Oceania Books

This is a very well-written introduction to South Pacific history, with the additional bonus of the author rejecting the 'politically correct' bias of more recent works which tend to demonize Europeans and sanctify the 'natives'. A must-read for anyone interested in the Pacific beyond the beaches and resorts.

Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders were commissioned by their respective governments to chart the unknown coastlines of Australia (then known as New Holland). Both did brilliantly well: Flinders making the first close circumnavigation of Terris Australis (or Australia, whose name he invented), and Baudin charting the the last unexplored slab of Western Australia, plus making numerous botanical and other scientific discoveries. Both captains, however, met with disaster: Baudin dying on his return (only to have his posthumous reputation sullied by a hostile biographer), and Flinders detained for five years by the notorious Governor Decaen, the Napoleonic commander at French Mauritius. This is the first book to chronicle their achievements along the same timeline, and naturally the narrative reaches a climax where they meet at South Australia's Encounter Bay.

I recently spent 3 1/2 months in Australia as a student, and I took this guide along for the few weeks I had to travel around. Everywhere I went, this guide pointed out pleasant places that ordinary travel guides might not bother with. The lists of accomodation and restaurants in every city or town were especially useful. Interspersed throughout are historical and cultural notes that allow the visitor to enjoy each place just a little bit more, and Gareth Powell's dry wit makes the guide very readable. My one disappointment was the comparative lack of attention to Brisbane (where I spent most of my time). For instance, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth all have detailed, color street maps at the back of the book, but Brisbane does not. Overall, however, this guide was well worth its price.

Out of the three books I have purchased, this will be the one to go with us to New Zealand. I especially like the detailed maps about each specific area. Since this is a once in a lifetime trip my husband and I are planning, we want to know as much as possible by the time we get there. It has wonderful suggestions for traveling on a budget, yet isn't afraid to reccommend the really good places not to overlook because of price. With all the information we have gleaned, we are starting our inquiries and reservations. We can't wait to go!

The not-too-big size guidebook was handy enough to be carried around. The itineraries and sights recommendation provided an excellent starting point for all first timers, like me, in Copenhagen.

It's a beautiful little book with gorgeous pictures of people and places. Unfortunately, the food and hotel guide is minimal; this could be due to the size of the islands, but I feel this book is best suited for those who want to know more about the history and culture of Tahiti (hence why it's a publication in conjunction with the Discovery Channel). If culture and history are what you're looking for, this little book does a great job.

This is a teacher's edition for International biographies including Corazon Aquino, Buddha, Gandhi, Goolagond, Hammurabi, Hirohito, Genshis and Kublai Khan, Mother Teresa, Mao Zedong, and U Thant.

White's book is a fascinating read for anyone who has ever thought about the question of national identity and how the rest of the world perceives a particular country's people. While White's focus is the Australian identity and the images associated with it, what he has to say applies to the rest of us, as well. His argument is that national identity changes with different ages, but that the images which become those identities, for instance, the World War I "digger" or the "convict" identity which have at different times been seen as "Australian identity," are really the constructions of people in power who believe a particular identity will further their own or the country's aims. The image, then, of the Australian "digger," the tough-minded, uncomplaining and stalwart soldier of World War I, is an identity that was necessary and helpful to those in power as they tried to convince people that Australians had a duty to fight and were good at it. The book may not be as interesting to those who are unfamiliar with these Australian images of themselves, but it is not hard to apply it to American identity. Our own images of ourselves as an "immigrant," "wealthy industrialist," or "pioneering" society are just as vital to our perception of our own history, and just as challenged by White's thesis. However, the book may be most interesting to those who have spent time outside of their own culture or have had experiences being stereotyped because of their nationality. This is a challenging and useful book for anyone who has ever wondered about cultural issues and how national identity is influencing policy and history.

This guide is usefull if you're devoting lot of time to queesland and the great barrier reef. Its best companion is the Lonely Planet Queensland guide (perhaps it's too much information).
But as I'm concerned, Lonely Planet is not doing anymore this guide (and this version is quite old, so it may be not updated).
What a pitty!...

Isles of the South Pacific tells you all about, you guessed it... The isles of the south pacific. These include, Tahiti, The Cook islands, Samon, Tonga, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, The Solomons, and New Guinea. With all the stunning photographs from the National Geographic Society!
Although this book is rather outdated... But it's still very interesting as well as educational. And at the price of only a penny plus shipping and handling, what have you got to lose?