Tag: books for travellers

Lonely Planet Secret Wonders of the World – book

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Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Based on the premise of The Seven Wonders of the World, the Secret Wonders of the World book by Lonely Planet delves deeper into the hidden treasures that are out there, ready to explore. There are 385 places featured in this book, complete with photographs, which give an insight into lands unknown.  

For example, there are the Yamal Permafrost craters in Russia, Fantasy Coffins in Ghana and the Winchester Mystery House in California. There’s also sections on specific topics like Tremendous Trees, London’s Oddest Sights and Nerve-Racking Rocks. As you flick through the countries, there are more and more places to visit that are off the beaten track, or are unknown to most travellers.  The photos are gorgeous and really give a sense of how amazing some places are which you’ve probably never heard of before and countries you wouldn’t normally think of visiting.

Divided up by geographical region, you can use this book in various ways. It can either be a coffee table book which you pick up and put down at will, or children will love this to discover more about the world.  If you’re a traveller, you might like to find out if your next destination is near any of the places mentioned but I think this book is brilliant for travellers who want lots of inspiration. Some of the countries are quite far-flung, so if you like planning for unusual places, this book is for you. There is a mixture of geography, history and nature in this book, plus some really interesting cultural ideas. 

The more I flick through this book, the more ideas I get and the more involved in the stories. Some of them I’ve had to go and look up to learn more about them. It’s a fascinating read, and would make a great gift for anyone, but especially children who are interested in the world.

Available from £22.99 at: https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/products/secret-wonders-of-the-world?srsltid=AfmBOoqQB2sdJLY_UT-V79luc1FoETwo_kAaQ_fv9fTVw6Tdtxj6O1iz

Artists’ Journeys That Shaped Our World by Travis Elborough

Birthday Gifts, Books, Family Life, Summer

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Artists’ Journeys That Shaped Our World is a fascinating book that traces 30 different artists’ lives and examines how travel has resulted in some of the most iconic artwork of our time.  From Paul Cezanne to David Hockney, the book starts each artist’s chapter with a brief biography, how they ended up in the given city and a map before going on a more detailed journey which explains the culture, architecture and people of the time that led up to the artwork being completed. There are, of course, examples of the completed artworks by the artists as well.  

The range of artists featured gives a broad background to most of the planet with very little overlap of geographies.  The artists are more contemporary but there are some that go back into the 19th Century and the use of photographs is breath taking.  The detail in each biography is also a beautiful gateway into a history of modern art, making this a handsome book for young art lovers who might be thinking of studying art, or as a reference for the future.  The insight to the places as well as the background to the artwork make for an interesting coffee table read as well as informative for art lovers.

This is a lovely book for travellers, artists and even photographers as you wind through the city lanes and across landscapes to join up the dots of your favourite artists, and learn about new ones too.  Happy travelling!