Rating: 
Summary: Amazon Review Gets Results
Review: You can't say that Amazon reviews don't get noticed. Previous editions of this book (in the Alhambra section) repeated what Daniel Boorstin called a "vulgar legend": that the Spanish court resisted Columbus because it didn't believe that the world was round. This was pointed out on Rick Steves' web site in 2002 and here in 2003. The 2004 edition finally acknowledges the truth: that the Spanish court resisted Columbus's proposals because they thought he underestimated the size of the world and the length of the voyage, not because they thought the world was flat. The estimates they used were far more accurate than Columbus's. The book also stops saying that Spain's Socialist party is in power. (Of course there's no acknowledgment of the errors. The information on Columbus is presented in the same know-it-all tone, even though it's 180 degrees different from what Rick Steves said before.)But the leopard hasn't changed his spots. The architect of Ronda's impressive bridge did not fall off of the bridge to his death while inspecting his work. Spain For Dummies sets the record straight. The discussion of the Spanish Civil War omits the information that Stalin supported and eventually took over the Republican side. Since Steves mentions that Hitler and Mussolini supported the Nationalists, there's no reason for leaving out Stalin's role except that the author doesn't want readers to know. (Perhaps Rick Steves doesn't want readers to know how radical he is; at his web site he suggests that America brought on the terrorist attacks and sympathizes with a suicide bomber.) Mr. Steves lacks the confidence to summarize history in a straightforward manner and let readers decide for themselves; he never passes up a chance to indoctrinate. For reliable history of the Spanish Civil War see the definitive account by Hugh Thomas, Paul Johnson's summary in Modern Times, or George Orwell's classic, Homage To Catalonia. If you browse through Amazon or your local bookstore you can find many fine books on various aspects of Spanish history. Fortunately history is only a small part of the book. There is good practical information on hotels, restaurants, sites, local transportation, and travel strategies. For example, Madrid's Hotel Gonzalo is an excellent value near the Prado. If you're in Andalusia budget some time to visit one of the Pueblos Blancos villages, such as Ronda. Tours only make short stops here, but they're worth several days. Wherever you go, look out for pickpockets. If you're going to Spain or Portugal, this book is an excellent travel resource. But when you read history in a Rick Steves book keep in mind that he's trying to indoctrinate readers to his point of view.
Rating:
Summary: Amazon Review Gets Results
Review: You can't say that Amazon reviews don't get noticed. Previous editions of this book (in the Alhambra section) repeated what Daniel Boorstin called a "vulgar legend": that the Spanish court resisted Columbus because it didn't believe that the world was round. This was pointed out on Rick Steves' web site in 2002 and here in 2003. The 2004 edition finally acknowledges the truth: that the Spanish court resisted Columbus's proposals because they thought he underestimated the size of the world and the length of the voyage, not because they thought the world was flat. The estimates they used were far more accurate than Columbus's. The book also stops saying that Spain's Socialist party is in power. (Of course there's no acknowledgment of the errors. The information on Columbus is presented in the same know-it-all tone, even though it's 180 degrees different from what Rick Steves said before.) But the leopard hasn't changed his spots. The architect of Ronda's impressive bridge did not fall off of the bridge to his death while inspecting his work. Spain For Dummies sets the record straight. The discussion of the Spanish Civil War omits the information that Stalin supported and eventually took over the Republican side. Since Steves mentions that Hitler and Mussolini supported the Nationalists, there's no reason for leaving out Stalin's role except that the author doesn't want readers to know. (Perhaps Rick Steves doesn't want readers to know how radical he is; at his web site he suggests that America brought on the terrorist attacks and sympathizes with a suicide bomber.) Mr. Steves lacks the confidence to summarize history in a straightforward manner and let readers decide for themselves; he never passes up a chance to indoctrinate. For reliable history of the Spanish Civil War see the definitive account by Hugh Thomas, Paul Johnson's summary in Modern Times, or George Orwell's classic, Homage To Catalonia. If you browse through Amazon or your local bookstore you can find many fine books on various aspects of Spanish history. Fortunately history is only a small part of the book. There is good practical information on hotels, restaurants, sites, local transportation, and travel strategies. For example, Madrid's Hotel Gonzalo is an excellent value near the Prado. If you're in Andalusia budget some time to visit one of the Pueblos Blancos villages, such as Ronda. Tours only make short stops here, but they're worth several days. Wherever you go, look out for pickpockets. If you're going to Spain or Portugal, this book is an excellent travel resource. But when you read history in a Rick Steves book keep in mind that he's trying to indoctrinate readers to his point of view.
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