Budget Books

1. Financial Wealth loses its significance when valuable and expensive services like pensions, health care, and education are provided through collective institutions. Federal pension systems, state colleges, and government health insurance greatly reduce the exposure of ordinary people to financial risks. Costs that are overly burdensome and unpredictable for an individual or family, like those associated with raising a child, treating chronic illness, or outliving one's savings, are instead dispersed across the population.

2. Health care fails on numerous counts: a. Patients lack pertinent information about appropriate medical care b. Patients can not opt out of their health care policy when then interest are not being served. c. Patients cannot afford health care. Many middle class workers go broke paying large deductibles and expensive coverage policies. d. The health care business does not face competition for the market share. Foreign companies cannot setup business and compete for patients. The diversity and numbers of health care production is not stepping up as health care prices climb. There are a limited number of medical schools and not enough medical personnel and schools limit enrollment; as a result, the pool of licensed providers is constrained; medical personnel wages rise, resulting from increasing demand and specialization. As a result, health care has become excessively expensive, the quality poor, and the variety of provides minimal. "Health care in the United States was long provided by independent physicians, bound by professional code of ethics, and by public or not-for-profit hospitals and insurers. For profit chains began buying into the health care system in the 1990s, but suspicions about their motives fueled intense public dissatisfaction with the US health system and recent studies confirm that they offer inferior care." 77 percent of Americans believe the government should spend more on health care; 88 percent want medicare to pay for prescription drugs; and two in three want more money spent on mental health.

3. http://zfacts.com/p/461.html, National Debt clocks, $9.3 trillion, 2008. "Debts of the federal government differ entirely from personal debts; they do not need to be repaid, are not claims on the incomes of ordinary families, and will not plague future generations." When the government runs a deficit in its annual budget, spending more than it collects in tax revenues- it closes the gap by selling T-Bond to banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and mutual funds (this group also controls 70 percent of the wealth in the stock market). The group invests it's cash and buys government debt in exchange for regular interest income, $9.3 trillion dollars worth. $600 billion in notes is held by the fed to back the US money supply; the Treasury extends a loan to the Fed for $600 billion; the fed uses the loan money to create more money; the fed money is sold to banks and they use the new money like a collateral asset that can be leverage to create new loans; the loans charge a premium for usage and the banks profit from the interest; consumers feel safe because their bank monies are protected by Fed insurance; Banks appreciate savings because they are loaned for interest payments returning a minimal payment back to the saver. How does the fed pay the interest payments on the notes? "The treasury roles them over an selling freshly issued notes to new buyers and using the cash to repay the maturing debt."

4. Repaying federal debt is unpalatable. Bondholders are not clamoring for debt repayment. "If fact, without US Treasury bonds to invest in, banks, insurance firms, pension fund trustees, and other financial managers would lose their safest and most negotiable financial asset." "The fed would lose its ability to introduce money cheaply into the banking system." "Retirees would lose their best alternative to putting savings in the unpredictable stock market." Repayment of debt would probably make the stock market more volatile. The Treasury would need to collect additional taxes and transfer more money to the richest 1 percent that hold 50 percent of the bonds. Debt repayment might trigger an economic depression, as individuals and companies curb spending. Depression was characterized as loses in savings, asset price plunge, defaults on loans, credit drought, rising unemployment, 50 percent mortgage foreclosure, and reduced spending.

5. The rich dislike Keynesian economics with a passion. Keynesian economics leads to high taxes for the rich, excessive government spending (10 fold during the Great Depression), and government work projects. "Putting people to work required governments to run deficits and pile up debts." The debts were a loan to the public. The public loan did not exceed $4 billion. Instead, it set a precedent that public debt did not have to be paid for immediately by taxation. Taxation was a barrier to curb spending, reduce debt, and return the system back into balance with budgets. The ten fold spending moved the US economy from deep depression to boom, swelling the deficit to $47 billion by 1944, a six-fold increase in debt. Before the 1930, the US government had faithfully matched spending to tax receipts each year unless the nation was at war. "After the New Deal, fiscal deficits became a fixture of federal budgeting. The treasuring ran deficits from 1934, until WWII, accumulating a 1946, public debt of 120 percent of GDP.

6. Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, child nutrition programs, and plethora of welfare programs create entitlements and commit government to increased spending during economic downturns, regardless of the impact on the deficit. "The government entitlements provide a bedrock level of federal spending in lean years as well as a minimal guarantee income to prevent wages from plummeting into recession." Keynesians warned that deficits promote growth and surplus promotes recession.

7. Statistical studies find a weak or no correlation between deficit spending and interest rates. If crowding out for national savings were a problem, it would happen with or without a deficit. The US Government borrows all the time and under any interest rate condition. In the 1990s when Clinton cut the US deficit, the Fed doubles the short interest rate and "any notion of any link between deficit cutting and interest rate reduction was decisively nullified."

8. Concerns that deficits cause inflation are a myth. If workers are unemployed and factories idle, public programs can only benefit the economy.

9. A serious objection to deficit spending is that debt raises interest rate obligations to lenders; interest payments becoming an ever rising share of the federal budget. "Interest rate commitments will not crowd out federal programs except for the fact antigovernment conservative attempt to set artificial caps on the level of federal spending." Rising interest payment distribute more money to the rich; risk reward for holding so much of the national debt.

10. Reagan urged Congress to pass three tax cuts for the highest earners: 70 percent in 1980 to 28 percent by 1986. The deficit swelled from $74 billion to $221 billion. Bush raised the rate to 31 percent. By 1992, the government was borrowing $290 billion per year. "Deficits would never have happened without tax cuts, that if Congress was unwilling to tax the well-heeled, there was nothing to prevent it from borrowing their money, that deficit hysteria always centered, ultimately, on programs that redistributed the nations income and ameliorated income disparities was labeled fiscally irresponsible."

11. 1990s economic surplus was caused by Japanese foreign investment see "Dollar demise". In 2008, the economy remains robust due to Chinese products and services, see "Real Cost of War" and "The Price of Democracy". And "Wealth and Democracy". "Clinton attributed the strong economy and roaring stock market to tough spending caps and fiscal restraint and pledged further fiscal austerity."

Ellen Frank argues convincingly that economic policy has been hijacked by an economic elite who put protection of their own assets above other social goals like promoting jobs and protecting ordinary Americans from poor health, old age and unemployment. Unlike other books that focus on the outcomes of this political shift --growing inequality and so forth -- Frank's book details how the policy shift is sold via mind-numbingly confusing debates about technical financial issues -- federal debt,inflation, the value of the dollar. It is a very engaging, provacative and accessible book. The chapter on
the Fed and inflation alone is worth the price of admission.

After a series of ad hominem attacks a Reader from Washington, DC writes (below): "Her characterization of Botswana is a perfect example of the chasm in her own knowledge. It's very clear to the reader that Ms. Frank has no idea that Botswana has enjoyed the highest per capita growth rate of any country in the world over the last 35 years when she cites it as an example of a developing country that has suffered from poor economic choices by its government."
It is true that Botswana has a public sector debt equal to a mere 10 percent of its GDP. This is very low and it gives Botswana high marks with DCReader and the International Monetary Fund. But is that really a mark of a successful economy? Switzerland, the UK and the USA have debts exceeding 50% of their GDP. Canada has a debt almost equal to the GDP and Italy and France have debts exceeding the GDP. On the other hand the HIV rate in Botswana is 38.8% -- more than one person out of every 3 has HIV. President Festus Mogae (Botswana) issued a chilling warning last year that his AIDS-ravaged country faced extinction if it failed to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
Dr. Frank actually wrote: "The International Monetary Fund, increasingly regarded as a voice for financial interests throughout the world, routinely requires fiscal austerity plans from developing countries as a condition for receiving loans. The financial community's insistence that developing countries balance their national budgets has killed efforts to spur internal growth through public spending programs. In an article on the downgrade in Japan's bond-rating, the New York Times pointed out that Botswana has a public sector debt equal to a mere 10 percent of its GDP. The authors do not point out that the population of Botswana, decimated by AIDS, might be better off had their government utilized more of the country's resources on their behalf."

If you are trying to understand the rudimentaries of money,
interest rates, the fed, public debt and all that jazz and
would like a perspective to the left of the typical college
text, this is the book for you've been waiting for. Beautifully
written, strongly argued. This is the kind of book
Heilbroner used to write.

We all know that things are seldom what they seem. The earth is not flat. The sun does not move around the earth. The stars are not tiny pin pricks of light. The "solid wall" before us is almost entirely empty space. And that is just the physical world - how much more deceptive is the world we create - the world of stocks, money, debt and finance. What does it really mean to own something? Is money wealth? Would it still be wealth if there is nothing to sell? Is a stock certificate wealth? What about a house? Dr. Frank does an excellent job of explaining the difference between the money economy (the economy of money, stocks, mortgages and other paper) and the "real economy" (the economy of houses, bread and cabbages).

It is no surprise that the people with some understanding of these things are robbing the rest of us blind. Trying to understand them is more than just idle curiosity - it is self-defense. Ellen Frank pulls the curtain aside and allows us to see what this human world is really like. "The Raw Deal" and William Greider's "Secrets of the Temple" should give every reader a fighting chance to keep her head above water.

Dr. Frank gives an excellent summary in Chapter 1. I will simply add that the book more than lives up to the promise. In addition it is really quite readable and interesting.

"Each of the following chapters is an attempt to dispel the myths and illusions surrounding money, financial markets, federal finances, the financial policies of the Federal Reserve, and the policies of global financial institutions. At each turn, we will examine the myths promulgated in the media, the policies these myths engender, and the real impact these policies have on ordinary wage- and salary earners.

"Because the shifts in economic policy rest, to such a degree, on aligning the perceived interests of wage earners with financiers, chapter 2, will focus on the illusions surrounding the stock market and individual stock investing. Recent events shattered some, but not all, of those illusions. And recent corporate scandals have left Americans no less dependent on financial markets for funding retirement and higher education. I will argue that the stock market can never provide economic security for the majority. The problem is not simply that financial markets are volatile, or that they have been rigged by insiders. Rather, stocks and savings accounts provide middle-class households with no secure claim on the production of the real economy.

"The politics of finance and money rest on a deliberate misrepresentation of government finances, fostering the belief that governments operate under restraints that are not, in fact, operative. Chapter 3 assesses the debates over federal borrowing, debt, and the prospects for Social Security.

"The economic origins of our current impasse lie in the extraordinary power ceded to the Federal Reserve and other central banks in the 1980s and 1990s. Chapter 4 casts a critical eye on myths surrounding the conduct of monetary policy and the problem of inflation.

"The economic consequences of the raw deal are today most evident in developing countries that, under the tutelage of the International Monetary Fund, geared their policies single-mindedly toward the protection of financial wealth. Chapter 5 looks at the role of the dollar in the world economy and the devastation that efforts to ensure the dollar wealth of international investors have wrought on the real economies of Asia and South America."

Chapter 6 offers suggestions for how to move beyond financial myths and construct policies that sustain and share the real wealth of the economy."

Choose Costa Rica is a wonderful guide for anyone who is looking for a safe, affordable, and enjoyable place to spend one's retirement or to start a business. Particularly helpful is the detailed description of the most interesting and hospitable communities throughout the country. Not only does this book provide a wealth of information about such bread and butter matters as laws, prices, weather, and the like, but it also paints an irresistible picture of the country's natural beauty that draws so many travelers and new residents.

Howells obviously knows his way around and he does a great job of sharing his extensive knowledge with his readers and helping them to understand what is so special about the country. I found it useful as a first-time visitor because of its beneath-the-surface treatment of subjects ignored by the hotel and restaurant guidebooks.

The case studies of people who have gone into business there helped me to think through not only the potentialities, but also the risks and potential hazards of following their examples.

I also appreciated the Web link to a site that keeps you abreast of changes in Costa Rica through frequent updates of the information in the book.

Altogether, I highly recommend Choose Costa Rica to anyone who would like to explore the possibilities "the Switzerland of the Americas" offers, either in a new career or after retirement.

This book not only provides a tremendous amount of valuable information on virtually every aspect of living in Costa Rica, it gives you a true feeling of what it's like to live there. Most other books just provide the information. This one puts it in a perspective that allows you to understand all the nuances of the country and understand truly what living there is like. I especially like the day in the life of the author, where he lists what he does during the day from waking up on.

If you only buy one book, I'd buy this one. The Golden Book is also good, but this is better.

This guide seems to be far too subjective rather than factual . My husband and I found it to be incomplete in several key areas. It is not as detailed as several of the other guides on the subject. We have read them all since we live in Costa Rica.

I live in Costa Rica and can attest to the value of this book. Yes, other books are better factually but this book captures the vibe and Tico mentality perfectly. Worthwhile for anyone looking to spend extended time in Costa Rica.

This was actually a really help guide while traveling in Costa rica. Like the firtst reviewer, I also appreciated the Web link that keeps you abreast of changes in Costa Rica through frequent updates of the information in the book.

Another Globe Pequot Press book I bought, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," was helpful before I went. It's an essay-photo book on the country's various histories- political, geological, cultural -that would actually be VERY helpful for anyone considering working or retiring there.

I was looking for a more indepth look at Roswell NM based on the book review in Amazon before I bought it, I did cover some of Roswell.

If you have lived in the Southwest (SW) in the past or have vacationed there, then you know what a magical place it is. Despite the enormous growth in the past few decades, there are still wonderful towns that have not changed and are ideal locations for retirement. My wife and I are trying to make the retirement location decision at this time and I have purchased at least a dozen books about retirement cities and towns. Most of the books focus on the financial aspects, some are merely a compilation of data from the census, FBI, Dept. of Agriculture, etc. Lots of numbers, but no other information.

"Choose The Southwest for retirement" provides the important data about each town, mentions the financial economics, and uniquely paints a picture for each location. Having lived there in the 60s and visited frequently, we thought we knew all about the SW. What nice surprises we discovered in this book!

This book is one of the better written on the southwest for retirement or relocation purposes. It gives you a lot of information to compare various areas of the state. It also allows you to compare one state to another, example AZ to NM.

This book is similiar to his others which I have read and is quite good, but his omission of Henderson Nevada (2d fastest growing in Nevada) and Boulder City Both of which are rated #1 in "Retirement Places Rated" makes it less than complete.

The book provides a fine overview of information every retiree will want to know about the communities the author includes in his survey: cultural life, health care, housing, and so forth. However, this region is the fastest growing in the country, with hordes of early retiring baby-boomers as well as Californians leaving for the cheaper, less congested Four Corners states. This means housing prices and the general cost of living have been skyrocketing in these states. Therefore, editions need to be updated with greater frequency for readers to get a better sense of what it will cost them to move into this region and what they might expect future living expenses to be.

The region also has been afflicted with the worst drought in memory, and with worldwide climatic collapse apparently well underway, perhaps the worst drought ever. A most crucial piece of information is missing in the author's descriptions of these Southwestern communities, therefore: intelligence on local water supplies. As it is, much of the Southwest is teetering dangerously on the edge, with water harder and harder to come by and populations soaring. It goes without saying that present and future life in this most beautifual part of America is going to be impacted profoundly by these changes. Before investing large portions of their retirement in purchasing property in places like Phoenix, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, and Ft. Collins, readers need to know where and how local water supplies are obtained and what the long-term outlook is for what might be an ecological disaster in the making.

Bought this for a graduation gift in which the receiver was upset that she didn't receive cash. In the long run, the book set out to do what it was meant to do, enlighten people about finances.

This book did not help at all. I thought it was kind of worthless.

AFTER all the high tech, modernistic, ideolistic education kids receive in school, there is not much DOWN-to-EARTH education given to managing the financial basics... Assets & Debt, Credit Cards, Loans, Insurance, IRAs & 401Ks, Mortgages, Pensions, et al.

This book, although a bit dated (Note to Debby Fowles: We need an updated version), gives some of the best life style guidelines for financial issues. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it for High School and College graduates because it gives the basics about choices and risks concerning everyday financial issues.

The book lacks some of the latest issues, like Roth 401Ks, but that doesn't mean a person should not buy this book.

Worth every cent 'cause it makes good sense! Good book... JAS

I bought this book for a younger sibling who has just set out on her own. I read through it at the bookstore and thought it'd be great for someone just starting out in the world - it covers a lot of the basics in an easy-to-read manner. Not great for someone who wants to learn some new personal finance tricks, as this covers most that some of us have heard over and over and over. But a great, and affordable book, for new high school/college grads trying to find their footing financially.

Finally! A book on personal finance for the average person. This book is filled with easy-to-understand advice about managing your money. You can read it from cover to cover or just browse through it and pick the topics you're interested in right now. The budgeting and credit card debt chapters are great. Even though it's geared towards those of us in our 20s and 30s, most of it is good advice for anyone trying to get ahead financially. Best $11 bucks I've ever spent.

Item was received promptly in advertised condition

Despite the title of this book, it does not really cover the traditional "finance" topics such as weighted average/marginal cost of capital, portfolio theory, capital structure decisions, investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, etc. In my opinion, most of the book deals with managerial accounting-----but it does a great job doing so! In fact, this book contains the best treatment of cost volume profit analysis that I've ever seen----and I am a CPA with 10 years experience. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to manage a company "by the numbers".

I felt that there was not enough spent on the subject itself and more of a dummy's version of getting acquainted with Finance. If you've ever taken one course in Finance, you wiz through the book without absorbing any more than you remembered.

Very useful for everybody who needs to have understanding about finance and accounting in thier day-to-day tasks. Clearly shows how managerial budgets are linked to financial reports. Furthermore it gives a basis to understand and read financial reports and takes out the important information needed for the daily management decisions and follow-ups.
The book takes you step by step and on a comprehensive way through all the necessary knowledge and skills you should have.

Great, straightforward approach to explaining what managers do, and should, look for in the numbers periodically generated by their accounting systems.

The book is very helpful for someone planning a first trip to India, answering many, if not all, of the questions I have. Because India is such a large country, there is almost an overwhelming amount of information. It is also a large book --more than 600 pages -- to carry in a day pack, but I plan to do it anyway!

This is a good book for getting an overview of where to go and what to do. It also does a good job of listing hotels (though it's not the best for lower end venues). The book is frustrating, however, in that the person who makes the maps does not seem to be coordinating his/her efforts with the person who writes the text. Maps list main streets, but not the ones where major hotels are located (except in the big cities). Hence, you have no idea if your hotel is near or far away from major sites. This is especially problematic for single travelers who might wish to favor a central location to minimize commute times and the troubles that accompany them. Also, there is some inconsistency in the text. A suggested "ideal" itinerary will exclude an item that is later listed in the text as a "must see." Perhaps the problem occurs when different reviewers provide updates for the guides and don't bother to read the existing text carefully. Is the book worth your time? Yes, for the early stages of planning a trip. But you will definitely need another guide for information that could easily have been provided here. Finally, the guide subscribes to the PC nonsense that has become so popular lately....they soft peddle important things like SAFETY tips. It's not being a wet rag to acknowledge that there are some serious safety concerns you must keep in mind....and spelling them out for each area.

When you're embarking on any big adventure, and India certainly is, you'd be foolish to rely on one guide, and this one is no exception. (Take a look at my review of Lonely Planet India). Fodor's is always pretty reliable when it comes to restaurants and hotels, especially if you're not a low budget traveller. Prices of course are usually out-of-date pretty quickly, and the exchange rate fluctuates all the time, but their "$$$" system gives a good idea of the relative costs of different places. I also like the "star" system highlighting sites to see--in a country chock-full of palaces, temples, forts, and natural wonders, it helps to prioritize if time is short. The maps of local areas are OK as you plan your trip, but of course no guide book has really good maps--pick one up as you arrive in a major city, and as you plan your itinerary around the country, a country map is critical. Fodors is, however, short on history and culture, and some reading before you go is critical. And remember--things change, particularly in a place like India--local knowledge from your hotel or guide (from a reputable company, not someone you stop on the street) is always the best bet.

Hello to fellow travellers to India.

I bought this 2000 edition of Fodor's India because I got a deal online, but found the book to be of very limited use.

One of the best features of this book is the recommendation of itineraries based on the number of days that you might spend in a neighborhood. For example, if you intend to visit the state of Tamil Nadu, the book recommends specific itineraries if you have 4 days, 7 days, or 10 days at your disposal. If such a feature is important to you, this may be a very satisfactory book for you. The section on travel tips is also a good one.

I found the book to lack in comprehensiveness. For example, if you intend to visit any places in Maharashtra other than Bombay (Mumbai) or the Ajanta, Ellora caves, you wont be able to find it in this book. The hotel and dining recommendations were also disappointing. We stayed at the beautiful Park guest house on the beach at Pondicherry and ate at wonderful Annalakshmi restaurant in Madras (Chennai). Neither was listed in Fodor's.

Another helpful feature that you find in other guides such as Footprint is the location of money changers (for foreign exchange) in any given city - a feature that you will not find in Fodor's.

If you are looking for historical details about locations, it is hard to beat the Blue guides. I was also impressed by the Rough guide and Footprint guide. The latter is especially good about including detailed maps of cities. (I got a chance to look at these various guides in a local library and would recommend to others that they look at as many guides as available in your local library before buying one to take with you to India.)

No matter which travel guide you use, I hope you have a great time in India!

Now in an updated and strongly recommended fifith edition, Fodor's India is an information-packed travel guide to just about everything business or vacation travelers need to know or would like to see in this vast and dazzling nation. From where to go tiger-spotting to paying homage to holy sites to learning how to navigate bazaars and much more, Fodor's India brims with over 600 pages full not only of places to go, but tips for blending in and making the most of one's experience when one gets there. Over 600 pages cover the sights to see in various sections of India as well as a basic overview of the culture, language, and strategies for navigating. Fodor is a premier publisher of travel guides offering expert information on cities and countries abroad. Send for their free catalog for a complete title listing.

I needed some books on Japan since we were takign a trip to Japan. Books on the Far East are not all that plentiful at Dallas book stores so we ordered from Amazon. This one is not the most up to date however we found it worth the cost and sights and places listed haven't changed in many years.

I have this guide but I don't take it to Japan. It probably has the best descriptions of all the temples and sights, but practical information, such as "Where is this hotel?" seems to be left out. For example, there is an entire page devoted to a description of Nijo-jo in Kyoto. However, if you're staying at the "starred" (recommended) Yachiya Ryokan in Kyoto, all you have to go on to get there is its address: 34 Nanzen-ji fukuchi-cho, etc. At least the Kyoto hotel map will give a general location. Only the hotel map has hotel locations and you have to find it among the other sightseeing maps. On many maps, such as that of Nagasaki, not one hotel is placed. Luckily, the hotels listed are large enough that a taxi driver should be able to find them.

Especially in the major destinations, each chapter has an "A to Z" listing that gives practical information about transportation, car rentals, sightseeing tours, and shopping, such as listing the department stores and craft shops.

There is usually a comprehensive hotel listing, but most seem to be in Y20,000 ($200) and up categories. There is sometimes one "token" inexpensive place listed, such as the Hiraiwa Ryokan in Kyoto.

This guide has the best listing of good restaurants, if your trip includes dining out at top-notch restaurants. Restaurants of all ethnicities are covered, from Middle Eastern and French to Indian and Japanese. The decor is commented on as well as the food and service.


I think this guide is for people with a large budget and little time, who can take taxis to find destinations, and once there, would like to read about it. It's also for those who will be spending 99% of their time between Tokyo and Hiroshima. Once the core area is left, the listings get thin for Tohoku, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Many places are listed but the practical information is missing (choice of hotels and restaurants).

Itineraries in locale chapters are suggested under subheadings such as "If you have 2 days," to help you decide where you'd like to go. Entire Japan trip itineraries at the beginning are suggested if you have 14-16 days, 9 days, or 8 days. These are helpful in planning if you haven't been before.

Some of the information provided wasn't checked and is incorrect. It is nothing major though. For example, the author of the Sado Island sections states that "10,000 tons of silver and gold are mined annually." It's not even a typo; Mitsubishi Mining Co. sold off the mine in 1973 when it stopped producing. The Sado Gold Mine, Co. worked it until 1989 and then shut down. Another place is in Kushiro, Hokkaido where an arriving ferry is mentioned. There is no longer any ferry to Kushiro from Tokyo. These are minor errors but you can find them throughout.

If you plan to do Japan in 2 weeks, enjoy staying in $150-$200 per night hotels or ryokan, can rent a car at several destinations, and take taxis to get to your hotel, restaurant, or sightseeing destination, then this guide is a good choice. It is not for the budget traveller who is concerned with saving money to stay longer. It has more historic and cultural information about each place than other guides except maybe Kodansha or Eye Witness. It also lists more top-end hotels than even the JNTO brochures.

I have it, I take notes from it, but I don't carry it with me.

I used this book on a one week visit to Japan with my 15-year old daughter. While I had been to Japan many times on business, I had always been accompanied by Japan-based associates who delivered me from one destination to another, and refused to let me get lost. I had also not had the opportunity to do any genuine sightseeing. Using this book as our only guide we were able to: 1) Walk from our hotel in Akasaka to the Imperial Palace, seeing the Diet and a couple of shrines on the way; 2) Take the subway and trains to Kamakura for a tour of the temples; 3) Take the subway to Ryogoku to check out the Sumo stables; 4) Buy tickets and ride the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto for a tour of the temples, and return; 5) Take an ikebana (flower arranging) lesson at the Sogetsu Kaikan; And 6) shop in the Ginza and other areas. In all cases, the directions and advice were on target. I highly recommend this book.

Fodor's was the fourth guide that I bought for Japan. It did not disappoint, but competition is tough and others do a better job in some areas.

My biggest complaint would be a poor map of Tokyo subway (black and white, coding of lines difficult to follow even for someone who is not a complete newcomer), even poorer street map of Tokyo itself and no subway map for Kyoto. True, you can get free subway maps; and decent maps of Tokyo are available separately, but after investing money into a good guide you should not have to worry about this.

The guide sounds inspired and cheerful, sections about dining, culture and the language are better than adequate. It can be quite prescriptive at times, but it does not really stand in the way of enjoyment.

The guide does a good job countering small-minded myths about "expensive Japan". To all those whining about $10 cups of coffee and $100 melons I say this: if coffee and melons and other comforts are so crucial to you, maybe you should stay at home to make sure you have cheap supply of these commodities. One recalls certain Lonely Planet writers who dedicate half of their time spent in Scandinavia to a search for cheap booze; they get very disappointed when they cannot find any and then they go on for pages and pages about it. Well, Fodor's guide does not get its foot into the same trap: when in Japan, do not try to recreate home experiences and you'll be fine. Still, I think the guide worries too much about Italian and Mexican restaurants in Japan: I do not think there are many people so strange that they would go half-way around the world and then try to get something that is available back home for a fraction of a price. Anyway, looking for an italian place in Japan is a bit like shopping for a computer in Ghana - yes, it is available, but why would you do it?

The guide is strong on directions to the attractions and descriptions are brief but accurate. I liked Hokkaido section which not all guides cover adequately (DK Eyewitness, for example, only managed to cough up a few pages - definitely not sufficient for the exciting land that is the north of Japan).

It is disappointing that Fodor decided not to cover Okinawa at all: many of travellers to Japan would want to go there. I understand this was done because they needed more space for Tokyo and Kyoto.

It is evident that the writers do not have the same fascination with Tokyo as they have with Kyoto. It is not a shortcoming because no-one really loves both the same way, yet you may find that Rough Guide does a more spirited coverage of the main city.

Overall, DK Eyewitness has much better maps (not so strong on anything else, unfortunately), Lonely Planet has solid descriptions and practical info of some more remote places and also covers kanji versions of placenames in a very convenient way, but overall Rough Guide Japan is still the strongest book for the destination (and I am not a natural fan of Rough Guide, but in Japan they really surpassed themselves and all others).

Fodor's Japan is good but not ideal unless you like their writing style and their indexing system (admittedly quite good, and goes some way towards compensating for less-than-adequate mapping) so much that you are prepared to ignore the shortcomings.

I brought an earlier edition of "Fodor's Japan" in the mid 90ies, before my first trip to Japan. Since than, I have been back in Japan several times and read several other travel guides, including the Lonely planet guides.
I found Fodor's really outstanding. The walking tours by district are really helpful when you don't prepare for hours in advance. If you do them, you have really covered 80-90% of the important sites. This is especially helpful for day trips to Hakone, Nikko or Nara. Longer tours include good restaurant and take out tips and the descriptions are short enough to read up on while walking while still offering interesting details. I think the sections on Kyoto and Tokyo are even better than the once in guide books focused only on these cities. The book features a good range of hotels as well, organized by area and prize, but I found the dinning part really outstanding. For example, the Kanda's hidden soba shops, the collection of stylish bars or world class tempura restaurants I found in no other guide. So, I would really recommend the guide book.

This was a little disappointing to me. I have Tracey's first book "Frugal Luxuries" and totally love that. I do not like this one as much.

Some reviews of her other books disparagingly refer to her as a frugal Martha Stewart and say who needs all this "luxurious" stuff. So? I really like this book. Living frugally doesn't necessarily have to mean living spartanly. I like nice things like bath salts, drawer fresheners, etc., and since I'm a mom, I like to make things myself and know that there aren't nasty chemicals or anything articifical in the things in my home.

This is an awfully warm and cozy book that encourages the reader to create a beautiful and comforting home. She emphasizes making each corner of a house appealing and gives practical suggestions for making that happen. And while I've heard criticisms for her use of the word *frugal*, I guess it depends on what you consider frugal to be. Cheapskate she's not, but her suggestions are mostly in the reach of the average joe.

The recipes are fun and I esp. enjoyed the quotes given at the beginning of each section. She also covers the topic of clutter and how it can bog the homemaker down. She never makes a suggestion without giving you an out for it. Excellent!

I think Mrs. McBride has a great grasp on making a house feel like a home. Greatly recommend it for other *cozy* types!

If you live with a rat race mentality this book is not for you. If you are desperately seeking simple treasures to bring smiles to your day and others this is a RARE GEM! There is a focus on fun gifts to give others. Many of the gifts use items recycled from the kitchen combined with items from your garden. You will not spend much money but will need to invest your time to create the items. I loved this sense they are very inexpensive I can share more gifts with others. There is a real touch of sharing family traditions and togetherness.

You have to read through McBride's sermons before you get to the practical aspects, of which there are not many. She at least has an index to her recipes, some of which are not necessarily frugal, but are interesting nonetheless. I get the impression that McBride has some kind of inferiority complex about frugality (you need to hide the fact when possible by being Martha Stewart) which obviously creates a conflict when you read her ideas, both in this book and in her previous one. Many of her "frugal" ideas still involve buying stuff, and part of being frugal is NOT buying so much stuff. Overall, this book is interesting to read through, but not necessarily to buy unless you're a fan of hers--apparently she has a newsletter. I'd never even heard of her until her first book came out. If you want something really creative in terms of being frugal, The Tightwad Gazette is a much better book if you can get past the word "Tightwad".

This book was such a great guide of ireland. I backpacked across lower Ireland, for three weeks. It kept my friend and I, sheltered in great hostels, full of food and drink, and of course had great reviews on places to see. It gave also a great overview of the countries history. I stopped off in London, and the book has a great chapter on the sites, food, bars, and places to stay as well.

I have used several Let's Go books while traveling in Europe and have had great success w/ each book. They recommend rooms, dining, and excursions for all budgets. A great investment.

Using Let's Go Ireland confirmed the suspicions that arose after using Let's Go Spain & Portugal last year...namely, that my once beloved travel guide series is slipping into a downward spiral of mediocrity. Definite biases showed up in Let's Go Irelend 2002 that made me feel all I was reading was one person's specific opinion rather than generalized advice.
The fact that only vegetarian restaurants seemed to get high ratings was peculiar in a country whose cusine revolves around meat and potatoes. While this information is handy for vegans, the rest of us are at a loss when choosing where to eat. We gave up on their restaurant recommendations after three lousy meals. The tips on sights were equally shady...how is it possible that the only sight in Dublin that is given the highest recommendation (the thumbs up) was the Guinness Factory? While it was indeed worth a visit, there were obviouslt other spots more worthwhile in the country's lovely capital city. The maps in the book were either useless or nonexistant - it is of no use to recommend places and then leave it up to the traveler to find it on his/her own (especially in a land onf unmarked, windy streets!). The writing remains entertaining, but this book has made me lose my faith in the series. If you decide to bring Let's Go Ireland along, make sure to bring another (Lonely Planet for the budget traveler or Frommers for those with a little more cash).

I would surely have been lost when I stepped off my Aer Lingus flight in the Shannon airport were it not for the faultless and laudable advice of a book which is now tied in my mind with the Bible for most indispensible tome as we shuffle along in life: Let's Go Ireland 2000. The generally good coverage in the book gives the traveler no suspicion of how exacting, clever, and delightful the section on Southwestern Ireland is. "Top o' the mornin' to ye, author of the section on Southwestern Ireland," I say. Surely you are a rare gem - never did I enjoy myself more than when strolling through Cork under the watchful eye of Let's Go Ireland 2000. Cheers!

(Is Cork in Ireland? I think so)

Whoever the Let's Go person is for southwestern Ireland deserves a pay raise and a hearty handshake. I travelled from Cork to Limerick, and all along the way I was accompanied by witty, detailed, precise advice. It was as if I was taking a trip with a trusted and well-informed friend. Thanks Let's Go!

I was very impressed by their quality on Let's Go Europe. So this time, I decided to get Let's Go Mexico. And Guess what, on the trip, good that there were copiers in Mexico and people were nice enough to let me borrow them Lonely planet.
In conclusion, wait for the next Let's Go Mexico, this one is not good at all.

From Planeta Journal - I haven't checked out this series for far too long... since I was a student. It's an excellent guide to Mexico for budget travelers, providing details on inexpensive hotels and restaurants. Special sections include Suggested Itineraries, Gay and Lesbian Travel and Alternatives to Tourism. Written by student travelers, the guide takes readers to lesser-known establishments, like Monterrey's Casa de Maiz and San Cristobal's Centro Cultural El Puente. The editor writes: "The only way we found some of these superb budget locales was by leaving the pavement and following the cow path." This "Let's Go" title is particularly funny, authentic and well-written.

I just spent about 3 months in Mexico with this book as my only travel guide. It worked out quite well, despite nearly being destroyed by a large Pacific wave! It seems particularly good if you are traveling on a tight budget. The prices, etc. were more or less up to date--I doubt you'll ever find anything up-to-the-minute, but this was sufficient for all of the parts of Mexico, and even Guatemala, that I visited. My only complaint was that the authors had a somewhat condescending style and repeatedly made comments that I construed as belittling the locals in some of the areas (I remember Teotihuacan as one example). But that aside, I'm sure this is one of the better guides out there. The Lonely Planet "La Ruta Maya" guide to the Yucatan, Belize, and Guatemala seemed somewhat more useful for that region--not as confined by the national boundaries.

As far as I am concerned Lets Go series are the best way to go on a journey. They cover the main topics on each city and give you a good idea of the town you will be visiting. I have used them since 1997 (so far Europe, USA and Canada, Mexico and Central America). Here I have found information that no other guide book provides. It is written in a very American style and I am sure it fits most TRAVELERS - not tourists-. Anually updated (believe me I have compared the editions). I always recomend this book to my friends traveling to MeXiCo. I trust my budget travel vacation on Lets Go. If in doubt... email me: marcoalvarez@hotmail.com

I have not traveled to Mexico yet, but I just heared of a wonderful Mexican island from a friend, Isla Holbox, off the Yucatan. I searched for a guidebook... Well most guides don't mention it, and some that did not make the place sound very nice. _Let's Go Mexico_ has a couple pages on Isla Holbox, describing it as "the hidden treasure of the Yucatan." This pretty much matches my friend's description. Hope to tell you more after I see the place! I have used books in this series throughout Europe, they helped me alot; _Let's Go Mexico_ seems to be in the same spirit.