Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining slacker travelogue of Australia
Review: I'm an American who will be traveling to Australia for the first time in one week, so I read this book for "background." It's quite funny-- Sean Condon has a certain sarcastic yet empathic way of looking at the world. He's sort of a Gen-X cross between Bill Bryson and Dave Barry. What was also interesting to me is the degree to which American pop culture had totally saturated Sean and David's worldview and vocabulary as they talk back and forth during the trip. They not only reference the easy stuff that everyone in the Western world knows-- Charlton Heston, Disneyland-- but also obscure pop cultural references that I thought we had agreed to keep within our own borders-- e.g., The Hawaii epsiodes of "The Brady Bunch" and Snuggle the Bear. It sort of depresses me; I wished there was more of an even exchange, but I guess the only Australian pop cultural references shared by my generation here in the US are that "Kookaberra/gum tree" song and Crocodile Dundee. All in all this is an entertaining book. It shatters the impression of a desolate Outback when Sean can tune into bad TV shows from a hotel near Ayers Rock. I'm really looking forward to their next book, their drive across the US.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining slacker travelogue of Australia
Review: I'm an American who will be traveling to Australia for the first time in one week, so I read this book for "background." It's quite funny-- Sean Condon has a certain sarcastic yet empathic way of looking at the world. He's sort of a Gen-X cross between Bill Bryson and Dave Barry. What was also interesting to me is the degree to which American pop culture had totally saturated Sean and David's worldview and vocabulary as they talk back and forth during the trip. They not only reference the easy stuff that everyone in the Western world knows-- Charlton Heston, Disneyland-- but also obscure pop cultural references that I thought we had agreed to keep within our own borders-- e.g., The Hawaii epsiodes of "The Brady Bunch" and Snuggle the Bear. It sort of depresses me; I wished there was more of an even exchange, but I guess the only Australian pop cultural references shared by my generation here in the US are that "Kookaberra/gum tree" song and Crocodile Dundee. All in all this is an entertaining book. It shatters the impression of a desolate Outback when Sean can tune into bad TV shows from a hotel near Ayers Rock. I'm really looking forward to their next book, their drive across the US.
Rating: 
Summary: Australia through the eyes of two drunks
Review: If you want to learn something about Australia, buy a different book. This book had potential, but it never really went anywhere. The author and his driver traveled half the continent via major roadways, spending a short while at cities along the highway. Most of the time they were drunk. If you want to know what Australia looks like through the eyes of a drunk, buy this book. On a positive note, it did have several funny parts as well as a lot of sarcasm and wit.
Rating: 
Summary: the boring drivel of an Aussie reprobrate
Review: It's not even funny, this drivel written by a self-confessed reprobate. Sean is the kind of male Aussie you hate to meet and meet too often. They may think it's funny, but these guys are a waste of space and his book a waste of trees. How does something like this even get printed? If there was some kind of insightful brilliance he might have gotten away with it. Sadly there's no brilliance at all. It's a shame Lonely Planet, which you'd think would be a bit more sensitive to issues like the Aborigines would publish a book on Australia that doesn't even mention the A word. It's a sad reflection of a certain type of male Aussie mentality. I wish it weren't and I'm sorry I spent the money on buying a book that left me feeling so empty. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: Long drive, great book.
Review: It's one of those books that accidentally tell you more about the writer than you ever thought you'd want to know .. I loved it. Sean Condon is a fabulously neurotic Melbourne boy doing a seriously long road trip with a disturbingly bad attitude .. I felt like i was sitting in the back seat of the car with Seanie and Dave .. a sneak preview into the "aussie boys on the road" trip sadly confirms all my worst suspicions .. yep they really are that shallow .. can we get OVER Neil Young soon please ?! I laughed out loud a lot.. and i can't wait to read the next one .. Sean Condon, you're a legend mate.
Rating:
Summary: Long drive, great book.
Review: It's one of those books that accidentally tell you more about the writer than you ever thought you'd want to know .. I loved it. Sean Condon is a fabulously neurotic Melbourne boy doing a seriously long road trip with a disturbingly bad attitude .. I felt like i was sitting in the back seat of the car with Seanie and Dave .. a sneak preview into the "aussie boys on the road" trip sadly confirms all my worst suspicions .. yep they really are that shallow .. can we get OVER Neil Young soon please ?! I laughed out loud a lot.. and i can't wait to read the next one .. Sean Condon, you're a legend mate.
Rating:
Summary: long ride, slow read
Review: Not a read I will repeat. Mr. Condon has too much angst and spends faaaaar too much time telling readers that he and his traveling partner David have girlfriends and therefore aren't gay. He's a little too concerned in getting that message across and not all that interesting when telling the tales of his trip.
Rating:
Summary: Read,laugh hard then read again!!
Review: Really, I am an Aussie and keep Sean and David going round and round Australia. The witty anicdotes and the way they look at ordinary Australians is most refreshing. Keep an eye open for wax reports and the ultimate question "Is Darth Vader really Luke Skywalkers father???"!!! I cant remember when i laughed so much at a book that i even read as a bedtime story to a young girl of 35........
Rating:
Summary: I even loved Angry Terry!
Review: Sean fills his debut novel with enough wit, information, inaneness and Condonia to keep you smiling throughout this lengthy travelogue. I loved this book the first time I read it and my opinion hasn't changed yet. A lot of us readers will never get to visit many or most of the places Sean and David do so we have to rely on what Sean writes as a sort of (occasionally very) offbeat guide to Australia and Australians. Driving through the snow in Northern New Mexico I read then re-read a line in this book (Fossey Sisters in case you want to read that bit). I could not utter it to my girlfriend for laughing so much. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in travel.
Rating:
Summary: Genuinely funny.
Review: The humor in this book is sharp, witty, and unlike many humor writers, comes across as completely uncontrived. Condon's sense of humor is not meant to beg for laughs, but rather seems to be a genuine reaction to his situations and general malaise when things go awry. He successfully acheives what many pseudo-comedians desperately try to; to turn ordinary situations into interesting and hilarious events. The entire book is not simply Condon cracking jokes though. He also manages to make interesting and insightful social commentary. If you're tired of Bill Bryson's forced humor and inane, contrived observations, go for Sean Condon. Genuine and funny.
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