Turkey - Bright Sun, Strong Tea: On the Road with a Travel Writer

by Tom Brosnahan

So what's it like to be a travel writer? Best job in the world? How do you become one? Does it answer the question of what we are all doing on this planet anyway? " Bright Sun, Strong Tea" is the story of a US Peace Corps Volunteer who went to Turkey as an English teacher and ended up being one of the world's most prominent travel writers. Along the way, Brosnahan starred in a movie, sipped champagne with 'fat capitalists' in the sultan's gilded palace, fell in love at a circumcision party, almost got eaten by wolves on the Iranian border, drank endless glasses of strong tea...and discovered the meaning of life.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

In 1968, Tom Brosnahan wrote the first budget guidebook to Turkey as a Peace Corps project. Instead of completing work on a Ph.D. in History, he turned to travel writing and authored dozens of best-selling guidebooks for Frommer's, Lonely Planet and Berlitz. In 2000 he described it all in his humorous travel memoir, "Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea" (2005).

In 2000 he transitioned to the Web, where his websites guided millions of travelers from 230+ countries.

In 2016, standing in Istanbul's Sultan Ahmet Square, he remembered how it looked in 1968 during the hippy era. Characters appeared in his imagination, he wrote down their antics, and within a week he had 30,000 words of a humorous novel: "Istanbul Love Bus" (2018).

"Paris Girls Secret Society" (2017) was to be a sequel, but new characters appeared instead. Some of the Istanbul characters reappear on a Greek island in "Alexandros - the island" (2024). Fascinated by the similarities between today's world and the Gilded Age, he wrote "Serene - a novel of the Belle Époque" (2022).

Another humorous travel memoir centered on food is in the works (2025), as is another novel.

Reviews

[Jennifer E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Not because it is a travel book of recommendations, but because it is how an American experienced Turkiye before Turkiye was itself a travel destination. The humor and humility is refreshing. And somehow, by buying used from a corner of a bookshop, I ended up with an autographed copy. Very fun read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a guidebook, rather a memoir set mostly in the 60's and early 70's of Tom's close connection to Turkey and the Turkish people. His adventures are interesting and so is the information he gives us on Turkish conditions, culture, sights and things a traveler to Turkey might want to know. He's a good writer and "Brosnahan's writing is punctuated with colorful similes some of which made me laugh out loud." He emphasizes his friendships with Turkish people and others he met while in Turkey.

He now has a business which provides websites for tourists - TurkeyTravelPlanner.com, PieChef.com (his wife's).

An unusual occurrence in his life - 3 of his sweethearts and his current wife have been named Jane. His daughter is Lydia.

The book is out of print. Used copies are expensive. I bought a new copy from Tom through Amazon for about $15. He sent it autographed. I gave it to Meg for Christmas, 2011.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like talking to an old friend, Brosnahan writes enthusiastically about first discovering Turkey as a Peace Core volunteer in the summer of 1967, fresh out of Tufts University with a degree in History. He lands in Istanbul and immediately gives a casual description of all he sees. So much has changed (the prices, the Summer of Love, the fishing towns), but so much remains the same. He applies for grants in the summers off from teaching in Izmir and ends up writing the first "Frommer's $10-$15 a Day Guide to Turkey." With him you travel to most towns in Turkey. You get to know his friends, his haunts in the Grand Bazaar, trips with his friends into the Taurus mountains. A reassuring book to read while traveling in Turkey.

[Luke Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who lived in Turkey for over a decade, I found this book extremely interesting, not least because it chronicled the adventures of an American discovering the country starting the 1960s, which was 30 years before I lived there.

His story is witty, personal and punctuated with keen observations about Turkish culture. The narrative is never boring and the writing is excellent as would be expected from a world renowned travel writer.

I recommend it for anyone with a serious interest in Turkey.

[Lupa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not a tourist guide. It is more a memoir. The writing flows very easily and enjoyable in the first part of the book, while the writer is in Turkey as a Peace Corp teacher. It was nice to know how the people are and their everyday lives. The second part could have been shorter. The book lost interest when the writer visits many cities to collect information only to be published in his Tourist Guides Book. Very small mention (very!) about the other minorities that lives in Turkey such as: Armenian, Kurds, etc...

[Kristie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book on my recent business trip to Turkey. Most of the book is set in Turkey in the late 1960's, but the Turkish hospitality, strong tea, and strong coffee are the same today. Recommended for anyone traveling to Turkey to get a different perspective than a guidebook. Brosnahan's writing is punctuated with colorful similes some of which made me laugh out loud.

[Baurzhan Issa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and easy-to-read "time-machine" book. I would recommend as the 1st thing to read in Turkey for expats moving there. In the very beginning of the book you'll learn that there are at certain point mysterious folks - Levantines.

And, yes, I bought it directly from Tom's website and got it autographed by him. :)

[Tamara Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the chronicles of this authors life experiences in Turkey. Once into this book, I could not put it down. I found his descriptions and easy, flowing writing style a pleasure to read. It was particularly good as an advance look on the Turkish culture before I visited in May 2013. Recommended.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brosnahan's book was a great introduction to Turkey for travelers. Throughout his tales the reader gleans bits of history, culture and attitude which enhanced my own trip. A major quibble I have is his frequent references to his attempts to pick up women, being love-sick and being heart-broken. I forgive him this as the telling is an honest account of his time in Turkey as a young man.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a humorous and insightful insight into Turkey across multiple decades. While I expected to read more about his time in the Peace Corps, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about the evolution of his guidebook research.

[Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I read it before travelling to Turkey so it gave me an added insight into the country. On the down side it is a bit dated by now...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is probably one of the most knowledgeable Turkey travel writers and this book of reminiscences is a treat.

[Asa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A travel writer’s love letter to Turkey—steeped in charm, spiced with anecdotes, and occasionally filtered through rose-colored glasses.

[Irus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. With an excellent sense of humor, Tom Brosnahan describes his extensive travel experience in Turkey as well as his romancing of the Janes.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading this book if you are going to travel in, or have any interest in, Turkey. A really interesting and good read.

[Katie Belliel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read on expat life in Turkey in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Some things are still much the same, others vastly different. A light read, lots to make other expats in Turkey chuckle.

[Stacy Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exected somewhat of a travel guide as he is a travel planner/Turkey expert. However it's more of a memoir of short clips of his time in Turkey.