February 2023 MBR The Travel Shelf

The Travel Shelf

The Ethical Traveler
Imogen Lepere
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781925811988, $16.95, HC, 108pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Traveler-World-Without-Ruining/dp/1925811980

Synopsis: Travel can be fun, informative and life-event memorable, but there are hidden costs to your trips that go deeper than your pockets. From potential impacts on the environment or the communities we visit to respecting others' cultures, taking a moment to consider our choices can make a real impact on the planet and other people.

Whether it's doing the research to make sure the money we pay to see wild animals isn't going into the pockets of those abusing them or forgoing the familiarity of Starbucks for local restaurants, there are countless ways we can travel more consciously.

"The Ethical Traveler: 100 Ways to Roam the World (Without Ruining It!)" by experienced travel writer Imogen Lepere offers 100 specific tips to help protect the planet, support communities, and plan trips that are more mindful for anyone who wants to explore the world while conserving everything that makes it so special.

Critique: Simply stated, "The Ethical Traveler: 100 Ways to Roam the World (Without Ruining It!)" should be considered essential reading for anyone traveling across the city, across the state, across the country, or across the world -- especially when visiting another country with its customs and culture different from the traveler's own. The tips are simple, succinct, and come with a full color illustration. Of special note is the informative introduction and the opening section of advice on 'How To Use This Book'. "The Ethical Traveler" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Ecotourism and General Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: Imogen Lepere (https://www.imogenleperewriter.com) is an award-winning travel writer based in London who specializes in food, female empowerment, and community. Her previous adventures include living with a commune on a Thai island, couch surfing around Scandinavia, riding the Trans-Mongolian Railway, sailing to Indonesia's Spice Islands, and a summer spent with a nudist colony in Greece.

Great American Road Trips: Best of 50 States
Editorial Staff
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
c/o Trusted Media Brand
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9781621458456, $19.99, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Road-Trips-States/dp/1621458458

Synopsis: With the publication of "Great American Road Trips: Best of 50 States" by the editorial staff of the Reader's Digest, motorists can get the very best of road trip vacations that the United States has to offer.

From small-town pit stops and off-the-beaten-path adventures to renowned historical sites and breathtaking parks, the destinations highlighted in "Great American Road Trips: Best of 50 States" emphasize the unique beauty and history that each state has to offer.

Whether you are a nature lover, history buff, or veteran road warrior, the incredible photography in this magnificent volume, along with the included recommendations for nearby attractions, lodging, recreation, and more, will inspire you to get packing. Jump in the car or RV and share these experiences with the ones you love!

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full page color photos accompanying informatively descriptive commentaries, "Great American Road Trips: Best of 50 States" is also comprised of insider trips that will enable the traveler to get the most out of every excursion exploring every state. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), "Great American Road Trips: Best of 50 States" will prove a welcome and enduringly appreciated addition to personal and community library General Travel Guide, Road Travel, and Pictorial State reference collections.

Soul of New York: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences
Tarajia Morrell, author
Abbie Zuidema, illustrator
Liz Barclay, photographer
Jonglez Publishing
https://jonglezpublishing.com
9782361953911, $14.95, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Soul-New-York-Exceptional-Experiences/dp/2361953919

Synopsis: "Soul of New York: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences" is a unique travel guide showcasing: The Lilliputian hotel room, once slept in by sailors, now perfect for the solo traveler; the cinema that restores Golden Age glamor to the movie-going experience; the modern pharmacist who will cure your cold (or hangover) with a tonic; the spot to sip a Manhattan while gazing at pictures by Warhol and Basquiat; the market that offers a true slice of the Lower East Side; the high end burger and the hidden one; the pizza place that created a neighborhood; the surf town a subway away -- and so much more!

"Soul of New York" is written by Tarajia Morrell, journalist and native New Yorker, and produced by Fany Pechiodat, founder of My Little Paris, the influential newsletter-cum-lifestyle brand. To bring this travel guide to life, Tarajia worked along with the talented photographer Liz Barclay & illustrator Abbie Zuidema.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Soul of New York: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences " showcases: The 30 best experiences a city has to offer, Interviews with those who give the city its spirit; Original illustrations that capture the city's soul. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.95), "Soul of New York: A Guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library New York City & State travel guide collections.

Editorial Note: The "Soul of" collection is a new approach to the art of traveling that's all about vagabonding around town, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences. Guides for those who want to unlock the hidden doors of a city, feel out its heartbeat, plumb every last nook and cranny to uncover its soul. Created by Fany Pechiodat in collaboration with the publisher Thomas Jonglez, the collection will continue to expand with new cities in 2020 and 2021: Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Bali.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review