Who is this book for?
- Fans of Rick Steves who are interested in his personal history and development as a travel writer.
- Nostalgic travelers who fondly remember or are curious about the Hippie Trail era of the 1970s.
- Young adults considering long-term budget travel or backpacking adventures.
- Readers interested in historical accounts of countries like Iran and Afghanistan before major political changes.
- Travel enthusiasts who enjoy raw, unfiltered travel journals and personal growth stories.
Who is unlikely to appreciate this book?
- Readers seeking polished, informative travel writing with cultural insights and practical tips.
- Those sensitive to culturally insensitive or politically incorrect language and attitudes.
- People expecting the same level of expertise and maturity found in Rick Steves' later works.
- Individuals looking for deep cultural analysis or sophisticated reflections on travel experiences.
- Readers who prefer travel narratives focused on destinations rather than personal anecdotes and experiences.
Things online reviewers enjoyed about this book
- Offers a unique glimpse into Rick Steves' formative travel experiences as a young man
- Provides an authentic, unedited account of the 1978 Hippie Trail journey
- Includes fascinating historical context of countries like Iran and Afghanistan before major political changes
- Features photographs that complement the written narrative
- Captures the spirit of adventure and spontaneity of budget travel in the 1970s
- Showcases the beginnings of Rick Steves' passion for cultural immersion and ethical travel
- Presents a time capsule of a travel era that no longer exists
- Demonstrates the transformative power of travel on a young person's worldview
- Includes reflections on how the journey influenced Steves' future career as a travel writer
- Highlights the potential of travel to foster global understanding and empathy
Things people didn't like as much about this book
- Writing style is often described as pedestrian or unpolished
- Contains insensitive or culturally ignorant comments typical of a naive 23-year-old traveler
- Some readers find the narrator's tone self-centered or lacking in empathy
- Focuses heavily on mundane details like accommodations and bodily functions
- Lacks depth in cultural observations and insights compared to Steves' later work
- Some readers find the content boring or lacking in substantive travel information
- Includes potentially offensive descriptions of local people and customs
- Overemphasizes drug use and partying aspects of the journey
- Fails to provide the level of travel expertise expected from Rick Steves
- May disappoint readers expecting a more mature or reflective narrative
