middle east

I got this guide because I love DK books, but I was disappointed by several things: the map of Jerusalem is incomplete, there are numerous typos and grammatical errors throughout the book, there is outdated material in the book, there are several biased opinions about the cultures, and it does not acknowledge some precautions travellers should take in venturing into certain neighborhoods that could be dangerous.

In preparation for, or in review of a trip to Israel, this guidebook is a must have. Outstanding pictures and concise, yet acuurate information abounds. One of the best Holy Land guidebooks on the market.

This book is a rare treat. I've had the Dorling Kindersley guide for San Francisco for quite some time now, and have always found it colorful and helpful. But I am not a frequent traveler, so it never occurred to me that a travel guide might be useful for other things than trip planning. As usual, it takes a friend to give you something you would never have bought for yourself. Now that I have this little guide to the Holy Land I don't understand how I ever did without it.

These guides are beautifully made for their size, and will outlast most of the disasters that plague the serendipitous. Illustrations, maps, and diagrams are many and all easy to read, even for one with eyes as bad as mine. Sections on history intersperse deep dives into the land, its sights and points of interest. While some of the history is oversimplified, the descriptive information is clear as a bell. It is impossible to turn more than a few pages without coming up with a list of must sees and things to do.

The largest part of the book covers Jerusalem thoroughly (136 pages). Smaller sections then introduce the Holy Land overall, the Coast and Galilee, the Dead Sea and the Negev, Western Jordan, and the Red Sea and Sinai. Whew! Quite a lot! There are also good references on hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It finishes up with a handy survival guide. All in a moderate size that is perfect for a backpack or tote bag. My only complaint it that the publisher did not provide any blank pages for notes.

So what does a non-traveler such as I want with such a volume. The truth is that it is a marvelously handy reference for anyone who has an interest in biblical history, archeology, or religion. Its maps, pictures and very complete index make it useful for getting enough quick information to bring ones reading or research to life. It would be just as useful for a modern history or politics buff. What is nice, is that it isn't a weighty, encyclopedic tome, but instead is lightweight enough to carry along with one's research materials. This is the perfect present, not only for the traveler, but the scholar or dreamer as well.