Book Description
From the seaside resort of Llandudno to Cardiff''s awesome Millennium Stadium, the Rough Guide to Wales tells you all there is to know about this beautiful and varied country. The 24-page, full-colour section introduces all of Wales'' highlights, from the world-famous Valleys and Welsh male voice choirs to the trendy bars of Cardiff Bay and the suprisingly tasteful delight of Welsh Laverbread. In addition, there are two, brand-new, 4-page, full-colour inserts: ''Literary Wales'' and ''The Battle for Wales''. The guide includes hundreds of listings of the all the top places to eat, drink and stay, whatever your budget, plus brand-new ''author picks'' to highlight the very best. There is plenty of practical advice on outdoor pursuits, including some of the best mountain and coastal walks, and activities from surfing on the Gower to rock-climbing in Snowdonia. The guide takes a detailed look at Wales'' history and culture, from the Celts and druids to modern post-devolution politics. The guide comes complete with maps and plans for every region.Â
Customer Reviews:
A good start.......2007-06-22
After travelling in Europe with the Lonely Planet guides for Paris and Barcelona, I found this guide somewhat more difficult to navigate. However, I suppose you must consider that the city guides will generally be more detailed than those for an entire country.
Although the guide gives a wealth of attractions, restaurants, and sleeping options for the various regions, I found it a bit lacking in maps and "how to get there" information. In addition, I would have liked it if the author had included a more website references. Finally, for some of the hotel and restaurant options, it would have been nice if there was some system used to denote how cheap or expensive a place was.
If you plan on using this book as your primary reference for your visit to Wales, I highly recommend purchasing a good map and plan on doing a lot of driving.
Good for detailed site information, but poor job updating.......2007-05-17
Like other Rough Guides, this book excels in its depth and breadth of coverage - if a town isn't covered, it does not have very much for the tourist. However, I was very disappointed by the out-of-date price information found in this ostensibly brand-new guide. While I don't expect guidebooks to be perfect, it became obvious that they had not contacted many of the bed and breakfasts they list for many years, as rates I was quoted were often almost twice as much as the Rough Guide price! In a couple of cases, the proprietor was no longer doing B&B, and had not been doing so for several years! So buy the Rough Guide for its detailed site information, but look elsewhere if you need accomodation advice.
Rough Guide to Wales.......2007-05-13
Great book for sightseeing and understanding history. Would be a perfect book if a bit more info on dining and shopping was added.
Could have used more opinions.......2003-05-12
My husband and I just toured Wales with this book and bought it because of the evaluations from other Amazon readers. I'd like to add my two-cents -- we were disappointed (probably because it came highly recommended). There is lots of information but no opinions so all items read as "this is the facts" == which is good but missing a "trip must see" or a "don't go out of your way" evauation. With a limited time to tour, we would have liked a guide to some of the must-sees.
In all fairness, all the facts are there and correct.
A very useful guide.......2002-09-20
This was the first Rough Guide I bought for the first of my solo
vacations. I chose it after comparing with various other guides,
such as the Blue Guide and others. This provided an immense
amount of detail on all sorts of historical sites, little towns,
etc. and was of great value in planning out my trip. One thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is that I later discovered that there are a number of "dark age" monuments (forts, inscribed stones, gravesites, etc.) that it doesn't list; it concentrates on larger places. I would have liked to have seen alot of those, as dark age Britain is an interest of mine. To be fair, other guides leave those things out, too, and I had to find the info in archeological and historical references.
Book Description
From the glens of Loch Lomand to the lively Edinburgh festival, the Rough Guide to Scotland tells you all there is to know about this stunning and varied country. The 24-page, full-colour section introduces all of the ScotlandÂ's highlights, from the spectacular wildlife of the Hebrides to the deserted golden beaches in South Harris, with three additional 4-page, full-colour inserts: Â`FestivalsÂ', Â`ArchitectureÂ' and Â`Great Outdoors/ActivitiesÂ'. The guide includes a new Â`author pickÂ' section of the countryÂ's top hotels and restaurants, plus lively reviews of hundreds of shops, bars, clubs and the best places to sample the local whiskies. The guide takes a detailed look at ScotlandÂ's history, literature, politics and cultural life with new details on the countryÂ's most controversial buildings project, the new Scottish Parliament. There is plenty of practical advice for experiencing the great Scottish outdoors, from bagging a munro to whale-watching on Mull. The guide comes complete with maps and plans for every region.
Customer Reviews:
The best guide book I've seen.......2007-10-06
This is absolutely the best guide book for planning a Scotland tour. Mine is so worn out I'll have to purchase another one soon.
A great choice.......2007-02-15
Their histories are never as entertaining as Rick Steves', but everything else about them is great for a traveler looking for economic options.
Very thick book filled with nothing.......2007-01-03
I prefer the Let's Go series of travel guides, but purchased this guide because the Scotland section in Let's Go Britain 2007 is fairly small, and I thought a dedicated guide might be worthwhile in discovering more of Scotland.
So far, I am highly disappointed with this guide. It is full of historical, political, and other "social studies" type knowledge, but has very little practical information for trip planning. It is a dry read compared to the eager writing of the Let's Go Britain guide. The authors of this book seem like they are trying to keep an impartial view, which is not really an approach that works.
Prices are not included for most things in the book, which is extremely frustrating and makes it nearly impossible for a person on my (reasonable but not infinite) budget to plan. Additionally, very little information is given on how to reach the sites mentioned in the book. The information given is vague, with statements like, "just outside of Aberdeen," and no further detail. Again, this level of detail is insufficient for planning a successful trip. My time outside of the U.S. is precious to me, and I do not want to spend it getting lost.
The last thing I want to mention about this guide is that because of the lack of any rating system, there is actually too much information. Because no attempt is made to specify which sites are most memorable or impressive, everything in this book flows together. Many places of interest are described, but I am left with the feeling that they are all equally worthwhile (or perhaps NOT worthwhile because of the same-y tone of the guide), and have no idea how to decide which ones I should see. I'm sure they all ARE worthwhile in their own way, but I don't have time to see anything, and some editorial guidance would be appreciated.
So far, I have ended up planning my entire trip using only the small section in the previously mentioned (and highly recommended) Let's Go Britain 2007. If you have a large budget, know little about the history of a country and want to learn more, are willing to give yourself a little time to find places, and do not want any opinion in your guidebook (which some might prefer), the Rough Guide might be for you. It does have a large quantity of information and is obviously well researched, which is why I did not give it 1 star in the rating.
Caveat emptor.
Great book to travel with..........2006-09-17
This was the 1st Rough Guide I had ever purchased & I have to say, I was very happy with it. The layout of the book was convenient to use,with sections of the book dedicated to each region in Scotland starting from the south part of the country to the north, which is how most people travel when in Scotland. The restaurant reviews & recommendations were very accurate, as was information on points of interest. Having this book to guide my trip enhanced my travel experience & I will be purchasing books from Rough Guide for my future travels.
Rough is right.......2006-08-20
It's good for history, but "Guide" is a very loose translation. I might term it the "curmudeon's view of Scotland" instead. It really gives no guide on how to get around in the country from place to place, it focuses on destinations but the book is not helpful with getting there. The maps are totally inadequate. For example, I wanted to go from Glasgow up to Skye and it was impossible to find what to see or where to stay along that route without consulting a different map and then looking in the Rough Guide's skimpy index for the names of towns along the way (that were only found on the other map I bought). For my purposes this is not a good guide at all. If you already know where you're going and how to get there and what to expect along the way, and just want some history and current facts about what is there, it will be good for you.
Customer Reviews:
I think the author(s) didn't have such a good time there..........2006-06-23
...some not very nice comments are made about england, a lot of them over generalized for sure... some of it is true maybe, but certainly not all of it. they're a little unkind on the issues of the english people's lack of friendliness, especially in london, and it is a surprise this made it to press
Book Description
Explore every corner of this unspoilt and dramatic area with the fully-revised fourth edition of the Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands. From walking along the deserted beaches in South Harris to whale-watching in Mull - inspired by dozens of photos - the 24-page, full-colour introduction highlights all the ''things-not-to-miss''. In addition, there are two, brand-new, 4-page, full-colour inserts: ''Wildlife'' and ''Food & Drink''. The guide includes listings of all the top hotels, guesthouses and the best places to eat and sample the local whiskies. There is plenty of practical advice for exploring the great ''Scottish'' outdoors, from bagging munros to skiing on The Cairngorm mountains. The guide comes complete with maps and plans for the entire region.
Customer Reviews:
Very Useful.......2006-08-07
I used an earlier edition of this guide three years ago on a trip to the Orkneys and found it very useful then. Now I am using it to plan a trip to the Outer Hebrides next summer.
An Updated Guide for the Thinking Traveler.......2006-08-02
Most travel guides to Scotland consist of lots of photographs taken on the best weather days, bumper sticker location descriptions, a few travel hints, and listings for high-end accomodations. The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands aims at a somewhat more demanding audience, those readers who have already decided to visit Scotland and want honest and substantive travel narrative, along with practical details about a range of accomodations and travel possibilities.
This rough guide is densely packed with the kind of information one gets from the locals. It favors maps, graphics, and written description over photographs, although a nice selection is included. The guide provides a narrative oriented along the major travel routes, with enough description to allow travelers to make their own choices about what might be worth visiting and what should be avoided for overcrowding. A useful amount of historical detail is provided about many points of interest without overwhelming the reader. The information about hiking, biking, and other outdoor fun is enough to permit advance planning, while pointing the enthusiast toward additional details once on the ground in Scotland. Discussions about accomodation and dining center on mid-range facilities, and includes some inexpensive hostels and bunkhouses. The information on trains, planes, and automobiles will allow the traveler to figure out his or her own itinerary in Scotland, where the travel infrastructure can be fairly limited.
This book is highly recommended to those planning a vacation in the Scottish Highlands or Islands.
Proved its usefulness in the field, summer 2002.......2002-09-01
.
If we had relied solely on our standby Scotland Blue Guide this August, we would have had a very difficult time. IN retrospect, we could have dispensed with the Blue Guide, and soloed with the Rough Guide. Rough Guide's Highland volume provided us with a basic reality check early on: we would not be able to see as much as we wanted, and would have to make trade offs. Rough Guide made those trade offs far easier. In each geographically based section, they provided a list of the area's key points to hit. (Blue Guide has a hierarchy also, but it's not nearly so easy to tap into.) And while some of Rough Guide's advice on accommodations and restaurants may go out of date, it was nice to have that information (Blue Guide chooses not to cover these aspects).
We knew little or nothing about the Highlands a few weeks ago... Rough Guide helped us have a very good time.
How to get there?.......2001-03-13
This book was thorough, but strangely unhelpful. Many regions/towns are listed, but with no depth. Each entry tells geography, and interesting things to see, but no idea of how to get there, where to stay. The main advice for each town: call the travel office. There are no recommendations for the "must see" vs. not that interesting. If I had a teleporter and knew I wanted to see Loch Ness, this would be useful book. Otherwise, it is not helpful for planning a trip to the Highlands. And I can't imagine taking it with me when I go.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to London is the definitive insiderÂ's handbook to one of EuropeÂ's most exciting cities. A full-colour section introduces many of LondonÂ's highlights with expert coverage of all the sights, from Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament to lively Covent Garden and the attractions of the South Bank. The guide includes comprehensive accounts of the cityÂ's neighbourhoods from swanky Kensington and Chelsea to trendy Clerkenwell and Hoxton. There are up-to-date reviews of many of the capitalÂ's hotels and restaurants, plus detailed coverage of LondonÂ's shops, pubs and clubs to suit all budgets.
Customer Reviews:
Rough Guide: London........2007-01-05
This book gives ou a nice overview of the region, and incredible specific tips for visiting London.
good detail.......2006-07-21
I tend to like the rough guides, they go into much detail on the sites. An alternative is an audio guide. soundwalks(i think more for NYC) and www.talkingtrip.com are also great for london guides.
The rough guides I think are one of the better alround books.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Devon and Cornwall is the ultimate insider''s handbook to one of the most beautiful and popular regions of the UK. In this new edition, there is a 24-page full-colour introduction to the author''s pick of the attractions and activities, from the cliff-top Minack theatre to a helicopter ride to the Isles of Scilly. The guide provides expert coverage of all the major sights, from the wild expanses of Dartmoor to the Eden project and critical reviews of the best restaurants, pubs and accommodation in every area. There is also practical advice for the host of outdoor activities available, from surfing to rambling and horse riding to diving.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reference.......2006-11-04
We just completed a two week trip to Cornwall, and used this guide extensively. We found it accurate and meticulous, a rare event. For travel, our favorites have been the Michelin Green guides because they are light, compact, and carry an extraordinary amount of information. This guide meets all those criteria. We particularly appreciated the maps... so many guides have good information, but no maps... and this really slows a tourist down! Great book!
Book Description
INTRODUCTION
Perched on the rocky fringe of western Europe, Wales often gets short shrift in comparison to its Celtic cousins of Ireland and Scotland. Neither so internationally renowned nor so romantically perceived, the country is usually defined - if it is known at all - by its male voice choirs and tightly-packed pit villages. But there's far more to the place than the hackneyed stereotypes, and at its best, Wales is the most beguiling part of the British Isles. Even its comparative anonymity serves it well: where the tourist dollar has swept away some of the more gritty aspects of local life in parts of Ireland and Scotland, reducing ancient cultures to misty Celtic pastiche, Wales remains brittle and brutal enough to be real, and diverse enough to remain endlessly interesting.
Within its small mass of land, Wales boasts some stunning physical attributes. Its mountain ranges, ragged coastline, lush valleys and old-fashioned market towns all invite long and repeated visits. The culture, too, is compelling, whether in its Welsh- or English-language manifestations, its Celtic or its industrial traditions, its ancient cornerstones of belief or its contemporary chutzpah. Recent years have seen a huge and dizzying upsurge in Welsh self-confidence, a commodity no longer so dependent upon comparison with its big and powerful neighbour of England. Popular culture - especially music and film - has contributed much to this revival, as has the arrival of a National Assembly in 1999, the first all-Wales tier of government for six hundred years. After centuries of enforced subjugation, the national spirit is undergoing a remarkable renaissance. The ancient symbol of the country, y ddraig goch or the red dragon, seen fluttering on flags everywhere in Wales, is waking up from what seems like a very long slumber.
Once you've crossed the border from England into Wales, the differences in appearance, attitude and culture between the two countries are immediately obvious. Wales shares many physical and emotional similarities with the other Celtic lands - Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Brittany and even Asturias and Galicia in northwest Spain. A rocky and mountainous landscape, whose colours are predominantly grey and green, a thinly scattered, largely rural population, a culture rooted deeply in folklore and legend and the survival of a distinct, ancient language are all hallmarks of Wales and its sister countries. To the visitor, it is perhaps the Welsh language, the strongest survivor of the Celtic tongues, that most obviously marks out the country. Tongue-twisting village names and vast bilingual signposts point to a glorious tale of endurance against the odds, slap next to the heartland of English language and culture, the most expansionist in history. Everyone in Wales speaks English, but a quarter of the population also speak Welsh: TV and radio stations broadcast in it, all children learn it at school and visitors too are encouraged to try speaking at least a fragment of the rich, earthy tones of one of Europe's oldest living languages.
Customer Reviews:
A great guide.......2007-06-13
This guide breaks Wales down into several sections, and does a great job of highlighting the best things to do and see in each part. I would recommend the Rough Guides to anyone - a great series.
Best Wales Guide out there.......2006-06-09
I searched and searched for a good travelers guide to Wales. this is the best I found. I did utilize the wales visitors bureau for more options in accomodations, but if your doing a driving tour of Wales, this book is perfectly set up for that. It hits every little highway and biway, town by town, region by region.
We are planning our itinerary by it.
Lots of Good Info.......2004-09-26
I just got back from a trip to Wales. I had this book and Lonely Planet. This book had much more information, good maps and even good cultural and historical background. And it still fit in the back pocket of my jeans! It directed me to the Black Boy pub in Caernarfon - in business since 1533, so they say - and the Farmer's Arms in St. Davids and it was worth it for that alone. I particularly like the neolithic sites on Anglesey and this book directed me to some very interesting tombs, dolmens, stone circles, etc.
Book Description
INTRODUCTION
Scotland not only defies description, it gets positively irritated by it. Clichéd images of the place abound - postcards of hairy Highland cows, tartan tins of shortbread, ranks of diamond-patterned golf jerseys… and they drive many Scots to apoplexy. And yet Scotland has a habit of delivering on its classic images: ruined castles really do perch on just about every hilltop, in summer the glens inevitably turn purple with heather and, if you're lucky, you just might bump into a formation of bagpipers marching down the village street on gala day.
Scotland is a difficult country, where Celtic hedonism intertwines, somehow, with stern Calvinism, where the losers of battles (and football games) are more romanticized than the winners. It's often defined by its scenery - known to make poets weep, but half the time hidden under a pall of drizzly mist. The country's major contribution to medieval warfare was the chaotic, blood-curdling charge of the half-naked Highlander, yet it's civilized enough to have given the world steam power, the television and penicillin. Chefs from Paris to Prague rhapsodize over Scottish wild salmon and Aberdeen Angus steaks, even while the locals are tucking happily into another deep-fried supper of haggis and chips.
Naturally, the tourist industry tends to play up the heritage and play down the contemporary, but beyond the tartan lies a modern, dynamic nation. Oil and microprocessors now matter more to the Scottish economy than Harris tweed. Edinburgh still has its genteel Royal Mile, but just as many folk are drawn by its clubs and cappuccino culture, while out in the Hebrides, the locals are more likely to be teleworking via the internet than shearing sheep. The Highland huntin' shootin' fishin' set are these days outnumbered by mountain bikers and wide-eyed whale-watchers. Much as folk bands are knocking out old tunes on electronic fiddles, reinvention of tradition has become a Scottish artform.
Stuck in the far northwest corner of Europe, Scotland is remote, but it's not isolated. The inspiring emptiness of the wild northwest coast lies barely a couple of hours from Edinburgh and Glasgow, two of Britain's most dense and intriguing urban centres. Ancient ties to Ireland, Scandinavia, France and the Netherlands mean that - compared with the English at least - Scots are pretty enthusiastic about the European Union. EU money has been poured into the infrastructure, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, funding numerous arts projects and sustaining the national identity. By contrast, Scotland's relationship with the "auld enemy", England, remains as problematic as ever. Despite the new Scottish parliament established in Edinburgh in 1999, with its new-found power to shape Scottish life, many Scots still tend to view matters south of the border with a mixture of exaggerated disdain and well-hidden envy. Ask for a "full English breakfast" and you'll quickly find yourself put right. Old prejudices die hard.
Customer Reviews:
A well-thumbed guide . . ........2004-10-16
Circumstances permitted us only a one-week visit to Scotland, and this book helped us make every day full and enjoyable. It led us to out-of-the-way places we never would have found on our own. Its straightforward descriptions made it easy to choose among several options in any area that we traveled through.
Thus we found Innerperfray Library with its librarian, Mr. Powell, and his entertaining personal tour, walks in the woods of Glen Coe and Loch Leven, the slate quarry at Ballachulish, the island of Inchmahome and the ruins of Inchmahome Abbey, a cruise in a small boat along unspoiled Loch Shiel, Doune Castle (where an anxious crew was shooting a TV commercial), and dinner with excellent food in pleasant surroundings - and way off the beaten track - at An Crann, in Balavie, near Fort William.
The book's listings of accommodations, however, seem more for the hardy. We found reasonably priced and comfortable hotels through local tourist offices, for which the book also provides contact information.
The best of the 3 books I took to Scotland.......2004-06-16
I took 3 books to Scotland -- Rough Guide, Frommer's, Fodor's (all 2004) and this was clearly the best. It was bigger and had more detail than the other's which was very useful when travelling 2200 miles around the country and wondering what there was to do or where to eat while in transit between planned stops. Rough Guide had lots of interesting things to do and places to visit in areas where the other two books had nothing. Fodor's and Frommer's tended to be more opinionated which was sometimes useful and I did find a good accommodation from Fodor's one night, but if I was only to take one book, it was clearly Rough Guide.
Outstanding.......2002-09-20
This was my fourth Rough Guide, and was perhaps the best of them all. It contains an incredible amount of detail on all sorts of historical monuments, large and small. This guide helped make my trip to Scotland perhaps the best of my vacations. Highly recommended.
Outstanding and Invaluable Resource.......2001-08-19
In travelling through Scotland this summer, I found this book invaluable in pointing out important places to visit. Particularly impressive was the way it would imply avoiding certain sections and areas of the country, but never denigrating anything. It is a thorough guide for the whole country, and I found it's analysis interesting and thought provoking. It also makes a good read when you are not even travelling. This is an outstanding book, without question.
Lots of Info; not all accurate.......1999-10-01
While this guide does have loads of information, I did not find the description of the accomodations to be particularly accurate. And after a day of driving and/or sightseeing, I do appreciate comfort and expect it if it's been foretold.
Amazon.com
As a 10-year London veteran, London: The Rough Guide author Rob Humphreys offers the ultimate insider's view into how to get under the skin of the city he calls home. In addition to the detail-heavy "basics" like getting there, visas, money, and phones, this guide's specialty areas offer something for everyone including lesbian and gay London; classical music, opera, and dance; theater, cabaret, and cinema; galleries; shops and markets; sport; festivals and special events; kids' London; and an essential directory listing everything from lost luggage contact numbers to dentists.
Museums are delved into, often with room-by-room coverage, so you can pick your "must-sees" and better plan your visit. Italicized margin notes offer useful information including the nearest tube (subway) or train stations, where to get tickets, opening hours, and other helpful tidbits like "the river walk may not be accessible during very high tides." London's food has come a long way from shepherd's pie, and a restaurant directory boasts everything from Tex-Mex to a vegetarian's delight: lentil pizza.
To help you put it all into perspective, the back of the book offers an architectural chronology accompanied by main historical events, plus an enticing list of films and books that lend insight into the real London.
Book Description
Slim, stylish and pocketable, Rough Guide DIRECTIONS London is full of ideas for week-long breaks or flying visits to one of Europe''s most exciting cities. In full-colour, the guide is packed with inspired suggestions for visitors, from âIndulgent London’ and âMuseums’ to âClub-Bars’ and âRiverside London’. Flip to the practical âPlaces’ section –split into 24 chapters– and explore the city, district by district, from central London to less obvious areas such as Smithfield, Clerkenwell and trendy Hoxton. Every sight, restaurant, bar and shop is located on user-friendly maps. The handy basics section covers everything from arrival and city transport to listings of cinemas and theatre venues.
It''s like having a local friend plan your trip!
Download Description
Rough Guides brings you the ultimate handbook to our own backyard. Our writers venture from Rough Guides' Soho headquarters into every part of the city with true insider aplomb. You'll find the latest bars and clubs, the hottest neighborhoods, and the newest trends, as well as a thousand years of colorful history and culture served up with Rough Guides' signature insight and irreverence.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic!!!!!!!.......2007-03-14
I pre-ordered this book as I am gearing up for a return trip to London. This is a fantastic book. Very helpful and the maps are clear and concise. I would highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to London.
Excellent and thorough travel guide.......2006-05-07
This is definitely one of the best London travel guides available. There is only one reason why I did not give it five stars, that being the lack of detail on the maps. The maps in the Eyewitness London guide are much better (though that guide lacks the kind of detail that the Rough Guide offers in other parts). The organization is outstanding, which is very important given London's enormous size. Other than the maps, everything else is absolutely outstanding.
Very thorough and comprehensive but also very long........2002-12-20
Rough guides, in general, are the BEST. However, I feel that although this book would be extremely useful for someone moving to London or currently living in London who wants to get to know it in EXTREME depth, it is WAY WAY WAY too long (672 pages) for the casual visitor who may be spending just a few days there. It would take you more time to go through the book (even just skimming) than doing the actual sightseeing itself. You are better off getting the RG to England or Britain, both of which have very extensive information on London but information which can be digested on a short visit. The London guide is simply too long for a book on just ONE city - even if that city is London.
.....
ridicuolously slanted polemic against parts of london.......2002-04-21
The Rough guide to london is the most biased guide book i have ever read. I really don't understand why one would put a political bias in a guide book - but Rob Humphreys seems obsessed with both bashing the Rich and the British Conservative party a as well as gossipping about peoples sex lives. Such things have no place in a guide book. I would suggest you look at the Lonely Planet Guide which is much much better.
A very readable in-depth guide........2000-09-03
I visited London for the first time in March 2000. I selected this guidebook based on favorable experiences with other books from this series. London is a huge, complex city that can overwhelm a first time traveller. This book made it very easy to to find my way around. I don't expect any travel book to be completely accurate in describing accomodations, restaurants and other commercial venues in a fast-changing urban environment. However, I found this one to be right about 98% percent of the time.
Some nice features of this book were detailed sections on activities for children, and better than average information for gay/lesbian and disabled travellers. Another real bonus is the suggested reading section at the back of the book. I found some very worthwhile books there that I have been reading as background for my next London trip.
Book Description
Still going strong after four decades, The Rolling Stones are the ultimate rock band. The Rough Guide to The Rolling Stones explores every aspect of the music, and charts how Mick, Keith and the boys invented rock stardom. Features include: The Story: From the blues clubs of 60s Chelsea to the world tours and millionaire mansions, The Music: 50 essential songs and the stories behind them, plus the albums, bootlegs, soundtracks and solo projects, The Entourage: the girlfriends, managers and musicians, from Jerry Hall and Marianne Faithful to Andrew Loog Oldham and Nicky Hopkins, The Rolling Review: the movies, books and websites Â- all the Stones info youÂ'll ever need. This Rough Guide leaves no stone unturned.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive Guide to the World's Oldest (oops, sorry!) Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band!.......2007-07-25
Similar to their volume on the Beatles, this Rough Guide gives us an overview of the life, times and music of the Rolling Stones. In spite of the Stones' longer career, author Sean Egan still manages to pack a lot of information on Mick, Keef, Charlie, Bill, Brian, etc. in the book's 303 pages.
Egan divides his Stones chronicle in three sections: "The Life," "The Music," and "Stonesology," the last being a grab-bag section with biographies of all the band members along with information on 'almost Stones,' Stones women, Stones in print and in movies, Stones myths, etc.
The first two sections are an interesting, illuminating look at the Stones life and times and the music they made. To be honest, I lost interest in the Stones around 1972 when their greatest(!?!) album, "Exile on Main Street" came out. And, in reading this book, I started to loose interest in the Stones story about the same time.
Not that Egan's writing turned sour or anything. But, after 1972, it seemed creating great ROCK lost out to creating PRODUCT, the endless personal feuds between the Glimmer Twins, drugs up the yazoo, making money and more money and more money, etc. After 1972, the Stones were about business not music and the story just isn't that interesting.
In any case, given the $14.99 price tag, you can't ask for a better introduction to Mick & Company. Those new to the Stones will find an interesting, nicely illustrated introduction to the band. Stones vets may find a surprise or two.
Good Overview of All Things Stones.......2006-12-25
The Rough Guide series is ambitous, to say the least. For an author to teach a reader ALL there is to know about a band that's literally been around since most of us were babies is a daunting task. What to put in? What to leave out? Magically, the author has done a pretty darn good job covering the greatest rock and roll band of all time (minus one in my opinion, as I give the Beatles a slight edge). From the beginnings to the present, every album, every song, every relationship, is covered. Sidebars contain useful information on topics such as the difference between rock and roll and rhythm and blues and put the RS story in historical context. This is an excellent reference guide for a casual listener as well as someone who owns most of the Stones material, as I do. And though I think the author is unduly harsh in his assessment of the Stones' modern works, I can respect his opinion as someone who has obviously done his homework. Lots of good photos and illustrations augment this text. A fun book that would make a great gift for any Stones fan. I guess I'll have to go out and buy the Beatles Rough Guide now.
Four and a half stars. Recommended.
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- The Rough Guide Venice Map (Rough Guide City Maps)
- The Rough Guides' Barbados Directions 2 (Rough Guide Directions)
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- The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2007 (Unofficial Guides)
- The Unofficial Guide to London (Unofficial Guides)
- Top Trails Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks: Must-Do Hikes for Everyone (Top Trails)
- Trail Atlas of Michigan: Nature, Mountain Biking, Hiking Cross Country Skiing (Maps & Atlases)
- Villa Decor: Decidedly French and Italian Style
- Walt Disney World and Orlando for Dummies (For Dummies Series)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Best Baby Products, 9th Ed.
- Vol. 8 - Antonio Carlos Jobim and the Art of Bossa Nova: Jazz Play Along Series
- A Majority of Scoundrels: An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company
- C++ GUI Programming with Qt 4
- Batman: No Man's Land, Vol. 5
- Authoring a PhD Thesis: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Dissertation
- Financial accounting: Objective questions and explanations
- World Development Report 2005: A Better Investment Climate for Everyone
- A Woman of Independent Means
General
| Great Britain
| Europe
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Lonely Planet Wales
Hidden Places of Wales: An Informative Guide to the More Secluded and Less Well-Known Places (Hidden Places Series)
Lonely Planet Wales
The Rough Guide to England 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
The Rough Guide to Scotland, 7th Edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
