Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Excellent mini-course for "the rest of us" Review: Although I am an art enthuiast myself and faithfully insist upon spending days slogging through the Louvre so that I won't "miss anything", I enjoyed reading Rick's book "Mona Winks" very much. This is because the book makes art "fun", even to those who are less than enthuiastic. I agree with the other reviewer that this book is sorta like a "Europe's Art Museums for Dummies". But Rick's amusing style makes it more than that - it makes the subject downright entertaining! And there is, of course, the picture that we could all relate to entitled "Another Victim of the Louvre". Wow - don't I know it!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Very Useful Review: From our background in travelling, we knew that museums could make or break a vacation (especially in Europe) so we bet on Mona Winks. It paid off big time. We saw many of the world's greatest museums (British Museum, Louvre, Vatican Museums, etc.) all in a simple uncomplicated tour. By reading different parts of it, you could see when and where to get a snack and how to avoid to crowds and the long lines. It saved our vacation, and when we go back we will use it again. The good thing is it is updated every year, and it covers the museums from the Prado in Madrid to the British Museum in London. This is a MUST for anyone who wants to know a little about art, travel to the great museums and survive, and overall have a great trip.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Loved this book! Review: I am so glad that I bought Mona Winks for my recent trip to Italy with a friend of mine! We used the sections for Florence, Venice, and Rome and learned so much! As we walked through the Uffizi, people were listening in on what I was reading to my friend regarding what we were seeing! I also gave the section on the Sistine Chapel to a pastor and his wife that we met in Rome so they could benefit from Rick's very informative, humor-laced guided tour! I've recommended his book to numerous other friends who are headed to Western Europe in the coming months and look forward to using his books again!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Loved this book! Review: I am so glad that I bought Mona Winks for my recent trip to Italy with a friend of mine! We used the sections for Florence, Venice, and Rome and learned so much! As we walked through the Uffizi, people were listening in on what I was reading to my friend regarding what we were seeing! I also gave the section on the Sistine Chapel to a pastor and his wife that we met in Rome so they could benefit from Rick's very informative, humor-laced guided tour! I've recommended his book to numerous other friends who are headed to Western Europe in the coming months and look forward to using his books again!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Terrific guide. Review: I just got back from a month in Europe and covered Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. I used 90% of the book and could not have had a better trip. Rick Steves book made touring cities, museums, palaces, and churches an enjoyable and funny learning experience. You will never need a tour guide. And I am serious when I say, DO NOT GO TO EUROPE WITHOUT MONA WINKS!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: DO NOT GO TO EUROPE WITHOUT THIS BOOK Review: I just got back from a month in Europe and covered Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. I used 90% of the book and could not have had a better trip. Rick Steves book made touring cities, museums, palaces, and churches an enjoyable and funny learning experience. You will never need a tour guide. And I am serious when I say, DO NOT GO TO EUROPE WITHOUT MONA WINKS!
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: more like mona lisa cries Review: I travel for art and frankly, this book was a big disappointment. I expected practical tips and got only a few. What I also got, much to my surprise was a dumbed down sister wendy approach to art-now class, look at this part of the statue and think this. This is not insider information, and to suggest that we should look at art with these descriptions in hand is extremely offensive. If you want to enjoy these museums, get the practical details in hand-a section, by the way, which I found amateur hour, and leave this puppy at home. I have toured just about all these museums, and these guys miss some outstanding parts of, for example, the British Museum. I grant you that the Louvre is impossible-and if this book helps some people at least get in the door perhaps it has a function. I will say the city walking tours are quite wonderful, but personally, I would never follow this guys tour of the Orsay, except perhaps for directions to the food. This book is an excellent example of fools going where angels fear to tread. You do not need this level of detail to tour the Rodin-it is easily accessible. Use this book if you must have detail to enjoy art (in other words you care who Rodin's last mistress was) but please form your own relationship with the works you see. Most children can do this without a guidebook-for goodness sake give yourself some credit, take a deep breath, and walk in the door, sans guidebook. You do not need a party planner, particularly a second rate party planner, now do you?!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Better than a paid guide! Review: I used this book (the first edition, this one is even better) at the Doge Palace in Venice (where there were no guided tours) reading the descriptions aloud to my mother. By the time we finished, there was a group of about 20 English speaking people (from the US, UK, Canada, Austrailia and South Africa) following us, asking me questions like I was the expert! Great information and great fun!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Better than a tour guide! Outstanding! Review: I used this book all through Italy and it was nothing short of outstanding. While touring the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, I actually had a group of people following me as I read the descriptions of what we were seeing. This book walks you through all the major museums room by room, describing the most significant items of art. If you don't want to be tied down to a tour guide, but want to get the most out of what you're seeing, this is the answer! A must buy!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Better than having a tour guide in your pocket! Review: I used this book on my trip through Europe, and I was amazed at how wonderful it was. In the Vatican, I acted as tour guide for my friends, and then the next day at the Colloseum, all I heard was, "What does Rick say about this?" Some of the insights on why things were built/painted are especially revealing and unique. If you want to enjoy all the sights as much as possible while paying as little as possible for guided tours, this is the way to go.
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