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Mr. Fulton's style of writing is very straightforward and not nearly as dated as you would think. The narrative moves forward quickly as he describes his adventures in a matter of fact tone. But what a story and what a commentary on how our world has changed!

One vignette. He is out of food in the middle of a desert. An Arab shows up and, as was the custom, shares exactly half of his food. Then he disappears inside of his closeby hut. Looking inside, Robert sees him setting up a homemade backgammon board. The Arab beckons him in and begs with his eyes--do you play?? They played all night and he gets trounced by his new friend.

As I was reading about his trip from Damascus to Baghdad, our troops were attacking Iraq. I thought that this young man's journey simply could not be made today. The world, despite the technological advances in communications and plane travel, is not a safer place for the American adventurer.

Get this book! You will not be able to put it down.

This is the first young man to travel around the world by motorbike. According to him he had no intention of doing so but blurted it out to impress a young girl and then he had to go. Lots of wonderful, funny, self-deprecating humor. He is well educated, highly intelligent, and it shows in his writing. Many wry phrases sneak into this book, "The driver cried out for in". Great reading, and very interesting to learn what traveling was like in 1932. He is apparently still alive and kicking. What an adventure.

The best travel book I have ever read. As a young man in 1933, almost on a dare, Robert Fulton rode a Douglas motorcycle (which he still owns) around the world, not only seeing some increible places but writing about them in a highly entertaining and informative way. The book, like the trip, lacks the higher agenda which mar so many travel stories. Fulton simply set out to have a grand adventure and to write about it with humor and respect for those he met. You'll want to go right now to see some of these places for yourself. My favorite is the spot where Krakatoa once stood, marked by flames on the surface of the sea. A must read for anyone who likes a good travel story.