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Travel as a Political Act

 

Travel as a Political Act

Product Description

Travel connects people with people. It helps us fit more comfortably and compatibly into a shrinking world. And it inspires creative new solutions to persistent problems facing our nation. We can’t understand our world without experiencing it. Traveling as a Political Act helps us take that first step.

There’s more to travel than good-value hotels, great art, and tasty cuisine. Americans who “travel as a political act” can have the time of their lives and come home smarter—with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of today’s world and just how our nation fits in.

In his new book, acclaimed travel writer Rick Steves explains how to travel more thoughtfully—to any destination. He shares a series of field reports from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East to show how his travels have shaped his politics and broadened his perspective.

www.ricksteves.com

About the Author

Rick Steves is the host, writer and producer of the popular Oregon Public Broadcasting television series Rick Steves’ Europe. Over the past 15 years, Steves has hosted nearly 100 travel shows for public television (most still airing in rebroadcasts) and numerous pledge specials. In 2005 Steves launched a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. He has also written twelve country guidebooks, nine city and regional guides, six phrase books, and co-authored Europe 101: History and Art for Travelers. His guidebook to Italy is the bestselling international guidebook in the U.S. In 1999, he tackled a new genre of travel writing with his anecdotal Postcards from Europe, recounting his favorite moments from 25 years of travel. He lives in Edmonds, Washington.

Product Details

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon’s Rick Steves Page

Inside This Book

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Key Phrases – Capitalized Phrases (CAPs):
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Understand Iran,
Liberation Theology,
Europe Unites,
Central America,
Sampling Secular Islam,
Former Yugoslavia,
After the War,
European Union,
United States,
Grüss Gott,
Northern Ireland,
Civil War,
Cold War,
World War,
San Salvador,
Latin America,
Brand of America,
Union Jack,
Supreme Leader,
Islamic Revolution,
Pusher Street,
Sri Lankan Dream,
Eastern Europe,
Oscar Romero,
American Dream

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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18 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)
 

 
 
 
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Travel Perspectives -, July 28, 2009

Steves believes travel should bring us together, and ever since his first overseas trip (age 14) he’s spent a third of his life overseas; for the last 30 years he has taught people how to navigate the logistics of travel, mostly in Europe.

While unapologetically proud to be an American he also enjoys learning by observing other societies, and sees travel as a way to make the U.s. even stronger. Fear of terrorism is an irrational barrier to travel, per Steves, and he cites the numerous recent years of total safety as proof. Travel has also taught him that we don’t have a monopoly on bravery or grit.

Anyone can learn that half the people on this planet are trying to live on $2/day, and a billion on less than $1 – but traveling to the developing world and coming face-to-face with these “statistics” makes the problem more real.

The bulk of the book then summarizes his recent travels around the European area. The former Yugoslavia shows the psychological and physical damage left from a tragic war, the European Union is molding a free-trade zone while maintaining its cultural diversity, Denmark shows contemporary socialism and a society rated the most content in the world, Turkey and Morocco offer a moderate side of Islam within fast developing nations, Netherlands and Switzerland offer a different approach to drug policies, and Iran demonstrates how fear and fundamentalism can lead a nation to trade democracy for theocracy.

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27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Take a (Guilt) Trip With Rick Steves, May 20, 2009

Rick Steves is at it again. He used to tell people to travel “close to the ground,” spending less money by staying in hostels and mingling with locals on free museum days. Now, realizing that his aging readership demands ensuite bathrooms and has more money than time, he’s adjusted his guidebooks accordingly. He even runs a booming tour business, even though you just know he has no respect for people who take package tours. His heart is in the guidebooks that encourage you to travel on your own, the Rick Steves way.

And that is what he advocates in Travel as a Political Act – travel the Rick Steves way. Early in the book, he reveals that as a young tour guide, he tried to shake up his tour members by not making hotel arrangements until the last minute. Sometimes he waited too long to make reservations and there were no rooms left, so the group had to camp out. He wanted to teach them what it felt like to be homeless. While acknowledging that this was not a good practice for a tour guide, he still has a spark of that teaching-people-a-lesson attitude. In his own words, he is “evangelical about travel.”

How do you make travel a political act? This is where it gets a bit vague. Get out of the bus (or cruise ship or car or RV) and talk with people. Observe how people live. Get out of your comfort zone and explore the parts of town that are less touristy. Learn how what our government does affects people around the world. Or how it doesn’t affect them. When you come back home, vote thoughtfully. Talk politics with people who disagree with you. Bring up touchy subjects like poverty and drug policies. Teach people a lesson.

Travel as a Political Act is a short book (around 200 pages) with lots of photographs. Rick recycles some stories from his guidebooks, blog, and TV shows (”…zees cheese. It smells like zee feet of angels.”), and mixes serious with upbeat. He is less reticent these days about talking religion. He’s never been reticent about talking politics.

It’s a fun read all the same. I read it on the plane going to Europe, but I’m afraid I acted like a typical tourist once I got there. Stayed at a chain hotel, shopped, looked at the sights. Had a great time. I’m probably no better than the cruise ship tourists that he mocks. I didn’t change the world. Maybe next time.

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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful provacative and wonderful, June 21, 2009

For those who want the American way of travel with a five star hotel and predictable food, this book will not appeal to you. For those like my family who love learning about other cultures and respecting different ways of living, its a wonderful book.

Yes, the author has written the most personal book he has ever written where he shares his views on America and how and why some countries do not like the government. And having seen way to many ‘ugly Americans’ when traveling, I am glad he was so honest. And if the book helps just a handful of Americans who will travel, to stop and think before they speak when abroad, then this is a reason for 5 stars.

Much of the book deals with how to travel well as an informed traveler. We love staying away from tourist areas and always seek out quiet visits to local book stores, small eateries off the beaten path where the locals eat, small hotels or bed and breakfast style places. And we love visiting old cemeteries to do headstone rubbings.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderfully unique travel book
The Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has a great phrase about how Americans should interact with the rest of the world (I’m paraphrasing a bit): “We have to stop thinking of…
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Published 23 days ago by Erik Anschicks


5.0 out of 5 stars
Every traveler needs to read…
Rick Steves shares a perspective on the world that needs to be taught to every civics class and world history class; the world does not look like America everywhere!
Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Clifford


5.0 out of 5 stars
This Should Be Required Reading for All School Children
I read TRAVEL AS A POLITICAL ACT (on Kindle) and was most impressed with the entire presentation of people as people. When I travel, I like to get off the beaten path.
Read more
Published 1 month ago by Madelon Wilson


5.0 out of 5 stars
Traveling with eyes and heart and mind wide open
A message implicit in the Rick Steves travel philosophy behind his ultra-useful Europe travel guides is at the center of this wonderful, unique book: your responsibilities as a…
Read more
Published 1 month ago by A. Forsyth


5.0 out of 5 stars
Great purpose for traveling.
The main idea and the message to the audience is wonderful.
Yes, I love to travel and I travel to learn the cultures NOT to be a tourist in a bubble. :)
Published 1 month ago by Karine Armen


5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read !!
Rick delivers a 1, 2, punch on this knockout travelogue if you will. The book is definitely a must read and very insightful, if not eye opening on what is happening in the world…
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Published 2 months ago by S. Eastman


5.0 out of 5 stars
Loving this book
Last night I picked up a copy of Travel as a Political Act and then stayed up until midnight reading.
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Published 2 months ago by Donna


1.0 out of 5 stars
Keep this book out of the classroom
Rick Steves has every right in this free country to write a book pushing his political views about the world and the USA.
Read more
Published 2 months ago by Judy in Omaha


5.0 out of 5 stars
A key survey any travel collection and many a sociology library needs
Rick Steves’ latest book explains how to travel more thoughtfully around the world, offering his experience as a series of field reports from Asia, the Middle East, and more.
Read more
Published 3 months ago by Midwest Book Review


3.0 out of 5 stars
Too much travel and not enough politics.
Rick Steeves Travel as a Political Act is a quick and entertaining read with a great deal of good photos throughout the book.
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Published 3 months ago by D. Saverino

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This entry was posted on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 7:43 pm and is filed under Costa Rica. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Travel as a Political Act”

  1.   Steves believes that travel should unite us, and people from his first trip abroad (14 years) who has spent a third of their life abroad for the past 30 years has taught to navigate the logistics of travel, mainly in Europe.
      While unapologetically proud American also enjoys learning by observation of other companies, and believes that travel as a way of making the U. S. even stronger. Fear of terrorism is an irrational barrier to travel, by Steves, and cites numerous recent years total security on the test. Travel also taught that we do not have a monopoly on courage or grit.
      Anyone can learn that half the people on this planet are trying to live on $ 2/day, and a billion on less than $ 1 – but who travel to developing countries and give face to face with these " statistics "makes the problem more real.
      Most of the book are summarized below his recent travels around the Europe. The former Yugoslavia shows the physical and psychological damage to the left of a tragic war, the EU is molding a free trade while maintaining its cultural diversity, Denmark shows contemporary socialism and a society as the most content in the world, Turkey and Morocco offer a face of moderate Islam in rapidly developing nations, the Netherlands and Switzerland, offer a different approach to drug policy, and Iran shows how fear and fundamentalism can lead a country to trade in democracy for theocracy.

  2.   Rick Steves is new. He used to tell people to travel "to the ground, spend less money by staying in hostels and mixing with the local population free museum days. Now, realizing that their aging readership demands bathrooms and has more money than time, the tightness of their guides accordingly. He even has a tour business booming, even though I only know they have no respect for people taking package tours. His heart is in the guidelines that encourage you to travel on your own, the way Rick Steves.
      And that's what you stand on the trip as a political act – the way Rick Steves travel. At the beginning of the book reveals that as young tour guide, who tried to shake his tour members not to make hotel arrangements until the last minute. Sometimes they waited too long to make reservations and had no rooms left, so that the group had to camp. I wanted to show them how it feels to be homeless. While acknowledging that this was not a good practice for a tour guide, still has a spark that teaching people-to-the attitude of the lesson. In his own words, "evangelical about travel."
      How can travel a political act? This is where it gets a bit vague. Exit the bus (or cruise ship or by car or RV) and talk to people. Observing how people live. Leave your comfort zone and explore the parts of the city that are less touristy. Learn how our government does affects people worldwide. Or how not affected. On returning home, the vote thoughtfully. Talking politics with people who disagree with you. Bring sensitive issues such as poverty and drug policy. Teach people a lesson.
      Travel as a political act, is a short book (around 200 pages) with lots of photographs. Rick recycles some stories of his guides, blog, and TV shows ( "Zetas cheese …. It smells like zee feet of angels."), And mixed with serious optimist. He is less reticent to talk these days about religion. It has never been reluctant to talk politics.
      It's a fun read all the same. I read on the plane going to Europe, but I fear I acted like a typical tourist once I got there. Stayed in a chain hotel, shopping, looked at the sights. We had a great experience. I'm probably better than the cruise ship tourists who laughs. Do not change the world. Maybe next time.

  3.   For those who want the American way of traveling with a five-star hotel and food predictable, this book will interest you. For those like my family that I love learning about other cultures and respect different ways of living, is a wonderful book.
      Yes, the author has written the most personal book he wrote where he shares his views on America and how and why some countries do not like the government. And having seen way to many ugly American "when traveling, I'm glad it was so honest. And if the book helps only a handful of Americans who travel, to stop and think before speaking abroad, then this is a ratio of 5 stars.
      Much of the book is about how to travel, and an informed traveler. We love to stay away from tourist areas and always look for quiet visits to local bookstores, small restaurants off the beaten path where the locals, small hotels or bed and breakfast places like that. And we love to visit old cemeteries to make tombstone rubbings.

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