Comments on: In the Shadow of the Gonzo Fist http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/ Behind the Book Reviews--The Official Blog of Booklist Online Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:01:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » Lonely Planet Thinks Travel Writer Is from Hell http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-121423 Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » Lonely Planet Thinks Travel Writer Is from Hell Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:46:22 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-121423 [...] Thomas Kohnstamm? Well, he’s in the news again. His claims that Lonely Planet guides are not entirely [...] […] Thomas Kohnstamm? Well, he’s in the news again. His claims that Lonely Planet guides are not entirely […]

]]> By: James http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-120036 James Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:52:12 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-120036 I can't trust this Kohnstamm character. Not because he "made stuff up" (what writer hasn't?), but because San Francisco was his budget-conscious choice in lieu of Colombia. http://authwhore.com/2008/04/15/the-lying-planet/ I can’t trust this Kohnstamm character. Not because he “made stuff up” (what writer hasn’t?), but because San Francisco was his budget-conscious choice in lieu of Colombia.

http://authwhore.com/2008/04/15/the-lying-planet/

]]> By: Keir http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-118848 Keir Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:40:36 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-118848 Questioning the veracity of any memoir is reasonable, especially these days. I have, of course, no idea if Kohnstamm's adventures are true, but his comments about the business of travel writing certainly rang true. If LP rebuts his claims about their pay and deadlines, I'd be interested to hear it. But even with four times the time and money he claims he was provided, it would be hard to write a guidebook that does justice to the subject. Maybe guidebooks should come with disclaimers, just as memoirs ought to. Questioning the veracity of any memoir is reasonable, especially these days. I have, of course, no idea if Kohnstamm’s adventures are true, but his comments about the business of travel writing certainly rang true. If LP rebuts his claims about their pay and deadlines, I’d be interested to hear it. But even with four times the time and money he claims he was provided, it would be hard to write a guidebook that does justice to the subject. Maybe guidebooks should come with disclaimers, just as memoirs ought to.

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-118608 Jeff Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:51:30 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/02/20/in-the-shadow-of-the-gonzo-fist/#comment-118608 I actually attempted to use Kohnstamm’s LP guide to Colombia when I spent 2 months in Colombia last year. It so obviously had very little research and was mostly a condensed version of the 1996 LP guide by a different author. I wondered at the time how LP's editors ever approved the publication. But I'm also rather amazed with this new book that Kohnstamm’s own admitted lack of integrity is glorified and rewarded. Should we believe any of his tales about life as a travel writer on the road? Fortunately, I do love fiction. I actually attempted to use Kohnstamm’s LP guide to Colombia when I spent 2 months in Colombia last year. It so obviously had very little research and was mostly a condensed version of the 1996 LP guide by a different author. I wondered at the time how LP’s editors ever approved the publication.

But I’m also rather amazed with this new book that Kohnstamm’s own admitted lack of integrity is glorified and rewarded. Should we believe any of his tales about life as a travel writer on the road? Fortunately, I do love fiction.

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