Tramping Through Mexico and Other Adventures

Rating:
Summary: A great gift book!
Review: I thought this book was really interesting. I wish I had read it before my own trip to Mexico. The book is well-written and the writer seems to go well beyond the surface of things. This is especially true when he talks about the Tarahumara. He not only examines their customs and traditions but also the modern pressures that are affecting them (like tourism!).
His coverage of the whale migration off the coast of Baja is also excellent. Parts of the book are really funny too. His bout with dysentery in La Paz and his encounters with locals and other tourists are sometimes hysterical. I also really liked how the author added tidbits of Mexican poetry and folk songs.
My only critisism is the book needed more pictures and a few good maps would have really helped figuring out where the writer was.
I would especially recommend this book before going to the Copper Canyon or whale watching in Baja. It's also fun to read after you've made your own trip. If I knew someone going to Mexico, I would definitely get this book for them (and a few others too!).