Rating: 
Summary: Definitely worth having!
Review: I have long been a fan of "Travels with Samantha" on the internet, back when Mosaic was the only graphical browser I could find. I realize that the author initially never intended on putting it to print but in the back of my mind had always hoped he would. I've referred many, many people to his website and have encouraged them to look beyond the photographs and read the entire work. I myself have read and re-read it several times and never tire of it. In many ways, it has rekindled my own desire to go out and discover the North America that so many of us feel we'll never have time to see. The book is exceptionally well crafted and is easily worth the asking price. Highly recommended!!
Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth having!
Review: I have long been a fan of "Travels with Samantha" on the internet, back when Mosaic was the only graphical browser I could find. I realize that the author initially never intended on putting it to print but in the back of my mind had always hoped he would. I've referred many, many people to his website and have encouraged them to look beyond the photographs and read the entire work. I myself have read and re-read it several times and never tire of it. In many ways, it has rekindled my own desire to go out and discover the North America that so many of us feel we'll never have time to see. The book is exceptionally well crafted and is easily worth the asking price. Highly recommended!!
Rating: 
Summary: disapointed about the print quality and number of pictures
Review: I read Philip's writings from his trip few years ago, just as he was publishing it on his (at that time unique and very vaulable for a beginning photographer) web. In fact, I downloaded all the artciles, printed them myself and made a book of them at home. And I read and I even made some notes out of it. So, now, few years later, i decided to buy the book, because: I had though I would like to have a real book, and I wanted to test Amazon.com shopping. Well, After have it read once again, as a real book, I am somewhat disapointed. First, there are actually less pictures than within the original articles still avalable on the photo.net. Second, the print quality is not very good, and so, in fact, if I tried, I could make better looking photographs just printing the downloaded stuff on my computer printer. And this is a professionally printed book. And, for photographs, low quality of print matters very much. So, that is why I am disappointed. Still, the reading's fine and easy, and in fact, it is the kind that lets you (me) rest while reading, so, it is ok for me. I read Joyce too, but when I want to.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Inspirational
Review: I read this book online before it was ever printed, and immediately grabbed a copy of the print version still hot off the press. This book is an excellent, easy read, with deep moments of reflection kept light by Greenspun's usual wit.If this piece doesn't inspire you to appreciate the vast expanses of these United States and fill you with a yearning to explore them, nothing will. The rich photography populating this book illustrates the people and places that Greenspun visits. Yes, you get the descriptions of what somebody looks like, as with any account; but with this book, you actually get to see the people Greenspun ran into along his way, and witness the majesty that I feel provides the underlying inspiration for the work. Buy it. Read it. Keep it. Read it again in a few years. It will never get old.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Inspirational
Review: I read this book online before it was ever printed, and immediately grabbed a copy of the print version still hot off the press. This book is an excellent, easy read, with deep moments of reflection kept light by Greenspun's usual wit. If this piece doesn't inspire you to appreciate the vast expanses of these United States and fill you with a yearning to explore them, nothing will. The rich photography populating this book illustrates the people and places that Greenspun visits. Yes, you get the descriptions of what somebody looks like, as with any account; but with this book, you actually get to see the people Greenspun ran into along his way, and witness the majesty that I feel provides the underlying inspiration for the work. Buy it. Read it. Keep it. Read it again in a few years. It will never get old.
Rating:
Summary: Well written and well worth reading
Review: I recently became interested in traveling and when I first picked up this book, I was excited to read about the different parts of the author's trip and hear about the places he visited. However, by the end I found there was more to it than just where he had been and what he had seen. What separates this piece of writing from others is that it reads very smoothly, as if the author is telling the story in person. I found that certain bits and pieces of information from conversations with strangers were effectively chosen. By focusing on interesting dialogues, it is easy to understand how these people have changed the author's outlook on strangers and life in general. His struggle for answers and meaning on this trip reminded me of Eugene Henderson's struggle in Bellow's novel "Henderson the Rain King"...in the end they both seem to find that what they are looking for is actually much closer than it seems.
The photography in this book is some of the best I've ever seen...the pictures from the Yellowstone chapter were especially beautiful. If they were blown up, I bet they would look fantastic in a frame on the wall. Greenspun has definitely strengthened my desire to get out on the road, see new places and meet new people. Travels With Samantha proves that everyone can potentially gain from traveling; all it takes is an open mind...
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully designed print version of web travelogue
Review: If you've read some of this book online and you like it, you should buy this print version. I don't know how they did it, but arsDigita press put together the most aesthetically wonderful book I've ever bought. Its layout is similar in style to Greenspun's earlier-published work, Philip and Alex's Guide to Web Publishing, but the binding is better (will survive many readings) and the book itself is neither too heavy nor too flimsy to read on your hands, lap, or table. The quality of the many photographs is fantastic. I showed this book to my mom and asked how much she thought it had cost me: she said "sixty dollars". Perhaps she was exaggerating, but this is truly a quality production worth four times its diminutive price. In case you haven't read any of this book online yet, you should; you will want to buy a hard copy right away.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting insights, good photography
Review: Phil Greenspun's Travels with Samantha has been online for a while, and I've read the book twice. From the touching opening chapters to the wandering, wide open details of Phil's journey, we get insight into the American people - not an idealized mom n' pop Lake Wobegon days America, and not a gritty NYPD blue America, but the real country, seen through the eyes and pen (and PowerBook) of a fairly objective and educated man. Read this book. It isn't long, and you may not like as much as I have, but I guarantee you'll learn something. The photographs are pleasant too.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful photographs, comical anectdotes
Review: Philip took the roadtrip that all of us have planned to take at some point. Though this book is freely availible at philip.greenspun.com, it is a nice buy, particularly for coffee tables and bathrooms.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty but Boring Photos, Regrettable Prose
Review: This book is a travelogue beautifully illustrated with many of the author's own photographs from his travels around North America. While beautifully produced I have two basic problems with the book; 1) The photos just aren't very interesting. While you can go to the author's website and read all about his many thousands of dollars in camera equipment, none of this seems to have helped him take any better photos. While technical well executed, the photos lack any unifying theme. The subjects are drab. I would recommend going to a flea market and buying old issues of National Geographic instead. 2) The author's travel narrative is just plain bad. I only got thru the first three chapters of the book. The author seems to lack any deep understanding of the places and people he visits. The book fails to convey any meaningful sense of place. The prose itself has a bit of a freshman term paper feel to it. For excellence in travel-writing, i would recommend any of Bruce Chatwin's books, such as In Patagonia. For insteresting looks at places in America, very few writers can equal William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highway".
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