Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of a Rogue Travel Writer | 
| Author: Chuck Thompson
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $4.75
You Save: $10.25 (68%)
New (37) Used (24) from $4.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 46061
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 0805082093
Dewey Decimal Number: 910.4
EAN: 9780805082098
ASIN: 0805082093
Publication Date: November 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: mild cover wear otherwise very good, text unmarked,
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Product Description
From Bangkok to Bogota, a hilarious behind-the-brochures tour of picture-perfect locales, dangerous destinations, and overrated hellholes from a guy who knows the truth about travel Travel writer, editor, and photographer Chuck Thompson has spent more than a decade traipsing through thirty-five (and counting) countries across the globe, and he’s had enough. Enough of the half-truths demanded by magazine editors, enough of the endlessly recycled cliches regarded as good travel writing, and enough of the ugly secrets fiercely guarded by the travel industry. But mostly, he’s had enough of returning home from assignments and leaving the most interesting stories and the most provocative insights on the editing-room floor. From getting swindled in Thailand to running afoul of customs inspectors in Belarus, from defusing hostile Swedish rockers backstage in Germany to a closed-door meeting with travel execs telling him why he’s about to be fired once again, Thompson’s no-holds-barred style is refreshing, invigorating, and all those other adjectives travel writers use to describe spa vacations where the main attraction is a daily colonic.
Smile When You’re Lying takes readers on an irresistible series of adventures in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond; details the effects of globalization on the casual traveler and ponders the future of travel as we know it; and offers up a treasure trove of travel-industry secrets collected throughout a decidedly speckled career.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 Absolutely too funny! June 27, 2008
As a "would-like-to-be" travelwriter this book was very helpful. Didn't make me feel like such a failure any more! Everyone trying to break into the field needs to read what s/he thought the industry was all about but was afraid to really think! Great and easy read.
 If travel is about illicit sex and drugs, I guess you might like this book.... June 19, 2008
review: I did not enjoy this book and, therefore, would not recommend it. In fact, I gave up after three chapters. I guess the positive would be that the author had a nice conversational writing style that was easy to follow and flowed very quickly. He was frank and open and had a nice level of sarcasm that I found refreshing.
Unfortunately, I just didn't like the content at all. I'm a travel lover and have always loved reading travel narratives. Reading the back jacket of this book, I thought it would be a refreshing behind the scenes look at the travel industry and based on the cover, I figured he'd have some hilarious stories. I imagined there might be a few rated R moments, but I was fine with that.
Instead, he dove fairly quickly into his first encounters with the illicit sex traffic of Bangkok and his forays into taking cocaine as a teenager. Not what I was expecting, nor what I enjoy.
I made it through the first three chapters, but should have stopped after the introduction.
 Something's are better left in Alaska June 15, 2008
Buy the complete epic on the search for a Latin Lover at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/523478
Single Abroad: Tales of the Boyish Man is written for anyone who has ever been uncomfortable when trying to approach the opposite sex, dealing with Bike Cops in Butte County, traveling Europe or interviewing with ivy-league colleges. Covered in this book are the cheapest and most social hostels in Europe, the life of a Club Med host in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, the three features that make Mexico City unlike any other city in the world, how I managed not to get thrown out of Chico State University, the impact of the Russian Mafia in Southern Spain, the linguistic impact of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the last 20 days of the Incan dynasty, how to live in Latin America for $25 a year, how to make the most out of a Euro Rail Pass, mastering a second language and how someone who can't even properly slice a tomato can get a job overseas in a Portuguese restaurant. This guidebook was designed for anyone wanting to explore a Latin approach to working, dating and travel.
Well,.... May 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I didn't finish this book BECAUSE the author doesn't seem to want write about good things. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading funny and cynical books but this one seems to only talk about 3% of each country the author went to. The fact that he took so many cheap shots at all the countries doesn't go well into my liking. I live in Thailand (happened to be the 1st chapter!!!) and if that was all he could do well I'm very dissapointed. You can be funny and smart at the same time but this guy tried way TOO MUCH to be funny while being too cynical and negative. Hunter S. did 300 times better at this kind of writing. Sorry this is not for me at all.
It's sure is not the same as your average travel writings but that doesn't mean it's better!
Very Enlightening! May 15, 2008
Great book for the well-travelled person. Good insight into the way travel guides and magazines really work to promote the interests of the travel industry while glossing over the not so pretty. Chuck takes the reader along with him on those adventures that you don't often read about but make for great stories.
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