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Lonely Planet Journey Books
The Cities Book
Cities represent civilization and human achievement: they are bubbling microcosms of virtues and vices, vanguards of technology and creative pursuits, incubators of traditions and melting-pots of diversity. More than half the world's population now lives in cities, and for travelers they hold an endless fascination.
428 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 19, 2007
I actually bought this for my mom, as a follow-up to The Travel Book which she loved. While I remain very impressed with the design and concept, I can't help wondering about the photography choices.
I applaud the effort for not showing the same, tired old images of the standard tourist sites, but I feel like this particular selection too often relies on snapshots that are almost completely irrelevant in terms of conveying the true heart of the cities. For example, having grown up in Washington, DC, I can tell you that there's much more to the city than the Capitol building and the Monument (which thankfully, this book doesn't show)--but there's also much more than a random public school football game and a nearly-abstract closeup of a Georgetown shop window. Both could have come from almost any small town in America, and hardly represent the true essence of the nation's capital.
I do think that the content holds its own, however, and in all fairness, there are plenty of other images that do represent their cities quite well. Just a few too many that, in my opinion, don't.
I applaud the effort for not showing the same, tired old images of the standard tourist sites, but I feel like this particular selection too often relies on snapshots that are almost completely irrelevant in terms of conveying the true heart of the cities. For example, having grown up in Washington, DC, I can tell you that there's much more to the city than the Capitol building and the Monument (which thankfully, this book doesn't show)--but there's also much more than a random public school football game and a nearly-abstract closeup of a Georgetown shop window. Both could have come from almost any small town in America, and hardly represent the true essence of the nation's capital.
I do think that the content holds its own, however, and in all fairness, there are plenty of other images that do represent their cities quite well. Just a few too many that, in my opinion, don't.
December 18, 2017
If you can't travel like you would like you can read about all the places worth travelling to. Learnt a lot from this and feel I know the world just a tiny bit better.
Liked it.
Liked it.
May 28, 2015
Started this book literal /years/ ago, and only just finished this morning when, ironically, jet lag from my trip to Italy had me awake at three in the morning.
Obviously it's not meant to be read cover to cover. It's a lot of fun, touring the world alphabetically, reading what these authors think you should eat and drink and see during your travels. However - after seeing some of the cities they list myself, I would have to say that I disagree with so much of what they suggest. Their rankings, their strengths and weaknesses, all of it. It's a good book for background information - though perhaps dated - but I don't think i would use it for suggestions when planning my trips. I don't agree with their rankings, either. (Also, strange comment but, for the cities I'm familiar with, none of the photos they provide are really representative of the city in any way).
Anyway, it's good to finally have gone round the world with these guys, and I'm curious for other, more offbeat travel books if people have suggestions.
Obviously it's not meant to be read cover to cover. It's a lot of fun, touring the world alphabetically, reading what these authors think you should eat and drink and see during your travels. However - after seeing some of the cities they list myself, I would have to say that I disagree with so much of what they suggest. Their rankings, their strengths and weaknesses, all of it. It's a good book for background information - though perhaps dated - but I don't think i would use it for suggestions when planning my trips. I don't agree with their rankings, either. (Also, strange comment but, for the cities I'm familiar with, none of the photos they provide are really representative of the city in any way).
Anyway, it's good to finally have gone round the world with these guys, and I'm curious for other, more offbeat travel books if people have suggestions.
June 25, 2013
This is a beautifully presented book on over 200 cities of the world. What I like so much about it is that not all the cities are famous, some you may never have heard of before, but they tempt you into wanting to get lost in its images and information about them.
My husband and I go on many trips a year and we like to think of ourselves as educated travellers, we enjoy going to places unspoilt from tourism and this book allows you to find those cities. We love to browse through the book 'planning' our next adventure.
Each page (sometimes 2) is on a city, it includes must sees and interesting facts about the place. It included strengths and weaknesses, places to eat and what to see.
I would not say this is a reading book, more of a browsing and dipping into book. I love it and all my travelling friends agree. It is an impressiive book to 'leave' laying around on the coffee table when you have a few guests!
My husband and I go on many trips a year and we like to think of ourselves as educated travellers, we enjoy going to places unspoilt from tourism and this book allows you to find those cities. We love to browse through the book 'planning' our next adventure.
Each page (sometimes 2) is on a city, it includes must sees and interesting facts about the place. It included strengths and weaknesses, places to eat and what to see.
I would not say this is a reading book, more of a browsing and dipping into book. I love it and all my travelling friends agree. It is an impressiive book to 'leave' laying around on the coffee table when you have a few guests!
April 23, 2012
This is basically a countdown of the top 200 cities to visit in the world but I forget how that list came to be and from what that list was based upon. The photos were ok but not especially outstanding. There ought to be better facts about each place, after awhile the text was quite repetitive. It's a great coffee table book but I am sure there are also better ones out there.
June 11, 2013
I loved this. I particularly loved seeing Hobart in the top 100 and my wife's old house in the photo! The book is a gigantic wish list of places I want to see and it's sad that some - Damascas in particular - are now no go zones. The photos are stunning and if you don't get the travel bug from reading this, you have no soul!
February 12, 2014
Yeah it's okay. You question the accuracy of the stuff they talk about because it's obviously subjective and as with most travel-related texts, things can become out of date real quick. The photos are nice.
Best thing you could probably do with this book is pick a page with your eyes closed and make that city your next travel destination.
Best thing you could probably do with this book is pick a page with your eyes closed and make that city your next travel destination.
April 6, 2009
What a fantastic book! The top 200 cities in the world, as rated by Lonely Planet, all in one gorgeous book. Could not put it down.
August 1, 2011
Love it! Oh the places you'll go! Places I would love to go to and some not so much!
July 15, 2013
Another great Lonely Planet publication which takes you pictorially through what it considers to be the top 200 cities in the world.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews