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Weird Travel #1
Don’t Go There!: From Chernobyl to North Korea—One Man’s Quest to Lose Himself and Find Everyone Else in the World’s Strangest Places
How much would you risk to change your life?
After Spiegel bestselling author Adam Fletcher is accidentally tear-gassed in street protests in Istanbul, he goes on a journey to change his humdrum life, taking his eccentric German girlfriend, Annett, along with him. Their quest to better understand themselves (and everyone else) threatens their world view, sanity, and relationship.
Whether freezing in a blizzard in China; ruining a mass dance in North Korea; experiencing the corruption of Soviet-breakaway Transnistria; pondering the apocalypse in Chernobyl; getting stopped by police boats on the way to the newest country in the world (libertarian utopia Liberland); or meeting the devil incarnate on a night bus in Moldova, Adam keeps his sense of humour and fascination for the weird things people do to each other when they think no one is looking, in the places few of us ever go. Don’t Go There is a hilarious travelogue full of interesting characters, uncomfortable moments, unusual destinations, and British humour that will appeal to lovers of Bill Bryson, Douglas Adams, and David Sedaris.
After Spiegel bestselling author Adam Fletcher is accidentally tear-gassed in street protests in Istanbul, he goes on a journey to change his humdrum life, taking his eccentric German girlfriend, Annett, along with him. Their quest to better understand themselves (and everyone else) threatens their world view, sanity, and relationship.
Whether freezing in a blizzard in China; ruining a mass dance in North Korea; experiencing the corruption of Soviet-breakaway Transnistria; pondering the apocalypse in Chernobyl; getting stopped by police boats on the way to the newest country in the world (libertarian utopia Liberland); or meeting the devil incarnate on a night bus in Moldova, Adam keeps his sense of humour and fascination for the weird things people do to each other when they think no one is looking, in the places few of us ever go. Don’t Go There is a hilarious travelogue full of interesting characters, uncomfortable moments, unusual destinations, and British humour that will appeal to lovers of Bill Bryson, Douglas Adams, and David Sedaris.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2018
1663 people are currently reading
1923 people want to read
About the author
Adam Fletcher
28 books132 followersGet a free book at - http://adam-fletcher.co.uk
Adam Fletcher is a 38 year old bald Englishman living in Berlin, Germany. When not shamelessly selling his life in story form, he spends his days eating chocolate and napping. He's a particularly good napper.
He's the author of eight traditionally published books, including three Spiegel bestsellers, and has sold more than 350k copies combined, not all of which were to his mother, he hopes. She no longer lets him in her garage. Adam specialises in taking you, from the comfort of your favourite armchair, to the strangest countries and places in the world with his popular Weird Travel series.
He also writes comedic fiction as Adam R. Fletcher - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Adam Fletcher is a 38 year old bald Englishman living in Berlin, Germany. When not shamelessly selling his life in story form, he spends his days eating chocolate and napping. He's a particularly good napper.
He's the author of eight traditionally published books, including three Spiegel bestsellers, and has sold more than 350k copies combined, not all of which were to his mother, he hopes. She no longer lets him in her garage. Adam specialises in taking you, from the comfort of your favourite armchair, to the strangest countries and places in the world with his popular Weird Travel series.
He also writes comedic fiction as Adam R. Fletcher - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
January 10, 2019
I love travelogues. I thought I'd enjoy this book which got rave reviews, but the author is just so stupid that I can't take it. (I've never written such a scathing review & I don't think people should call other people names, but I can't figure out a better way to describe why I hated this book.)
I didn't even finish the first story & maybe the book gets better, but anyone this ridiculous is likely going to continue to make dumb decisions in any country he goes to...
He & his girl tried to grab dinner at a restaurant while vast portions of a city were closed down (including all mass transit) due to protests & police violence. Then, after being tear-gassed, they decided to go to a Couchsurfing meetup instead of going back to their apartment because they didn't know what part of the city was safe. Well, duh, wouldn't the area you already knew be safer then some random other area with strangers? But it gets better. After finding safety for a while, they decide it's time to go back to the apartment. The locals all tell them it's not safe to leave. They decide to ignore all the advice & make a break for it, but first the author needs to go retrieve one of the used tear gas containers as a souvenir. Are you kidding me?
I get self deprecating humor. I love British humor in books, movies, & all sorts of tv shows, but this is all sheer stupidity. I'm not going to sit through 16 other similar stories which showcase the worst of tourists.
I really hope the author is just making some of this up for effect because otherwise, I don't understand how he wasn't killed already by his poor choices.
I didn't even finish the first story & maybe the book gets better, but anyone this ridiculous is likely going to continue to make dumb decisions in any country he goes to...
He & his girl tried to grab dinner at a restaurant while vast portions of a city were closed down (including all mass transit) due to protests & police violence. Then, after being tear-gassed, they decided to go to a Couchsurfing meetup instead of going back to their apartment because they didn't know what part of the city was safe. Well, duh, wouldn't the area you already knew be safer then some random other area with strangers? But it gets better. After finding safety for a while, they decide it's time to go back to the apartment. The locals all tell them it's not safe to leave. They decide to ignore all the advice & make a break for it, but first the author needs to go retrieve one of the used tear gas containers as a souvenir. Are you kidding me?
I get self deprecating humor. I love British humor in books, movies, & all sorts of tv shows, but this is all sheer stupidity. I'm not going to sit through 16 other similar stories which showcase the worst of tourists.
I really hope the author is just making some of this up for effect because otherwise, I don't understand how he wasn't killed already by his poor choices.
March 20, 2019
A negative Nelly of a British bloke attempts to escape the rut his life had become by being miserable in more exotic locations. Complains constantly.
May 14, 2019
This is one of the most hilarious books I've read in a long time. Think Dave Barry meets Rick Steves. With some great life lessons thrown in for good measure.
Fletcher is a balding Brit in his 30's who lives in Berlin. A self-described couch potato, he decides to get out of his rut and travel to places that will take him out of his comfort zone. Such as Istanbul during riots, Moldova, a Hare Krishna camp in Argentina, a 48-hour "overnight" bus ride in China during holiday season, Hebron, etc. His prose made me laugh out loud, over and over again (samples below). I felt like underlining the whole book.
But it's really the self-knowledge that Fletcher gains that makes this more than an entertaining read. He concludes that being bored with one's own (first-world) culture is a luxury. Most people in countries that malfunction are struggling just to survive. He doesn't really try to analyze why countries malfunction; rather, he observes with a careful eye and lets us draw our own conclusions. "I'd lost sight of he extraordinary privilege inherent within boredom. Most people in the world don't get to decide whether or not to engage in politics. Don't feel so safe and secure and bored that they actively go out looking for danger, just to feel more alive."
A few other gems:
"That was what travel was for. The unfamiliarity of being where you don't belong frees you from any expectations about how things there are supposed to work, and, in turn, how you will react to them."
[About food at an ashram] "It didn't leave you feeling bloated and guilty like the bloody crime scene that was the rest of Argentinian cuisine."
"I was the sort of writer who talked about writing much more than getting around to doing any of it. Like an armchair sports fan, I preferred to cheer literature on from the safety of the sidelines, where I didn't have to get myself sentence sweaty."
"He had a face that seemed to be able to produce thunder, amongst other bad weather, all of which could be unleashed upon you at his discretion."
"Annett is not into children in the same way people are not into being hit with rocks."
Fletcher is a balding Brit in his 30's who lives in Berlin. A self-described couch potato, he decides to get out of his rut and travel to places that will take him out of his comfort zone. Such as Istanbul during riots, Moldova, a Hare Krishna camp in Argentina, a 48-hour "overnight" bus ride in China during holiday season, Hebron, etc. His prose made me laugh out loud, over and over again (samples below). I felt like underlining the whole book.
But it's really the self-knowledge that Fletcher gains that makes this more than an entertaining read. He concludes that being bored with one's own (first-world) culture is a luxury. Most people in countries that malfunction are struggling just to survive. He doesn't really try to analyze why countries malfunction; rather, he observes with a careful eye and lets us draw our own conclusions. "I'd lost sight of he extraordinary privilege inherent within boredom. Most people in the world don't get to decide whether or not to engage in politics. Don't feel so safe and secure and bored that they actively go out looking for danger, just to feel more alive."
A few other gems:
"That was what travel was for. The unfamiliarity of being where you don't belong frees you from any expectations about how things there are supposed to work, and, in turn, how you will react to them."
[About food at an ashram] "It didn't leave you feeling bloated and guilty like the bloody crime scene that was the rest of Argentinian cuisine."
"I was the sort of writer who talked about writing much more than getting around to doing any of it. Like an armchair sports fan, I preferred to cheer literature on from the safety of the sidelines, where I didn't have to get myself sentence sweaty."
"He had a face that seemed to be able to produce thunder, amongst other bad weather, all of which could be unleashed upon you at his discretion."
"Annett is not into children in the same way people are not into being hit with rocks."
November 20, 2020
This is one of those books you'll either hate with a passion or find highly entertaining - as indicated by my rating, I fall into the latter category. The author, while undoubtedly going into this experience as a spoiled, silly, at times exceedingly stupid man-child (oh, how I feel for Annett, his longsuffering girlfriend who got dragged along on some of his adventures), certainly seems to have benefitted from the crazy tour of unusual tourist destinations he set out to explore, providing a humorous and at times surprisingly insightful commentary on the people, places and absurdities he encounters along the way.
January 28, 2019
I'll be honest. I probably read half of this book in total.
I started it in earnest. I really wanted to read it. I really wanted it to be worth reading.
For me it wasn't. It was pretty boring. The author starts as a complacent man stuck in a rut. Okay, who isn't/hasn't been there. He goes on a vacation to Turkey being completely unaware of what's happening there. He and his girlfriend get lucky and don't get arrested or die after not listening to the locals and continuing to walk on the streets in the middle of a riot.
This awakens a need to feel alive in the author. Again, who hasn't felt this way. He then makes it a point to travel to unpopular/desolate/bad/crap locations now.
Interesting in premise, horrible in execution. His writing is boring. He isn't very descriptive about the places he visits. And honestly, other than these places not being a 5 star all inclusive resort, nothing remarkable happens there. He goes to cities where people live and have a daily routine. It's not Berlin. It's not New York, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Kiev, or any other over touristed area. It is literally a place where people live and go about their day and he or his girlfriend complains. Actually she complains more than he does.
Again I only actually read about half of this book because after reading the section on being stuck on a bus in China for 72 hours, or whatever the total time was, I lost all interest in this book. The writing of that section made me feel like I was stuck on a bus in the middle of nowhere China. Also I wouldn't be able to put up with his girlfriend the way he writes about her. I understand not wanting to go to these boring locales but don't sign up to go and then complain the whole time.
I was expecting something completely different from this book. The title caught my eye and I thought it would be a lot more interesting, but this books reads like a manual on how to be the worst visitor ever. The author wasn't prepared for any of the places he visited. Apparently nothing good happened at most of the locations. His girlfriend was a whiny turd.
Maybe somewhere in the middle is a chapter that shows a revelation in the authors life and the meaning of it all was buried somewhere in the sparsely written description of Jerusalem. I don't know, I gave up. I picked through a few of the chapters and couldn't find interest in reading the rest.
I started it in earnest. I really wanted to read it. I really wanted it to be worth reading.
For me it wasn't. It was pretty boring. The author starts as a complacent man stuck in a rut. Okay, who isn't/hasn't been there. He goes on a vacation to Turkey being completely unaware of what's happening there. He and his girlfriend get lucky and don't get arrested or die after not listening to the locals and continuing to walk on the streets in the middle of a riot.
This awakens a need to feel alive in the author. Again, who hasn't felt this way. He then makes it a point to travel to unpopular/desolate/bad/crap locations now.
Interesting in premise, horrible in execution. His writing is boring. He isn't very descriptive about the places he visits. And honestly, other than these places not being a 5 star all inclusive resort, nothing remarkable happens there. He goes to cities where people live and have a daily routine. It's not Berlin. It's not New York, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Kiev, or any other over touristed area. It is literally a place where people live and go about their day and he or his girlfriend complains. Actually she complains more than he does.
Again I only actually read about half of this book because after reading the section on being stuck on a bus in China for 72 hours, or whatever the total time was, I lost all interest in this book. The writing of that section made me feel like I was stuck on a bus in the middle of nowhere China. Also I wouldn't be able to put up with his girlfriend the way he writes about her. I understand not wanting to go to these boring locales but don't sign up to go and then complain the whole time.
I was expecting something completely different from this book. The title caught my eye and I thought it would be a lot more interesting, but this books reads like a manual on how to be the worst visitor ever. The author wasn't prepared for any of the places he visited. Apparently nothing good happened at most of the locations. His girlfriend was a whiny turd.
Maybe somewhere in the middle is a chapter that shows a revelation in the authors life and the meaning of it all was buried somewhere in the sparsely written description of Jerusalem. I don't know, I gave up. I picked through a few of the chapters and couldn't find interest in reading the rest.
October 11, 2019
On the face of it, Don’t Go there: From Chernobyl to North Korea is simply another dark tourist travelogue written for a few cheap thrills. However, what sets its apart from the others is that what starts out with a few chuckles ends up in providing a torrent of laughter as Fletcher hits his stride in some of the most out of way places in the world such as Liberland and Transnistria (and yes, in case you’re wondering, these places really to exist).
It is worth taking the trouble to jump aboard Fletcher’s journey to places where he finds himself mixing with protesters in Istanbul, Orthodox Jews in Israel, Hare Krishnas in Argentina and the Devil Incarnate on the Booze Bus whilst also describing Chernobyl as the modern-day Pompeii. It might appear juvenile at times, but it still is a whole heap of fun. 3 and a half stars rounded up to 4 and well recommended for when you need a good travel laugh.
It is worth taking the trouble to jump aboard Fletcher’s journey to places where he finds himself mixing with protesters in Istanbul, Orthodox Jews in Israel, Hare Krishnas in Argentina and the Devil Incarnate on the Booze Bus whilst also describing Chernobyl as the modern-day Pompeii. It might appear juvenile at times, but it still is a whole heap of fun. 3 and a half stars rounded up to 4 and well recommended for when you need a good travel laugh.
September 13, 2019
The author should have titled this book DON'T READ THIS.
Easily one of the worst books I have read in a long time. The author tries to shoehorn in a character arc for himself, as well as attempts at "self-deprecating humor," and lessons from his travels. They all come off as insincere as shallow.
The premise of this book is attractive, and all of the places visited by the author would be interesting to learn about. The amount you learn from the author's experiences is no deeper than what you could find on Wikipedia. Do not come here to learn any new facts about most of these countries, with a few exceptions. The chapter on Ghana is the best, as it involves the author and his girlfriend visiting a friend and getting an intimate look at a small town. This chapter stands out against the waste of time of almost every other chapter. For example, there is a "chapter" on Moldova, but it is entirely about the drunken group of travelers tagging along and we hear nothing about the country. In another chapter, they fly all the way to Argentina to spend 5 days at a Hare Krishna retreat. They leave after a day and the chapter ends, with no insight into what they did with the rest of their planned trip and what they thought of Buenos Aires. As a travelogue, the book leaves more out than it keeps in.
Each chapter ends with a sophomoric moral of the story. The repetition of the theme is tiresome and feels forced. Some example 'lessons' include "boredom is a luxury good," that you can't run away from your problems, and that we tell ourselves stories about ourselves and our pasts to make us feel unique and special. Some of these lessons might have felt more valuable if the author doesn't end the book right where you started - running away from his great life in Berlin on a trip to another random place so that he can write his sequel.
Adam Fletcher comes off as a pompous jerk who doesn't care about other people with very little literary talent. I only finished the book in order to get the Goodreads reading challenge credit and to have the credibility to write this review so that you won't read it. This book is not worth what you pay to read it, which is free on Amazon Prime.
Easily one of the worst books I have read in a long time. The author tries to shoehorn in a character arc for himself, as well as attempts at "self-deprecating humor," and lessons from his travels. They all come off as insincere as shallow.
The premise of this book is attractive, and all of the places visited by the author would be interesting to learn about. The amount you learn from the author's experiences is no deeper than what you could find on Wikipedia. Do not come here to learn any new facts about most of these countries, with a few exceptions. The chapter on Ghana is the best, as it involves the author and his girlfriend visiting a friend and getting an intimate look at a small town. This chapter stands out against the waste of time of almost every other chapter. For example, there is a "chapter" on Moldova, but it is entirely about the drunken group of travelers tagging along and we hear nothing about the country. In another chapter, they fly all the way to Argentina to spend 5 days at a Hare Krishna retreat. They leave after a day and the chapter ends, with no insight into what they did with the rest of their planned trip and what they thought of Buenos Aires. As a travelogue, the book leaves more out than it keeps in.
Each chapter ends with a sophomoric moral of the story. The repetition of the theme is tiresome and feels forced. Some example 'lessons' include "boredom is a luxury good," that you can't run away from your problems, and that we tell ourselves stories about ourselves and our pasts to make us feel unique and special. Some of these lessons might have felt more valuable if the author doesn't end the book right where you started - running away from his great life in Berlin on a trip to another random place so that he can write his sequel.
Adam Fletcher comes off as a pompous jerk who doesn't care about other people with very little literary talent. I only finished the book in order to get the Goodreads reading challenge credit and to have the credibility to write this review so that you won't read it. This book is not worth what you pay to read it, which is free on Amazon Prime.
June 25, 2021
An enjoyable summary of one man’s travel to various “unusual” places around the world. Did feel on occasion that the overall narrative of him ‘finding himself’ was a little forced and cliche, but there was a subtle humour throughout which I enjoyed.
May 3, 2018
Don't Go There is a short collection of travel pieces that interested me with its mention of visits to Turkey, Chernobyl, and North Korea. The actual collection contains these along with trips to Israel, Ghana, China, and a few other places deemed 'interesting'. The first piece, a visit to Istanbul that threw the writer and his girlfriend unwittingly into street protests and clouds of tear gas, sets the stage: the narrator has no idea what he's doing or why, and seems to stumble into catastrophes just to get a good story to write about. None of Fletcher's trips had any reason or planning to them, most developed miserable complications, and when his girlfriend threatens to leave him, the reader must be sympathetic. If one endures his laughable ignorance in visiting places like Jerusalem (he is annoyed by religious people and religious references, which would be akin to going to DC when one hates politics), and similar episodes, eventually he ends up in North Korea. It's about what you'd expect, but he comes away believing the hostages of Kim are not as brainwashed as is commonly held, and that they would be more expressive if they could get away with it.
February 8, 2021
People like to travel but there are some places in the world that many avoid and yet they can be pretty interesting to visit. The book may be called "don't go there" but after reading it I want to visit more of them.
It is a travel book and while in some cases the author tells us some facts about the countries he visits it isn't a book to read if you simply want to learn about those places. The one who get this book for it will likely be disappointed. For the most part it is a humor book that tells us about his traveling experiences in a way that is pretty funny. Some of the chapters were not all that hilarious to me and yet there were others where I was literally laughing out loud.
I was slightly disappointed by the Chernobyl chapter. I was probably expecting too much as this was the one I was looking forward to because I was born in Ukraine and also would like to visit Chernobyl. It was pretty short not all that hilarious and it was what I already knew from watching some tourism videos on Youtube. Still I am sure some will like it.
My favorite as his trip to Transnistria. It was such an interesting experience and also the funniest one in the book in my opinion. Makes me want to visit it as well. North Korea was of course very interesting to read. And another place I want to visit now after reading it is Ghana.
I am looking forward to read his second book, very curious where it will take him now.
It is a travel book and while in some cases the author tells us some facts about the countries he visits it isn't a book to read if you simply want to learn about those places. The one who get this book for it will likely be disappointed. For the most part it is a humor book that tells us about his traveling experiences in a way that is pretty funny. Some of the chapters were not all that hilarious to me and yet there were others where I was literally laughing out loud.
I was slightly disappointed by the Chernobyl chapter. I was probably expecting too much as this was the one I was looking forward to because I was born in Ukraine and also would like to visit Chernobyl. It was pretty short not all that hilarious and it was what I already knew from watching some tourism videos on Youtube. Still I am sure some will like it.
My favorite as his trip to Transnistria. It was such an interesting experience and also the funniest one in the book in my opinion. Makes me want to visit it as well. North Korea was of course very interesting to read. And another place I want to visit now after reading it is Ghana.
I am looking forward to read his second book, very curious where it will take him now.
February 4, 2020
What can I say...?
The book per se is good (not great), I just hated how he trash talked about religions. That's why I took an additional star off my rating. Then again, that's the behavior from an atheist. No respect for others' beliefs. Plus, I hated his sense of humor at times.
Still, it was an interesting read. It was more thanks to the places he visited. However, who the heck goes to a Hare Krishna community in Argentina?! Of all the places he could see, he went THERE! It's not even the place where the religion/cult originated. Just plain ridiculous!And reading about the tour de drunks was seriously a pain.
I did like, however, his stories about Istanbul, China, and North Korea. Having lived protests in my own country recently, the book hooked me with Istanbul. His crazy Chinese overnight bus that turned into two days with nothing but a croissant and a bottle of water for him and his girlfriend was funny. However, his story about North Korea was extremely sad, more so since I believe in a passion-driven education and North Korea (as per his account) seemed to be devoid of any kind of passion. So, it wasn't a total waste of time and I actually want to read his other book "Don't Come Back".
The book per se is good (not great), I just hated how he trash talked about religions. That's why I took an additional star off my rating. Then again, that's the behavior from an atheist. No respect for others' beliefs. Plus, I hated his sense of humor at times.
Still, it was an interesting read. It was more thanks to the places he visited. However, who the heck goes to a Hare Krishna community in Argentina?! Of all the places he could see, he went THERE! It's not even the place where the religion/cult originated. Just plain ridiculous!And reading about the tour de drunks was seriously a pain.
I did like, however, his stories about Istanbul, China, and North Korea. Having lived protests in my own country recently, the book hooked me with Istanbul. His crazy Chinese overnight bus that turned into two days with nothing but a croissant and a bottle of water for him and his girlfriend was funny. However, his story about North Korea was extremely sad, more so since I believe in a passion-driven education and North Korea (as per his account) seemed to be devoid of any kind of passion. So, it wasn't a total waste of time and I actually want to read his other book "Don't Come Back".
May 12, 2019
Someone recommended this book to me, as I've been to all these places for work (except for that Argentine ashram and the specific village in Ghana, but both those countries). I don't really know if I want to be friends with this person anymore if he thinks that I would find this book funny. I kept plowing on, hoping the next place would be better, remembering how much fun I'd had in these odd locales.
This guy comes across as every halfwit white dude embracing travel wonky places in an attempt to seem deep that I've been avoiding in restaurants and hotel bars for most of my adult life. Just when I thought the book couldn't get worse and was in fact delighting that it was over, I read there's another coming out. This book did make me grateful for the six months of Kindle unlimited that came with my reader, as at least I did not end up out of pocket on this experience.
This guy comes across as every halfwit white dude embracing travel wonky places in an attempt to seem deep that I've been avoiding in restaurants and hotel bars for most of my adult life. Just when I thought the book couldn't get worse and was in fact delighting that it was over, I read there's another coming out. This book did make me grateful for the six months of Kindle unlimited that came with my reader, as at least I did not end up out of pocket on this experience.
June 13, 2020
Save yourself from reading this book...the only positive thing I can say about this book is I loved the cover art. Inside of the book you will find the arrogant words of a self-proclaimed "Poverty Tourist" who decided he needs to exploit others to make him feel better. I can honestly say I have never felt more loathing for an author of a travel guide as I do for Adam Fletcher. His arrogance and obvious ethnocentric worldview shows such a blatant lack of disrespect for humanity. Take this man's passport away--he only uses it to "exoticize" other people. He is unfunny, rude, and quite honestly a mean human being.
February 20, 2021
The blurb for this book claims its a travelogue that is a mixture of Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux and Douglas Adams. It has neither the wit of Bryson, Theroux' misanthropic insight and how on earth this contrived, juvenile series of vignettes of 'what I did on my holidays' can claim any sort of linkage to the genuis of Adam's writing is beyond me.
The passage that sums up this book and its protagonist is such: he is invited to visit a school in Ghana and has nothing to ask the children. No inquisitiveness as to their hopes, dreams, what their day-to-day life is like or anything else. The lack of interest and insight plus the incessant cod philosophy made this a dull read.
The passage that sums up this book and its protagonist is such: he is invited to visit a school in Ghana and has nothing to ask the children. No inquisitiveness as to their hopes, dreams, what their day-to-day life is like or anything else. The lack of interest and insight plus the incessant cod philosophy made this a dull read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2018
Brilliant
I was so pleasantly surprised to find so much of myself in Adam’s trips. Besides you learn a whole lot. I will thank Adam once again when my application for Liberland citizenship gets approved.
I was so pleasantly surprised to find so much of myself in Adam’s trips. Besides you learn a whole lot. I will thank Adam once again when my application for Liberland citizenship gets approved.
April 14, 2020
Don't read that! A limp attempt at a 'innocents abroad'. Pseudo-profound lessons from a couple of holidays. Best when author sticks to straight up journalism (liberland) - worst when be tries to unconvincingly crowbar in his relationship with his girlfriend.
August 6, 2018
A funny, irreverent look at life by way of travels to unusual places.
January 28, 2019
Blinding
Excellent!!!!!
Well recommended book for all.
Could not put it down, can’t wait for the next book to come out soon!
Excellent!!!!!
Well recommended book for all.
Could not put it down, can’t wait for the next book to come out soon!
April 20, 2022
This was an easy read and worthy of three Thetford stars. If there had been more detail on some of the more exotic locations Adam visited I would have given 4 or even 5 stars but as he described boring old Thetford (no disrespect) in more detail than Jerusalem, I feel like I’ve missed out and he’s missed a trick. I didn’t know Thetford has a new bus station though, that’s interesting.
February 8, 2024
A nice quick-read about a guy who travels to the “less touristy” parts of the world to get some perspective about his life.
July 1, 2025
Hilarisch. Vakantie op de meest rare, bijzondere, opvallende plaatsen. Don’t go there! En als je het boek leest, blijk je zelf ook best een boel van de beschreven plaatsen te hebben bezocht. Grappig!
May 12, 2021
This book is painfully in need of an edit. Firstly, the scrapping of pretty much the entire first half. The chapters on China, Ghana and Israel were truly awful. Simultaneously dull and groaningly offensive, with a surface-level smattering of historical/political context, and lame "observations" and "analysis" (though they could barely be called the latter). The places weren't even well described in terms of atmosphere or scene-setting, and I won't even get started on the constant complaining the author does. Most bafflingly in terms of the premise of the book, they're also... not at all unusual places to go?
There were a few redeemable chapters towards the end of the book, when the author ACTUALLY goes to places that are less well-known and ACTUALLY puts in some interesting context and ACTUALLY gains some insight from locals. But he still goes to them on package tours, so it's hardly an experience worth publishing to an audience. And the chapters still weren't redeemable enough to raise my review above one star.
There were a few redeemable chapters towards the end of the book, when the author ACTUALLY goes to places that are less well-known and ACTUALLY puts in some interesting context and ACTUALLY gains some insight from locals. But he still goes to them on package tours, so it's hardly an experience worth publishing to an audience. And the chapters still weren't redeemable enough to raise my review above one star.
May 9, 2020
I really like travelogues, and I really like unusual places (though I've been to Chernobyl and - considering all the tours there - can we still call that specific ramptoerisme unusual?), so when I found this by accident on the kindle monthly offers list, I jumped on it.
Here's the thing: I really enjoyed this for the places Fletcher visits, and the humorous way he describes them. It gets better as you get further in the book, because he starts to appreciate things more rather than just going there to say that he's done so.
BUT the guy is rather, well, whiny, in a very British way, before starting to travel all the time to run away from his normal life. He reminded me of my ex. I do not envy his girlfriend.
So despite the interesting destinations, this was just... not it.
Here's the thing: I really enjoyed this for the places Fletcher visits, and the humorous way he describes them. It gets better as you get further in the book, because he starts to appreciate things more rather than just going there to say that he's done so.
BUT the guy is rather, well, whiny, in a very British way, before starting to travel all the time to run away from his normal life. He reminded me of my ex. I do not envy his girlfriend.
So despite the interesting destinations, this was just... not it.
August 2, 2020
All the places you have never wanted to visit – brought to life
From China to Chenobyl, North Korea to brand-new Liberland, the author travels to weird and wonderful places most of us can only dream about. But this is more than just another travel memoir, Adam infuses his writing with a wry sense of humour and insightful thoughts that enhance each journey with a touch of the profound. Things certainly seem to happen to him which make him reflect on wider societal causes and effects, whilst also being able to laugh at himself. Alongside the journeys are more personal moments when he considers his relationship with his girlfriend and honest introspection about his own personality. This is a fascinating and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading part 2.
From China to Chenobyl, North Korea to brand-new Liberland, the author travels to weird and wonderful places most of us can only dream about. But this is more than just another travel memoir, Adam infuses his writing with a wry sense of humour and insightful thoughts that enhance each journey with a touch of the profound. Things certainly seem to happen to him which make him reflect on wider societal causes and effects, whilst also being able to laugh at himself. Alongside the journeys are more personal moments when he considers his relationship with his girlfriend and honest introspection about his own personality. This is a fascinating and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading part 2.
September 14, 2019
The author is, for want of a better word, an idiot. He goes to places in times of conflict and is upset that it's not paradise. He goes out in the middle of the street to pick up a tear gas can.
Several times during this book I questioned why I was reading it. Mostly because I have no respect for myself. The main reasoning behind not going to any of these places is "I acted like a baby when I was there so that means I didn't have a good time".
The only saving grace this book has is that it inspired me to go to some of these places, and not act like a spoiled child.
Several times during this book I questioned why I was reading it. Mostly because I have no respect for myself. The main reasoning behind not going to any of these places is "I acted like a baby when I was there so that means I didn't have a good time".
The only saving grace this book has is that it inspired me to go to some of these places, and not act like a spoiled child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
A travel book where the author (& sometimes his girlfriend) go to places that most people wouldn’t want to. I liked it rather than loved it, but when it was good it was very good. My favourite chapters were the ones on Israel, Palestine, Chernobyl and Thetford (!), and as is usually the case with books like this, lots of fun came at the expense of people they met along the way. It has successfully put me off going to some places!
February 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I think Adam is a brilliant travel writer and I was thoroughly engaged with each place he visited. however, I felt that he came across as a bit holier-than-thou, and someone who believes their opinions and beliefs are all that matter. I honestly would've preferred just a comedic travel guide about these weird and wonderful places, and could've lived without the Annett bits, but that is just my personal opinion.
January 30, 2021
I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s got some fascinating facts about countries you never knew you needed to visit, good humor through the thoughts of our very English author, and some heart warming - thought provoking questions about us people as a whole.
Will this book change your life for the better? Probably not, but it will make you think and make you really wanna hop on a plane and get out there.
Will this book change your life for the better? Probably not, but it will make you think and make you really wanna hop on a plane and get out there.
March 4, 2018
I thought Don't Go There by Adam Fletcher was okay. Fletcher went to some interesting places, however the telling of it was tedious. I found myself flipping through pages.
The book might be interesting to readers who like: stories written about places that the vast majority of people do not visit.
The book might be interesting to readers who like: stories written about places that the vast majority of people do not visit.
March 31, 2020
A panoply of exciting, bizarre, and often inspiring tales, that paint a vivid picture of some of the most interesting places on Earth. As someone who's recently started a blog about my own travel experiences, this book, sprinkled with incredibly witty and intelligent anecdotes, has given me real inspiration on how travel writing should be done! Amazing!
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