tourists & information, & it is time other areas of Peru be made known in this way.
It should be pointed out that Footprint has Cusco & The Inca Heartland, 3rd Edition (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail) by Ben Box (Paperback - May 25, 2006), to supplement the info in the Peru & South America books.

Solid and practical information.......2005-06-17

I have used the all-encopmassing "South American Handbook" also by Footprint with great success, and this was my first attempt at a specific country guide. I was impressed with the useful and in-depth information regarding each city or town that I visited. The accommodation, food, and entertainment suggestions were spot-on and always just as it said.

The only thing lacking for me was the, um, somewhat skimpy coverage of some of the ancient sites. For example, the suggestion to take a taxi to the ruins of Tambo Machay and walking down to the city (Cuzco) was wonderful, but information pertaining to the specific sites on the way down (Tambo Machay, Puca Pucara, Quengo, and Sacsaywahyman) was restricted to a sentence (or less) each.

Low down: if you want spot-on guidebook for lodging, food, and entertainment listings, and are not as interested in the cultural sites, ruins, museums, and other things to do, this would be a perfect book. If you do want more of the ruins, cultural sites, etc., I would suggest another supplemental guide, perhaps.

Cusco & The Inca Heartland, 3rd Edition (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail)

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Cusco & The Inca Heartland, 3rd Edition (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail)
Ben Box
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Incan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1904777619

Book Description

Cusco, ancient center of the Incas, is now the Gringo capital of South America. This guide showcases Cusco's tasty cuisine, wildly varied accommodations, and ever-changing nightlife, as well as the essentials on whitewater rafting, mountain biking, climbing, and full descriptions of new treks that allow eco-minded visitors to take the pressure off the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Also featured is information on the best tours to Manu and Tambopata jungle reserves.

Backpacker Peru Bolivia & Ecuador (Footprint Backpackers' Latin America : Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador)

Average customer rating:

only good since there are few alternatives
Poorly planned guidebook. Nice pictures though.
Not for Backpackers or anyone else

Backpacker Peru Bolivia & Ecuador (Footprint Backpackers' Latin America : Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador)
Alan Murphy
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Ecotourism | Specialty Travel | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Lonely Planet Peru

ASIN: 1904777341

Book Description

Travel guide to the very best of the region, packed with colour photo's, detailed maps, top tips and traveller's tales. Includes information on sleeping, sights, eating, activities and transport.

Customer Reviews:

only good since there are few alternatives.......2006-08-11

The first 10 pages are great to read in the book store. The rest of the book is not that great. I only bought this book because I was going to Peru and Bolivia for 3 weeks (just returned) and didn't want to carry around two books. For that purpose it was fine and there isn't a recently published alternative. If you are traveling for longer I would recommend buying separate country books as you travel and discarding them as you leave a country. Or consider the slightly larger South American Handbook. Often the two books read verbatim but the larger guide had more information on Peru and Bolivia even though it also included the other SA countries. This book has glossy pages and pretty pictures. These are nice features while browsing in the bookstore but just mean extra weight while traveling.

Poorly planned guidebook. Nice pictures though........2006-05-10

I'd had a quick flip through the first few pages at a bookstore, and since I was only visiting those 3 countries, I bought it for it's convenient size/weight. Oh and at the time it seemed pretty informative and thorough.

Unfortunately on the first day of my trip when I arrived in La Paz, I quickly discovered otherwise. First I couldn't find ANY information on the valley of the moon, save for a barely-there mention at the end of some paragraph on Tihuanaco.
Then there were hardly any cafe/restaurant listings and it's always nice to know where's good to go for some specific types of food (and the previous reviewer said there weren't too many hostal listings either. good thing we had our accom. sorted out beforehand).
It would also have been a lot more helpful if there was more background information on destinations and historial buildings. And a lot less annoying if they placed the map of Old Quito next to Old city guide, instead of having to flip back and forth between pages.
To top it off, a Peruvian guide who's had 7yrs of tour experience in Bolivia/Peru pointed out that a lot of the book's prices were pretty outdated for a 2005 publication.
Overall, I have to say it was a poorly planned/written handbook.

Met quite a few people with "Footprint South America", and they said it's probably the most complete and up-to-date guide out there. Had a look at LP's "South America on a Shoestring" along the way, and even though it's supposedly only OK, it was definitely more informative than "Footprint Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador". Get those books if you don't mind the bulkiness!

Not for Backpackers or anyone else.......2005-08-29

Although this book is supposedly specifically for Backpackers, it is printed in large type on heavy, glossy paper with lots of big color photos, all of which just add bulk. The venerable South American Handbook, also from Footprint, weighs not much more and covers the whole continent. This new book is also short on info ... only 8 accomodations listings in La Paz, vs. about 50 in the SA Handbook. And there is no listing at all for Iquitos, one of Peru's largest cities, or Cajamarca, one of the historically most significant. I have used the SAH extensively, and thought this new book would be at least as informative for the three countries covered .... what a disappointment. Cannot recommend it.

Footprint Cusco & the Inca Trail (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail)

Average customer rating:

Footprint Cusco & the Inca Trail (Footprint Cusco and the Inca Trail)
Ben Box , and Stephen Frankham
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Incan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 190347180X

Book Description

A fascinating city in its own right, Cusco enjoys the privilege of having many of the Peru's top attractions virtually on its doorstep. A short bus trip away are beautiful valleys and Andean towns, while one of the most spectacular sites in all the Americas, Machu Picchu, is easily accessible by train. However, the best way to approach Machu Picchu is along the Inca Trail. This classic four-day trek along well-preserved Inca paved roads passes through Inca tunnels, over breathtaking passes, and into beautiful stretches of cloud forest. This thoroughly updated and beautifully redesigned guide to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the southern jungle, including the Manu Biosphere Reserve covers all the Inca sites, including Choquequirao, with the latest information on the ins and outs of the Inca Trail, and a guide to many lesser-known trekking routes. It also offers special features on adventure travel, including kayaking and rafting, as well as current information on where to stay, play, party, and dine, targeting all budgets and tastes.

Average customer rating:

Dont' bother
Accurate , straight to the point Guide. Highly Recommended
One of best single guides on Peru on the market now.
Strongly Recommended
Most up to date on Trujillo

Footprint Peru Handbook
Ben Box , and Alan Murphy
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1903471516

Book Description

Prized for its natural beauty, rich history, and architectural wonders, Peru is the number-one destination in South America, and tourism is booming amidst the country's current political stability. From the publisher and editor of the legendary South America Handbook comes the fourth edition of the Peru Handbook, a leading source of quality, up-to-date travel facts. Editor Ben Box, aka Mr. South America, shares his irrepressible love for Peru, leading readers in exploring the country's grandeur and variety. A new-and-improved table of contents and a new front map highlighting the best sights help visitors plan their trip, and full-color maps cross-referenced with the text aid readers in deciding where to stay, eat, and take in the local culture. Sixteen pages of full-color photographs inspire travelers to visit the country's classic Inca sites such as Machu Picchu as well as embark on adventure travel expeditions, from white-water rafting in the Cordillera Blanca to trekking through the Amazonian jungle. The book includes a section on Spanish for travelers, with basic language to kick-start the learning curve.

Customer Reviews:

Dont' bother.......2004-12-01

I was ready to burn this heavy book within four days of arriving in Peru. While the book has a lot of information regarding locations of sites, locations of hotels, and locations of restaurants, it doesn't tell you much about those places. Many of the hotels had clearly never been visited by the writers. All of the restaurants we went to that were listed in this book were tourist traps with food that was mediocre at best. Just because it lists every hotel does not mean that it's a good guide. I recommend 'Let's Go' instead. Though it is smaller and covers three countries instead of just Peru, 'Let's Go' seemed to have more useful information, even for those of us who are not student backpackers.

Accurate , straight to the point Guide. Highly Recommended.......2004-11-12

I have lived in Peru for the last 7 years and am constantly looking
for accurate Travel Guides to recommend to the always demanding
clients of our Tour Operating company in South America and to steadily
improve our work on giving pertinent and useful info as well.

Footprint Peru Handbook is original in its kind as it focuses on
information and not storytelling. It has more up-to-date info on the
things you actually need in day-to-day travel, most of it presented in
a factual way rather than using endless pages of interesting but
not-really-necessary info.

From a tour operator point of view, I need to know as many facts as
possible in order to prepare, quote and carry out the tours we offer
to our public. The Handbook is a great source of information in this
area, as I don't have to read around the stories, but get the facts
presented in a direct way

Due to the inclusion of much better maps and a very serious work at
updating the info accurately, the latest edition is a big improvement,
and one of best single guides on Peru currently available.
If you decide to visit the awesome Manu Reserve in the Amazon Jungle,
fly over the mysterious Nazca lines, or If you hike the Inca Trail on
your way to Machu Picchu, this guide is a must as you'll find all the
data you need. As a matter of fact, if you decide you're going to
just Cusco, I'd advice to get this guide instead of a Cusco-only one.
You'll find all you need in Footprint Peru Handbook for sure.

Bart

One of best single guides on Peru on the market now........2003-07-01

I now live in Peru four to six months a year and I have reviewed Peruvian travel guides for the past six years. I must say that the 'Footprint Peru' 4th edition is a quantum improvement over the last edition, and is one of best single guides on Peru on the market now (considering also Rough Guide and Lonely Planet). Another review may appear under my name below but it is for the 3rd edition. Buy the 4th edition.

When it comes to profiling tour operators this guide is superb. If you are hiking the Inca Trail or want to visit the Manu Reserve (Manu only has 7 licenced operators) this guide is a must. The guide has also highlighted some of the NGOs working with abandoned children and environmental issues - applaudable, indeed.

The maps in this edition are much better than the last edition and more user friendly. Many hotels (some hostels) have email addresses and the descriptions and the recommendations are accurate. The sidebars and highlighted information sections are excellent. The restaurant (eating) sections are reliable, however, I found various comments on the decor or music, but `nada' on the food or service.

Ben Box also has a Footprint Guide on Cusco, but I strongly recommend that even if you are going to just Cusco, you skip that guide and purchase this one. This guide is more up to date and reliable. Cusco is in a constant state of change. Many new hotels, hostels and restaurants open yearly and the best place in Cusco, for up to date information, is the 'South American Explorers Club' in Cusco (Lima, also has a club). This guide lists the club and its new address on page 156.

Impressive is the write up on Choquequiaro, 'lost city of the Incas'. Larger than Machu Picchu, and only 30% excavated, it is truly a world class destination and the other guides only give it a slight mention.

The index is basic and could be much better. The guide also lacks an accommodations or restaurant index. Thus, if you have a recommended restaurant you want to look up in a large city (Lima, Arequipa, Cusco etc.) you have to go through all the restaurant pages 'til you stumble across the restaurant you seek or miss seeing it completely.

Offensive is the use of paid advertisements for hotels, tour companies and travel services (there are over 70 ads in this guide - many are full page). Not only are the paid advertisements intrusive, but the advertisements causes one to question the integrity of the guide, especially when a travel company or hotel, with a full page ad, is also strongly recommended by the authors.

The history, politics and culture sections are basic, but do not give you any more information than you could get out of a good encyclopedia. In Peru there is severe environmental damage going on that gets no mention. Also, several ecological alarms are being sounded by various NGOs over the depletion or destruction of various habitats, and, finally, the ineptitude of the government, under the new President, Toledo, is retarding any change. It is alarming that in less than two years the President's approval rating has dropped from 82% to the lowest approval rating in Peruvian history - 14%. The other two contending guides do a much better job of giving a contemporary picture of the state of Peru. For those who want a solid social understanding of this nation, I highly recommend the short, 95 page book, Peru: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture - Interlink Books.

Overall, Footprint Peru 4th edition is a top rated guide. The accommodations, eateries, sights to see and other information is the best guide out to date. You will do well with the purchase of this guide. Strongly recommended.

Strongly Recommended.......2001-12-09

This review is digested. The full review of Footprint Peru 4th edition is above this review. It is a top rated guide. You will do well with the purchase of this guide. Strongly recommended

Most up to date on Trujillo.......2001-11-17

It is good to see an author who spends a week in Trujillo alone, updating the Peru & South American Handbook each 6 months, & getting up to date information published within 6 months. He also visits most of the competition to obtain a balanced view. We wish there were equally serious authors in Spanish language guides. Has anybody ever met anyone from Routard (French guide) in Peru?

Footprint Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador, Second Edition (Footprint Backpackers' Latin America : Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador)

Average customer rating:

Footprint Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador, Second Edition (Footprint Backpackers' Latin America : Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador)
Ben Box
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1906098069

Book Description

Hit the trail and get the best bits from of Latin America! This second edition uncovers the very best of the popular independent travel route through Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador.

Footprints Cusco and the Inca Trail Handbook

Average customer rating:

This is a valuable and good guide, but not a great guide.
An excellent guidebook

Footprints Cusco and the Inca Trail Handbook
Peter Frost , and Ben Box
Manufacturer: Footprint Handbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Incan | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Footprint Handbooks | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1903471079

Customer Reviews:

This is a valuable and good guide, but not a great guide........2003-06-13

This edition is ripe for update (the information in this guide is more than three years old). The lodging and restaurant profiles are adequate, but dated.

I live near Cusco and have seen new and better accommodations, restaurants and dives open up. When I was in Cusco, in May, 2003, Footprint was there researching the next Cusco edition.

The one constant is the information on the attractions and ruins - timeless. Ben Box is at his best describing and touring the spectacular antiquity of Cusco, Machu Picchu and surrounding areas.

When it comes to profiling tour operators, Ben Box is superb. Especially consider his profiles if you are hiking the Inka Trail or want to see Manu Reserve (only 10 lic. operators). He has also highlighted some of the NGOs working with abandoned children and environmental issues - applaudable indeed.

The best place in Peru for up to date information is the 'South American Explorers Club' in Cusco (Lima has a club house too). The address given in this edition is old, SAE moved over a year ago. The new address is 188 Choquechaca #4, Cusco (Tel. 84-245484)

On the downside, the index is paltry and this guide lacks an accommodations or restaurants index. Thus, if you have a recommended restaurant you want to look up in a large city (Lima, Cusco etc.) you have to go through all the restaurant pages 'til you stumble across the name you seek or miss seeing it completely.

The publisher's use of paid advertisements for hotels, tour companies, calling cards and travel services (over 20 ads in this guide - many full page) are intrusive and causes one to question the integrity of the guide, when the same company with a full page ad is profiled and recommended by the author.

Also disturbing and disappointing is Ben Box's quick gloss-over of the rising crime in Cusco. Last year there was a rash of taxi robberies and rapes. The police in Cusco are a joke. Anyone with a car and who sticks has "TAXI" written on the front window is not questioned by the authorities. Thus, criminals cruise in private cars with a "TAXI" sticker and prey on unsuspecting tourists, especially women. Ben Box's coverage of crime and safety in Cusco is basically non-existent. Much better is the more recent 'Footprint - Peru' Guide.

These things noted, Instead of this guide I would encourage you to consider the 'Footprint - Peru' Guide 4th Edition (make sure it is the 4th Ed.). The "Peru" 4th edition has much more than this guide has and is more current. However, when Footprint brings out, the soon to come, Cusco 2nd edition, then I would strongly consider that guide.

An excellent guidebook.......2003-01-20

Have used many guidebooks over the years. This one is excellent. Good background and history, well organized and concisely written. Reliable information on hotels and restaurants and on getting around. It could provide more and more reliable information on shopping with less of an emphasis on handicrafts.

As for most guidebooks, the authors sometimes get carried away by their own enthusiasm for the place.

Book Description

Jules Tygiel’s biography of Ronald Reagan engages students with the compelling story of the man who went from Hollywood actor to President of the United States. This balanced biography considers both the accomplishments and failures of Reagan’s presidency, as well as the contested legacy of his political career even after his death. Incorporating the latest scholarship, Ronald Reagan and the Triumph of American Conservatism examines Reagan both as an individual and in the larger context of the conservative movement.

Customer Reviews:

Must-Read for Conservatives.......2005-01-26

Dr. Jules Tygiel uses simple, forthright prose to assess the accomplishments and evaluate the legacy of one of America's most popular presidents.His admiration for Ronald Reagan's political skills is fairly balanced with his reservations about some of the unfinished business of the two-term administration.This is a book for general readers, not scholars. There are no footnotes and only a brief bibliography, but the tenor of the text is factual and earnest, rather than fanciful and laudatory. All admirers of the 40th President will surely want to read this concise, stylishly-written biography in order to preview the judgements of future generations of historians concerning Ronald Reagan.

A uniter, not a decider.(books on former U.S. President Ronald Reagan)(Book review): An article from: The National Interest

Average customer rating:

A uniter, not a decider.(books on former U.S. President Ronald Reagan)(Book review): An article from: The National Interest
Jacob Heilbrunn
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000VXR2AC
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The National Interest, published by Thomson Gale on July 1, 2007. The length of the article is 5073 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A uniter, not a decider.(books on former U.S. President Ronald Reagan)(Book review)
Author: Jacob Heilbrunn
Publication: The National Interest (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Issue: 90 Page: 79(9)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Ronald Reagan and the Triumph of American Conservatism

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Ronald Reagan and the Triumph of American Conservatism
Jules Tygiel
Manufacturer: Longman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUHSGA

Ronald Reagan And the Triumph of American Conservatism (Weekend Biographies)

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Ronald Reagan And the Triumph of American Conservatism (Weekend Biographies)
Jules Tygiel
Manufacturer: Longman Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

Sprightly assortment of 109 usable, royalty-free illustrations, each in 3 sizes: humorous skiers, anglers, shot-putters, golfers, high divers, hockey and basketball teams, more.

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