Around the World in 50 Years: My Adventure to Every Country on Earth

by Albert Podell

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156	6	177,565	(3.38)	3
"In 2003, Albert Podell realized that he'd been to 110 countries in the world. What if, he wondered, he could go to them all? He would set foot in not just the well-known tourist destinations in Europe or the vacation spots in Latin America, but the little-known, far-off lands that most people don't know exist. In Around the World in 50 Years, Podell recounts the misunderstandings, detours, accidents, breakdowns, robberies, and even wars that he needed to overcome to visit every corner of Earth. He describes his encounters with voodoo rituals, fruit-bat pie, the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon, Cuban counterintelligence agents, the New Guinea wigmen, camel caravans, the Lord's Resistance Army, and much, much more. With a wry, exuberant style, Podell's observations on the unusual and exotic places that lay beyond the usual tourist trails make this book a standout on the travel writing shelf"--… (more)

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some of the stories are interesting, but he's kind of a skeezy old man and sometimes it's gross to read about him trying to hit on young women in hostels to bang. Having been the young woman in a hostel in that situation before, not appreciated.

Jenniferforjoy | Jan 29, 2024 |

Story of Albert Podell, an American who sets a record for the longest car journey ever made around the world. After that he sets a record by going to every recognized country on earth.
It is an understatement to say he had a few adventures. !! He had a ton and the book is filled with scary, stressful, terrifying and hilarious recounts of countries. He encounters extremes of life. He is witness to way too much poverty in Africa (TIA:This is Africa). Way too much political uneasiness and religious persecusion in Middle East. He seems to spend a lot of the book talking about these places rather than the cafes in Paris. This bookl is a great learning experience. (

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Smits | May 5, 2017 |

This should have been a great book, but it wasn't. It really is a 2.5 star book. The first five chapters are from the 1960's and the rest are spread out since then. It is very sexist but not in a funny way almost in a parody of the guy writing it. He is clearly a product of the Playboy Magazine/ Mad Men/ hip and swinging 60's, but the stories are almost just fun facts and highlights of places he has been. The book closes with where things are around the world but by this point I didn't really care what his opinions were anymore. (

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zmagic69 | Feb 22, 2017 |

"this was interesting but not particularly evocative"
read more: http://likeiamfeasting.blogspot.gr/2015/10/around-world-in-50-years-albert-podel... (

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mongoosenamedt | Oct 22, 2015 |

An engaging book about the travels of Albert Podell to every contry on Earth. Al tells us all about his extensive travels. From A to Z, he's been to each country. In the book he describes the hardships of actually entering various countries, some of the food, however grotesque and unappealing, he ate, and all about the adventures which made his life's work so worthwhile.

A good airport/airplane read! (

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briandrewz | Jun 27, 2015 |

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Around the World in 50 Years: My Adventure to Every Country on Earth

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Albert Podell

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"In 2003, Albert Podell realized that he'd been to 110 countries in the world. What if, he wondered, he could go to them all? He would set foot in not just the well-known tourist destinations in Europe or the vacation spots in Latin America, but the little-known, far-off lands that most people don't know exist. In Around the World in 50 Years, Podell recounts the misunderstandings, detours, accidents, breakdowns, robberies, and even wars that he needed to overcome to visit every corner of Earth. He describes his encounters with voodoo rituals, fruit-bat pie, the Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon, Cuban counterintelligence agents, the New Guinea wigmen, camel caravans, the Lord's Resistance Army, and much, much more. With a wry, exuberant style, Podell's observations on the unusual and exotic places that lay beyond the usual tourist trails make this book a standout on the travel writing shelf"--

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