Rating: 
Summary: Not worth your time....
Review: If you are a seasoned traveller or expert in area studies, then this book is definitely not for you. If you don't know anything about the world, and like your news to be simple and entertaining, then you're in luck.First, this book is not cheap. In addition, most of the information is filler. It is extremely wordy and it often takes Pelton three or four sentences to say one simple thing. Almost every sentence is a joke and very little insight is conveyed. The political and historical analysis is on the level of a 5th grader and more can be gleaned by reading your local news site. What most people want to read is a behind the scenes look at these various countries. Info such as where to stay, how to get in and out, what to avoid, etc. That info is not there at all. Some of the chapters could have been written by someone writing from home summarizing BBC articles for the last few years. There are very few interesting anecdotes. Instead you are given a very low level historical and political history filled with endless attempts at humor. If you like serious subjects cursorily treated, then this is for you. If you would actually like to understand these countries, then you need something much more substantial. Just reading the BBC articles on these countries would be much better (and free of course). I've had the pleasure to travelling to about half of the countries that are included in the book (the US should not be included in the book -- it's almost ridiculous that he included it.) and the book is not accurate. Basically in every country he says 1) there are too many guns 2) there is political oppression 3) you may have to bribe your way in and out 4) the rulers are "crazy" and corrupt. My advice to those wanting to travel to countries off the beaten track is to learn the history and political situation via books and newssources, read free sources of information online from Western people who are living there or who travelled there recently, and take basic travel precautions. You shouldn't waste your money on this book. In fact, after reading the entire book cover to cover, I gladly returned mine, and this is only the second book I have ever returned.
Rating: 
Summary: A good primer but too much commentary...
Review: This book will give you a good introduction to traveling in many of the more dangerous spots on the planet. In addition to histories of the countries, the book tells you how to get in to the countries and what you need to enter. Also included are the areas that are considered relatively safe and others that are enter at your own risk types of locales. The only problem I have with this book is its relentless negative commentery about the United States and its leaders. In my mind, comparing the US to Checnya, Somalia, and Afghanistan is pointless. Sure, we have our problems but those problems have much more inherent danger. This book would have been great if it did not seem like a covert criticism of the US.
Rating: 
Summary: Greatly improved thanks to contributor Andrew Mueller
Review: While this series has always been very informative and entertaining, the recent addition of contributor Andrew Mueller has given the tome the needed shot in the arm. Mueller's writing sparkles and entertains, making the reader want to visit such seemingly scary spots as Iran and Iraq. His quick wit, brilliant prose and obvious experience make him an invaluable source. On the strength of his masterful words alone, I would recommend buying this book immediately. (Mueller's other book, "Rock in Hard Places" is available at [website]. Buy that, too).
Rating:
Summary: Not a history book but tries to be.
Review: I was expecting more out of it without all the political and historical commentary. Given I know a few regions very well I disagreed heartily with his political introduction with how they got to be so bad/mild. And some of his history is questionable (and some, enlightening). It's certainly entertaining and has good solid information scattered through the book. If you took only the meat and good stories, the book would be half its size. And if you're going to have a nice politcally motivated chapter on the US you might as well have something on Sicily. Don't use this as your only source if you decide to hit the roads of Uganda. It's a good base and sites some other resources. And his chapter on bribery is dead on IMO, get used to it. A fiver goes a long way sometimes.
Rating:
Summary: The wacked out countries of the world...and then some
Review: Here is a catalouge, an encyclopedia, and the antithesis of travel guides if you will, of the least popular and least understood countries that make up patches in the giant eclectic quilt that is our planet. There is not a whole lot of romance or fun and games here--but a lot of black humor, sarcasm, hard-core reality, problems, lack of soloutions to said problems. This is not in the humor section, but I personally found it among the funniest books I have ever read. If you want travel tips that will lead you to unsafe, unhealthy, violent, totalitarian, impoverished warzones, then you hit the jackpot. There are entire chapters on bribes, guns, landmines, spying, diseases, kidnappings, tribal insurgencies, violent crime, frauds, religious fundamentalism and wars. Each chapter starts off with a photograph that sums up the entire point--a kid carrying a bazooka (for Uganda), a man wearing a gas mask in front of a wall of grafitti (for the US), a native holding an AK-47 (for Bougainville), a woman pointing a gun at a camera (for Iran), a woman holding a sign saying 'I love my India--I hate Pakistan' (for India), an unconscious man lying half-naked on a sidewalk beside an emaciated street urchin (for Brazil), a monkey sitting on a picnic table smoking a cigarette (for the drug chapter): the list goes on and on. The countries featured are not the most popular to go on spring break, have fun, let loose and hang out at right now: Afghanistan, Algeria, Chechnya, Columbia (the only country that encourages tourists NOT to visit it), Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, North Korea, Rwanda, etc. Even the US is featured, and our culture of violence is given a lot of press: wars against small countries, school shootings, murders, suicides, crime, drugs and gangs. All kinds of interesting information about the politics around the world is to be examined here which aren't seen or heard on the TV: "Did you study Somali politics 101?" DANGEROUS PLACES is rather critical of US policy as a whole. If you want to know why so many people hate the United States, it is largely because of US interference in political conflicts and marketing of its materialistic consumerism in poor, ultra-conservative or otherwise radical countries, in which many people reside who want cultural and political self-determination. I learned a lot myself, and it is highly recommended for some of the more esoteric and in-depth knowledge of our current world situation.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative and eye-opening.
Review: As I started reading this book, I realized what little I knew about other countries and other cultures. This book should be a must-read in high school government and history classes. Extremely informative, well-edited, humorous when it needs to be. Will definitely make you think before travelling outside of the U.S., even if you THOUGHT the place you were going was relatively safe. Good book overall. Great gift for anyone who travels.
Rating:
Summary: Buy for the humour, not as for a travel guide
Review: This book is long on generalities, cliches, prejudices and tongue in cheek blue-collar humor (the author is a blue collar worker turned adventurer), but short on specifics. Buy this book for the author's comments, but after a while his cliches begin to grate on you. Not a bad sourcebook for identifying the dark underbelly of world travel, but buy a used copy.
Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING AND STRIKING
Review: I have consulted this book many times over the last few years, both as entertainment and as a reference to what is going on in a particular part of the world. It makes for a very entertaining read, as the author not only describes the socio-political situation of the country, he also tells a story of his own experiences in the particular places. When I started reading about his experiences, I often thought them exaggerated. However, given Robert Pelton's recent abduction in the Panama Colombia border by paramilitary groups, I start to believe more and more that he actually did live through such experiences. The book is a good eye-opener to everyone who thinks we are living in a modern civilized society. If you are doubtful, read about sub-saharan Africa or Central Asia.
Rating: 
Summary: Most dangerous book
Review: Not what you might expect and certainly out of date.
Rating:
Summary: RYP's greatest
Review: This book is truly awsome! RYP gives it his all in this book, he tales of real life accounts, he gives sources for you to look up if wanted, and the book gets updated every year or so. This book is a total wealth of knowlege.
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