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

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

What I have only just observed about this guide to Vietnam is that it is "Lonely Plant's "best of Vietnam". and it really focuses on just 12 sites in Vietnam. So when we set off on our packaged tour I could not understand how the guide had no section at all which cover Nha Trang...the massive beachside resort and tourist mecca where we were destined (as part of our package) to spend 4 days. So, first warning, this is not a comprehensive guide to Vietnam. I have just noticed that Lonely show more Planet also produce another guide called Vietnam ...and presumably it is more comprehensive. But, it does cover most of the places we visited and with a reasonably comprehensive and sympathetic treatment. If we had more time and were not on a package, I think I might have preferred to go to the places recommended by Lonely Planet. The main issue being lack of time. It is quite impossible to do justice to a city like Ho Chi Minh in one or two days. (I think we had three nights there...but much of our time was taken up with getting to and from airports). I liked the sections at the back on history and culture and hints for tourists. All of this was helpful. Bottom line is that this is quite a useful guide to Lonely Planet's best picks in Vietnam but it's not a comprehensive guide. show less