Hormones, Sex, and Society: The Science of Physicology (Human Evolution, Behavior, and Intelligence)

Book Description

Nyborg sets out to prove that classic ideas of the mind, learning, and memory must be re-examined through the lens of modern biology. Neuroscience and the biological and biomedical sciences have advanced far beyond the limits of 19th century neuroanatomy, and we now know that chemical neurotransmitters and circulating hormones act to alter electrical brain activity and structure. At the same time heredity is now recognized to be not as omnipotent as in the "Nature/Nurture" debate of the last century. Nyborg examines these issues, and he shows that recent research in the molecular and brain sciences makes it possible to develop alternative research programs that apply empirical, quantitative, natural science principles and methods in order to unravel intricate problems like human nature and society. He concludes this work with a new approach--Physicology--the study of physico-chemical processes behind body, brain, behavior, and society. This book will be of great interest to behavioral scientists, and all concerned with the impact of physico-chemical processes on the changes in ourselves and our societies.

Customer Reviews:

Some very depressing evidence & ideas presented here!.......2004-02-21

First off, a very interesting & well written book, even if it was very depressing. This book completely supports my suspicions about sex hormone level & intelligence, & makes it clear that a trade-off situation exists between the two. Ever since i had begun to take notice of the huge differences in physical type between the men & boys who performed exceedingly well, myself included, & those who performed exceedingly badly in intellectual matters( i.e. school) i became conviced that the differences had at least some major correlation with their owners respective achievements. What i noticed was that the brilliant, high acheiving, towering I.Q. male students were almost always of non-virile appearance, many of them, like me, having exceptionally unmasculine facial features on small, narrow shoulders & pencil-thin necks, & commonly looking somewhat older & more mature than the low acheiving, much more virile looking students. These differences are not the result of a lack of body-building or physical interest on these student's part, but a reflection of meaningful biological differences. There exists a trade-off between high virility & intellect, meaning that most of the very brightest among us have low male hormone levels, resulting in their characteristically androgynous appearance. Now, Nyborg's book offers no proof, but has enough solid evidence to support this hypothesis, as well as my own personal observations. I am also one of these very high acheivers i mention, with the typical unmasculine phenotype i have described, no doubt the result of my very low serum androgen levels(290 ng/dl). I have always desired to look very rugged & highly virile, but now i doubt that it's biologically possible considering the trade-off hypothesis proposed here with it's sufficient support. No wonder the faces of the great philosphers look so much more gentle & feminine than the faces i see at the local bodega. Too bad that a "distinguished" face cannot be a highly masculine one. Less masculinity=more intellect? Ever notice that slum dwellers are rarely lacking in high virility? Now, notice the huge physical & mental differences you observe between a group of corner thugs & a group of Mensa members. Shocking? Overall, the thought that high-virility cannot be possessed at once with high intellect is very depressing to me, at the very least. Yes, we all want better brains, but at what price? The incompatibility of braininess & virility i've personally observed, & now read about, is hardly a completely desireable & acceptable expense. But nature is not kind in this. I can tell you one thing, & that is that i hate being an androgynous male, regardless of my having a very high I.Q. Other men, though, may not mind this situation.

Book Description

Building on the strengths of the First Edition-its comparative approach, historical perspective, and sound pedagogy-the author has incorporated much new material. Notably, there is increased coverage of molecular and cellular approaches, a new chapter on stress, and a revised chapter that addresses affiliation as well as aggression. Moreover, Dr. Nelson includes recent discoveries such as the roles of leptin and orexin in ingestive behavior, and emphasizes the use of transgenic mouse models in understanding hormone-behavior interactions. Still, the text retains its accessibility for majors and non-majors alike.

An Introduction to Behavioral Endocrinology is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology, biology, or zoology.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Suvey of Behavioral Endocrinology!.......2007-07-31

I have been using this book for interest purposes. As an advanced undergraduate interested in behavioral neuroscience, I find this to be an excellent survey of this developing field.

The book is very readable with concise chapters. Its very broad in scope and includes many recent, key experiments which are fundamental to the field. It is interdisciplinary in approach with references to fields such as: social, evolutionary and physiological psychology.

It appears as though the author(s) have done well to bring this excellent text up to date with each edition. There are many fine, recent references. I am currently reviewing the third edition and have had an opportunity to glance at the previous editions in the library.

Overall, I recommend it highly to those interested in social, development and physiological psychology. If you are interested in neuroscience and biochemistry/endocrinology this is a very interesting approach to a fascinating discipline!

Good text, bad editing.......2007-07-08

This book does a good job as an introductory text that gives the student enough information and context to begin to explore the research literature. The author makes extensive use of in text citations, as is common in social science texts, and does not assume an extensive biology background, so the book is useful to students approaching animal behavior from either a social science or biological science perspective. In selected examples the author explains the details of the research that led to the conclusions presented in the book. An especially nice feature is the end of chapter 'Questions for Discussion' which encourage critical thought about the material rather than rote memorization.

My cheif complaint about the book is the poor editing. As an example, in chapter 2, the reader is referred to a table in appendix II - which does not exist. There are also several in text citations which do not have corresponding references in the back of the book and several duplicate references (which probably displaced the missing references). I think only a textbook geek like myself would even notice these oversights, much less mind them, but they keep me from giving five stars.

A Text Book, Really!.......2005-11-19

This is a true text book. It takes a very diffuicult subject matter and tries to help the reader learn about a topic that can be overwhelming. The book is well written, with good, real-world examples, but it still has very detailed information. Read it if you want to learn more about the endocrine system, and its hormones.

Very Confusing Book.......2004-12-14

I would not recomend this book. It was a required text for one of my classes, and it was terrible. I ended up reading only the first six chapters (instead of all 13) due to the way it was written. It is very easy to get confused due to the fact that the author continue to ramble on using complicated terminology. For readers with a lot of backround in endocrinology, biology and the structures of the brain, the book may be of some use - even though I have all of those backgrounds, I still found the book a terrible read due to all the rambling and repetition - very confusing book - you have to reread many of the paragraphs to figure out what he's talking about. For anyone just looking into the subject, don't bother with this book (try Life - The Science of Biology by Purves, Sadava, etc. for general biology or Animal Physiology by Randall, Burggren and French for a more advanced physiology text - both great books).

What a book!.......2000-04-07

This textbook is a delight. Well written, accessible, wonderfully wideranging and thoughtful. It's even funny.

Evolution of hormone-receptor systems: Proceedings of the UCLA symposium held in Squaw Valley, California, March 14-20, 1982 (UCLA symposia on molecular and cellular biology)

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Evolution of hormone-receptor systems: Proceedings of the UCLA symposium held in Squaw Valley, California, March 14-20, 1982 (UCLA symposia on molecular and cellular biology)

Manufacturer: A.R. Liss
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Physiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Herbs to hormones: The evolution of drugs and chemicals that revolutionized medicine; the memoirs of Charles L. Huisking

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Herbs to hormones: The evolution of drugs and chemicals that revolutionized medicine; the memoirs of Charles L. Huisking
Charles L Huisking
Manufacturer: Pequot Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Hormones * Evolution Uni
E J W Barrington
Manufacturer: Arnold
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0340052163

Hormones and evolution, by E.J.W. Barrington ([Modern biology])

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Hormones and evolution, by E.J.W. Barrington ([Modern biology])
E. J. W Barrington
Manufacturer: Robert E. Krieger
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007ISR3W

Average customer rating:

HORMONES AND EVOLUTION.
E. J. W. Barrington
Manufacturer: English Universities
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O8LT4E

Hormones, Adaptation and Evolution: International Symposium on Hormones and Evolution in Honor of Professor Hideshi Kobayashi, Juli 10 to 13, 1979, To

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Hormones, Adaptation and Evolution: International Symposium on Hormones and Evolution in Honor of Professor Hideshi Kobayashi, Juli 10 to 13, 1979, To

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Morphogenetic Hormones of Arthropods: Discoveries, Syntheses, Metabolism, Evolution, Modes of Action, and Techniques, Part 1 (Recent Advances in Com)

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Morphogenetic Hormones of Arthropods: Discoveries, Syntheses, Metabolism, Evolution, Modes of Action, and Techniques, Part 1 (Recent Advances in Com)

Manufacturer: Rutgers Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Genetics | Evolution | Science | Subjects | Books

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Vitamins and Hormones, Volume 63 (Vitamins and Hormones)

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Vitamins and Hormones, Volume 63 (Vitamins and Hormones)
Gerald, Ed. Litwack
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0127098631

Book Description

First published in 1943, Vitamins and Hormones is the longest-running serial published by Academic Press. In the early days of the Serial, the subjects of vitamins and hormones were quite distinct. The Editorial Board now reflects expertise in the field of hormone action, vitamin action, X-ray crystal structure, physiology, and enzyme mechanisms. Under the capable and qualified editorial leadership of Dr. Gerald Litwack, Vitamins and Hormones continues to publish cutting-edge reviews of interest to endocrinologists, biochemists, nutritionists, pharmacologists, cell biologists, and molecular biologists. Others interested in the structure and function of biologically active molecules like hormones and vitamins will, as always, turn to this series for comprehensive reviews by leading contributors to this and related disciplines.

Key Features
* Reviews on the most current topics in the field, including:
* Fertilization promoting peptide--a possible regulator of sperm function in vivo
* Cytokines and pituitary hormone secretion
* Mechanism of GnRH receptor signaling upon gonadotropin release and gene expression in pituitary gonadotrophs
* Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons
* LH pulses and the corpus luteum
* Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor
* The physiological role of the melancortin receptors
* The growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor

Book Description

Be dazzled by the golden domes of myriad Orthodox cathedrals, be awed by the monumental Stalinist architecture of Kyiv, be inspired by the breathtaking natural beauty of the Crimean peninsula. On the edge of Europe, Ukraine is a land of the unconventional and quirky, a unique mix of cosmopolitan and Soviet, and this insightful guide shows you how to make the most of it all.

• READ ALL ABOUT IT - Ukraine's colorful political events and fascinating history explained

• FIND ADVENTURE - ice fishing, mountain biking, caving and skiing are just some of the activities on offer

• REST EASY in rural homestays or refurbished Soviet hotels - reviews to suit every budget

• GET AROUND - 35 detailed maps include Cyrillic for easy navigation

• TALK THE TALK - our practical language guide helps you chat to the locals: budmo!

Customer Reviews:

Missing half of the country.......2007-06-01

I recently used this book on a 2 week trip to Ukraine, we spent most of our time in Eastern Ukraine and a few days in Kiev. The coverage of Eastern Ukraine is sparse, to say the least. Kharkov, for instance, is a huge city but there is very little coverage. The practical information that is presented is useful, however, I feel that it has a very negative connotation (watch out! this country is dangerous! kids will hate it!) and the author approaches it with more fear/caution than sense of adventure and exploration.

The historical/cultural information that is presented is interesting to read, and the author makes some great recommendations for future reading about Ukraine.

I'm glad that we had this book with us, but we found the Bradt guide much, much more detailed and useful for use while in Ukraine.

Ukraine travel guide.......2006-11-29

This little book is packed with information. I would say this book is essential if you know nothing about Ukraine, and very useful if you know some Ukrainian or Russian. Despite the fact that almost everyone in Ukraine speaks Russian, and in some areas they speak only Russian, all the sample translations in this book are in Ukrainian. It would be useful to have both Ukrainian and Russian translations in the book.

very helpful.......2006-08-19

I gave this book as a gift to a family member who was going to the Ukraine, and we found it to be very informative and useful.

Ukraine Travel Guide.......2006-03-03

This is a great book to learn part of the history of the Ukraine, what to see while you are there, what to be cautious of, and how to get around. Very informative. I really liked the section in the back with Ukraine/English translations. This book will travel with me as a ready reference while I am in the Ukraine!! This is the first Lonely Planet book I've purchased and I'm sure there will be more!

Not up to lonely planet standards.......2005-09-24

The lonely planet series has generally been wonderful. Every time I bought one, they were not only a fun read but were chalk full of info on things to see and do. The Ukraine book, however, seems very disappointing in comparison. For one, the book is very small for such a big country. The author only visits a number of selected cities and totally ignores whole sections of the country, especially in the east which has 5 pages for the entire section. Even within those cities she does visit, however, the sightseeing oppurtunities (according to her) appear very sparse, the accomodations listed are very limited, and there is very little information about day trips or things to see outside the city. Finally, the entire book is very politicized. It looks like she wrote the book during the Orange Revolution, and got caught up in the strong nationalistic and anti-russian feelings that accompanied it. Unfortunately, this also shows through in her writing.

So in general, this book is not good enough to go to Ukraine. There aren't many options available right now, but something better than this is definetly needed.

Average customer rating:

Word to the Wise
A Bargain - Purchase This Book First
WONDERFUL RESOURCE!
A great quick-guide to Ukrainian language and culture.
Gift for Friend

Ukrainian Phrasebook (Lonely Planet)
Marko Pavlyshyn
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740592379

Book Description

Wherever you go in Ukraine, you'll soon be mingling with the locals. Packed with phrases on everything from bargaining at rynok to hiking and eating out, this book will spice up your Ukrainian adventure. Order you borshch in the local language, navigate the bustling streets of cosmopolitan Kyiv or try your hand at ice fishing. Whether bathing in culture or the Black Sea, Ukraine will deliver!

get to know the local customs - a toast calls for downing your horilka in one gulp!
discover a world of words on traditional dance and folk music
experience the dazzling nightlife - talk your way into places-to-be
decipher Cyrillic script on train tickets, street signs and menus
learn the language with eay-to-use grammar and pronunciation

Customer Reviews:

Word to the Wise.......2003-08-18

I visited Kiev were they really only speak Russian. They do speak Ukranian but only in the area that is furthest away from the Russian border. Other than that the book was very good and I really enjoyed the tidbits of information in the book.

A Bargain - Purchase This Book First.......2001-09-12

This little book is terrific for anyone interested in the Ukrainian language. It has very good explanations of the alphabet and grammatical rules of Ukrainian. It also teaches MANY useful phrases and words for the traveler, and it gives phonetic pronunciations of every word and phrase (as well as the actual Cyrillic spelling).
I have a close friend in Ukraine who has told me that my pronunciation of the Ukrainian words (as they appear in this book) are perfect.
However, be certain of your purpose for using this book. If you want to learn to speak the Ukrainian language somewhat fluently, it will take a lot more than this book (but this book is an excellent starting point).
If you are simply planning to travel to one of the major Ukrainian cities (Kiev, Odessa, etc.) in the near future, you would probably be better off with the Russian version of this book instead of Ukrainian. Everybody in the major cities still speaks Russian as their primary language. Most of them understand Ukrainian, but Russian is still the first language for most people. I understand that this is slowly changing (universities, etc. are changing EVERYTHING over to Ukrainian). And if you plan to visit a small town in Ukraine, many of them speak ONLY Ukrainian. My suggestion is to get both the Ukrainian and the Russian versions, so you will be able to communicate clearly no matter where you are.

WONDERFUL RESOURCE!.......2000-10-10

My trip to Ukraine wouldn't have been the same without this wonderful little book. And Ukrainians were flattered that a foreigner tried speaking Ukrainian to them instead of Russian. It contains the phrases you need and easy to understand pronounciation guide. It really helped break the language barrier and I made new friends in a new country. The entire Lonely Planet series is the best among travel guides, and I've travelled a lot using various guides.

A great quick-guide to Ukrainian language and culture........2000-08-30

This pocket guide to Ukrainian was indispensible to me during my two week visit to this country. I carried it with me everywhere I went and consulted it almost constantly. In all that time it was always helpful and accurate. The only time it let me down was in drawing a distinction between a wild rabbit and a domestic one. Each word is given in the Ukrainian Cyrillic spelling and then in a phonetic transliteration with accented syllables in bold. Each section has an introductory piece that gives general background information. Useful phrases and sentences followed by a list of major relevant words complete each section. The end of the book has an English-Ukrainian vocabulary. A Ukrainian-English vocabulary would also have been useful, but would have repeated the vocabularies in each section. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Truly invaluable to the clueless traveler.

Gift for Friend.......2000-01-07

I bought this to give to a friend. However, at work I was working with some Ukrainian ladies who didn't speak English. I brought this in, and it was very useful.

Lonely Planet Russia, Ukraine & Belarus (Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, 2nd ed)

Average customer rating:

A good book, replaced by a newer edition.
You may have to pick this one, but it will not please you
Somewhat outdated and too broad in scope.
Out of date...
A Guide for the Other 17,000,000 Square Kilometers

Lonely Planet Russia, Ukraine & Belarus (Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, 2nd ed)
Richard Nebesky , John Noble , George Wesley , Nick Selby , and Deanna Swaney
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864427131

Book Description

This invaluable guide takes you beyond borsch, Bolsheviks and the Bolshoi to unveil cultural treasures, fast- moving cities, and vast, empty landscapes in a region that stretches halfway around the world.

124 detailed maps, including metro maps
special food & drink section - more than just vodka and caviar
tips on avoiding queues and beating bureaucracy
details on getting around, from Minsk to Moscow to Magadan
the latest on gallery-hopping in St Petersburg, lazing on a beach in Crimea and climbing volcanoes in the Russian Far East

Customer Reviews:

A good book, replaced by a newer edition........2004-01-06

This has been replaced by an updated edition (which eliminates Belarus). Search for 1740592654, or look under "Our Customers' Advice" above. It is still a great guide for your journey of Discovering Russia.

It is always best to get the most current guidebook, as attractions, hotels, restaurants and transportation options do often change--AND THEN VERIFY THAT INFORMATION!

Marc David Miller, Discovering Russia, New York

You may have to pick this one, but it will not please you.......2002-11-06

A good and usable guide to the entire Russia is still to be written. There are objective reasons for this - the country is huge, and 99% per cent of its territory has no hope of receiving meaningful numbers of tourists. Covering such an area adequately would be an incredibly difficult and expensive task; there is no travel publisher in the world at the moment willing to invest so much for so little expected in sales.

People who come to Russia mostly visit Moscow and St Petersburg, although a few also wander to the "Zolotoye Koltso" (Golden Ring) around Volga river - old cities of Vladimir, Suzdal or Uglich. If this is your case, the choice is easy: just pick one of the city guides (DK Eyewitness recommended - really the best, Fodor's Moscow and St Petersburg is also good, or try Rough Guide for less inspired but more exhaustive listings).

The question is - what to do if you go deeper into the country? Say, places in the Urals, or Russia's Far East? Well, you probably will have to dedicate a lot of effort to picking out nuggets of information from the Internet - preferably armed with some knowledge of the Russian language. Prepare your itinerary bit by bit, seek recommendations, write e-mails to people. It is time-consuming and requires effort, but you do not have a choice if you want to prepare for this trip properly.

Alternatively (an easy way, but not a good one) - buy this book, but make sure you have a pinch of salt on you. A spoonful of salt, rather. Or better make it a sack of salt. The shortcomings of this book have been noted by others: hopelessly outdated, inaccurate, poorly researched. There is a distinct feeling writers either did not visit some of the places they wrote about or spent very little time there. As for pricing information, you will be better off with a random number generator or a casino roulette than this book. I have never seen a guide where price information would be so disconnected from the reality.

There is also a matter of certain arrogance and disrespect to local culture, noted by one reviewer. Lonely Planet is famed for not pulling any punches and giving writers a lot of freedom to voice their opinions, but at times the feeling of writers' perceived cultural superiority is over the top.

So is this book worth buying at all? Well, maybe, if you don't mind carrying around something of very limited practical use. Luggage allowance permitting, you might as well have it - one out of five telephone numbers shown in the book might be still valid, some of the addresses may be accurate. Opening times? Here's rule of thumb: try between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, chances are, the place will be open. It may occasionally prove useful, for the absence of a better choice, but please do not have excessive expectations.

The same is true for Belarus - the country is no more welcoming to travellers than Libya or Sudan, nosy travellers risk imprisonment and serious travel writing is practically non-existent. You can try using Lonely Planet, or you can get an excellent listings magazine Minsk In Your Pocket.

For Ukraine, choices are better. The country is relatively well-covered by general Eastern Europe guides, there is brilliant Hippocrene Language and Travel Guide to Ukraine (by Linda Hodges and George Chumak), or Ukraine Culture Shock by Meredith Dalton. Generally, you will find Ukraine friendlier to Westerners than Russia or Belarus and, most importantly, not preoccupied by desperate superpower ambitions and constant need to reassert its greatness.

I gave this Lonely Planet guide one star not only because you have to give it at least one star under Amazon system. The book deserves a star because it attempted to cover Russia, Ukraine and Belarus first. Commendable ambition, but sadly, the result is very poor. Maybe they will put together a better team next time, give it a bit more time and check their writing more meticulously.

Somewhat outdated and too broad in scope........2002-10-03

Any guide which tries to everextent itself by covering a too big an area will shortchange the reader, inspite of the best intensions. This is the case with this nitty-gritty Lonley Planet guide to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. I've found the information for Ukraine far less useful than in Linda Hodges' guide to Ukraine. Lonley Planet treats Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as if it still were part of the same country it was 11 years ago. All three countries have their unique pluses and minuses, and, lets face it, deserve their own individual guides. The reader is not being made aware enough and therefore does not really appreciate the fact that, for example, Russia and Ukraine are very different from one another, and any similarities are far less common than once assumed.What I liked best about the Lonley Planet guide,and the same is true for their other guides, are the details about the obscure and less-known hotels and restaurants.

Out of date..........2002-08-29

If you are planning only for staying in Moscow and St. Petersburg or want to travel with the Transibirian Train, don't use the book - there are better ones. This guidebook has it's strength certainly for the broad (and thus mostly not very deep) information and it is quite all right if you are travelling AROUND in Russia and visit also some of the smaller cities.

A fine thing I found out was the (sometimes a little too small) maps of nearly every town and the information about how to get to the place and how to leave it again.

On the other hand, the information about hotels' prices is VERY old and out of date completely. Expect to pay 2 to 4 times more than published in the book, Russia has get more expensive since the book has been written! So it is still better to check for hotels on the internet or to ask taxidrivers to lead you to a cheap one and if there's no place left, just go on with the same taxi to the next one. However if you don't care about paying sometimes around 60 Dollars or more a night then this doesn't matter anyway and the information about the hotels themselves is still right.

A Guide for the Other 17,000,000 Square Kilometers.......2002-03-23

So you have already seen the present and former capital, and now you would like to see the "real Russia", or you have adopted a child from Murmansk, or you are meeting a prospective bride from Magadan (don't laugh--whenever I answer questions from people who are traveling to regions outside of Moscow/St. Petersburg, 80% are going for adoption or marriage!). There are almost no current guidebooks to regions such as Perm, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Volgograd, Crimea, Minsk, and the Far East. The 'Lonely Planet Russia, Ukraine & Belarus (Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, 2Nded)' has the largest area coverage of any guide currently published in English.

It is also ideal for those taking a river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The coverage of the famed Trans-Siberian route is ok, although I think the 'Trans-Siberian Handbook' and 'Siberian Bam Guide : Rail, Rivers & Road' do a better job for those particular regions.

The Moscow/St. Petersburg sections are ok as well, although I think anyone spending more than a few days in each of those cities should look into guides that cover only those cities.

Restaurant, hotel and travel information are good, although could use more details. The history sections are adequate considering the scope of the book. Also, the twice-yearly updates at Lonely Planet's web site, although lacking in breadth and depth, provide some more timely information than what appears in the book.

Average customer rating:

Belarus, huh?

Don't be paranoid!

Big Russia

A Guide for the 17,000,000 square kilometers of Russia

Lonely Planet Russia & Belarus, Third Edition
Richmond Simon , Mark Elliott , Patrick Horton , Steve Kokker , Baty Landis , Wendy Taylor , and Mara Vorhees
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Russian: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Moscow (Lonely Planet City Guides)

Trans-Siberian Railway (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

Trans-Siberian Handbook: Seventh Edition of the Guide to the World's Longest Railway Journey (Trailblazer Guides)

Ukraine (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

ASIN: 1740592654

Book Description

Cosmopolitan cities, bubbling volcanoes, spectacular mountains and breathtaking art - Russia is as diverse as it is dramatic, while Belarus satisfies those in search of a Soviet experience. Untangle the conspiracy theories and immerse yourself in the rich heritage - from Minsk to Moscow, Siberia to Kamchatka, make sure you're carrying this best-selling guide to the world's most enigmatic destination.

CULTURAL CONTEXT - in-depth background information brings you up to date on Belarusian politics and Tuvan throat-singing

DISCERNING REVIEWS - hand-picked listings from our team of expert authors reveal Moscow's swankiest clubs and Siberia's finest adventure tours

140+ MAPS - detailed, grid-referenced maps throughout

COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE CHAPTER - includes Cyrillic script

Customer Reviews:

Belarus, huh?.......2006-10-15

What to say about Belarus? Well, we spent the day the White Russkis commemmorate the end of WWII there, so I've seen it in all of its "grandeur". Not much to recommend it, go and see Belarus if you missed out on the post WWII East European dictatorships, because Belarus is the last of its kind. A genuine personality cult around the president runs politics, and you can get a feel for what it was like in 1970's E. Europe. Guess what- you will not like it. Take some pics of Minsk & move on to Moscow. And if you can find a decent hotel in Minsk, you've done better than my wife and I did.

Don't be paranoid!.......2006-10-04

There is a wealth of information in this book but some of the information is way off. For example the restaurant Lechaim is said to be "excellent" and the cooking is "served in hearty portions". I got a small portion of fish, two soups and salad for an outrageous price of $50. LP warns that prices change but the book is only a few months old. Also the authors are overly sensitive about fitting in by suggesting that you use a plastic bag like the locals instead of a backpack to carry your things. First of all what is wrong with looking like a foreigner? Are they suggesting that Russians don't like foreigners? Anyway many locals use back packs. I also didn't get stopped by police outside the Moscow railway station. The book sanctions some level of paranoia possibly to protect themselves. Maps are accurate and so are many of the museum schedules. I would suggest trying some of the restaurants not mentioned in the book. You can find some good food that way.

Big Russia.......2005-08-19

The only problem with this book is that if you're planning to travel just to an area of Russia, you won't need as much information of others. Russia is huge so the place you're travelling to, probably just will have a couple of paragraphs....

A Guide for the 17,000,000 square kilometers of Russia.......2004-01-06

So you have already seen the present (Moscow) and former (St. Petersburg) capital, and now you would like to see the "real Russia", or you have an airplane conference to attend in Kazan, or you have adopted a child from Murmansk, or you are meeting a prospective bride from Magadan (don't laugh--whenever I answer questions from people who are traveling to regions outside of Moscow/St. Petersburg, 80% are going for adoption or marriage!). There are almost no current guidebooks to regions such as Perm, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Volgograd, Crimea, Minsk, and the Far East. The 'Lonely Planet Russia and Ukraine' has the largest area coverage of any guide currently published in English.

It is also ideal for those taking a river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The coverage of the famed Trans-Siberian route is ok, although I think the 'Trans-Siberian Handbook' and 'Siberian Bam Guide : Rail, Rivers & Road' do a better job for those particular regions.

The Moscow/St. Petersburg sections are ok as well, although anyone spending more than a few days in each of those cities should look into guides that cover only those cities.

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

This useful guide will help you navigate post-Soviet bureaucracy as you explore the wide-ranging opportunities of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Inside you'll find what to eat and where to get it; up-to-date maps featuring place names and map keys in Roman and Cyrillic script; well-researched background on Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusan language, history, arts, and culture; plus a practical section for riding the rails of the Trans-Siberian Railway. --Kathryn True

Book Description

163 Maps

Customer Reviews:

Very outdated and biased book.......2001-10-02

I'm glad this book is not sold anymore! When my mother-in-law (a NZer) read it and then came with us to visit Kiev, Lviv, Moscow and some small and mid-sized cities and towns, she said she read your book, but LUCKILY didn't find it to be true!!!

I think the author of the book needs to visit Ukraine and Russia soonish and re-write the book, or get some treatment for..., racism, cold war and a shield from what the media brings to your TV screens (everyone knows that only bad news and breakthroughs make news), so please use your brains!

I read the book after my mother-in-law's remarks and was sick in my stomach, for quite a while.

Don't go to Russia or even think about it without this book.......2000-03-14

I lived in Russia for a year and traveled extensively in European Russia and Siberia and this book never failed me. Although prices fluctuated, everything else was absolutely accurate and very thoroughly researched. The writers went to enormous lengths to write what is hands-down the best travel guide to Russia. The new edition is due out this April. Mine is already on order.

poor.......1999-11-19

I found this book fascinating. It was great the way the writer bought into consideration the fact that no-one wants to travel to the places in question. When reading this book be sure to enquire at your local travel agent for any misconseptions. great book. 5 star

Utter Bulloks.......1999-11-19

This book offers an interesting range of facts from russia, ukrane and belarus. The only problem is nobody in the Western World wants to go to any of these places as a result of the cold war. So that is why I give this book 1 star.

The best guide book on Russia.......1999-04-21

I'm an American living in Russia and travel extensively here because of my job. Despite wild currency changes and other idiosyncracies of this country, this book is amazingly accurate almost all of the time. Although it is short on photos, it is long history and practical advice. Don't come here without it -- especially if you're an independent traveller.

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