Travel as a Political Act by Rick Steves

[Echo]

Date of Publication: 2009, Nation Books

 

Number of Pages: 205

 

Synopsis (from back cover): There's more to travel than good-value hotels, great art, and tasty cuisine. Americans who "travel as a political act" can have the time of their lives and come home smarter--with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of today's world and just how our nation fits in.

 

In his new book, acclaimed travel writer Rick Steves explains how to travel more thoughtfully--to any destination. He shares a series of field reports from Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East to show how his travels have shaped his politics and broadened his perspective.

 

Review: As a long-time fan of Rick Steves' PBS travel show, "Rick Steves' Europe", including his special Iran episode, I was really excited to read this book. I was certainly not disappointed! Steves' writing is honest, open-minded, thoughtful, and humorous. He challenges his readers to travel with a purpose, to go outside their comfort zones and learn what the world around them is really like. America does not have all the answers to the world problems...in fact, there is no country on Earth that does. What makes Rick Steves unusual is that he is willing to consider solutions from other places. Does universal health care in Europe really work? According to the Danish people, yes it works wonderfully. Does legalizing marijuana really reduce crime? Just ask the Dutch. Is America the only country struggling with immigration? No, just look at England, France, and Germany. Can we learn from their solutions? Yes. And they can also learn from us. There is no anti-Americanism here.

 

Steves also challenges Americans to look at the effect their country has had on the rest of the world. During three trips to El Salvador, over the course of almost twenty years, Rick Steves saw the effects of the brutal civil war fought between the leftist FMLN forces and the America-backed, right-wing ARENA party and their infamous death squads. The leftist rebels were seeking economic equality, something that went against American corporate interests. Today, the defeated poor of El Salvador still revere the memory of Archbishop Oscar Romero, a Catholic priest who advocated freedom and justice, and who was gunned down in front of his congregation. Although this chapter depressed me and made me feel shame for my country's leaders, it still didn't feel unpatriotic, something that many of Steves' critics have accused him of being. Acknowledging that your country has made grave mistakes and that those in power often have different priorities than the average American, is not hating your country. Throughout this book, Rick Steves strives only for understanding and peace.

 

This is accomplished not only in war-torn El Salvador, but even in Iran, that great "axis of evil", as named by our rather thoughtless former president. Probably the most surprising fact about the people of Iran is that they don't hate America. Yes, our governments do not agree on many things, and most Westerners find the rhetoric of the president of Iran to be, at best, horrific (such as denying the Holocaust, wishing for the elimination of Israel, etc.). But the people of Iran live lives surprisingly similar to ours.

 

There are many lessons to be learned throughout this book. At the outset, Steves makes clear that he is writing from his own perspective, and he stays true to this through each issue he examines. But even if you disagree with his views, you can still learn how to "travel as a political act", how to travel with an open mind, ready to learn from those whose lives are different, who tolerate different things, and who value different things, and how to bring those lessons home with you.

 

Rating: 9/10

[chesilbeach]

That sounds fantastic, Echo. I love travel writing, and I'm always on the lookout for something new - this one sounds like a book both me and my BF would enjoy, and I've added it to my wishlist.