Europe 101: History and Art for Travelers: More Feedback
If you've traveled with this guidebook, please help us improve it for future travelers. How can it be more helpful and accurate? Did any recommended hotels, eateries, or sights disappoint you? Do you have any new experiences or new places we should consider? Any warnings or tips for people traveling with existing edition?
Thank You!
The first time I went to Europe I was right out of High School, and had almost no knowledge about art or arcitecture. Although I had an amazing time, I felt like I had missed so much when I got home, took an art history class, and exclaimed "that was in the Louvre?!". I'm now preparing to leave for Europe at the end of the month, and will be taking this book to every meuseum and art gallery I can find. Thank you, Rick, for making art more understandable for me, and allowing me to fully apriciate eveything I will see.
Allison
ca USA Sat 02/05/2005
These two books,in tandem, I think,should be required reading for high school students and/or adults interested in European history and travel who want to better understand architecture, art,history,and religion. These are easy reading, quick knowledge, rapid learning books. The more you know before you go, the more you see when you're there.
Don't take the books with you, you'll never read them. Read first, then go. You'll be more knowledeable than most travlers and proud that you are. A little knowledge creates a cavern of learning. Enjoy your trip.
James Bawden <email>
Fairfield, CA USA Thu 12/16/2004
Europe 101
The political bias is Europe 101 is extreme. Read the comments on the book
at Amazon.com. They are well worth reading, albeit depressing.
New York, NY USA 12/03/03
good book to read
A good mix of history, art, and humor in the book. And he manages to insert
some travel info along the way.
Walter <email>
Philadelphia, PA USA 09/03/03
Easy to read
A great easy-to-read guide. I was recommended this book by an American friend.
I looked for it many times in all major book shops here in London without
success. I managed to get a copy by ordering it through Borders book shop
and it cost a lot (about $22 US). It is a shame it's so difficult to buy
here and so expensive as it's such a great book.
Rosemary Bayliss
London, - UK 10/19/01
Good overview
Although the detail in Europe 101 isn't that great, it really does live
up to its title. It really gives a great feel for the countries. I always
re-read before my big trips to europe to get myself in the mood. And when
experience something that is written about in the book, it actually is fun
or funny to revisit that situation.
Joe from Denver
Denver, CO USA 08/30/01
Fun "textbook"
I took a Humanities class in high school and for a text book, we used an
older version of Europe 101. I had never been interested in studying Europe,
but when I finished that book, I started to plan out my trip to Italy and
Greece. The book leaves out all the useful information and tells you about
all the wonderful things that Europe has to offer. I would highly recommend
this book to anyone interested in European information. It also has a comical
twist to it, so it made it fun to read!
Megan
Spokane, WA USA 08/26/01
Congratulations!
I want to congratulate Rick for getting 3 books in the top 15 travel books.
In the last 10 years, he's raised cultural awareness and helped made all
of us Americans look a little less goofy (and ugly). You deserve the success
Rick!
Joe Sine
Denver, CO USA 08/22/01
I'm in the midst of reading the book. An excellent, easy-to-read, fun
book with lots of great information. I could have used this book in World
History back in school! It certainly helps put things into perspective and
I love the timelines. We're heading to Europe soon and will have a greater
appreciation for Europe's history and art. Good work!
Pete Matonis <email>
Idaho Falls, ID USA 04/27/00
This book is amazing! I went to Europe and felt very comfortable planning
the trip and knowing what I wanted to see. My travel companions, on the
other hand, were really clueless about the countries, culture, and art
in Europe.
MAK
Orange County, CA USA 04/04/00
Last paragraph of "Two Troublesome Centuries, 1200-1400": Modern research
shows a king who ruled 22 years (Richard III) was actually a VERY GOOD
monarch but the victim of conspiring enemies. I'm reading a 1985 edition
so perhaps by now you have "updated" the information. I enjoy the book.
Keith Brinton <email>
Davis, CA USA 03/14/00
Took Europe 101 along with us on our vacation because we got it the day
before we left. Wonderful book but I wish we had read it before we left.
We would have been able to plan our travels better and we would not have
had to carry it around with us. (We lived out of our day-packs.) Definitely
recommended, and enjoyable, reading!
Peg Faludi <email>
Madison, WI USA 07/30/99
Dear Rick & Gene! I read your book before an 11-day holiday in London,
Paris & Rome. Thanks to you, I really enjoyed the art, churches, ruines,
architecture and cities. I highly recommend this book to anyone lucky
enough to be on their way to Europe!
K. A. Lasley <email>
Chattanooga, TN USA 06/19/99
I am reading Europe 101 and I can't put it down. I only wish that I had
known about the book before I spent one month travelling through Europe.
Even though I was born in Italy I still didn't know much. KUDOS to Rick
Steves and his crew! You know your stuff! Grazie Mille.
Giuditta Vitiritti-Lynch <email>
Des Plaines, IL USA 03/26/99
I just finished reading E101, and it was quite a good book; however,
I agree with comments on the poor photography in some spots. And what's
this with Rick's bio in the back? He's going to die in 2018?
Andrew <email>
USA 03/21/99
I read Europe 101 before leaving for Paris, and boy was I glad! Unless
you just got out of college with a European history major, you don't realize
how much you'll need to understand to appreciate all the art, churches,
architecture, etc., you're about to see. The book added a whole new dimension
to my trip and was the quick, easy way of refreshing my memory of European
histroy. Keep up the great work!
Kim Spangler <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 03/21/99
I liked the book, though I found some of the image reproductions surprisingly
fuzzy and bad. A very enjoyable history refresher, quick read, entertaining.
Liz Roth <email>
USA 02/16/99
I bought the book in '95 for a trip to Europe but found it too big to
drag around and rarely used it. I just took it out to lend to a friend
who is visiting Paris for the first time and after skimming through it
refused to give it to her. It is so WRONG--uneducated and pejorative--to
refer to the Middle Ages as the "Dark Ages" and medieval people as "ignorant,"
diseased and impoverished. Do you really think the sun set in 500 and
didn't rise until 1500? It makes me angry that there are people out there
who will read your book and approach medieval art and medieval people
and thinking in such an unenlightened way. I know the book is not meant
for "snobs" but it wouldn't hurt to run it by some university person familiar
with the Middle Ages before printing.
<email>
NY USA 01/16/99
You guys are funny. Is the real question "why isn't this book selling
better?" Tips? #1 Cogent editing (think pocket book & less cost). #2 I
was drawn to the book because of the "Europe101" title inclusion, others
may not be.
John Stanton <email>
Del Mar, CA USA 01/07/99
I loved this book and want to share it with friends. However, there are
spots where Rick's political philosophy is very evident. While I generally
agree with Rick, I have friends who would not. I'm afraid this part of
E101 would put them off and ETBD may lose potential customers, which would
be a shame.
Don
Sacramento, CA USA 10/23/98