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Rick Steves' Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler by: Rick Steves List Price: CDN$ 27.50 City Travel Guides Price: CDN$ 17.33 You Save: CDN$10.17 (37%)Prices subject to change. |
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Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 914 EAN: 9781566915168 ISBN: 1566915163 Label: Avalon Travel Publishing Manufacturer: Avalon Travel Publishing Number Of Pages: 525 Publication Date: May 15, 2007 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Studio: Avalon Travel Publishing Sales Rank: 68730 Related Items:
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Editorial Review: From Amazon.com: This neat little book gives you enough practical knowledge of European art history to make your trip to the great museums and churches a lot more enjoyable. It connects yesterday's Europe with today's sights -- art, museums, buildings, and people. An essential tool for any traveler's backpack or suitcase. Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Stick to TravelRick Steves provides excellent advice in his travel books. Unfortunately, the history and economics presented in this book leave much to be desired. Time does not permit a detailed description of this book's errors and misleading information. The best example of its faulty history is in an essay in the back entitled "Whose Story Is History?" Its general thesis is that everything wrong with the world is the fault of colonization by Europe and America. The West is held to a standard of perfection no society can be expected to meet while third world nations have no responsibility for their situation. An example of a serious historical omission is the book's discussion of Spain's conquest of Mexico. While Cortez was ... Read More: Rating: - For Rick Steves travel has been narrowing, not broadeningMr. Steves presents an account of the development of Western art mixed together with an ill-informed and skewed picture of the historical background. He says his book drives "art snobs nuts." ("Art snobs" apparently being those who have a genuine feeling for art.) It also drives historians nuts - in each case for good reason. Real appreciation of art comes when individuals respond to works of art in their own way, not when someone else tells them what to see in paintings, sculpture, etc.. Read a good art history book, use your own eyes and ears and mind and ignore Mr. Steves. I recommend that any prospective buyer read Mr. Steves historical chapter. It is both amazing and depressing, How could anyone be so incredibly naive ... Read More: Rating:  - The more I learn, the more excited I get!What a fabulous preview to our trip... I never thought I'd say this, but I can't WAIT to spend time in the museums in Europe!! We will be in Spain, France and Italy... and you can bet the history and museums will be at the top of our list. Rick's writing style is superb and humor much appreciated! Rating: - Best one volume, comprehensive work for the average touristThis book is not an in-depth history lesson, thank God. That would be boring. Instead, it's a very readable, lively short coverage of how Europe got to where it is today. If you're going to Europe to see a whirlwind of cities and museums, then reading this book will help you understand how and why something ended up in the museum or was built to look that way. I used to think art galleries in Europe were like visits to the dentist, necessary but painful. After reading 101, I have a much better understanding of the paintings and can trace the development and subject matter, making it fun and informative. Also, the book has the best descriptive chart of history I have ever seen, laying out the different architecture periods (so you ... Read More: Rating: - Great fun for a quick intro or brush-upLet's not even pretend this is a comprehensive book on European history, because I'm sure that wasn't its intention. It IS wonderfully entertaining reading to take along on a trip to Europe. Its light, humorous and informative style was exactly what my teenage daughters needed to enjoy and appreciate the museums and historical places in Europe. I tore out sections and read it to them on the train before arriving at destinations. By putting historic thought and events into a context they could relate to, it got them interested in art and history and made them curious to learn more. I highly recommend this as a travel aid for families or anyone needing an enjoyable brush-up on historic styles and periods. |
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