Lonely Planet

Reality makes the best fiction, and these legends, monsters, mysteries, ghosts and more take a look at some of the oddest and unexplained things of our world.

Broken down into the continents and larger areas of Earth, this book slides through a variety of mysterious, odd, and sometimes, creepy things found all over the globe. A table of contents on the first pages makes referencing certain ones simple. Each chapter begins with a short introduction, which draws readers in with an atmospheric show more description and hints at the mysterious and strange things that area holds. Then, a detailed 'key' lists the specific topics found in the chapter along with the page on which it can be found. A rough map correlates with the the key to give readers an idea where the strange things originated or are located.

Everything from Ogopogo to bioluminescent bays to the Darvaza Gas Crater and even aliens get a quick moment in the spotlight. The pages hold real life photos or helpful illustrations to bring the information to life, and these are fun to flip through just to get a glance at the variety. The information surrounding all these topics appears as short paragraphs over each two-page spread. These each hold a question or title to highlight different theories, facts, or possibilities. They are quick, short, and interesting, never tip-toeing into boredom or long babbles. While some of the information might already be known, many tidbits will raise eyebrows. Plus, the explanations often make readers think about the logic and connections between various aspects. There are several sections with highlighted mysteries, which have been solved as well. I found this to be a nice touch, since it reminds readers that there are answers...and these are waiting to be discovered. To round everything off, there's a glossary and an index at the end.

Middle graders (and even older readers) eager to learn more about the stranger side of our world are sure to enjoy this collection. It's interesting, surprising, and holds a large variety. show less

The Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008 is a terrific armchair-travel book. And for me, only armchair-travel -- its destinations are mostly high-adventure (think Papua New Guinea), and its recommendations for areas such as "Pakistan's mountainous northern region" are absurd. Still, its smooth, heavy pages, outstanding photography, and special sections on Islamic travel and themed travel (35 categories including friendliest countries; endangered places; mythical places; jail-cell hotels; strange show more museums; etc) are lush, educational, and inspiring. show less

This may be one of the best travel guides I've seen. Well-organized, packed with useful information, and attractively put together. Also, one of the few guides that can be read for pleasure, and like travel itself, with something interesting just around the corner if you pay attention.

I’ve read several Lonely Planet books, and while their “travel guides” leave me flat, their “travelogues” (i.e. Bluelists) inspire enthusiasm and awe. This book is definitely of the latter type, beautifully produced with lively writing and stunning color photographs.

A world map shows all the locations at a glance. Then, each of the 50 “wonders” (20 natural, 30 man-made) gets individual treatment in an image-heavy section that opens with a “you are there” narrative, using show more the second-person point-of-view to immerse the reader in the experience of the place. There’s a deconstruction of the science and/or engineering of it, although, especially for the most ancient wonders, it’s often still a guess rather than knowing for sure. For the travel-minded, there are also details about how to get there, what else to do nearby, and similar sites elsewhere on the planet.

My favorite of the naturals: Giant’s Causeway, the honeycomb-like landscape of hexagonal basalt columns in Ireland. My favorites of the man-made: Palm Jumeirah (island) and the Burj Khalifa (skyscraper), both in Dubai. My biggest surprise: that an aerial photo of the Mt. Everest area looks like a cross-section of cauliflower or the brain.

The photos are wonderful to browse through and the information-rich text makes this a book to read cover-to-cover and keep.

(Review based on a copy of the book provided by the publisher.) show less