Name: Falling Off the Map
ISBN: 9780679746126

Pico Iyer

Describes the building of the world's biggest tourist hotel in tourist-free North Korea, the effects of inflation in Argentina, shortages in Cuba, and crime in Paraguay

Some Lonely Places of the World

Falling Off the Map

Nimish

One of the best things about this book, apart from Pico Iyer's exquisite descriptions, is the political context given behind every region. Be it the dictatorship of the Kim family in Hermit Kingdom North Korea or the bloody history of Paraguay and Vietnam or even the unrealistic expectations of the Argentine people in the midst of an economic crises. Sure the book was written in the early 90s and situations may have improved in these regions. But for a travel enthusiast, the contexts are what make this book. This is not your regular run of the mill travel book, none of Pico Iyers are. But despite the serious issues being discussed in the book, Iyer sprinkles the narrative with his sardonic sense of humour which punctuates the grave proceedings.

Falling Off the Map Some Lonely Places of the World