A young American, tired of life on Wall Street, takes a job as a travel writer for Lonely Planet. He arrives in Brazil and, amidst the temptations of beautiful women and the all-night partying of Copacabana beach, soon realises that he has been given a task of unimaginable proportions and an equally small stipend with which to fund it.

Eight hundred miles of Brazilian coastline. Sixty towns. Countless villages. Our hero is sent to review and collect the names, locations, phone numbers and email addresses of all relevant hotels, restaurants, bus routes, laundrettes, bars and nightclubs across the whole region. And write something meaningful about them. All in sixty days with virtually no money. And he can't accept freebies (rooms, meals, etc.)

As his financial situation grows increasingly bleak, he struggles with whether to accept such perks of the Lonely Planet name. He also struggles with the fact that what he writes is likely to help rob some of the places he visits of their innocence and independence by contributing to American-style commercial tourism there. His wry analysis of how foreigners behave abroad is both enlightening and hilarious. And his insight into the greater meaning of what he is doing shows us yet another ugly side to (American) commercialism, this time in the tourism industry, and more specifically the guidebook industry.

Does he tell a great story along the way? Definitely. There are healthy measures of sex, drugs, drinking and general debauchery. On the other hand, our hero also encounters police brutality, sustains multiple injuries, fends off insolvency (in the most desperate and creative of ways), and meets a host of colourful characters along the way. (My favourite is Otto, the Israeli ex-commando.)

Overall this is an awesome ride. Great for holiday reading and particularly if you use guidebooks, in which case it's a definite 'must read'. Buy it now!

Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?: A Swashbuckling Tale of High Adventures, Questionable Ethics, and Professional Hedonism

For one that is very interested in the subject of travel writing (travel essays, guidebooks, etc.) I found this book to be full of often hilarious insights into the mysterious world of guidebook writing. Kohnstamm succeeds in succeeds in ridding almost all of the myths that surround travel writing.

The book is worth reading simply for all of the incredible, seemingly unbelievable stories in the book. However, if you are interested in traveling at all this book is a MUST READ.

There is a self congratulatory tone in Kohnstamm's recantations of shady interactions with drug dealers, endless drunken debauchery and fleeting encounters with prostitutes and women. For me, within the first twenty or so pages he already succeeds in becoming the assassin of his own character, leading me to question whether the tales he told were a true portrait of the places he visits or simply a self fulfilling prophecy of a shallow, 'cooler than you' lifestyle he seems naturally drawn to; sex, drugs and rock and roll.

The authors myopia in this sense made it extremely hard to convince me that he took his job, or himself very seriously and he comes off as an immature man who hasn't left the college frat house far behind. I'm convinced that a more grounded, mature and thoughtful person who seeks more genuine relationships with people and his surroundings would have penned a far different tale... but that doesn't sell books.

This book does however succeed in leaving a few indelible impressions on the reader about the nature of travel writing and its inherent hypocrisies. Having backpacked around the world myself, I was drawn to the deeper philosophical dilemma's Kohnstamm presents (albeit sparingly) about the nature of the relationship between the traveler and the land that is trampled underfoot.

including the author's claims about all the sex he supposedly had while roaming around south america. He finds himself irresistible, obviously, but -- especially in light of his high self regard--it is hard to believe that all those women he claims in the book to have bedded actually found him so. Despite recent brouhaha about made up "non-fiction" writing (including ridiculous accusations presenting as a serious "charge" the fact that David Sedaris exaggerates--puhleeez), one can be sure this book didnt get near the fact-checker. The best thing about the book is that you will forever be disabused of the reliability of tourbooks. That alone however does not justify the length of this book which cries out for an editor, since it would have been a far better book as a shorter breezier read. I did not hate it, but it is seriously flawed. I guess worthy for the traveller fantasizing about writing a tour book. According to the author, it's a terrible gig.

Funny, poignant, over-the-top, a must read for anyone who ever aspired to becoming a travel writer. I never liked guide books, have never bought one, and only occasionally glance at them at book stores. Somehow they always turned me off. This book confirms that I've been doing the right thing!!! Rather research destinations on the internet from the countries themselves, comments by other travelers, including Lonely Planet's ThornTree, and write about it yourself, and if only in travelogues to friends.

The looooong descriptions of his or his friends' sexual exploits, endless drinking and drugging detract and add at the same time. Too long sometimes, I would have liked to read what he actually wrote about the places he never visited.

The book gave me many ideas, and I will rework my own travel manuscript and finally publish. So, wannabe travel writers, read this and start writing. You can do it too!!!

This book feels like a record; the record that the artist says nearly killed them. The one that almost did them in, despite the critical acclaim or career advancement that it provided. Reading the beginning of Kohnstamm's escape from New York is like the second a paper cut hits - there's no pain, but you know it is i coming and you know it is going to gush. One expensive bottle of alcohol and a fistfight into it, you're on your way through Kohnstamm's journey through travel hell. It's exactly as you'd want it to be; a bit scandalous, a bit egregious, a bit tell-all. Nothing here really shocked me but it did give me a greater appreciation of what it is All About. I'd daydreamed about what a Lonely Planet author would have to go through on a daily basis - it turns out that my daydreams were on point. If you like travel, writing and sordid tales.....I'd recommend this book. I read it from cover-to-cover in one flight across America.

This book feels like a record; the record that the artist says nearly killed them. The one that almost did them in, despite the critical acclaim or career advancement that it provided. Reading Kohnstamm's escape from New York is like the second a paper cut hits - there's no pain, but you know it is i coming and you know it is going to gush. One expensive bottle of alcohol and a fistfight into it, you're on your way through Kohnstamm's journey through travel hell. It's exactly as you'd want it to be; a bit scandalous, a bit egregious, a bit tell-all. Nothing here really shocked me but it did give me a greater appreciation of what it is All About. I'd daydreamed about what a Lonely Planet author would have to go through on a daily basis - it turns out that my daydreams were on point. If you like travel, writing and sordid tales.....I'd recommend this book. I read it from cover-to-cover in one flight across America.

This travelogue by Thomas Kohnstamm is about his journey and misadventures through Brazil as a first time writer for Lonely Planet travel guidebooks. Thomas spends the first portion of this book getting out of his job, separating from his girlfriend, and spending the night out with his friend which ends disastrously. Thomas then shows up in Brazil, with his purportedly meager wage advance on which he must travel, eat, and lodge. He spends much of the book complaining about being low on funds and time he is but will rent apartments for a month, buy ecstasy and other drugs, and do a lot of partying with other travelers as well as the locales.

He tries to abide by the Lonely Planet creed of 'no freebies or gratuities" from hotels or restaurants for inclusion in their guidebooks. It takes Thomas most of his retelling to come to the conclusion you can only do the whirlwind travel and expenses by informing just such business owners who you are and where you work in which you get comped rooms, food, and meetings with the staff. Also you can't visit all these places and gather the input without using locals and other travelers to tell you about them and using their opinions rather than your own experience. I'm not knocking the author for doing this, I can understand why you need to do so.

The book itself is based on the struggles of an aspiring travel writer and what it takes to be one. Secondary is the attempt to expose the underbelly and tribulations these writers endure and often outright lie about because you can't get paid for negative press. Thomas best writing is in his descriptions of the people he meets as the text is full of flavor and inspiring visions such as finding out what is roommate Inara's actual modeling job consists of or how the unassuming Otto is not to be taken for granted. His random sexual encounters are limited in coverage but his drinking and drug use was a bit much. Maybe cutting down on those could have stretched his money further. It was more like he took the job for the trip and went as a backpacker instead of a guidebook writer only to find out that he needed to do some actual research. Overall, quick read with some amusing misadventures.

An excellent read that reminds me of some of my own shenanigans (although not as crazy as the author's) while traveling in Latin America.

...much more than simply throwing stones on his own former glass house, Lonely Planet -- Kohnstamm has committed a grabbing road memoir on travelling through Northwestern Brazil.

One thing is the underload of cash and time and overload of rules and inflexibility his employer set for the (ad)venture into these up and coming tourist destinations, another is the lack of discipline and resistence to the many temptations the same destinations throw in his face. Beautiful and usually not unwilling women, sometimes girls. Cheap alcohol and easy drugs, a less easy drug dealing business, and not at all easy Brazilian policemen. Here a free meal without a deal, there a free night. Kohnstamm's basically just a young man being exposed to choices and often giving in to them. And being honest, and courageous, enough to share them.

True, 'Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?' will certainly make a wannabe travel writer, as well as any potential guidebook buyer -- not only of Lonely Planet but in general! -- think twice. But its first and foremost justification is the journey. A journey which is entertaining but much more so, it is a journey causing the author as well as the reader to reflect on morality, society and even humanity. On a down to earth level, in an almost frighteningly real life universe.

Kohnstamm writes in a slightly philosophical but in no way pretentious language. Behind his inviting style lures a hint of a post-20s male's indignation and self-scepticism. But Kohnstamm also suggests which roads might lead in a more acceptable direction. An absorbing book by a skilled writer with much more to say than simply bashing the standard-setting travel book publisher to earn an easy buck.

I read about this book when all the buzz came out about the Lonely Planet writer you didn't actually visit the location. After the buzz ended up being about nothing, I was still interested in the book.

The writer does an excellent job keeping us in his head as he travels and lives a little on the edge. The story moves well and I found myself really looking forward to getting back to the book.

AS someone who really enjoys travel, I was inspired by the adventureness of the writer. I usually restrict myself to high end hotels and the standard tourists destinations. But it's the times that I have moved off the beaten path that I have found myself enjoying the trip most. Thomas is an expert at finding that route.

If you enjoy travel, it's likely that you'll enjoy this book.

Author Thomas Kohnstamm must be one of those charming, but thoroughly irresponsible, ne'er-do-wells with whom my past is littered - he certainly has a glib way with words. How else can I explain why I was up all night reading this book, fascination mingled with disgust, as he describes in painful detail his Rabelaisian descent into an underworld of booze, drugs and cheap women while gathering research for the Lonely Planet Guidebook on Brazil.

Whether you are a seasoned traveller or an aficionado of the travel writing genre in all its extremes, you'll want to add this gutter's eye view of travel to your experience, albeit, from the safety of your armchair. But -- be warned - it's not for those of faint heart and queasy stomach. And yet the extreme physical privations Thomas subjects himself to in his quest for information, although perhaps viewed as immoral by many of us, are surely no worse than those endured by the great travellers of the past (Stanley, Scott, Peter Fleming, Eric Newby, Dervla Murphy) and for no better reason.

This book may contain a certain level of hyperbole (one hopes so); after all, hyperbole is the author's business, and he readily describes with an adman's skill how he translates seedy reality into picturesque prose for the guidebook's naïve audience.

Do travel writers go to hell? I'd say Thomas has been there, but hell wouldn't have him.

I know I'll never look at a guidebook the same way again.

I picked this book up hoping for an insight into the travel guidebook world. What better way than through the first-hand experiences of a Lonely Planet writer?

Ultimately it was disappointing. The main point, that the editors demand the impossible of their writers, who either try to deliver it (and burn out) or sell out (becoming successful guidebook writers).

At first it's easy to be sympathetic to the author, Kohnstamm, who didn't seem to know what he was getting into. But I gained more sympathy for his editors as the book unfolds. While covering much of Brazil in two months may be an impossible task, Kohnstamm seemed as much to blame as anyone. For example, he rents a room in a house (for nearly a month I think) rather than staying in the hostels and hotels that he complains there is no time to properly check out.

But no matter, the game is stacked against him, so the only honorable solution is to tell his editors that he can't in good conscience write a highly flawed guidebook- no, that didn't cross his mind; the only solution is to accept hotel and bar freebies to finance his trip.

Fair enough, I picked the book up because it looked like an honest account of a sometimes dishonest industry. I wasn't looking for an ethical how-to guide.

But what was infuriating was that even by the last page (and I'm not giving anything away here), he seems to truly believe he stayed mostly ethical. He says something like, "I will not give a restaurant a good review just because they gave me a free plate of pasta." But since he announces himself in advance to the staff of restaurants and hotels, it would be naive to think they didn't give him exceptional service, and naive to think the average traveler will get the same.

He did share some interesting tidbits about how the sausage is made, but the bulk of Do Travel Writers Go To Hell was sometimes-remarkable, often-ordinary travel experiences that give more insight into the 20-something male traveler rather than the travel writer. Admittedly, armchair travelers may find it enjoyable.

But I wondered, how much of the time that Kohnstamm could have been visiting hotels and restaurants was spent taking notes for the book he would write about how little time there was to visit enough hotels and restaurants?

And if he didn't take detailed notes for this book, is it even as accurate as his compromised guidebook?

I picked this book up hoping for an insight into the travel guidebook world. What better way than through the first-hand experiences of a Lonely Planet writer?

Ultimately it was disappointing. The main point, that the editors demand the impossible of their writers, who either try to deliver it (and burn out) or sell out (becoming successful guidebook writers).

At first it's easy to be sympathetic to the author, Kohnstamm, who didn't seem to know what he was getting into. But I gained more sympathy for his editors as the book unfolds. While covering much of Brazil in two months may be an impossible task, Kohnstamm seemed as much to blame as anyone. For example, he rents a room in a house (for nearly a month I think) rather than staying in the hostels and hotels that he complains there is no time to properly check out.

But no matter, the game is stacked against him, so the only honorable solution is to tell his editors that he can't in good conscience write a highly flawed guidebook- no, that didn't cross his mind; the only solution is to accept hotel and bar freebies to finance his trip.

Fair enough, I picked the book up because it looked like an honest account of a sometimes dishonest industry. I wasn't looking for an ethical how-to guide.

But what was infuriating was that even by the last page (and I'm not giving anything away here), he seems to truly believe he stayed mostly ethical. He says something like, "I will not give a restaurant a good review just because they gave me a free plate of pasta." But since he announces himself in advance to the staff of restaurants and hotels, it would be naive to think they didn't give him exceptional service, and naive to think the average traveler will get the same.

Somehow, despite everything he learns about how that sausage is made, he seems to think he's not screwing his readers. (Or perhaps claims he isn't, to stay on the good side of editors.)

To be fair, he shared a few interesting tidbits about how the sausage is made, but the bulk of Do Travel Writers Go To Hell was sometimes-remarkable, often-ordinary travel experiences that give more insight into the 20-something male traveler rather than the travel writer. Admittedly, armchair travelers may find it enjoyable.

But I wondered, how much of the time that Kohnstamm could have been visiting hotels and restaurants was spent taking notes for the book he would write about how little time there was to visit enough hotels and restaurants?

And if he didn't take detailed notes for this book, is it even as accurate as his compromised guidebook?

To begin, I will disclaim with great pride that Thomas is one of my best friends. In fact he wrote the beginning of Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? while we were living together in southern chile (after he just wrote about patagonia for Lonely Planet,) with a full view of a snowcapped volcano; I was beginning my biography on Pablo Neruda (follow up to The Essential Neruda: Selected Poems) While some have called him a jerk and a cad here, the truth is he happens to be perhaps the most conscientious person I know.

Other reviews here already attest to his writing talent and the thrill and intrigue of the book's story, but what seems to be overlooked in all the Lonely Planet controversy/hype is one of the central themes of the book: The whole Lonely Planet thing was just part of the story, true circumstances which direct the book's plot. But what makes the book important is how he deals with the challenge so many young liberal art majors face, especially if they decide not to go to law school: the struggle between chasing financial stability vs. the often challenging path of following your passions.

That, plus all his great literary and historical allusions, plus the pure swashbuckling (Random House added that to the title, Thomas wouldn't have put that himself) of the Sex, Drugs, & Travel story, is what makes this book a true piece of literature.

I think anyone that has done some traveling in their 20s or 30s will have a good time reading about the author's travel stories. They definitely brought back some good memories of crazy times out on the road. I was ready to drive to the airport as soon as I was done.

I also think he does a great job of painting a picture of the places he visits. I felt like I was on the trip with him, until I finished and realized I was actually where he was a the beginning.

All in all, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to friends.

Well-written, fun read. I'd say it was Lonely Planet committing fraud, rather than the author, for paying their authors so little and yet claiming that their authors go everywhere and do everything they say they do. I've known a couple of LP writers and they have a very tough job. Once you tote up all the hours they travel, organise notes and write, the pay is peanuts.

Apparently in the company's 'good old days' - the 80s and 90s - authors were paid a decent wage, with some even earning a share of the profits.

Yes Thomas is a bit of a cad, but at least he's honest enough to confess all. Ultimately the book is the travel writer's version of Kitchen Confidential.

I actually read this while travelling through northern Brasil. While entertaining, it felt a little slim. Furthermore, there some details that seemed to stretch one's suspension of disbelief. For example, what Austrian flight attendant (likely and experienced traveller) wouldn't already have a hotel reservation guaranteed in Rio de Janeiro? Can anyone really believe that "The Doctor" (likely Mason Bragg) is actually such a coke fiend when Kohnstamm publicly thanks him in the Lonely Planet Brasil edition? (Note, he also names the real "Otto" there). Are we really to believe that a Stanford grad got down to $283 in his bank account? And the "table service" girl? Would any restaurant leave a woman alone to lock up after midnight?

I'd be shocked in any more than about 25% of this book is anything but romanticized fiction. That said, you'll have some vicarious fun (and give rise to a whole bunch of righteous indignation) as you read it.

The fact of the matter is, one can write a long rambling
review, give professional detailed opinions about writers,
how it should or shouldn't have been done, too much or
not enough information, etc., but the bottom line is simply
this: This is a great read! Critique the details all you want,
discuss your opinion of how he lived, how he writes, why
he wrote it, but if you have ANY interest in writing,
travel, new adventures or just an enjoyable escape,
definitely read this book.

I can personally relate to this book as I was forced to flee Sao Luis to escape scamming cops just as Kohnstamm does toward the end of his book. My trip was in 1973, Kohnstamm's was in 2004, some things never change. As an ex-Lonely Planet author, I can also relate to Kohnstamm's expose about how LP updaters are grossly underpaid. I stopped writing for them in 2002 when I realized I was only breaking even. Of course, it's easy to badmouth Lonely Planet for exploiting their idealistic young researchers, but are guidebook users willing to pay the real price of their guides? When you consider all the helpful detail available from Lonely Planet, Moon, Let's Go, Rough, Footprint, etc, travel guidebooks are incredibly cheap.

In the book Kohnstamm tells how his research trip to Brazil was a disaster until he discovered that he could become an instant VIP by using the official business cards thoughtfully provided by Lonely Planet. From that point on it's easy going for Thomas with tourism operators falling over each other to show him around, feed and water him, and provide accommodations. If you look in the front of any LP guide you'll notice a little disclaimer "Lonely Planet writers do not accept discounts or payments in exchange for positive coverage of any sort." Notice the wording. It seems that it's okay to accept discounts and payments so long as they're not tied to positive coverage. Of course, guidebook updaters who do accept freebies will inevitably speak well of their hosts. That's only human nature. Guidebook users pay the price.

Backpackers looking for places to party and sex tourists in search of prey will be attracted to Brazil by this book. However, if you're an aspiring writer hoping to learn about travel writing, don't expect much as the narrative is mostly about Kohnstamm himself. You could easily skip the first few chapters about his empty life in New York.

I highly recommend this book. Past reviewers are on-point that we can live vicariously through Mr. Kohnstamm's shedding of corporate shackles and subsequent headlong dive into the world of travel writing and, most certainly, professional hedonism. However, the writing reveals more than this basic theme; Mr. Kohnstamm is not too self-absorbed to often lay blame for his problems at his own doorstep, noting his inability to stand up for himself. It is the view into all facets of Mr. Kohnstamm's psyche that really makes this book noteworthy. If it were just a retelling of debaucherous tales, it might be entertaining, but would not resonate with the same depth. I look forward to Mr. Kohnstamm's next offering.

Kohnstamm sets out to expose the soft underbelly of travel writing, but often tells more about himself than about travel, and that's often more than many readers may want to know. Compared to some other reviewers, I didn't find the book that "carnal", although I could have done without knowing the details of Kohnstamm's many hangovers. The book begins with the author departing a tedious job, shredding a relationship with a woman he allegedly cares about and flying to Rio. He basically tells us that he likes traveling on someone else's dime and his life sounds like something more typical of the aimless and affluent 70s than the present day. Later in the book, Kohnstamm tells us that his flight into travel writing is based on ideals. Which is it--chucking responsibility, traveling on someone else's money or "ideals". I tend to doubt the latter.

Kohnstamm actually is at his best describing people and places, which is the bread and butter of travel writing. Despite being an experienced traveler, he seems to get himself into obviously problematic situations. A "model" who's on her way to work in a minor, touristy provincial capital is likely to be in the sex industry. A fellow American with an all cash business is likely to be selling drugs. These aren't difficult to expect and, in addition, Kohnstamm shares various misadventures from past travels which suggest that he's one of those people who "doesn't benefit from experience". Either that or he's embellishing. It's not unreasonable to assume that someone who can't keep his motives straight may not be credible in other ways.

I was drawn to the book partly because I used the Lonely Planet guide which Kohnstamm had helped revise. It was a mess. It failed to mention that a "quiet seaside town" was an international surf mecca and contained messed-up maps that easily led one into a favela while looking for a hotel. Kohnstamm intimates that his predecessor led the same life he did, but all he offers is a tiny, offhand-sounding quote. He talks about a Yahoo site with hundred of Lonely Planet writers, all complaining about the same things; however, I suspect that if it's like most Yahoo forums, the conversation probably is driven by, at most, four or five people, at any given time. OTOH, his description of Lonely Planet's evolution into a guidebook series for midrange travelers rings true. Kohnstamm claims to sympathize with Tony Wheeler's business sense, even though it means that the books have less to offer than they did in the past. So much for those vaunted ideals. The new edition of the Thailand guide (their best seller) has sharply cutback on locales, places to stay, etc., and seems more insipid than many mid-range guides. Kohnstamm seems to be saying he's happy to do that if someone is willing to tolerate his sophomoric behavior.

So, by the end, I was ready for the book to end. It's an entertaining read and occasionally you get some ideas how travel books get written. It's not awful, but it's not the 5-star trophy that others have made it out to be. If Amazon had a 2 1/2 star rating, that's what I'd give it. Will it stop me from using guidebooks? No--the people who say they never use them are usually happy to browse through everyone else's. Would I stay away from Lonely Planet? As it happens they have the only guide for my next trip, but their own business practices got me to look seriously at their competition quite awhile ago. And Kohnstamm--would I read another book--Sure, but only from the library.

this book begins in the soul-killing cubicle of a boutique manhattan law firm where the author works as a paralegal, which is to say, as a nihilist. he escapes to work for lonely planet brazil, and tries desperately to cover too much territory with too little money and too little time. the shortcuts he takes to pound out the pages are, of course, what make this book the verbal heroin that it is, as well as the candor in revealing the absurd process by which travel guides can be written. i worked in this law firm with him, and also luckily escaped, so i came to this book with a bit of a bias. but 10 pages in, i knew that even if i didn't know thomas and had never worked on the 57th floor of __, __, and ___, i would have loved this book, which i did. it's sexy, hilarious, and hard to put down. the boy tells a good yarn, has a way with words, and keeps himself completely verbally present during all of his adventures (or at least did in hindsight), so that you simultaneously can laugh at him, sympathize with him, feel like you're in the bar with him, want to throw bricks at him, want to be him, want never to be him, want to travel with him, want never to travel like him, and basically not want the book to end. I, for one, now want to travel with thomas, as no travel is complete without self-aware hedonism, unapologetic glee in the 24-hour glow of any and all pleasures of the flesh, and a near-death or near-end-of-life-as-i-know-it experience. it is indeed swashbuckling. and as you'll see from the NYT review which praised it, you'll find it is also the most depraved travel writing of the year. and if you don't think that's a compliment, perhaps you, too, have been working too long in a cubicle.

Kohnstamm sets out to expose the soft underbelly of travel writing, but often tells more about himself than about travel, and that's often more than many readers want to know. Compared to some other reviewers, I didn't find the book that "carnal", although I could have done without knowing the details of Kohnstamm's many hangovers. The book begins with the author departing a tedious job, shredding a relationship with a woman he allegedly cares about and flying to Rio. He basically tells us that he likes traveling on someone else's dime and his life sounds like something more typically of the aimless and affluent 70s than the present day. Later in the book, Kohnstamm tells us that his flight into travel writing is based on ideals. Which is it--chucking responsibility, traveling on someone else's monye or "ideals". I tend to doubt the latter.

Kohnstamm actually is at his best describing people and places, which is the bread and butter of travel writing. Despite being an experienced traveler, he seems to get himself into obviously problematic situations. A "model" who's on her way to work in a minor, touristy provincial capital is likely to be in the sex industry. A guy working in an all cash business as a foreigner is likely to be selling drugs. These aren't difficult to expect and Kohnstamm shares various misadventures from past travels which suggest that he's one of those people who "doesn't benefit from experience". Either that or he's embellishing. Someone who can't keep his motives straight may not be so straightforward in other ways.

I was drawn to the book partly because I used the Lonely Planet guide which helped revise. It was a mess. It failed to mention that a quiet seaside town was an international surf mecca and contained messed-up maps that easily led you into a favela while looking for a hotel. he intimates that his predecessor led the same life he did, but all he offers is a tiny quote. he talks about a Yahoo site with hundred of Lonely Planet writers, all complaining about the same things; however, I suspect that if it's like most Yahoo forums, the conversation probably is driven by four or five people, if that many, at any given time. OTOH, his description of Lonely Planet's evolution into a guidebook series for midrange travelers. Kohnstamm claims to sympathize with Tony Wheeler's business sense, even though it means that the books have less to offer than they did in the past. So much for those vaunted ideals. The new edition of the Thailand guide (their best seller) has sharply cutback on locales, places to stay, etc., and seems more insipid than many mid-range guides. Kohnstamm seems to be saying he's happy to do that if someone is willing to tolerate his sophomoric behavior.

So, by the end, I was ready for the book to end. It's an entertaining read and occasionally you get some ideas how travel books get written. It's not awful, but it's not the 5-star trophy that others have made it out to be. If Amazon had a 2 1/2 star rating, that's what I'd give it. Will it stop me from using guidebooks? No--the people who say they never use them are usually happy to browse through everyone else's. Would I stay away from Lonely Planet? As it happens they have the only guide for my next trip, but their own business practices got me to look seriously at their competition quite awhile ago. And Kohnstamm--would I read another book--Sure, but only from the library.

I love this book. From the second I picked it up, to the second I put it down, I was thoroughly captivated. At many times, I found myself laughing out loud, reading the same passage over again, just because it was so GOOD! The brash truthfulness, the extreme comedy, the lovable characters, all help to make this a very enjoyable read. An adventure at it's heart, but so much more, a man coming to grips with himself, an industry, a country. I think there's something for everyone in this book. I highly recommend it!

I recently read another "tell-all" book on travel writing called "Smile When You're Lying." I found it to be quite enjoyable (see my review), so when I heard about "Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?" I figured I'd give it a shot. This lurid tale of the guidebook industry was worth reading, although I preferred the other book because that author was more relatable as a person. Much more relatable.

Once upon a time, Thomas Kohnstamm was a highly educated twentysomething cubicle drone stuck in a real-life version of "The Office." One day he decided to chuck the whole thing and became a travel writer for guidebook colossus Lonely Planet. With no real writing background, he got the job and was dispatched to update an LP guidebook for Brazil. Our boy headed south and proceeded to party his way through a couple months of "travel research." He even found time to actually write here and there, although he did most of his best work close to deadline while fighting hangovers and struggling to make ends meet in less than virtuous ways.

The author has a frat-boy vibe that I found a bit hard to bear at times, due to two parts disgust and perhaps one part envy. During his assignment he drank like a fish, did various drugs, partied with eccentric locals and dodgy travelers, and fornicated his way through Brazil like an Ugly American freight train. In between debaucheries, Mr. Kohnstamm makes travel guidebook writing seem about as appealing as chugging stale bong water in a Mexican jail. He ultimately hammers Lonely Planet's policy of underpaying its writers and offering them little support in the field while literally and figuratively expecting the world of them. And it appears that LP gets what it pays for: some of the publicity surrounding this book centers on allegations that the author played fast and loose with LP guidebook subject matter.

Even though tainted by the above controversy (which the author denies, and in the end may or may not be a publicity stunt) I found Mr. Kohnstamm's take on the guidebook writing process intriguing, and his ability to deliver copy under pressure impressive. Despite limited writing experience, no real help from LP, impossible objectives, dire financial straits, and various other vacation-destroying obstacles, he managed to make deadline and satisfy Lonely Planet enough to earn a living with them. And he even got this memoir out of the deal. However, his success might be off-putting to those who are serious about writing and meticulous concerning facts. Aside from his incessant carnality, perhaps the most dismaying part of this book is the author's blasé approach to the craft. Indeed, writers toiling away in obscurity might find his Bluto Blutarsky approach (he says he's "a natural") to be maddening. But he can claim the title of "author," so it's hard to argue with success.

Despite the above blemishes, I recommend "Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?" as an interesting peep show into the seamier side of travel guidebook writing, rashes and all. You may wish to leaven it with these somewhat more wholesome travel books: "Smile When You're Lying," "Honeymoon With My Brother," and "The Geography of Bliss."

One word for this book - AWESOME!!! If you can't flee the 9-5, escaping into this author's colorful descriptions of his adventures in travel writing is the next best thing. The story itself is enough to keep one interested, but coupled that with a storyteller who has a true gift for writing, this book becomes extraordinary. I couldn't put this book down. I didn't want it to end. I can't wait for the next one!

If the author made up parts of his travel guides, why should the reader believe what he wrote in this book? His exploits sound a bit over-imaginative to me. Although I am a keen traveller, I don't like the Lonely Planet guides, but this guy just seems to be cashing in on the famous Lonely Planet name, whilst indulging in his own fantasies.

I suspect he will- if he doesn't mend his ways. This book is well written and very entertaining, but the author has a very serious alchohol and substance abuse problem and I am disturbed that in modern day America this is just something we all laugh at as this poor guy drinks himself blind drunk and poor, and stuffs every pill and powder handed to him by a nameless stranger into his mouth or up his nose. He seems to think it's all so funny. I devoured this book in just a few sittings while on a business trip. The adventures in Brazil were entertaining, if darkly so. I guess I just don't envy his endless string of meaningless drug and alchohol binges. He is a very promising travel writer and I hope he continues to write books, but I think there is a very serious likelihood that he will instead injest the "wrong" drug one day and stupidly die of an overdose. Or maybe he will just end up on a waiting list for a new liver- paid for by the rest of us.

That being said, I gave it 4 stars because of the endless stories about drugs, sex and alcohol - they grew old after awhile. Although, every time I thought to myself enough was enough I kept coming back to the subtitle. The author lays it bare from the beginning - you don't even have to open the book. Despite this one little hangup that I had, I blew through the book in 2 days. If you have even a passing interest in traveling, travel writing and/or Brazil you will probably like this book. I can easily see why guide book publishers are up in arms over it's contents, but frankly I'm not a guide book publisher and all of the author's misgivings about their "contributions" to the travel industry are spot on as well as his thoughts about the general state of the travel industry as a whole. (I'm not slamming guide books, but you can't ignore the truth in what the author is saying either).

This was definitely a refreshing find in a genera that doesn't see nearly enough new additions in a given year.

Steer clear if you're the type of traveler that likes tourist traps and trinket stores!

"What kind of a man spends his best years sitting in a chair?"

Kohnstamm has written a book that makes me want to get out of my chair, and toss my perpetually connected work life into the East River, which will make sense when you read this book.

There was a bit of controversy around this book before it came out having to do with Kohnstamm's work on Lonely Planet. The truth, after reading this adventure on the road, is that his writing was a gift to Lonely Planet and the charges of plagiarism were way off the mark. Kohnstamm mixes the reality of writing a travel guide with the experiences of being on the road in Brazil; a place where every day can bring another strange adventure to the open minded traveler. Kohnstamm strikes a balance between drunken hedonism and the details that make each episode ring, hilariously true. This is not only a book about travel and travel writing, it is laugh out loud funny which was a great surprise.

"Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?" made me want to get up from my chair, pack my bags and see what the road has to offer, but I have a cat, a mortgage and a wife that insists upon me working. I will have to settle for Kohnstamm's next book. I can't wait!

If i would have listened to all of the Lonely Planet people trying to protect their reputations, and all of the hype in the articles about the book, I probably would not have purchased it. It sounded to interesting though, so I did. It was worth it. The book is entertaining the entire way and filled with characters that may remind you of friends, acquaintances, and some people you hope to never meet. It is the first person story of a man that does what many wish they could do: Leave everything behind and pursue adventure and the unknown. It is an unyielding view of what a travel writer faces, good and bad. It puts what many consider a dream job into perspective.

As the title implies, this is more than just a travel book. Much more. Following the bed-hopping, bar-prowling, jungle-stalking adventures of our itinerant hero, gifted author and arch-browed travel writer Thomas Kohnstamm, readers get an up-close look at a classic societal dilemma: the conflicts that arise when the need for financial stability and peer pressure run up against the desire to pursue adventure and authenticity in an increasingly sterilized and safeguarded world. Is the book the definitive guide on how to navigate this perilous terrain effortlessly and without too much residual calamity? Absolutely not -- and that's what makes it so damn compelling. A twisted, funny and refreshingly candid ride.
--Bruce Kluger (Contributor to USA Today, National Public Radio and The Huffington Post)

Several weeks ago, I was shocked to hear the news media reporting that Lonely Planet author Thomas Kohnstamm fabricated his research for LP's travel guides and had now written a tell-all book.

Moreover, I was flatly angry. I used the 2005 Lonely Planet Brazil guide which Kohnstamm contributed to for two trips to that country. I even followed his thoughtful (albeit a bit preachy) regimen for "responsible travel" while there.

And now all his contributions to the Lonely Planet Brazil guide were turning out to be a pack of lies? What a jerk!

Needless to say, I simply had to read Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? If nothing else, I felt compelled to read it in order to justify my anger, or perhaps redouble it.

The book wasn't what I had expected. As it turns out, Kohnstamm turns out to be an extremely conflicted guy. His standards are high, but he is disillusioned by the business of travel writing-- its deadlines and budgets in particular. He tries to build himself up as the cool guy who gets all of the women, yet his description of many of them is overwhelmingly sentimental (see the passages on ex-girlfriend Sydney in the introduction, if you doubt me).

So, did Kohnstamm fabricate some of his work? Did he take free meals and lodging? Yes, and yes, although not nearly to the extent that the media has reported. That's right: the press got it wrong!

This guy is no slouch (he has a Master's in Latin American studies from Stanford), but he does let himself become one at various points in the book. Kohnstamm takes us along for the ride, from Rio to Olinda, and various places in between.

You've got to admire Kohnstamm for putting himself out there like this in such a frank way. There's no trite moral story in this book-- just a travelogue which is part confession, part braggadocio and all well written (in Hunter S. Thompson style, no less).

After reading the book, I can't be angry. First of all, I've never laid myself bare like this. Further, how can I stay mad at a guy who puts pictures of his dog on his MySpace page, quotes Paul Theroux and is fascinated with D.B. Cooper?

I still think Thomas Kohnstamm is a jerk, mind you-- but one who I have come to admire greatly through the pages of this book.

It's good to know that travel writers are real people. If nothing else, Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? proves exactly that. Keep writing, Thomas.

In turns darkly comedic and ruefully introspective, Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? is an entertaining read. Kohnstamm's tale of diving into the world of travel writing should resonate with everyone who has ever dreamed of chucking a job or just found themselves in over their heads. Well worth the purchase.

As a resident cubicle dweller, I enjoyed this book immensely. It's not just a travel book, or an expose on the world of travel writing; it gets at the heart of that temptation to flee the cubicle (where I'm sitting and typing this) and pursue a life less ordinary - but unlike most of the books that deal with this subject it's not all hearts and rainbows once the author makes his move. The book follows the trade-offs, disappointments and cold realities he experiences on the other side - experiences he lampoons hilariously the whole time.

If you like humor - wonderfully dark humor - you won't find a better read than this.

I could not recommend this book any more highly.

Entertaining!
Thomas Kohnstamm has received significant attention from the press and the blogosphere over the past few weeks regarding his experiences as a travel writer. It now seems that in some instances, the media - and individuals who posted discussions on this Amazon webpage- irresponsibly reported on salacious rumors and fabrications. After reading Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?, I feel personally compelled to tell future readers that this book stands on its own, as a truly enjoyable read. I could not put it down.

We all have had moments when we know, not feel, but know that our jobs are sucking the life from us, that we somehow ended up somewhere we never imagined. Mr. Kohnstamm opens the book with such an experience and with awesome determination to avoid succumbing to the miserable fate of a lowly desk job. Once we know what his life goals are, we know he will never surrender; he is destined for a more adventurous route, one that I would honestly like to join him on - even though it is rather coarse! After being offered what would seem to be a dream job as a full-fledged travel writer, we follow him through his raucous send off to Brazil, his introduction to an array of interesting (to say the least) characters, his struggle to meet his deadline and many exciting, hysterical and energetic moments in between.

If you are expecting that Mr. Kohnstamm`s book was written with resent filled prose, with the intent to destroy Lonely Planet with a multitude of dirty secrets about the company, you may be disappointed, but don't let that stop you from reading this memoir. The book is not only a fantastic page-turner but an incredibly important glimpse into the world of a travel writer and an industry that is no longer able to support their authors in a way that allows for accurate and holistic guides. The travel guide industry has not only let down their readers but their employees as well. Let this be the start of a new discussion about travel guides. I have heard complaints from travel writers for years. Thomas finally had had the guts to let us backstage. I am happy to have discovered this great author. Thanks for the ride...looking forward to the next one.

Mr. Kohnstamm's book offers a great understanding on how travel guidebooks are composed and how they in return can influence any given country. This is a must read for anyone who has ever considered being a travel writer or anyone with an adventurous spirit.

One of the best and most entertaining stories I've ever read! I want to buy copies for my grandchildren. Everyone should get a glimpse of this side of life. This author exudes exceptional talent. He paints a portrait for us that many only ever fanatasize or daydream about and this guy lived to write about it. Thank you TK. Please create another work of genius for us all!!

First off, if I would have believed all of the online chatter about this book before I bought it, I might have made the mistake of not purchasing it. Thank God I did not believe the hype!!

Kohnstamm weaves a fun, entertaining, hilarious, and informative tale about his first experience writing for Lonely Planet on their Brazil travel guide. He tells of all of the crazy experiences he had as a young guy jetting off to Brazil to travel across a large swath of the country with little experience and practically no guidance from his editors.

Kohnstamm did what many of us have only dreamed of doing, he left a comfortable, secure 9-to-5 job to pursue his dream of becoming a travel writer. From the very beginning, he learned that the lifestyle demanded someone with no strings attached (the self-inflicted implosion of his relationship with his girlfriend is laden with dark humor), and someone who was willing and able to learn a very challenging job on the fly.

In the process, we learn of a guy with the best intentions who just wanted to do the best job possible in order to secure more work with Lonely Planet (apparently he did a good enough job that he ended up being paid to work on over a dozen titles). But in the process, he learns that the system, while not necessarily set up for writers to fail, definitely makes it very difficult for them to do the job they are hired to do.

I read this entire book through in one sitting. As a traveler, a dreamer, and someone who has always thought of just quitting my job and setting out to make my living traveling the world, I identified with Kohnstamm. He brings us a story that made me laugh out loud, dream right along with him, and in the process taught me a lot about the travel guide industry. I will definitely continue to use Lonely Planet books, but I think Kohnstamm has given me insight into my own travel habits and given me the courage to take more risks on my next trip.

I sincerely hope this book is well received, because I am dying to hear about his adventures on the next twelve guide books!!!

"Do Travel Writers Go To Hell?" goes beyond the unglamorous realities of guide book writing and entertaining stories of travel misadventures. The author unapologetically exposes the mind of the 20-someting American male in search of authentic experiences beyond the predetermined path of secure job 9 to 5 monotony. As well, the reader is exposed to the limited choices available to the Brazilian characters that are struggling for survival and their own authenticity in the face of the overwhelming 'tourist trail' created by guidebooks.

This is a page turner that is at once hilarious, ironic and introspective.