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Michael Palin in Venezuela: The incredible new book from the bestselling author and Britain's best-loved travel writer
In February 2025, Michael Palin travelled to Venezuela to get a sense of what life is like in one of South America's most culturally rich, vibrant but also troubled nations.
In the journal he kept during his trip he gives a vivid account of the towns and cities he visited, the landscapes he travelled through, and the people he met.
Illustrated throughout with colour photographs taken on the trip, and permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country from the best-selling author and beloved travel writer.
Praise for Michael
'I cannot remember the last time I read a book so immediately absorbing and affecting.' Bill Bryson, bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything
‘Stirring’ Daily Telegraph
'Everybody's talking about it . . . A brilliant book.' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2
‘Tremendous’ Guardian
'I absolutely loved I had to read it at one sitting.' Lorraine Kelly, ITV Lorraine
‘Magisterial’ The Times
‘[a] winning mix of genuine interest, good-humoured charm and that deceptively steely nose for humbug’ Wanderlust
‘ [An] absorbing and beautifully illustrated day-by-day account’ Daily Mirror
In the journal he kept during his trip he gives a vivid account of the towns and cities he visited, the landscapes he travelled through, and the people he met.
Illustrated throughout with colour photographs taken on the trip, and permeated with his warmth and humour, this is a vivid and varied portrait of a complex country from the best-selling author and beloved travel writer.
Praise for Michael
'I cannot remember the last time I read a book so immediately absorbing and affecting.' Bill Bryson, bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything
‘Stirring’ Daily Telegraph
'Everybody's talking about it . . . A brilliant book.' Chris Evans, BBC Radio 2
‘Tremendous’ Guardian
'I absolutely loved I had to read it at one sitting.' Lorraine Kelly, ITV Lorraine
‘Magisterial’ The Times
‘[a] winning mix of genuine interest, good-humoured charm and that deceptively steely nose for humbug’ Wanderlust
‘ [An] absorbing and beautifully illustrated day-by-day account’ Daily Mirror
- GenresTravelNonfiction
140 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2025
43 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Michael Palin
137 books1,198 followersSir Michael Edward Palin, KCMG, CBE, FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries.
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "The Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition" and "Spam". Palin continued to work with Jones, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer. His journeys have taken him across the world, the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.
Palin wrote most of his material with Terry Jones. Before Monty Python, they had worked on other shows such as The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set. Palin appeared in some of the most famous Python sketches, including "The Dead Parrot", "The Lumberjack Song", "The Spanish Inquisition" and "Spam". Palin continued to work with Jones, co-writing Ripping Yarns. He has also appeared in several films directed by fellow Python Terry Gilliam and made notable appearances in other films such as A Fish Called Wanda, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
After Python, he began a new career as a travel writer. His journeys have taken him across the world, the North and South Poles, the Sahara desert, the Himalayas and most recently, Eastern Europe. In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 28, 2025
Best read as a light accompaniment to the TV Series, this is perfect for a quick, comforting read on a Sunday afternoon. Journal entries that cover the 20 days Palin spent filming around Venezuela, the 100th country he has visited. It's light and breezy and lacks some depth, I was left wishing there had been more, but at the same time, happy that Palin is still going strong in his 80s and still giving us programmes and books that entertain and inform.
November 6, 2025
A lovely, simple read. Bought as a mid-term treat, you can never really have enough of Michael Palin’s travel journals.
January 8, 2026
Dummies guide to Venezuela
October 9, 2025
I love a Michael Palin travel book. First time listening to it in audiobook; could have done without the Venezuelan accents but you can’t have everything in this life.
January 8, 2026
I generally enjoy Palin’s books and have followed him on his travels for many years. This was OK but not up with his best work. He says at the end that he found Venezuela difficult to capture so maybe that’s why. I’m glad I read it for background on a country currently in the news but I’m also glad I got it for 99p!
January 11, 2026
Qué lástima leer sobre la “tensa calma” sabiendo la que está cayendo ahora por allí, tan solo unos meses después de haberse publicado el libro.
Ha sido interesante aprender un poquito sobre esa tierra y su gente; ojalá algún día deje de ser un lugar del que huir para los venezolanos.
Ha sido interesante aprender un poquito sobre esa tierra y su gente; ojalá algún día deje de ser un lugar del que huir para los venezolanos.
January 8, 2026
Have always wanted to go to Venezuela since I was a teenager. As the years have passed it's got more and more dangerous to go. With Trump's latest act of stupidity I decided to buy this book as it's likely to be the closest I get to Caracas. I haven't seen the accompanying TV series but the book gives great insight to the country's political history. My only disappointment was the poor quality of the photos.
January 1, 2026
Fun and easy read. Can never go wrong with Michael Palin
October 13, 2025
I have read (or listened to) and loved all of Michael Palin's wonderful travel adventures and this most recent one (at 81 years of age!) didn't disappoint.
Again, Michael makes the place and the people come alive and, although I have no special interest in Venezuela, again I was captivated. His commentary is honest and open and I love that he accepts everything for what it is and treats all people equally. He is, without doubt, one of my very favourite people and I feel sure he is just the way we see him in these programs . . . I'd be very disappointed if he wasn't! If only some of our world leaders had a mind and attitude like Michael's! *****
Again, Michael makes the place and the people come alive and, although I have no special interest in Venezuela, again I was captivated. His commentary is honest and open and I love that he accepts everything for what it is and treats all people equally. He is, without doubt, one of my very favourite people and I feel sure he is just the way we see him in these programs . . . I'd be very disappointed if he wasn't! If only some of our world leaders had a mind and attitude like Michael's! *****
December 10, 2025
I picked this off a shelf in Waterstones because Venezuela was in the news as Trump's latest target so I figured a bit of self-education on the place might be sensible.
My experience of fiction books is that there is a very long lead in time, so I was surprised to see how quickly this book had made it into print in a matter of months, Palin and co having only completed their 21 day visit in February of 2025.
Having first known of Michael Palin as a comic star of Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Life of Brian, Ripping Yarns and A Fish Called Wanda, I was aware of his second career as a travel program maker and writer. However, I hadn't developed that awareness into reading or watching his travel products until now.
Serendipitously I came to his travel career as he was about to visit his one hundredth country at the surprising age of 82. In my head Michael Palin is perennially young (as indeed am I - we have both just been young for a very long time).
This is a shortish book consumed in a few spells of reading spread over a 24 hour period. The text is illustrated with lush photographs of scenery - include Palin standing on slippery rocks behind the wall of water that comprise one of Venezuela's remarkable waterfalls.
Besides the scenery and the people, Palin also gives is some insights into Venezuela's political situation with President Maduro clearly a deeply despised and compromised long standing dictator, who is holding into power after losing an election by the simple expedient of declaring himself a winner. I'm surprised Trump has such contempt for the man since that is exactly the kind of "Art of the Deal" manoeuvre that the grifting Agent Krasnov would not only admire, but love to pull himself.
Palin and his team had some difficult experiences with paranoid security forces eager to protect the name and status of their cult leader. As we see people (and bots) on social media in the UK fawning over the most undeserving and frankly treasonous idols, it is salutary to realise how fragile western democracy always has been. It is like a boulder delicately balanced on a knife edge and it doesn't take too much foreign billionaire money to push it off the assumed equilibrium and topple it into an abyss of dictatorship.
But anyway, Palin's three week tour of Venezuela gives plenty of more conventional travelogue insights, including the reason behind its name. European colonisers, seeing an indigenous population living at lakeside on houses built on stilts out of the water, felt they had found a smaller version of a famous Italian city - little Venice, in Spanish, becomes Venezuela.
Palin also highlighted the role of Simon Bolivar in Venezuela's creation as an independent state - and it isn't even the country named after him. So I feel I should probably read up on the South American Hero as a future project.
Alongside the water falls, the jungles, the lakes, and the mountains, Palin also highlights important local produce like blue crabs and high quality chocolate. However, the country's fortunes were made and lost in oil and oil is still the product that draws American interest. It is ironic then that Venezuela, a major oil producing state, was one of the first countries to lose all its mountain glaciers to global warming.
Alongside the beauty of the landscape and the hospitality of its people, Venezuela is plagued by poverty and toxic inequality as much as many other countries. While Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez may have had the charisma alongside a utopian socialist vision - internal corruption and external interference can compromise the very best of intentions. Hopefully, as Palin notes in his postscript
I don't know where the future for Venezuela lies, but I know that there is a great wealth hidden on those mountains and forests; gold and minerals and oil in abundance. There's another important commodity too: the enterprise of the Venezuelan people. That, and their welcoming generosity needs to be acknowledged by those in charge and also flaunted to the rest of the world.
Then Venezuela could be a country of many people's dreams, not just mine.
My experience of fiction books is that there is a very long lead in time, so I was surprised to see how quickly this book had made it into print in a matter of months, Palin and co having only completed their 21 day visit in February of 2025.
Having first known of Michael Palin as a comic star of Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Life of Brian, Ripping Yarns and A Fish Called Wanda, I was aware of his second career as a travel program maker and writer. However, I hadn't developed that awareness into reading or watching his travel products until now.
Serendipitously I came to his travel career as he was about to visit his one hundredth country at the surprising age of 82. In my head Michael Palin is perennially young (as indeed am I - we have both just been young for a very long time).
This is a shortish book consumed in a few spells of reading spread over a 24 hour period. The text is illustrated with lush photographs of scenery - include Palin standing on slippery rocks behind the wall of water that comprise one of Venezuela's remarkable waterfalls.
Besides the scenery and the people, Palin also gives is some insights into Venezuela's political situation with President Maduro clearly a deeply despised and compromised long standing dictator, who is holding into power after losing an election by the simple expedient of declaring himself a winner. I'm surprised Trump has such contempt for the man since that is exactly the kind of "Art of the Deal" manoeuvre that the grifting Agent Krasnov would not only admire, but love to pull himself.
Palin and his team had some difficult experiences with paranoid security forces eager to protect the name and status of their cult leader. As we see people (and bots) on social media in the UK fawning over the most undeserving and frankly treasonous idols, it is salutary to realise how fragile western democracy always has been. It is like a boulder delicately balanced on a knife edge and it doesn't take too much foreign billionaire money to push it off the assumed equilibrium and topple it into an abyss of dictatorship.
But anyway, Palin's three week tour of Venezuela gives plenty of more conventional travelogue insights, including the reason behind its name. European colonisers, seeing an indigenous population living at lakeside on houses built on stilts out of the water, felt they had found a smaller version of a famous Italian city - little Venice, in Spanish, becomes Venezuela.
Palin also highlighted the role of Simon Bolivar in Venezuela's creation as an independent state - and it isn't even the country named after him. So I feel I should probably read up on the South American Hero as a future project.
Alongside the water falls, the jungles, the lakes, and the mountains, Palin also highlights important local produce like blue crabs and high quality chocolate. However, the country's fortunes were made and lost in oil and oil is still the product that draws American interest. It is ironic then that Venezuela, a major oil producing state, was one of the first countries to lose all its mountain glaciers to global warming.
Alongside the beauty of the landscape and the hospitality of its people, Venezuela is plagued by poverty and toxic inequality as much as many other countries. While Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez may have had the charisma alongside a utopian socialist vision - internal corruption and external interference can compromise the very best of intentions. Hopefully, as Palin notes in his postscript
I don't know where the future for Venezuela lies, but I know that there is a great wealth hidden on those mountains and forests; gold and minerals and oil in abundance. There's another important commodity too: the enterprise of the Venezuelan people. That, and their welcoming generosity needs to be acknowledged by those in charge and also flaunted to the rest of the world.
Then Venezuela could be a country of many people's dreams, not just mine.
January 4, 2026
Michael Palin’s In Venezuela is an enlightening and unflinching portrait of a country too often reduced to headlines and statistics. Palin captures Venezuela in all its contradictions: its extraordinary natural beauty and warmth sit alongside an ever-present sense of unease, the legacy of violence and instability that once earned Caracas the grim title of the most dangerous city in the world. He does not shy away from this darker side, instead allowing it to form a constant undercurrent to his travels, reminding the reader that this is a nation living with the consequences of political and social upheaval.
There is pointed criticism throughout of Nicolás Maduro’s government and the way Venezuela is being run, alongside observations on the United States and the Trump administration that feel particularly resonant given the current global political climate. Palin’s writing is, as ever, accessible and engaging - captivating without ever becoming dense or overly academic. That said, there were moments when I found myself wishing he would linger longer, dig deeper, and tell us more. The sense that there is so much left unsaid can occasionally feel frustrating, especially when the subject matter is so rich and complex.
What truly elevates the book, however, is Palin’s ability to balance tension with humour. He intersperses his descriptions of places and people with wry, often laugh-out-loud anecdotes, even in situations that seem genuinely threatening - including their detainment by military intelligence, and the surreal moment when the agents discover Palin's performance in Monty Python's The Life of Brian. The result is a book that is deeply engaging and never overwhelming, yet one that stops just short of full immersion. In Venezuela offers a compelling window into a fascinating and troubled country, even if it leaves you wishing you could step a little further inside.
There is pointed criticism throughout of Nicolás Maduro’s government and the way Venezuela is being run, alongside observations on the United States and the Trump administration that feel particularly resonant given the current global political climate. Palin’s writing is, as ever, accessible and engaging - captivating without ever becoming dense or overly academic. That said, there were moments when I found myself wishing he would linger longer, dig deeper, and tell us more. The sense that there is so much left unsaid can occasionally feel frustrating, especially when the subject matter is so rich and complex.
What truly elevates the book, however, is Palin’s ability to balance tension with humour. He intersperses his descriptions of places and people with wry, often laugh-out-loud anecdotes, even in situations that seem genuinely threatening - including their detainment by military intelligence, and the surreal moment when the agents discover Palin's performance in Monty Python's The Life of Brian. The result is a book that is deeply engaging and never overwhelming, yet one that stops just short of full immersion. In Venezuela offers a compelling window into a fascinating and troubled country, even if it leaves you wishing you could step a little further inside.
December 7, 2025
An enjoyable book which follows Michael Palin's journey around Venezuela.
The book itself is well written and clear, and adorned with some beautiful photos which help to bring the descriptive writing to life. whilst reading, it was very easy to picture the surroundings and the narrative - I imagine for those who have seen the show this book is a wonderful supplement.
I found the content itself fascinating. I hadn't really considered Venezuela as an 'interesting' country, simply due to difficult international relations existing for my entire life - yet, when looking past the crime, poverty, and politics, Michael Palin was able to highlight some of the humans and communities that are at the heart of Venezuela, and helped highlight it's not all terrible.
However, the elephant in Venezuela is the politics. I appreciated that the book explained the situation in Venezuela objectively, but did not jeopardise their Venezuelan colleagues by voicing risky negative opinions. As Palin noted, he'll be out of the country when this is all published - but his contacts won't be.
of course, this is not a book to discuss the politics in depth, yet it was fascinating to read how it is woven into the society, with the constant feeling of being spied lurking throughout each chapter.
I hadn't entered the library with the intention of picking up this book, not had I any known desire to learn about Venezuela. However, the previous night I had listened to NSTAAF guest starring Michael Palin, where this book was partly discussed. When entering the library, I noticed this book sitting on the 'New Releases ' table, and at that point I felt obliged. I'm glad I did so.
I have learnt a lot about Venezuela, and was left hoping that one day it may once again be a country one can safely visit.
The book itself is well written and clear, and adorned with some beautiful photos which help to bring the descriptive writing to life. whilst reading, it was very easy to picture the surroundings and the narrative - I imagine for those who have seen the show this book is a wonderful supplement.
I found the content itself fascinating. I hadn't really considered Venezuela as an 'interesting' country, simply due to difficult international relations existing for my entire life - yet, when looking past the crime, poverty, and politics, Michael Palin was able to highlight some of the humans and communities that are at the heart of Venezuela, and helped highlight it's not all terrible.
However, the elephant in Venezuela is the politics. I appreciated that the book explained the situation in Venezuela objectively, but did not jeopardise their Venezuelan colleagues by voicing risky negative opinions. As Palin noted, he'll be out of the country when this is all published - but his contacts won't be.
of course, this is not a book to discuss the politics in depth, yet it was fascinating to read how it is woven into the society, with the constant feeling of being spied lurking throughout each chapter.
I hadn't entered the library with the intention of picking up this book, not had I any known desire to learn about Venezuela. However, the previous night I had listened to NSTAAF guest starring Michael Palin, where this book was partly discussed. When entering the library, I noticed this book sitting on the 'New Releases ' table, and at that point I felt obliged. I'm glad I did so.
I have learnt a lot about Venezuela, and was left hoping that one day it may once again be a country one can safely visit.
December 13, 2025
Michael Palin invites you to share his latest journey, a three week trip to Venezuela.
A faithful companion and a trusted commentator he has the observations of a seasoned traveller, a people person and a sage-like wisdom that brings clarity and insight to all he sees and hears in a foreign environment.
It is a real pleasure to read all his experiences and reflections on this beautiful country. He does his best to record the real Venezuela, listen to its people and share their hopes and fears.
It is a country with a rich heritage, recent economic boom through oil reserves and an oppressive government led by a dictator, managed my fear and an unforgiving State police.
It is a beautiful land, full of natural wonders, rich untapped resources and a proud and creative people. Yet the political uncertainty and economic downturn has led many opposed to the regime to leave their homeland.
A must read for anyone wishing to sense the adventure of travel and gain some unbiased account of Venezuela.
Meanwhile it is a country brought to everyone’s attention by the confrontation with the USA. A country that faces an uncertain future where the likes of Michael Palin would not be free to travel within its borders with a film crew.
A wonderful book to catch a glimpse of a country and its people. A joy to read but a worry now about its future.
A faithful companion and a trusted commentator he has the observations of a seasoned traveller, a people person and a sage-like wisdom that brings clarity and insight to all he sees and hears in a foreign environment.
It is a real pleasure to read all his experiences and reflections on this beautiful country. He does his best to record the real Venezuela, listen to its people and share their hopes and fears.
It is a country with a rich heritage, recent economic boom through oil reserves and an oppressive government led by a dictator, managed my fear and an unforgiving State police.
It is a beautiful land, full of natural wonders, rich untapped resources and a proud and creative people. Yet the political uncertainty and economic downturn has led many opposed to the regime to leave their homeland.
A must read for anyone wishing to sense the adventure of travel and gain some unbiased account of Venezuela.
Meanwhile it is a country brought to everyone’s attention by the confrontation with the USA. A country that faces an uncertain future where the likes of Michael Palin would not be free to travel within its borders with a film crew.
A wonderful book to catch a glimpse of a country and its people. A joy to read but a worry now about its future.
January 13, 2026
I'm a big fan of Michael Palin's travel writing. It's accessible, witty, observant and always seems to present as balanced a view as possible. Most of his books are also lavishly illustrated with excellent photos. This one is no exception - it's awash with colour, both from the natural beauty of the country, and also the architecture and culture.
His trip to Venezuela took place in early 2025, and the book was published in the summer. Given what's gone on there in recent weeks, it already feels slightly out of date, but Palin's observations as he tours the country are a useful primer, and I'm now keen to read up more on the country's turbulent history.
This is quite a short read, but a very interesting one, full of human interest, with plenty to inspire and make you think. I really enjoyed it. He interviews plenty of everyday Venezuelans, and it goes to show there's a lot of things we fail to grasp about countries we don't know much about. Whatever the political shenanigans are, there's much more to a country than that.
I've not seen the TV documentary this book was based on, but I fully intend to rectify that soon.
His trip to Venezuela took place in early 2025, and the book was published in the summer. Given what's gone on there in recent weeks, it already feels slightly out of date, but Palin's observations as he tours the country are a useful primer, and I'm now keen to read up more on the country's turbulent history.
This is quite a short read, but a very interesting one, full of human interest, with plenty to inspire and make you think. I really enjoyed it. He interviews plenty of everyday Venezuelans, and it goes to show there's a lot of things we fail to grasp about countries we don't know much about. Whatever the political shenanigans are, there's much more to a country than that.
I've not seen the TV documentary this book was based on, but I fully intend to rectify that soon.
January 9, 2026
A Christmas tradition that now dates back nearly 40 years, is getting, the latest Michael Palin travel book as a present. His adventures around the globe have captured my imagination ever since his first trip when he went around the world in 80 days.
Unbelievably he’s still at it as an Octogenarian and this time he focuses on a single country - Venezuela.
Given the recent events with Trump effectively staging a coup, this is a very timely read. It’s clear from Palin’s account that the current state of the country is down to the mismanagement and corruption of its leaders. It never needed to be this way. Oil should have been its salvation - but it hasn’t been, it was its downfall.
That’s not to say that there aren’t pockets of the country that are still beautiful places to visit, but for so many of the residents their lives have been blighted by fear…and it’s going to get worse, not better.
Unbelievably he’s still at it as an Octogenarian and this time he focuses on a single country - Venezuela.
Given the recent events with Trump effectively staging a coup, this is a very timely read. It’s clear from Palin’s account that the current state of the country is down to the mismanagement and corruption of its leaders. It never needed to be this way. Oil should have been its salvation - but it hasn’t been, it was its downfall.
That’s not to say that there aren’t pockets of the country that are still beautiful places to visit, but for so many of the residents their lives have been blighted by fear…and it’s going to get worse, not better.
Read
December 31, 2025I’m enjoying these slightly left-field travelogues from national treasure Michael Palin, although in this episode there was only one reference to his Python history … so as he gets older there is less recognition and very little adventuring and jeopardy compared to early books. But at least MP is adding to his ‘countries visited’ list and opening up new places for us armchair travellers. I know next-to-nothing about the history and geography of south America, but am now inspired to read more about the colonial history and Simon Bolivar; The General in his Labyrinth by Gabriel Garcia Marquez book was mentioned. Palin visited early this year so the current political stand-off with the USA and Trump is relevant, as is the phrase of a people waiting for another revolution or social upheaval to happen, tensa calma (tense calm), the equivalent of ‘keep calm and carry on’.
December 14, 2025
Very good for what it was, a whistle top tour (3 weeks) taking in lots of places in an attempt to paint a picture of this very varied country. Was really just scratching the surface, but I guess that's understood, although just a little more time in each place would have added depth and, I assume, have added to the enjoyment for Michael and his group - I felt exhausted for him..! I do love Michael's writing style and the way he looks at issues from a very human, ordinary person, perspective. Will watch C5 series now..!
January 20, 2026
A wonderful companion read to the recent Michael Palin series exploring Venezuela - a country much in the news. I am so glad to know more about the interior workings, people, culture and geography of this country which fascinated me since I first learned of the terrible mass migrations of so many of the population. The accompanying photos are perfect. I am now watching the series which is even more revealing.
January 4, 2026
I loved this book. My reading coincided with the news of the US involvement and removal of its president. Having Palins insight into the country and its history helps to contextualise the media reports. I adore Michael Palin. He has been my travel hero since around the world in 80 days and his magnificent voice is fully present in this book. The pictures were beautiful as well.
January 6, 2026
With recent political tensions in Venezuela 🇻🇪- this was a quick easy read about a country I knew nothing about. Light and surface level, from an author I love. Delighted Mr Palin is continuing on his quests - this was country 100!
Reading it on a kindle the images were more annoying than informative.
Was a 99p deal so don’t feel robbed and would recommend as such.
Reading it on a kindle the images were more annoying than informative.
Was a 99p deal so don’t feel robbed and would recommend as such.
January 11, 2026
A very satisfying read. At a time when Venezuela 🇻🇪 is in the news so much, Palin’s journey provides background to the current political situation, yet more importantly immerses the reader in the true Venezuela. It’s people, culture and natural wonders - supported throughout by mesmerising photography.
September 26, 2025
I learnt a lot about Venezuela and enjoyed being carried through Michael's travels and always looking for the joy in everything.
I listened to the audiobook in one sitting and I am currently in the queue to get my book signed by the man himself 🫡
I listened to the audiobook in one sitting and I am currently in the queue to get my book signed by the man himself 🫡
October 23, 2025
I do love Palin. I love his passion for travel and embracing a country's struggles as much as their strengths however I felt this was very light in terms of depth and whilst I enjoyed the many images, it wasn't balanced against the short chapters.
January 7, 2026
Brilliant and Evocative Journey to Venezuela
Just as expected, engaging and knowledgeable, Michael Palin is a brilliant travel writer and guide to remarkable and Evocative destinations. This book does not disappoint.
Just as expected, engaging and knowledgeable, Michael Palin is a brilliant travel writer and guide to remarkable and Evocative destinations. This book does not disappoint.
January 11, 2026
Always love a Michael Palin travel book. An interesting and bitter-sweet insight into a country I knew very little about until recently, and in Michael’s typical descriptive and warm writing style. It’s also beautifully produced, with the images helping to compliment his descriptions.
January 18, 2026
Fairly slight - high ratio of (very high quality) photos to text, no great insights, but entertaining and interesting nonetheless. Given current events at the start of 2026 this is especially worth a read to get some high level context.
January 18, 2026
This was very interesting and very relevant relative to the recent capture of Maduro. As always, Palin does a fine job exploring the people and places of a country which is of great interest to me and a place I very much hope to visit someday.
October 8, 2025
Well worth a read. Michael Palins works are always informative and entertaining and this one no less so. I learned a lot about Venezuela. Four stars only because its quite short.
October 12, 2025
Book can be described as a cash grab , very short , full of pictures , not the usual depth you would expect from a Palin book
October 19, 2025
An enjoyable but seemingly surface level exploration into Venezuela, it lacks a bit of the punch, insight and storytelling of Palin's other journeys.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews