Press & Praise
» "A delight from start to finish," "Funny and thoughtful," "Fit right under my short table leg and fixed the wobble."
BOOK REVIEWS & ADVANCE PRAISE
“An amusing and a wonderful read.” - Arthur Frommer
(on the radio show Rudy Maxa's World; listen to his full glowing review here.)
“Refreshing in its intelligence, candor, good-humored self-deprecation, and insightful redemption of the much-maligned tourist, Mack’s account is a trail-reblazing testament to the transformative power of travel in the modern world, and to the enduring richness of those well-trod places where authenticity, history, culture, and fame compose their own never-ending narratives.”
- National Geographic Traveler (selected as book of the month)
“A genial companion for the armchair traveler.”
- Kirkus Reviews
"Unlike travel books focused on local color or distant destinations, this amusing narrative chronicles a traveler’s experience of Europe’s hot spots and tourist culture. Recommended."
- Library Journal
Publishers Weekly Top 10 Forthcoming Travel Books, Spring 2012.
“In this age of Yelp and TripAdvisor, who'd have thought that one of dustiest dinosaurs of European guidebooks could inspire some of the freshest travel writing in recent memory? Doug Mack, that's who. This charming chronicle will leave you daydreaming of scribbled postcards, overstuffed backpacks and having nothing urgent to do but study the train schedule over one more cup of coffee.”
- Mark Adams, author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu
“Whether he’s out 'Frommering' or searching for his latest chocolate croissant fix, Doug Mack is always funny and thoughtful. The perfect travel companion. With one foot in 1963 and another firmly in today, Mack adroitly straddles two eras, never losing his balance. Europe on Five Wrong Turns a Day is a delight from start to finish.”
- Eric Weiner, author of The Geography of Bliss
“Funny, well written, and even informative, this brand new take on a 50-year-old guidebook–gimmick or no–will bring you a lot of enjoyment.“
INTERVIEWS
Minnesota Public Radio, "Morning Edition"
On the general story behind the book and the social history of tourism in the last generation.
A long, sprawling, and notably funny interview with a notably funny guy. It's a late-night show, which upped the absurdity level.
TVW (Seattle / Tacoma PBS), "Well Read"
Long TV interview with the former travel editor of the Seattle Times, about my personal changes on the trip (from totally neurotic to ... slightly less neurotic), the lost glamour of the Hotel Texas in Rome, and all kinds of other things. (Video embedded below.)
On why I embrace the beaten path, and how said beaten path has changed--and hasn't in the last generation. With additional comments about Checkpoint Charlie vs. Snackpoint Charlie (a real thing ...).
On my most awkward experience with my outdated guidebook and how Arthur Frommer changed travel and travel guides forever.
KARE 11 TV (Twin Cities NBC station) (first interview) (second interiview)
Two different interviews about the book and what's changed in Europe, with a special shout-out to Liz Taylor's one-time favorite hotel in Rome.
On how Europe on Five Dollars a Day helped create the "beaten path" and why I (spoiler alert) kind of hated Venice.
On what has changed (and what hasn't) in Europe and how my mother's postcards resemebled a 1960s version of Facebook. BONUS: listen to the segment after mine for Arthur Frommer's glowing review of my book!
On how I got the idea for the book and the joys (and perils) of traveling without an itinerary.
CBC Radio's Q with Jian Ghomeshi
On traveling ON the beaten path, defending tourists, and taking not-so-flattering photos of famous places
Peter Greenberg Worldwide radio show
On the best photo I never took and the value in not taking too many pictures
Alexis Grant / The Traveling Writer
On getting a book deal and the research and writing process
Kirk Horsted / MakeYourBreakAway
On my travel experiences, in particular my trip researching the book
(Seattle / Tacoma PBS)
(Minneapolis / Saint Paul NBC)
BY THE NUMBERS: Price of a room at [hotel name redacted] in Zurich, circa 1963: $3, including breakfast ... Price of a room in 2009: 145 CHF (ABOUT $130), not including breakfast (apparently--and, yeah, there's a story) ... Adjectives Arthur uses to describe said hotel: rustic, quiet, old-fashioned ...
Adjectives I'd use: loud, ugly, clearly geared toward business travelers with expense accounts and a high tolerance for the greatest interior design hits of 1986 ... Highest price of a watch seen displayed in a Zurich shop window: 94,700 CHF ...
COMMENTARY TRACK
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