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The Time Traveler's Handbook: 18 Experiences from the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock
Travel through time to witness some of the most extraordinary and colorful events in world history with this unusual and entertaining guide that includes fascinating cultural details from each period, including what and where to eat, what to wear, how to act like a local, and most importantly, how to stay alive.
Have you ever wished you could have experienced some of the most interesting and important events that have helped shape history? With The Time Travel Handbook you can! Johnny Actonis, David Glodblatt, and James Wyllie transport you back in time, providing a “you-are-there” front-seat view of some the greatest moments in the human timeline.
Filled with engaging and colorful details, The Time Travel Handbook helps you make the most of your “travels,” giving you background information, insight into local customs, and advice on all aspects of period life to make your adventures authentic and help you actually live them. Forget museums and history books—The Time Travel Handbook gives you unprecedented access to a wide range of milestones, including Celebrations & Exhibitions; Moments That Made History; Cultural & Sporting Spectaculars; Epic Journeys and Voyages; and Extreme Events. Observe Mount Vesuvius erupt (and survive), see the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, boogie with the Beatles in Hamburg, accompany Marco Polo to Xanadu, attend the opening night of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, smell the cordite at the battle of Bull Run, and sit ringside at Foreman and Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa.
Illustrated with color and black-and-white paintings and photographs of famous figures and locations, as well as detailed maps and illustrations to aid in your journey through time, The Time Travel Handbook is the ultimate guide to exploring history that unlocks the wonders of the past as never before.
Have you ever wished you could have experienced some of the most interesting and important events that have helped shape history? With The Time Travel Handbook you can! Johnny Actonis, David Glodblatt, and James Wyllie transport you back in time, providing a “you-are-there” front-seat view of some the greatest moments in the human timeline.
Filled with engaging and colorful details, The Time Travel Handbook helps you make the most of your “travels,” giving you background information, insight into local customs, and advice on all aspects of period life to make your adventures authentic and help you actually live them. Forget museums and history books—The Time Travel Handbook gives you unprecedented access to a wide range of milestones, including Celebrations & Exhibitions; Moments That Made History; Cultural & Sporting Spectaculars; Epic Journeys and Voyages; and Extreme Events. Observe Mount Vesuvius erupt (and survive), see the assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo, boogie with the Beatles in Hamburg, accompany Marco Polo to Xanadu, attend the opening night of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, smell the cordite at the battle of Bull Run, and sit ringside at Foreman and Ali’s “Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa.
Illustrated with color and black-and-white paintings and photographs of famous figures and locations, as well as detailed maps and illustrations to aid in your journey through time, The Time Travel Handbook is the ultimate guide to exploring history that unlocks the wonders of the past as never before.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2015
428 people are currently reading
1209 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
September 28, 2017
Tarihin önemli olaylar yaşanan muhtelif dönemlerine zaman yolculuğu rehberi olarak yazılmış ilginç bir kitap: Ne yemeli, nasıl giyinmeli, nerelerden uzak durmalı gibi ilginç bilgiler var. Önemli olay yaşanmadan birkaç gün öncesinden başlayıp olayların akışını okuyorsunuz. Bu şekilde "zaman yolculuğu" yapılan 14 ilginç tarih dönemi var. Keyifle okudum ve epeyce bilgilendim.
May 2, 2021
Un interessante saggio storico mascherato da libro da fantascienza. Adatto a tutti coloro che vogliono approcciarsi al genere non fiction, e per coloro che amano i viaggi nel tempo.Adatto per le persone che vogliono o non possono viaggiare.
November 19, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5
That was cool! I really liked the concept a ton, and the execution was fairly well done.
I think the main fault of the book is that it often throws details at you without going deep into any of them, especially when it comes to names. Like, you can name all the important people who were at an event, but it's not gonna mean much to me if you don't tell me why I should care they were there!
Also, I wish they had some sort of website with extra pictures and links and stuff. I know that sounds like a lot to ask for but I think that it would have been specially useful for the trips that were heavily based on and centered around music. Just listing the names of the songs that were playing didn't do much to immerse me in the time and place, especially when I hadn't heard most of them before. I mean sure, I could go and look up the songs myself and play them while I read and stuff but-- I'm lazy. It's a small thing, but I think it would've been neat if they'd had links to them easily accessible.
That aside, though, there was clearly a lot of thought put into it. They describe the clothes, the food, the language, how advanced toilets are... very thorough.
As you'd expect, some "trips" were more interesting to me than others. I suppose that's not really their fault, but some of them I just got bored with. My favorite was probably the Opening Night at Shakespeare's Globe, but I also liked the Eruption of Vesuvius, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, and a couple of others.
One more thing I would have liked is a conclusion. They have a short intro, but after the last trip the book just... ends. A short "welcome back, hope you had a nice trip, please travel with us again" blurb would have made it a much more fulfilling ending and it totally fit with the format and feeling of the book.
Overall, though, this was a really creative way to read about history, which was cool. Also, the cover is fantastic-- just saying.
That was cool! I really liked the concept a ton, and the execution was fairly well done.
I think the main fault of the book is that it often throws details at you without going deep into any of them, especially when it comes to names. Like, you can name all the important people who were at an event, but it's not gonna mean much to me if you don't tell me why I should care they were there!
Also, I wish they had some sort of website with extra pictures and links and stuff. I know that sounds like a lot to ask for but I think that it would have been specially useful for the trips that were heavily based on and centered around music. Just listing the names of the songs that were playing didn't do much to immerse me in the time and place, especially when I hadn't heard most of them before. I mean sure, I could go and look up the songs myself and play them while I read and stuff but-- I'm lazy. It's a small thing, but I think it would've been neat if they'd had links to them easily accessible.
That aside, though, there was clearly a lot of thought put into it. They describe the clothes, the food, the language, how advanced toilets are... very thorough.
As you'd expect, some "trips" were more interesting to me than others. I suppose that's not really their fault, but some of them I just got bored with. My favorite was probably the Opening Night at Shakespeare's Globe, but I also liked the Eruption of Vesuvius, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, and a couple of others.
One more thing I would have liked is a conclusion. They have a short intro, but after the last trip the book just... ends. A short "welcome back, hope you had a nice trip, please travel with us again" blurb would have made it a much more fulfilling ending and it totally fit with the format and feeling of the book.
Overall, though, this was a really creative way to read about history, which was cool. Also, the cover is fantastic-- just saying.
December 30, 2016
My son gave me this book as a gift and I have to say he chose exactly what I would have wanted. A great mixture of fantasy and fact..the authors have taken notable and well known historical incidences, exhibits, voyages and events and placed the reader there, at the moment, on the spot, in the time.
As a time traveler you are urged NOT to interfere with the space/time continuum but to be the spectator and to follow inclusive directions to the letter, which is possible because the directions are meticulously accurate and based on obviously well researched historical information.
You can be in the Roman holiday resort of Pompeii on the night Vesuvius blows her top - with an escape plan of course.
You can be in Berlin on the night the wall that divided that city, came down and a guided walking tour will take you on a route where you will be a part of the action throughout that long night and walk into the path of those not responsible [or not] for the collapse of the Soviet control in the east of the city.
Having been in Berlin just a few weeks before, in 1989, on both sides of the wall, but not there when it came down, I had felt that I'd missed a spectacular part of history, but this book really helped place me back there, with it's bird's eye view and attention to detail..
So if you want to ....sail with Captain Cook around the newly discovered 'Terra Australis Incognita,' or be ringside when Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman, in 1974 or you'd prefer to be ringside at London's Golden Globe Theatre in 1599 when Shakespeare presents his latest tragedy, Julius Caesar, then let the authors tell you which tavern to stay in, which pub to lunch in and which streets will lead you to the sight of Master Will staring in his own play, so then; this is the book for you.
As a time traveler you are urged NOT to interfere with the space/time continuum but to be the spectator and to follow inclusive directions to the letter, which is possible because the directions are meticulously accurate and based on obviously well researched historical information.
You can be in the Roman holiday resort of Pompeii on the night Vesuvius blows her top - with an escape plan of course.
You can be in Berlin on the night the wall that divided that city, came down and a guided walking tour will take you on a route where you will be a part of the action throughout that long night and walk into the path of those not responsible [or not] for the collapse of the Soviet control in the east of the city.
Having been in Berlin just a few weeks before, in 1989, on both sides of the wall, but not there when it came down, I had felt that I'd missed a spectacular part of history, but this book really helped place me back there, with it's bird's eye view and attention to detail..
So if you want to ....sail with Captain Cook around the newly discovered 'Terra Australis Incognita,' or be ringside when Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman, in 1974 or you'd prefer to be ringside at London's Golden Globe Theatre in 1599 when Shakespeare presents his latest tragedy, Julius Caesar, then let the authors tell you which tavern to stay in, which pub to lunch in and which streets will lead you to the sight of Master Will staring in his own play, so then; this is the book for you.
June 7, 2017
Tre stelline un po' stiracchiate.
Non mi ha convinto del tutto, nonostante l'idea sia davvero carina.
Alcuni viaggi sono davvero interessanti, altri invece mi hanno lasciata completamente indifferente.
Non mi ha convinto del tutto, nonostante l'idea sia davvero carina.
Alcuni viaggi sono davvero interessanti, altri invece mi hanno lasciata completamente indifferente.
April 17, 2016
Il libro dei viaggi nel tempo è una sorta di testo storico di alcuni eventi successi in svariati anni. All'inizio credevo fossero tanti piccoli romanzi ambientati in svariate epoche invece sono dei reali episodi accaduti in epoche precedenti alla nostra.
Si va da "L’eruzione del Vesuvio: 23-25 agosto 79 d.C. - L’esecuzione di Carlo I: 30 gennaio 1649 - La serata d’apertura al Globe di Shakespeare: 11-12 giugno 1599 - La Grande Esposizione: 1 maggio - 11 ottobre 1851 - L’assassinio dell’arciduca Ferdinando: 28 giugno 1914 - La nascita del Bebop: 15-16 febbraio 1942 - Il giorno della vittoria in Europa: 7-8 maggio 1945 - Woodstock: 15-18 agosto 1969 - Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman: 30 ottobre 1974"
La bellezza di questo testo e l'accortezza dei particolari, la prosa elegante, scorrevole e *rullo di tamburi* la spiegazione del testo e degli eventi che accadono è semplicemente unica. Questo testo riesce a fiondarti rapidamente nella storia, non come i libri di storia ma come se tu stessi vivendo la storia stessa. Ora ti trovi su un cavallo, ora per strada a osservare un tendone.
Arazzi, tende, mosaici, eventi spettacolari che hanno cambiato la storia verranno visti sotto un occhio diverso e spontaneo, naturale. Momenti storici in cui si viene catapultati come se si fosse in una macchina del tempo. L'avvertenza all'inizio su cosa portarsi e su come non alterare i vari eventi storici è davvero deliziosa e geniale!!
Un libro sicuramente che a differenza di un enciclopedia riesce a spiegare sapientemente divertendosi gli eventi più disparati. Un libro da tenere e leggere con calma, per conoscere la storia, se stessi e ciò che ci circonda.
Avventure mozzafiato che ti catapulteranno per magia in un mondo lontano. Rivivi la storia in prima persona.
Si va da "L’eruzione del Vesuvio: 23-25 agosto 79 d.C. - L’esecuzione di Carlo I: 30 gennaio 1649 - La serata d’apertura al Globe di Shakespeare: 11-12 giugno 1599 - La Grande Esposizione: 1 maggio - 11 ottobre 1851 - L’assassinio dell’arciduca Ferdinando: 28 giugno 1914 - La nascita del Bebop: 15-16 febbraio 1942 - Il giorno della vittoria in Europa: 7-8 maggio 1945 - Woodstock: 15-18 agosto 1969 - Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman: 30 ottobre 1974"
La bellezza di questo testo e l'accortezza dei particolari, la prosa elegante, scorrevole e *rullo di tamburi* la spiegazione del testo e degli eventi che accadono è semplicemente unica. Questo testo riesce a fiondarti rapidamente nella storia, non come i libri di storia ma come se tu stessi vivendo la storia stessa. Ora ti trovi su un cavallo, ora per strada a osservare un tendone.
Arazzi, tende, mosaici, eventi spettacolari che hanno cambiato la storia verranno visti sotto un occhio diverso e spontaneo, naturale. Momenti storici in cui si viene catapultati come se si fosse in una macchina del tempo. L'avvertenza all'inizio su cosa portarsi e su come non alterare i vari eventi storici è davvero deliziosa e geniale!!
Un libro sicuramente che a differenza di un enciclopedia riesce a spiegare sapientemente divertendosi gli eventi più disparati. Un libro da tenere e leggere con calma, per conoscere la storia, se stessi e ciò che ci circonda.
Avventure mozzafiato che ti catapulteranno per magia in un mondo lontano. Rivivi la storia in prima persona.
September 15, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable. The fact that this was a travel brochure for time travelers was enhanced by the feel of the paper used which is a glossy magazine type. I didn't like all the tours mentioned but then if you were looking thru some cruise or tour brochure would you like every single one? Some very nice history trips and I wish I could go on one or two but alas I will have to live them vicariously thru this handbook some future traveler left behind.
August 7, 2017
Okuması oldukça keyifli bir kitaptı ZYEK. İçinde belli bir hikaye/aksiyon barındırmayan kitaplarla pek anlaşamadığımı düşünüyordum, okuma sürecini de uzattıkları için tercih etmiyordum ama uzun sürede okumama rağmen çok sevdim. El kitabı olarak da hakkını veriyor, her türlü bilgi var ve sağ olsun sayesinde oturup rahatça tarih de okuyabildiğimi anladım. Tabii, öyle ağır bir kitap değildi ama oturup kendimde beşten fazla yolculuğu okuyacak takati bulamadım. Çünkü dediğim gibi her şeyden bahsediyor ve bir süre sonra "aşırı bilgi yüklemesi" diyerek geri çekiliyorsunuz. Rastgele girdiğim bir kitapçıda beğenmiştim, kısa sürede aldım ve okudum; önerir miyim? Elbette.
October 21, 2018
Bir turizm şirketiyle kitap boyunca yolculuk yaptık. Ancak sadece mekanda değil, zamanda da yaptık bu yolculuğu. Şirketin bize sağladığı kiyafetler ve onerilerle birlikte Woodstock '69 gibi festivallere, arsiduk Ferdinand in suikastı gibi tarih yazan olaylara, Berlin duvarının yıkılması, vezuv yanardağının patlaması gibi anlara şahit olduk. Merak etmeyin, her yolculuk için gerekli önlemler alınmış. Nerede yemek yiyeceginiz, konaklayacaginiz, ne giymeniz gerektiği gibi önemli bilgiler bu el kitabında mevcut. Lütfen Londra'daki büyük köylü isyanına katılırken şaşalı kürkler giymeyiniz. Öfkeli kalabalığın arasına avukat, vergi tahsildari ya da mahkeme jürisi kılığında katılmanız şu tarihte pek de akıllıca olmayacaktır.
July 20, 2018
Matkaesitteen ja -oppaan muotoon kirjoitettu kuvaus erinäisistä historian tapahtumista. Suurimmaksi osaksi erittäin onnistunut historiateos.
February 1, 2020
A different take on the genre of time travel books, this one is non-fiction: it's actually a history book in disguise, and most of the book is written in future tense.
Delivered under the premise of a handbook from a travel agency, the reader is given the choice of 19 excursions from which to choose. The introduction is a fun read in preparation for what is ahead:
"With our Chronoswoosh (TM) time exchange plasma shuttle technology, we not only offer the most accurate return to the past, but minimal interference with the time-space continuum. No more getting abandoned in the wrong century, no more returning to find you are your great aunt... We really will take you to the right place at the right time, every time."
With the rich detail available, this book has been well researched and includes descriptions of exactly the type of clothing the time traveler would need to wear in order to blend in to the contemporary society of the destination, as well as warnings about language use. For example, even if the time traveler speaks English, they may not be able to understand the English used during the Peasant's Revolt in London in 1381. There's also a full disclosure of the local fare available, some appetizing, but much of it not palatable by modern-day expectations.
Time travelers may choose from destinations such as 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, 1969 Woodstock Festival in New York, 1773 Boston Tea Party, 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1599 Opening Night of Shakespeare's Globe, 1974 Rumble in the Jungle (Ali vs. Foreman), a Beatles concert in 1960, The Eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, The Battle of Bull Run in 1861, and many others. There is quite a diverse offering available here, and the reader wouldn't necessarily have to read it all to glean some value here. These travel packages are set up to allow the "time traveler" to pick and choose where they want to go (or not go) and in which order they would like to go. Anyone who reads this is free to pick and choose and skip any chapters/trips that seem unappealing. I love the concept and the presentation of this collection of events.
Also entertaining are the descriptors of exactly where the time traveler may go on which days during their journeys to the past in order to see the most meaningful events unfolding, without placing themselves in danger of death, accident, or being left behind permanently in the past by missing their specified departure location. I could envision some time travelers intentionally getting lost in order to avoid coming back to their own present-day surroundings.
Overall, this is not a typical time travel book, because there is no opportunity to go back into the past and change history, as is characteristic of that genre. Although the intro and summary to the book are fiction, the meat of the book is not fiction. As such, it makes for a less-exciting and slower read. However, the future tense writing style makes for a better read than the otherwise dry history that would be the customary viewpoint presented from say, a textbook. This is certainly a more entertaining way to learn history, because it seems to bring the past alive.
Delivered under the premise of a handbook from a travel agency, the reader is given the choice of 19 excursions from which to choose. The introduction is a fun read in preparation for what is ahead:
"With our Chronoswoosh (TM) time exchange plasma shuttle technology, we not only offer the most accurate return to the past, but minimal interference with the time-space continuum. No more getting abandoned in the wrong century, no more returning to find you are your great aunt... We really will take you to the right place at the right time, every time."
With the rich detail available, this book has been well researched and includes descriptions of exactly the type of clothing the time traveler would need to wear in order to blend in to the contemporary society of the destination, as well as warnings about language use. For example, even if the time traveler speaks English, they may not be able to understand the English used during the Peasant's Revolt in London in 1381. There's also a full disclosure of the local fare available, some appetizing, but much of it not palatable by modern-day expectations.
Time travelers may choose from destinations such as 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, 1969 Woodstock Festival in New York, 1773 Boston Tea Party, 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall, 1599 Opening Night of Shakespeare's Globe, 1974 Rumble in the Jungle (Ali vs. Foreman), a Beatles concert in 1960, The Eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, The Battle of Bull Run in 1861, and many others. There is quite a diverse offering available here, and the reader wouldn't necessarily have to read it all to glean some value here. These travel packages are set up to allow the "time traveler" to pick and choose where they want to go (or not go) and in which order they would like to go. Anyone who reads this is free to pick and choose and skip any chapters/trips that seem unappealing. I love the concept and the presentation of this collection of events.
Also entertaining are the descriptors of exactly where the time traveler may go on which days during their journeys to the past in order to see the most meaningful events unfolding, without placing themselves in danger of death, accident, or being left behind permanently in the past by missing their specified departure location. I could envision some time travelers intentionally getting lost in order to avoid coming back to their own present-day surroundings.
Overall, this is not a typical time travel book, because there is no opportunity to go back into the past and change history, as is characteristic of that genre. Although the intro and summary to the book are fiction, the meat of the book is not fiction. As such, it makes for a less-exciting and slower read. However, the future tense writing style makes for a better read than the otherwise dry history that would be the customary viewpoint presented from say, a textbook. This is certainly a more entertaining way to learn history, because it seems to bring the past alive.
December 5, 2018
I spotted this bright orange hardback book randomly one day in a discount store called The Works that we have here in the UK, and I'm really glad that I picked it up as it ended up being such a unique and interesting concept for a book.
If you couldn't tell from the book's title, this is one on time travel. But it's done with a twist. Instead of being a work of fiction, this is technically a non-fiction book! Let me explain. This is more of a holiday brochure, a holiday guide, it tells you where you'll be going (and when ;) ), as well as what to wear, how to behave and where to go to get the most out of your day. It just happens to be taking you to renowned events from the past. From the eruption of Mount Vesuvius to the fall of the Berlin wall, it takes you through history. Showing you the little parts that you might not pay attention to but that are incredibly interesting and bring these events more into real life, rather than something that is distanced from yourself.
If you're at all interested in recent or distant history, I definitely recommend this book. It's fun, it's informative and it'll look great on your shelves!
From my blog: autumnofpellinor.wordpress.com
If you couldn't tell from the book's title, this is one on time travel. But it's done with a twist. Instead of being a work of fiction, this is technically a non-fiction book! Let me explain. This is more of a holiday brochure, a holiday guide, it tells you where you'll be going (and when ;) ), as well as what to wear, how to behave and where to go to get the most out of your day. It just happens to be taking you to renowned events from the past. From the eruption of Mount Vesuvius to the fall of the Berlin wall, it takes you through history. Showing you the little parts that you might not pay attention to but that are incredibly interesting and bring these events more into real life, rather than something that is distanced from yourself.
If you're at all interested in recent or distant history, I definitely recommend this book. It's fun, it's informative and it'll look great on your shelves!
From my blog: autumnofpellinor.wordpress.com
February 3, 2017
Kiintoisa ideana, luonnollisesti vähän hajanainen toteutuksena. Eli tässä kirjassa esitellään ikään kuin järjestettyjä matkoja historiaan, ja sen varjolla kerrotaan matkakohteista ja -ajoista kaikenlaista kiintoisaa pikkusälää.
Kattaus on laaja Vesiuviuksen purkauksesta Yhdysvaltain sisällissodan taistelusta Woodstockiin. Kulkien Nuijasodan kautta, luonnollisesti.
Hajanaistahan tämä tietenkin on, jos kohta ihan kiintoisaa. Kyllähän sitä tässä iässä lukee mieluummin jostain asiasta kunnollisen esityksen kuin monesta pinnallisen. Koulun historian tunneilla tuli tämän tason kuvailu jo tutuksi.
Suomennos on aika hyvä, onneksi.
Kattaus on laaja Vesiuviuksen purkauksesta Yhdysvaltain sisällissodan taistelusta Woodstockiin. Kulkien Nuijasodan kautta, luonnollisesti.
Hajanaistahan tämä tietenkin on, jos kohta ihan kiintoisaa. Kyllähän sitä tässä iässä lukee mieluummin jostain asiasta kunnollisen esityksen kuin monesta pinnallisen. Koulun historian tunneilla tuli tämän tason kuvailu jo tutuksi.
Suomennos on aika hyvä, onneksi.
January 14, 2018
The concept for this was a lot better than the execution. I enjoyed some parts more than others - my favourites were events/times I knew quite a bit about like Field of the Cloth of Gold, Great Exhibition, VE Day, Pompeii, and Shakespeare. Honestly I had no interest in some parts. At times it was funny and clever but I think it suffered from being overly detailed.
February 18, 2020
Another reviewer said that the concept for this book was better than the execution. I couldn't agree more. I normally love history, and I even love detailed history. But this book was more like reading someone's grocery list. Interesting for a few minutes, but quickly discarded. I managed to slog my way through it, but I was really glad when I was done.
December 15, 2016
Aivan mahtava konsepti, tykkäsin aivan älyttömästi. Osa tapahtumista oli tuttuja ennestään mutta osa vieraampia mutta tämä opas toi niitä tutuksi aivan uudella tavalla ja uudella tasolla. Suosittelen ehdottomasti lukemaan tämän!
April 3, 2018
four stars for concept and layout but two for execution of said concept
April 25, 2018
A fun romp through history presented as a series of excursions booked through a Time Travel Agency, similar to booking excursions through a cruise line. The excursions are as varied as sporting events (The Rumble in the Jungle) to explorations (Kublai Khan's Court with Marco Polo) to historic music moments (Woodstock Festival) to natural disasters (The Eruption of Vesuvius at Pompeii). Each event is given grounding in the social, political, and geographic climate of the day, before launching into the goal of what you will experience on the 'excursion'.
Fun, engaging, and diverse, the book was an excellent introduction to famous occurrences. They took care to include many graphics (from photos to paintings), direct quotes from contemporary scholars, and references to the differences from the modern world. This keeps the reader simultaneously grounded in their own experience while comparing that to the vicarious experiences offered by their Time Travel Agency.
The only detractor was a number of typos throughout the book that seemed strangely incongruous with the care of its design. Most merely tripped up the prose, but a couple of these required me to reread passages to determine who they were referring to (he instead of she, for example), or references to on XX page, where the page number had not been filled in. All in all, these typographical gaffs can be forgiven for the multiple strengths of this small but dense volume.
It really just made me wish such an Agency were real, so I could take their various excursions! But remember, travellers are forbidden from bringing back souvenirs. After all, a paradox would completely spoil your vacation!
Fun, engaging, and diverse, the book was an excellent introduction to famous occurrences. They took care to include many graphics (from photos to paintings), direct quotes from contemporary scholars, and references to the differences from the modern world. This keeps the reader simultaneously grounded in their own experience while comparing that to the vicarious experiences offered by their Time Travel Agency.
The only detractor was a number of typos throughout the book that seemed strangely incongruous with the care of its design. Most merely tripped up the prose, but a couple of these required me to reread passages to determine who they were referring to (he instead of she, for example), or references to on XX page, where the page number had not been filled in. All in all, these typographical gaffs can be forgiven for the multiple strengths of this small but dense volume.
It really just made me wish such an Agency were real, so I could take their various excursions! But remember, travellers are forbidden from bringing back souvenirs. After all, a paradox would completely spoil your vacation!
July 6, 2025
The idea of this book was more entertaining than the experience of reading it.
This book is written in the format of information pamphlets explaining various trips one could take with this company. There are eighteen different "trips" a customer could take, and then find themselves immersed in various scenes from history. The descriptions explain where you will "land" and how you will depart at the end of the experience, which may last from a period of just hours to weeks; it does not specify but I would assume that the period of the time-traveling experience does not correspond with the present day real time. Time-travelers are also reminded throughout the Handbook that there will be no bringing back souvenirs.
As someone who loves learning about history, there were some chapters here that were quite interesting. There were also some trips that had me hoping to get through them as quickly as possible (for example, the time with Kublai Khan in ancient China). Interesting episodes included the St. Louis World Fair, VE Day in London, and Woodstock.
My overall impression? Interesting, but a bit of a slog. I started it just before a vacation and read bit of it along the way, which may explain the eighteen days it took me to complete this book.
This book is written in the format of information pamphlets explaining various trips one could take with this company. There are eighteen different "trips" a customer could take, and then find themselves immersed in various scenes from history. The descriptions explain where you will "land" and how you will depart at the end of the experience, which may last from a period of just hours to weeks; it does not specify but I would assume that the period of the time-traveling experience does not correspond with the present day real time. Time-travelers are also reminded throughout the Handbook that there will be no bringing back souvenirs.
As someone who loves learning about history, there were some chapters here that were quite interesting. There were also some trips that had me hoping to get through them as quickly as possible (for example, the time with Kublai Khan in ancient China). Interesting episodes included the St. Louis World Fair, VE Day in London, and Woodstock.
My overall impression? Interesting, but a bit of a slog. I started it just before a vacation and read bit of it along the way, which may explain the eighteen days it took me to complete this book.
February 6, 2020
I was a bit disappointed with this book. I thought I was going to like it more than I did. It isn't a bad book by any means, but I think it could have benefited from some changes. One change was I think it should have been in chronological order. It sort of skips around and I didn't like that. My major criticism is the point of view in the book. It is written from a third person point of view. It is written as if you are being handed a briefing book of what you are going to experience during the time travel. I would have preferred a first person perspective from the time traveler's point of view as to what was experienced. It made the book lose something I can't quite articulate. I also found some of the choices curious and events which were left out which I thought would have made a better story. I did not read the book from cover to cover as some of the events were not of particular interest to me. That is one good thing about the book. Each chapter stands alone, so you can just skip the chapters you don't want to read.
March 1, 2020
What if there was a temporal travel agency that arranged trips to significant events in history? With pre-arranged accommodation and travel, itineraries that ensured you could safely take in the key exchanges or activities without altering timelines or endangering yourself?
The Time Travel Handbook is the marketing material such a company would create - detail about the history of the events and locations, timelines for what you'd want to take in (or avoid), and premium features and related tours for the keen or well-to-do.
The book is a fun way of exploring events that you might know well, or know nothing about - ranging from Woodstock to the beheading of Charles I, and from the eruption of Versuvius to The Women's March on Versaille. There are 18 different 'adventures', each told in an almost 'Lonely Planet' tone.
The book is easy to read, with consistent sections. A few bits of information feel under-researched (not surprising with the references list typically only including one item per chapter), but in general I learned quite a lot. Worth a read.
The Time Travel Handbook is the marketing material such a company would create - detail about the history of the events and locations, timelines for what you'd want to take in (or avoid), and premium features and related tours for the keen or well-to-do.
The book is a fun way of exploring events that you might know well, or know nothing about - ranging from Woodstock to the beheading of Charles I, and from the eruption of Versuvius to The Women's March on Versaille. There are 18 different 'adventures', each told in an almost 'Lonely Planet' tone.
The book is easy to read, with consistent sections. A few bits of information feel under-researched (not surprising with the references list typically only including one item per chapter), but in general I learned quite a lot. Worth a read.
December 27, 2016
This is a quirky, unique book that I enjoyed a great deal.
The book serves as the guidebook for a time-travel tour company. Why just visit the ruins of Pompeii when you can actually visit Pompeii moments before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius?
There are 18 tours offered, and for each one, the authors describe the historical context, what to wear, eat, and drink, and where to sleep. They also describe where to position yourself for best viewing the experience, and to be cautious of.
This is an informative, entertaining, and interesting book. The 18 'tours' give a snapshot of key historical events. The writing cleverly gives readers an understanding of both the event and life at the time of the particular event described. Tips, like reminders to carefully note where you park your car at Woodstock in 1969, add humor to each piece. Despite the light tone and funny parts it is clear the book has been carefully researched by the authors.
The book serves as the guidebook for a time-travel tour company. Why just visit the ruins of Pompeii when you can actually visit Pompeii moments before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius?
There are 18 tours offered, and for each one, the authors describe the historical context, what to wear, eat, and drink, and where to sleep. They also describe where to position yourself for best viewing the experience, and to be cautious of.
This is an informative, entertaining, and interesting book. The 18 'tours' give a snapshot of key historical events. The writing cleverly gives readers an understanding of both the event and life at the time of the particular event described. Tips, like reminders to carefully note where you park your car at Woodstock in 1969, add humor to each piece. Despite the light tone and funny parts it is clear the book has been carefully researched by the authors.
May 17, 2020
This was a book that I can say with full confidence and candor, I was so sad when it was over. We are whisked away in the most whimsical way to the worlds most significant moments in history. This book is perfect for the history buff with a little time. I enjoyed the whimsy of time travel mixed with the humor and curiosity. This book was just a joyful wonder in my opinion. I read a lot and often and I felt like I hadn’t been swept off my feet in a while, but this book changed that for me. It was my thirteenth book completes during quarantine and I can definitely say that it was one of my absolute favorites. If you need to be transported to more exciting and challenging times then this book wi do the trick.
March 14, 2018
Wyllie, Acton & Goldblatt (WAG) Time Travel Tours offer 18 time-travel experiences in this "guidebook" to 18 historical events. Less about time-travel and more about history, readers can enjoy learning about all the details of their stay include day-by-day itineraries, accommodations, food & drink, fun activities and importantly, where to score the best acid at Woodstock. A fun and educational read. My favorite experiences: St Louis World's Fair (1904), VE Day, London (1945), Woodstock (1969), Opening Night at Shakespeare's Globe (1599), Golden Age of Hollywood (1923), and the Beatles in Hamburg (1960-62).
February 23, 2019
Kitabın anlatım yolu daha doğrusu yazarların anlatmayı seçtiği yol ilginç ve yenilikçi aslında. Ama anlatımlarında aşırı detaya girmeleri çoğu zaman insanı bunaltıyor ki geçmişteki her bir detayı merak eden, öğrenmek isteyen benim gibi bir tarih manyağını bile söylenir hale getirebildiğine göre sanırım bu durum detay verilmesinden çok bu detayların sıralanışının pek keyif vermemesinden kaynaklanıyor da olabilir. Bir de çok değişik zaman ve mekanlardansa daha Britanya ve Amerika merkezli yolculuklar yapmayı tercih etmişler. Yani çok değişik şeyler beklemeyin. Yine de özellikle merak ettiğimiz bazı dönemler veya olaylar için iyi gibi.
July 2, 2019
Originale spunto di partenza: un catalogo per i viaggiatori nel tempo che permette ai partecipante di assistere a momenti clou della storia come la marcia su Versailles, l'eruzione del Vesuvio, Woodstock, gli albori della carriera dei Beatles o partecipare al seguito di Marco Polo.
Ogni capitolo ha una brevissima contestualizzazione storica poi, come se fosse un viaggio organizzato, vengono indicate le attività che i viaggiatori nel tempo andranno a fare.
Lo svolgimento poi si perde un po' in superficialità...d'altronde i tour organizzati fanno vedere molte cose concentrate nel tempo senza troppi approfondimenti.
Ogni capitolo ha una brevissima contestualizzazione storica poi, come se fosse un viaggio organizzato, vengono indicate le attività che i viaggiatori nel tempo andranno a fare.
Lo svolgimento poi si perde un po' in superficialità...d'altronde i tour organizzati fanno vedere molte cose concentrate nel tempo senza troppi approfondimenti.
August 10, 2020
This guidebook for the intrepid traveler takes you back in space and time to witness 18 historical events ranging from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius near Pompeii to VE Day in London to Woodstock. Written in an old-fashioned, very detailed travel guide manner, the reader is given a good idea of what awaits him or her at the actual event. Period illustrations and maps also help orient the reader in the actual landscape. This cleverly written book is best enjoyed in print for the stylistic touches such as the paper, illustrations, and overall feel. If this book was written by Rick Steves, he would suggest you tear out only the pages for the trip you're taking for the road.
January 16, 2023
Il fatto che lo avessero messo nella sezione dei bambini mi fa un po' storcere il naso, ed è quello che ha fregato anche me, quando lo comprai almeno 7 anni fa, se non di più.
La copertina è colorata, bellissima, cicciottosa e steampunk, il concetto in generale non è male, cioè che questa sia una guida per i viaggiatori nel tempo, con tanto di orario e luogo di partenza e arrivo, consigli sul guardaroba, su dove mangiare, ecc...
Non ho capito però la scelta dei periodi storici da visitare. Non sono per forza quelli più importanti nella storia, e sono anche distribuiti male. Non sono in ordine cronologico, ma raggruppati per tipologia: eventi sportivi, disastri naturali e via dicendo.
Solo un paio di viaggi per le esplorazioni (che mi interessavano di più) e tantissimi eventi di sport, che non mi interessano per niente.
Molto violento e anche irrispettoso del passato e delle vittime, mi ha infastidito moltissimo il capitolo dedicato all'eruzione del Vesuvio a Pompei.
Si vede che è stato scritto da uomini e appassionati sportivi.
La copertina è colorata, bellissima, cicciottosa e steampunk, il concetto in generale non è male, cioè che questa sia una guida per i viaggiatori nel tempo, con tanto di orario e luogo di partenza e arrivo, consigli sul guardaroba, su dove mangiare, ecc...
Non ho capito però la scelta dei periodi storici da visitare. Non sono per forza quelli più importanti nella storia, e sono anche distribuiti male. Non sono in ordine cronologico, ma raggruppati per tipologia: eventi sportivi, disastri naturali e via dicendo.
Solo un paio di viaggi per le esplorazioni (che mi interessavano di più) e tantissimi eventi di sport, che non mi interessano per niente.
Molto violento e anche irrispettoso del passato e delle vittime, mi ha infastidito moltissimo il capitolo dedicato all'eruzione del Vesuvio a Pompei.
Si vede che è stato scritto da uomini e appassionati sportivi.
January 26, 2024
This book is written as a travel agency's various pamphlets for their available guided trips - but the trips are through time to famous events.
It was a really enjoyable read! I had great fun with this. The way this is written does a great job of bringing these events to life and making them feel real, in a way many historical descriptions utterly fail to do. I thoroughly recommend it.
I will point out - and this may be because mine is a first printing - there are numerous typographical and punctuation errors, getting worse as the book goes on. The facts - good! The writing - great! The editing - could be better, bro.
Also, you got the spelling of several Māori terms totally wrong.
It was a really enjoyable read! I had great fun with this. The way this is written does a great job of bringing these events to life and making them feel real, in a way many historical descriptions utterly fail to do. I thoroughly recommend it.
I will point out - and this may be because mine is a first printing - there are numerous typographical and punctuation errors, getting worse as the book goes on. The facts - good! The writing - great! The editing - could be better, bro.
Also, you got the spelling of several Māori terms totally wrong.
February 19, 2024
Tarih içerinde yaşanmış 18 büyük tarihi olayı ve yeri sanki bir turistik bir tur kurgusu içinde sunan ilginç bir kitap. Mesela Beatles'ın ünlü olmadan Hamburg'da sahne almaları sanki o güne tekrar gidiliyormuş gibi anlatılıyor. Mekanlarla ilgili krokiler ve tarihi arkaplan da anlatılıyor. Keşke imkan olsa o yerlere gidip o mekanlarda dolaşıp bu yaşanmış olayları yerlerini görebilsek. Mesala Bosna'da I. Dünya Savaşı’nı başlatan Avusturya-Macaristan arşidükünün bir Sırp milliyetçisi tarafından suikastı o güne gidip anlayabilmek farklı bir bakış getirdi bana. Birgün kitapta geçen olayların mekanlarını kendi gözlerimle görmenin hayalini kurdum.
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