By Alain de Botton - The Art of Travel (6/30/02)

Great read. Different way of seeing travel

This is my 2nd and last book which I will read of Alain de Botton. I was split between a rating of 1 or 2 stars. There was little I liked about this book, and what I did like, the author did not provide any reference or bibliography notes where I could conduct further research,e.g.,John Ruskin. I would not want to have Alain de Botton as a travel partner. It would be depressing and any places I would want to travel, his reflection would be one of pessimism and self-absorption. The editor also did a poor job--there are grammar structural problems and even typos! It amazes me that this book is in mass circulation and that people have even given it favorable reviews!!! Those who do end up reading this book, please--i will say this again; please do not let the author's drab style reflect on the cities of Amsterdam and Madrid--in which he uses a poor correlation of philosophical soligquisms to illustrate his impression of travels there. There were some philosophical points that he made which if were written by another author would have been understood and received by the reader's comprehension clearly. If you are an avid traveler or you can not travel due to life circumstances, please read other travel biographies that will leave your mental state with an optimism of how travel can leave a lasting impression on ones journey.