Grounded : a down to earth journey around the world / Seth Stevenson.

ISBN:

9780732287979

Title:

Author:

Stevenson, Seth, 1974-

Personal Author:

Stevenson, Seth, 1974-

Publication Information:

Pymble, N.S.W. : HarperCollins, 2010.

Physical Description:

304 p. : maps ; 24 cm.

General Note:

"How to really see the world by not flying over it"--Cover.

First published: New York : Riverhead.

Contents:

Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia -- Philadelphia to Antwerp -- Antwerp to Tallinn -- Tallinn to Fushiki -- Fushiki to Beijing -- Beijing to Hanoi -- Hanoi to Bangkok -- Bangkok to Singapore -- Singapore to Brisbane -- Brisbane to Los Angeles -- Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., and points beyond--.

Personal Subject:

Stevenson, Seth, 1974--Travel.

Subject Term:

Voyages around the world.

Travel -- Philosophy.

Format:

Books

Publication Date:

2010

Publication Information:

Pymble, N.S.W. : HarperCollins, 2010.

Available:*

Shelf Number	Material Type	Copy	Shelf Location	Status
910.41 STE	Recreational Reading	1	Standard shelving location	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

In the spirit of AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, an intrepid writer rediscovers the magic of travel by circumnavigating the world with one simple rule: no planes, ever.

How to really see the world by not flying over it ... 'I have good news and bad news. the good news is, they let me aboard the ship.' 'I can't believe it,' Rebecca says excitedly. 'I thought there was no chance! I'm almost done packing - I'll catch a taxi to the terminal now!' 'See, this is the bad news part,' I say, watching the docks slowly recede into the distance ... Let's face it, for all its convenience, flying sucks the adventure out of a journey. Check your shoes. Bag your liquids. So when Seth Stevenson decided to embark on the ultimate adventure - circumnavigating the world, no less - he vowed to recapture what he once loved about travel by sticking to one simple rule: no planes, ever. In the spirit of Around the World in Eighty Days, he sets off with fellow traveller Rebecca as expert navigatrix determined to savour every unexpected bump in the road - and see everything you miss by flying over it. He bunks on cargo freighters, cruise ships and ferries, rides on rickshaws, motorbikes and double-decker buses, drives a car across the Australian outback, pedals a bicycle through Vietnam, rattles across Russia on the trans-Siberian Railway - and even abandons Rebecca in Singapore to maintain his 'no fly' rule. this funny, wise and thoroughly entertaining armchair tour around the world is a timely reminder of what travelling should be. 'With travel writing it's not just about where you go, it's who you're on the journey with. Seth Stevenson makes a delightful travelling companion and Grounded is a charming read' AA Gill, author of AA GILL IS AWAY and tHE ANGY ISLAND

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Anyone familiar with Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days will already know the basic premise of Stephenson's book: an around-the-world voyage in which we visit strange lands, meet unusual people, and have interesting adventures. Unlike Phileas Fogg, however, Stevenson and his traveling companion (his girlfriend, Rebecca) have no deadline: they can take as long as they want to make their way around the globe. But, like Fogg, they intend to stay earthbound the entire time (his balloon trip wasn't on the original agenda), eschewing airplanes for cargo freighters, buses, bicycles, and other terrestrial forms of transportation. It's a very entertaining story, told in a spirited, engaging style (the author is an experienced travel writer). While falling in the very contemporary category of extreme travel, this entertaining account manages to combine a hip modern approach with a charming nostalgic feel. A must for armchair travelers.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist

Library Journal Review

Stevenson, the travel columnist for Slate, and his lady friend, Rebecca, set out to create their own amazing journey by planning a trip around the world without getting on an airplane. Sounds positively Phileas Foggish, doesn't it? But that's the delight of the book. Just as Jules Verne's fictional Fogg encountered setbacks that forced him to make snap decisions in order to complete his 80-day trip, Stevenson and Rebecca are reminded constantly that airplane travel-as lousy as it might be-is still the fastest way to get from point A to point B. Stevenson's writing is full of charm and humor, and he knows just the right phrase to use when he believes his Estonian ferry is destined for Davy Jones's Locker. VERDICT In an age when everything has to be done yesterday, it's nice to know that there are still people wandering the globe who feel that getting somewhere could be more than half the fun. A delightful purchase for the travel collections of public libraries, and a visit from Stevenson and Rebecca would make for one heck of a program.-Joseph L. Carlson, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.