Book Review: 'Turn Right at Machu Picchu' by Mark Adams

✰✰✰ Follow author, Mark Adams, as he makes the transition from desk editor to adventurer or rather tourist to traveler. With an idea and an obsession with Hiram Bingham III’s “discovery” of Machu Picchu, the author embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. Eschewing the Inca Trail to retrace Bingham’s footsteps, Adams learns the hard way. 

Another trip was in store, this time to walk along the Inca Trail for a very different experience. While some of the mysteries of Machu Picchu may continue to elude us, Adams sheds light others. Whether you are an armchair travel or an extreme adventurer, this will appeal to adventurers and armchair travelers alike.

The Bottom Line: The author includes very detailed information, including the history of Peru and Hiram Bingham III. Thankfully the chapters are short. Black and white photos are included, and I enjoyed studying them. I don’t know if I’ll ever go to Machu Picchu myself, but Adams does bring up some intriguing ideas and includes some helpful tips. [If I do get there, I’ll be sure to wear two pairs of socks while hiking.] Recommended for history buffs, travelers, and people interested in archaeology.

Book Club Notes: We approached this book with anticipation; however, due to the unseasonably awesome weather here in Chicagoland, several in our group did not finish it :( Comments about the book included the writing was dry, and there was simply too much detail to take in. (It was a lot.) Yet, several people hope to visit Machu Picchu someday. The premise for the book was interesting, but it was too easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of it. On a scale of 1 - 5, this was our lowest rated book this year with a rating of 2.9. Yikes!

For discussion questions, check out the Literary Gathering site, which includes a “Holiday in Peru” menu to try.

To supplement the above questions, I wrote a few of my own. Book Clubs are welcome to use these for your discussion; however, please credit this site. (Thank you!)

Introduction:

Has anyone visited Peru? Machu Picchu? What were your impressions?

What’s the difference between travelers and tourists? How is travel today ticking things off [a list]?

How does the author describe Peruvian culture?

What is the political climate of Peru?

Bingham:

Who was Hiram Bingham III? What is he famous for? 

Discuss National Geographic. What role did it play in Bingham’s success/fame? And vice versa, what role did Bingham play in National Geographic’s success as a magazine?

Is it fair to say Bingham “discovered” Machu Picchu? Or was it never forgotten? If not, what was his contribution? p. 283 Do you feel his contribution is more or less important than the discovery? 

Discuss the agreement between Yale University and Peru? p. 208  Did Bingham discover the artifacts or purchase them? p. 244 Should the artifacts be returned? Discuss. 

Eliane Karp-Toledo likens Bingham to a grave robber? Do you agree or disagree? p. 211

Discuss Bingham’s change of careers from Professor/Explorer to Military/Aviation to Politician.

Discuss the Bingham/Indiana Jones connection.

How did Bingham get the last word at age 70? Why did he rewrite the accounts of what happened?

The Incan People & Civilization:

What are some of the highlights of Peruvian history?

Discuss Incan religion. 

What do you think the purpose of Machu Picchu was? What had it actually been? p. 242 Will we ever know for sure? 

What is significant about Peru’s architectural wonders? (Connect to environment & one another.) p. 197

Is Machu Picchu actually the Lost City of the Incas? p. 227

About the Author & Guides: 

What is your impression of the author? What inspired him to undertake this journey? 

Why did the author want to avoid the Inca Trail? p. 196

The author’s guide, John, says, “I didn’t like school. The educational system was flawed. They didn’t teach you how to live.” p. 88 Do you agree or disagree. Why? 

The author’s second guide, Efrain, said,” A lot of people don’t believe things they can’t read in a book…so many things can’t be found in books.” Do you agree or disagree? p. 270 

Miscellaneous: 

Who was Annie S. Peck? What is she famous for? Discuss the challenges of women travelers. p. 151 

How has social media changed travel? p. 296

Are there still places to be discovered? How has technology (Drones, Google maps, etc.) changed exploration or travel? 

How has travel to Machu Picchu changed in the years since the author visited & wrote this book? 

The author asks, “Considering how popular it’s become, is Machu Picchu still worth seeing at all? 

Discuss the writing style.

How did the photographs add to the text?

Ratings 1 - 5. And summarize why you liked or didn’t like the book.

[Please credit this site. Thank you!]

And last but not least, Adams references Rudyard Kipling’s poem, The Explorer, a couple of times. For those interested in reading the poem in its entirety, visit the Kipling Society website.    

Details: Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams. Paperback published by Dutton in 2012. 333 p. ISBN: 978-0-452-29798-2 

Book Review: 'A Walk in the Woods' by Bill Bryson

✰✰✰✰½ When bestselling author, Bill Bryson, got the bright idea to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail for a new book, it sounded simple. However, thru-hiking is not for the faint of heart; thru-hiking means walking 2,200 miles of the AT from start to end. The only person remotely interested in tagging along on this challenge was Bryson’s old high school classmate, Stephen Katz. 

After having parted ways decades earlier, the two friends couldn’t be more different. Bryson was married with children and a successful career, while Katz had spent time in jail and battled alcohol addiction. Although they got off to a rocky start, as the pair hiked together, Bryson’s journey to rediscover America became one of self-discovery and friendship, as well. Did they actually hike the AT? Well, that depends on who you ask. Check out this book and decide for yourself.

The Bottom Line: Together, Bryson and Katz, rediscover not only the America Bryson left behind so many years before, but a renewed friendship too. This travel memoir of perseverance, loyalty, patience, honesty, and respect is told in the author’s signature writing style with humor and an infusion of science, pop culture, history, keen observations, and personal experiences. At times I felt as if I was walking along the AT with them. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone who enjoys travelogues and humor with a sprinkle of fascinating facts and trivia. Also, highly recommended for hikers and nature lovers. (NOTE: Both the book and the movie have some strong language and sexual references.)

Book Club Notes: After a seven month hiatus, our group is glad to be back! We met virtually for the first time this month, and what book could be more perfect than A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson? Whether we watched the movie, read the book, or both, we enjoyed the humor and camaraderie of author and his friend as they attempted to hike the AT.

As a group we appreciated the book much more than the movie. The book contained a blend of humor, experience, and observation that kept us turning the pages. It was engaging, and we enjoyed the author's musings. The movie on the other hand, didn't fair so well. Although the movie was funny, there were scenes that were added just for drama. Nevertheless, the theme of perseverance was still present and the friendship between Bryson and Katz shined through. Both the book and the movie illustrate that you can dream at any age. We rated the book an average of 4.5 on a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest. The movie received a 2.75. [Note: The movie is rated R for language and some sexual references.]

Although we are new to having discussing books via Zoom, technology issues were minimal. Hopefully, as we become more familiar with this format, our discussions will seem more fluid and natural. This book was the perfect pick at the current time because many of us have been taking walks in the park or enjoying our backyards more during the pandemic. We highly recommend the book for anyone interested in nature, hiking, travel, and friendship.

We supplemented our discussion with the following: An article about the real life Stephen Katz, an article about what the movie gets wrong, and information from LitCharts.  Discussion questions can be found at the following sites: Litlovers, the Hunterdon County Library, and Tsundoku.

Details: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. Paperback published by Broadway Books in 1998. 274 p. ISBN: 978-0-7679-0252-6