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Book review- Germania

For a country that is both Europe’s most prosperous power and arguably the worst villain nation of the 20th century, Germany does not get much mention in the English-language world, especially when compared to France or Italy. Germania- A Personal History of Germans Ancient and Modern attempts to remedy this by showcasing the history and […]

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Book review- Around the World in 80 Trains – A 45,000-Mile Adventure

Monisha Rajesh travels the world in 80 trains in an impressive, intrepid inter-continental journey, criss-crossing Europe and Asia twice, and going around North America solely by train. Having done the same in India a few years ago (and also written a book about that), Rajesh is an accomplished pro at train travel. With her fiance […]

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Book review- Why the Dutch are Different

I always enjoy reading books about entire countries and Why the Dutch are Different- A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands was certainly very enjoyable. Usually, when most people think of the Netherlands, windmills, dikes, and the red light and marijuana delights of Amsterdam usually come to mind. In reality, the country is so […]

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Book review- Arabia- A Journey through the Heart of the Middle East

The Middle East is one of the world’s most complex and troubled hot-spots, as well as the birthplace of three major religions and a cradle of civilization. Despite this, it seems we don’t often hear or read much about the region outside of news of protests and conflicts. But of course, perhaps that is the […]

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Great books about regions

As a follow-up to my post a while ago on the best books about entire countries, here’s a list of great books about regions and continents that I’ve read. I really enjoy these kinds of books for their epic scale and the variety of countries and places they cover. If any of you have any […]

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Best books about countries

When it comes to travelogues, I really enjoy books about entire countries because you get to know a lot about a country and its many places and its history, culture, and politics. Most of these books focus on travel, but they also feature history, politics, cultural commentary and personal and family narratives. Elephant Complex– John […]

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Book reviews
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Book review- Elephant Complex-Travels in Sri Lanka

  Sri Lanka is a fascinating little gem of a country blessed with a seemingly perfect combination of ancient and colonial historical sites, diverse culture, wildlife, beautiful mountain scenery, and beaches. But the country also has its demons, having endured a savage 30-year civil war that ended in a mass massacre in 2011. John Gimlette […]

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