Rating: 
Summary: Dull Days on the Road
Review: "Take Me With You" is the dullest travel book I've read in years. The author failed to inspirie me on several levels and I'm not certain whether this was due to the fact that he's not really a writer, but a traveler, and therefore perhaps thinks he can get away with writing a travel narrative on this basis alone, or else it's the fact that the book drags endlessly, listlessly, boring the reader to tears. I look forward to all new travel books and this oned failed to measure up to even the poorest of them. For a much better read, try Bill Bryson or Dervla Murphy.
Rating: 
Summary: Completely Engrossing!
Review: "Take Me With You" transcends the genre of "travel book". It is also an autobiography, a commentary on our times and the human condition, a birds-eye view of daily life in other cultures (where I felt as if I were an invisible travel partner), as well as a mystery to try to figure out which person he will invite to come to the U.S. It is spell-binding and it was hard to refrain from reading this book in one sitting. But I knew if I did not, I would not have any pleasure to look forward to the next day.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: Excellent. This is a Classic Travel Book. I've read quite a few over time. Brad Newsham is first and foremost a seasoned experienced traveler, who spread out his trips over periods of years in his lifetime. Many Travelers have written books about their experiences. Newsham however, in addition to being a great traveler, is a great writer, who has keen insight into the people, physical environment, and intangible benefits that travel brings to the individual. Vivid descriptions, recollections of his conversations, and providing backgrounds of the local and traveling folks he came across make you want to grab your small bag, and hop on the next plane out. His goal of finding a person to bring to the U.S. that otherwise would never be able to, makes many of us want to do the same thing. In the end we find out who the person is Brad will invite to our country. I first heard about the this book while Newsham was on a radio talk show, while I was driving from Key West, FL to Seattle. I was driving north through Oregon, and took my small notebook and pen and scribbled down the title. Classic book.
Rating:
Summary: Wild Experience!
Review: Have you ever traveled through a developing country and met someone who has given you particular joy and thought, "How can I make this person's life better?" In Africa, China, India, Jamaica... I've given letters, photos, gifts, and money, and I've even fantasized about bringing them home--marriage, adoption--the options are limited, and extremely complex. When people said to me, "Take me with you!" I laughed, they laughed, I shrugged, they shrugged, I went on my way, and they stayed put. But Brad did it. Lucky for us he's such a talented writer. The topic is irresistible, and the storytelling compelling. Brad goes on a quest to find just one person to bring home to the United States. The internal struggle is massive. The process takes years. How does he choose? How does he implement it? Read the book! Does the visit to the United States make this man's life better? Does it make the world a better place? Yes! And Brad's continuing efforts should also be applauded. His Backpack Nation takes his "take me with you" philosophy about a thousand steps further. Carla King
Motorcycle Misadventures
Wild Writing Women
Rating:
Summary: An All-Time Travel Classic
Review: I absolutely *loved* this book and will rate as one of my favorite books of all time (right alongside Jeff Greenwald's "Size of the World", which is a similiar subject and just as good). Brad Newsham's style of writing is very easy going, relaxed and friendly. His ability to describe sites and sounds is so accurate and colorful, I feel like I've been to the very countries he describes. He comes across as an affable guy, never condensending, and obviously very grateful for the opportunities he has had to travel. It's this gratefulness that makes him want to "give back" to someone who might not have that same opportunity. An earlier review critiqued him for this and I have to strongly disagree. He's simply one guy who was trying to make a kind gesture to one person. And in the process of finding this one person, he weaves the most intriguing and hypnotic tales of travel I have ever read. I've recommended this book to everyone I know who loves to read and travel. My only complaint was that it had to end.
Rating:
Summary: Gives you the travel bug...
Review: I came accross this book completely by accident while looking for a map of San Diego...and it was a thoroughly enjoyable accident. Newsham makes you feel like you are on the trip with him and over the two weeks in which I read this book, I was telling my friends, "We are in Calcutta now, or My guy just left Nairobi." He has a way of telling it like it is without judgement. a compassionate way of describing life for those with less materialism than americans without turning it into a pity-party. I gained a simplistic understanding of some of the struggles of countries like India and Zimbabwe that one cannot find in a removed, unreal world civilizations/history text. I guessed early who the person would be who he would invite to the states, but this did not subtract from my vicarious journey around the world with Newsham. I hope that he is planning a book about the experiences of himself and his visitor to the states. Another suggestion would be more of a "how-to" guide for traveling in third world countries, as I often wanted more detail about the nitty-gritty about how he managed the logistics of everything from day-to-day.
Rating: 
Summary: Very enjoyable read
Review: I disagree that this is a good book in need of an editor. There are very minor imperfections in the writing and editing but this is a book written by a cab driver and the enjoyment of this book would not be enhanced by flowing verbiage and linguistic floral arrangements.
Brad Newsham tells a very interesting, observant, and pleasing tale of his travels in the Philippines, India, and East Africa, describing not only the places but also the real people that he encountered. This is a real story with real people and real character. I wish there were more like it.
If you want fine literature, look elsewhere (although there is nothing wrong with the way this guy writes). If you want an excellent travel book, this one should be on your list.
Rating:
Summary: A Unique Delight
Review: I don't think I've read a book with this premise before, but I do think it captures perfectly what lies at the pure heart of the backpacking hippie revolution. When I was a college kid travelling in Morocco and Europe we judged the authenticity of each other's trips by how much time we'd spent in the company of locals. If you got invited into someone's home that was the ultimate. In "Take Me With You" the tables are turned. One local, very surprised no doubt, is invited back across the seas to visit the home of the traveler, Newsham's home. It's an irresistible scenario, expertly told. Funny, moving, thoughful, challenging. It has 50 short chapters, each introduced by a funny or poignant quote. It's a breeze to read. You want it to go on and on, but the end is perfectly satisfying. I can't recommend it more highly. Make mine five diamond-studded stars.
Rating:
Summary: best travel book ever
Review: I have read many travel books but few come close to this gem. some are too self serving others too dry but newsham is able to blend details,conversations,history and opinion like a master! i didn't want the book to end.
Rating:
Summary: A travel book with an odd twist.
Review: I have read such wonderful travel books as "One Year Off" and "French Impressions" and I have to say, that this one lives up to all of the critics praise. The concept, is a man travels to Asia, India and Africa in search of a person--who wouldn't otherwise get to go--to invite to the USA for a month. Now, at first, I thought, well that is rather weird. I mean, isn't that also kind of strange to the person? But as I get into it, I realise that he really is looking for a trade. Like he gets to go to their country, and they tell him about the history and are hospitable. Now, he can in turn invite them to his country, (just because he is better off financially) and teach them about the history. It is just a trade between friends, really. I suggest that you read this book. It was very good, with a few funny parts.
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