Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Lonely Planet (2005), Hardcover, 276 pages
Description
The new phenomenon of experimental tourism, developed by Joel Henry, founder of the Laboratory of Experimental Tourism, has turned the way we travel on its head.Humorous, engaging and practical, Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel encourages travellers to experience different ways of seeing and behaving, to be open to new experiences and to let chance be the guide.Part philosophy, part guide to a new way of travelling, this user-friendly, tongue-in-cheek manual-style book includes 60 practical experiments to follow-great for exploring new places or even for gaining a new perspective on your own city. Experimental Travel comes with helpful, funny illustrations and diagrams, blank pages for notes and protective plastic sleeves for use on the road."Sick of sightseeing? Tired of tour guides? Then why not try experimental tourism, a novel approach to travel that starts with a quirky concept and can lead anywhere from Bora Bora to a bus stop." -CNN.com… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member undeadgoat
This was a quite fascinating book, though I do admit I bought it based largely on the prettiness of its cover. It contains a description of the experimental travel "movement", originally French. Many "games" are outlined, from travelling to a location found by rolling a dice and counting in the
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index of a world atlas to wandering around one's own city based on arbitrary directions to trying to get large(ish) groups of strangers to do something cool. I found the tone occasionally pretentiously "arty", and I was glad that real people's experiences with the games had been included, to give a better sense of what's really possible. Because of the sort of a person I am, I will probably never undertake some of these; but several look like "fun things to do while bored", or even, "fun ideas to base a novel around". All in all, a fun read, and much more. Show Less
LibraryThing member Steve55
This is a book that might help you see the world in new ways.
If you’re not sure what Experimental Travel is, the book begins with a short description and a history. In brief Experimental Travel is described as a playful way of travelling, where the journey’s methodology is clear, but the
This may be an unfamiliar description of travel, and perhaps one which you struggle immediately to see the value in. However I think that the definition best describes the nature of our lives. We can’t know the destinations we will pass through, but we can control the way in which we travel. Thus the book is at first glance an interesting distraction from mundane travel by habit, and also provides insights that may be valuable at a much deeper level.
The body of the book comprises 40 such playful ways of taking a journey. Each is described by a hypothesis, apparatus required and the method supported by short introductory notes. These are sufficient for you to set off on a journey and have a go. In addition each of the 40 ways has what are described as Laboratory Results. In a nutshell these are reports of the experience of travellers who have followed the instructions.
The suggestions for experiments range from quite simple exercises, to those which would require a fair degree of preparation, Each invites you to see your world through new eyes by in some way switching your perspective. For example suggestion 18 ‘Expedition to K2’ invites you not to climb the Himalayan peak, but to see a new aspect of your home town by visiting and exploring map grid square K2. Suggestion 39 ’12 Travel’ invites you to travel noting the number 12. Catch bus number 12, get off at the 12th stop, walk across 12 junctions before examining building number 12, for example Or perhaps suggestion 15 ‘Dog’s Leg Travel’ If you don’t normally walk a dog, take one for a walk and be led by what interests the dog.
You get the idea. It’s simple, but as the Laboratory Results and your own experience will soon reveal, it’s a very powerful idea. Not convinced? Just try spending the next ten minutes walking around the room you are currently in, looking for every green object. I guarantee you’ll find far more than you expected and will learn something new about your room, a room you’ve probably seen many times, but never really seen.
This is a great book full of ideas that can make journeys a whole lot more interesting, even journeys you have to make every day, and the ideas will have an impact much more broadly on your outlook and the ways in which you see and see differently.
If you’re not sure what Experimental Travel is, the book begins with a short description and a history. In brief Experimental Travel is described as a playful way of travelling, where the journey’s methodology is clear, but the
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destination is unknown.This may be an unfamiliar description of travel, and perhaps one which you struggle immediately to see the value in. However I think that the definition best describes the nature of our lives. We can’t know the destinations we will pass through, but we can control the way in which we travel. Thus the book is at first glance an interesting distraction from mundane travel by habit, and also provides insights that may be valuable at a much deeper level.
The body of the book comprises 40 such playful ways of taking a journey. Each is described by a hypothesis, apparatus required and the method supported by short introductory notes. These are sufficient for you to set off on a journey and have a go. In addition each of the 40 ways has what are described as Laboratory Results. In a nutshell these are reports of the experience of travellers who have followed the instructions.
The suggestions for experiments range from quite simple exercises, to those which would require a fair degree of preparation, Each invites you to see your world through new eyes by in some way switching your perspective. For example suggestion 18 ‘Expedition to K2’ invites you not to climb the Himalayan peak, but to see a new aspect of your home town by visiting and exploring map grid square K2. Suggestion 39 ’12 Travel’ invites you to travel noting the number 12. Catch bus number 12, get off at the 12th stop, walk across 12 junctions before examining building number 12, for example Or perhaps suggestion 15 ‘Dog’s Leg Travel’ If you don’t normally walk a dog, take one for a walk and be led by what interests the dog.
You get the idea. It’s simple, but as the Laboratory Results and your own experience will soon reveal, it’s a very powerful idea. Not convinced? Just try spending the next ten minutes walking around the room you are currently in, looking for every green object. I guarantee you’ll find far more than you expected and will learn something new about your room, a room you’ve probably seen many times, but never really seen.
This is a great book full of ideas that can make journeys a whole lot more interesting, even journeys you have to make every day, and the ideas will have an impact much more broadly on your outlook and the ways in which you see and see differently.
Show Less
LibraryThing member melydia
This was a gift from my sister, with the note "Long live your sense of adventure!" It's a marvelous collection of travel games, from the simple (take the first left turn, then the first right turn, etc.) to the complex (a couple showing up separately at a foreign place and seeing if you can find
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each other) to the plain old bizarre (traveling while wearing a horse head mask). Each game is accompanied by a description of "laboratory results" (that is, someone who actually did it), most of which are beautiful and funny. One day I'll try some of these. If nothing else, it's a very entertaining read, and makes me want to explore. Show Less
LibraryThing member IrishHolger
Like this book but am in two minds about it as I am wondering how blase we must already be about traveling to foreign places when we need "experimental" ideas to make the journey more interesting. Still some good ideas to make you look at places (even right in front of your doorsteps) in a new
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light. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
"It's bonkers" said W. "You'll love it". And she was right.
Language
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
280 p.; 8.03 inches
ISBN
1741044502 / 9781741044508