Download or read book Bordeaux the Pyrenees A Bicycle Your France Guidebook written by Walter Judson Moore and published by Walter Judson Moore Imprints. This book was released on 2013-09-21 with total page 105 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This guidebook spotlights routes around Bordeaux, the Garonne Canal and the Pyrénées in the southwest of France. There are 16 cycling routes mapped and profiled. The guide includes 53 thoughts on some villages, a canal, rivers, historical people and points of interest along the way. Included with each route is the latest method for listing Waypoints that locates its longitude and latitude in degrees, minutes and seconds (to the hundredth), and in digital format. Elevation data was acquired every 200 meters on each route for its profile. As with all other BICYCLE YOUR FRANCE guidebooks, this guide also offers a companion, QUEUE SHEETS, with just the Waypoint GPS located listings, route maps and elevation profile. You can handle any and all of these sixteen routes, from the highest paved road in the Pyrénées to the flat woods through the Médoc. It all depends on your lungs, thighs, patience and proper selection of grandparents.

Download or read book Bordeaux the Pyrenees Queue Sheets Route Directions written by Walter Judson Moore and published by Walter Judson Moore Imprints. This book was released on 2013-09-04 with total page 75 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This guidebook (with just the maps, waypoints and profiles) spotlights routes around Bordeaux, the Garonne Canal and the Pyrénées in the southwest of France. There are 16 cycling routes mapped and profiled. Included with each route is the latest method for listing Waypoints that locates its longitude and latitude in degrees, minutes and seconds (to the hundredth), and in digital format. Elevation data was acquired every 200 meters on each route’s profile. - The Queue Sheets and Guidebook are available in print and Kindle from Amazon. The iPad version is at the Apple iTunes site. - With each new guidebook I become more convinced that the best way to engage totally with a region is to bicycle it. Get out there you cycling pilgrims.

Download or read book South of France Queue Sheets A Bicycle Your France Guidebook written by Walter Judson Moore and published by Walter Judson Moore Imprints. This book was released on 2014-09-02 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is much to contemplate as you cycle through this area in the south-central part of France, not to mention the exceptional scenery. The stories and legends seem as endless as the rolling French roads decorated by countless villages. The architecture in these 5 departments is amazing. Examples are the Cité de Carcassonne and the Ste-Cécile Cathédrale in Albi. This guidebook focuses on 18 cycling routes around Carcassonne, Albi and Foix. There are 45 remarks on villages, a canal, rivers and points of interest. Included with each route is the latest method for listing Waypoints that locates its longitude and latitude in degrees, minutes and seconds, and in digital format. Basic data are included on selecting a community and a gîte, bringing your bike or renting, having a vehicle, driving in France, what to bring, and buying groceries. As with all other BICYCLE YOUR FRANCE guidebooks, this guide also offers a companion, QUEUE SHEETS, with just the Waypoint GPS located listings, route maps and elevation profiles. Details: 116 pages; 11” x 8.5”; English; 17 two-page and 1 single-page color route maps; 13 town maps and descriptive graphics; 159 color photographs. In addition to the print format, this guidebook and the Queue Sheets are available for Kindle devices and in the Adobe Digital Editions for Apple iPad devices. Route maps graphics and photographs are presented in two halves in 800x1260 pixels appropriate for the 7” and 8.9” Kindle Fire HD.

Download or read book South of France A Bicycle Your France Guidebook written by Walter Judson Moore and published by Walter Judson Moore Imprints. This book was released on 2014-09-02 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is much to contemplate as you cycle through this area in the south-central part of France, not to mention the exceptional scenery. The stories and legends seem as endless as the rolling French roads decorated by countless villages. The architecture in these 5 departments is amazing. Examples are the Cité de Carcassonne and the Ste-Cécile Cathédrale in Albi. This guidebook focuses on 18 cycling routes around Carcassonne, Albi and Foix. There are 51 remarks on villages, a canal, rivers and points of interest. Included with each route is the latest method for listing Waypoints that locates its longitude and latitude in degrees, minutes and seconds, and in digital format. Basic data are included on selecting a community and a gîte, bringing your bike or renting, having a vehicle, driving in France, what to bring, and buying groceries. As with all other BICYCLE YOUR FRANCE guidebooks, this guide also offers a companion, QUEUE SHEETS, with just the Waypoint GPS located listings, route maps and elevation profiles. Details: 114 pages; 11” x 8.5”; English; 17 two-page and 1 single-page color route maps; 19 town maps and descriptive graphics; 188 color photographs. In addition to the print format, this guidebook and the Queue Sheets are available for Kindle devices and in the Adobe Digital Editions for Apple iPad devices. Route maps graphics and photographs are presented in two halves in 800x1260 pixels appropriate for the 7” and 8.9” Kindle Fire HD.

Download or read book Burgundy Secrets Queue Sheets written by Walter Judson Moore and published by Walter Judson Moore Imprints. This book was released on 2016-05-08 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My second guidebook and friend, BICYCLE YOUR FRANCE: SECRET BURGUNDY, now has a facelift, all redrawn maps, waypoints with GPS data and renamed as BURGUNDY SECRETS. All sixteen of the original route maps are included, but now easier to understand and navigate. Elevation data was acquired every 200 meters on each route and new profiles drafted. All routes include discussions of a few villages, historical personalities and points of interest along the way. Included with each route is the latest method for listing Waypoints. Now each Waypoint locates longitude and latitude in degrees, minutes and seconds (to the hundredth), and in digital format. Cyclists with GPS-enabled smartphones may check each of the turn instructions while their companions either wait around or get on with the ride. As with all other BICYCLE YOUR FRANCE guidebooks, this guide also offers a companion publication, QUEUE SHEETS, with just the Waypoint listings (with GPS), route maps and elevation profile.

Download or read book Aquitaine Bordeaux Bayonne France s Basque Country written by Kelby Carr and published by Hunter Publishing, Inc. This book was released on 2009 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A thoroughly detailed guide to this region of France, with full information on where to stay, how to get around, the history & culture, sights to see, and what to do. Following are a few excerpts from the guide. Some of Europe''s most beautiful cities, stunning beaches and serene, vineyard-dotted countryside are in the Aquitaine region, yet it remains underrated and undiscovered by most tourists. Bordeaux, an epicenter for wonderful wine, is an amazingly vast and entertaining city that is constantly abuzz. To the south lies the enchanting Basque Country, a region crossing into Spain whose borders are not official, but whose people are vehemently (and sometimes violently) proud and independent. Much of the Aquitaine region is a national park. Along the Pyrenees and the Spanish border are several quaint mountain and seaside villages, such as St-Jean-Pied-au-Port and Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Saint-Jean-de-Luz, practically kissing the Spanish border, is one of the prettiest small cities in all of France. The Aquitaine is a place to indulge, be it in wine, fabulous food, relaxing spa therapies, ocean breezes or incredible shopping. The outdoor adventures here are one of the main attractions. The Basque Country attracts visitors from around the globe for its year-round surfing. The national park, spanning a massive stretch of Atlantic coast, beckons those interested in watersports. The Pyrenees to the south of the region offer splendid hiking and skiing opportunities. Tip: To see Aquitaine arts and crafts in the creation stage, and to buy great locally-made wares, make stops along the Route des M(r)tiers d''Arts (contact the Association pour la Promotion des M(r)tiers d''Art d''Aquitaine, tel. 33-05-57-22-57-36, 353 Boulevard du Pr(r)sident Wilson in Bordeaux, www.route- metiers-d-art-aquitaine.com). They have maps and a book on various artists in the region. Popular in France since the 1960s, thalassotherapy means sea-water cure. It was discovered by a Tour de France cyclist healed from his injuries by seawater in his Brittany home. Today, there are numerous thalassotherapy treatment centers in the Aquitaine. Treatments are catered to each visitor, and can be used to address any number of ailments. Or just go for the sake of relaxation, a noble cause indeed. A new trend has been combining spa treatments with vinotherapy, or wine treatments. What could possibly be more indulgent, or uniquely French? Additionally, many of these treatment centers have their own upscale accommodations and gourmet restaurants (although most allow for booking of just therapies without overnight stays). Bordeaux is an absolute paradise for shopaholics and wine aficionados. Easily one of France''s most beautiful and interesting cities, Bordeaux''s pedestrian shopping zone is constantly filled with tourists and locals alike. As a hub of the Bordeaux wine-producing region, there are numerous shops selling high-quality wines at low prices. There are many tours to the area''s grandiose wine choteaux for tastings in stunning settings. The city''s shopping options are vast, ranging from small malls to tiny locally-owned boutiques.

Download or read book Gascony the Pyrenees written by Dana Facaros & Michael Pauls with James Taylor and published by Bradt Travel Guides. This book was released on 2023-08-31 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Written by expert travel-writers with more than 40 titles to their name, Bradt’s Gascony & the Pyrenees is the only current English-language guide to the entirety of this fascinating, relatively under-visited and consequently affordable region of southwest France. Offering advice on where to stay and eat with what to do and see, this new guide provides everything you need for an enjoyable, fulfilling visit. In Gascony, everyone can find their own adventure. Surfers can ride Atlantic waves at Hossegor and Mimizan. Sun-seekers can loll on the Landes’ beaches, then stretch their legs by climbing Europe’s tallest sand dune, the Dune du Pilat. Hikers can trek high into the Pyrenees to gawp at majestic cirques, while those less energetic can go on a donkey-backl. Families can bike along numerous backways, while cycling buffs cheer on the professionals during the Pyrenees stage of the Tour de France. Activity enthusiasts aside, the region will delight anyone who craves a slower-paced holiday in beautiful natural landscapes. Culture buffs can linger in the coastal art havens of Collioure, Port- Vendres and Céret, or discover Palaeolithic cave art at Niaux and Le Mas-d’Azil. Pilgrims can follow the path to Lourdes. Fans of the bizarre can visit Salvador Dali’s ‘centre of the universe’ (Perpignan train station) or La Pourcailhade, the pig festival of Tri-sur-Baïse. Urbanites can enjoy the splendours of Perpignan, Bayonne, Biarritz and Auch, or take it down a notch at medieval Catalan villages. For quirky retail therapy, shopaholics can browse the espadrilles for which Mauléon is famed or the berets synonymous with Oloron-Sainte-Marie. Gourmets will delight in the quality of local cuisine, from cèpe mushrooms and poulet au pot to a flock of duck-based dishes. Cocooned within quiet, natural settings, yoga practitioners can calm mind and body with various wellness therapies. And whatever floats your boat, everyone can relax in some of the hundreds of personally recommended places to stay – from charming inns and spas to restored medieval stables, and even the astronomers’ dormitories at the Pic du Midi. All conveyed through the intimate expert insights that characterise Bradt’s Gascony & the Pyrenees.

Download or read book The French Pyrenees Rough Guides Snapshot France includes Pays Basque Pau Lourdes Parc National des Pyr n es and Perpignan written by Rough Guides and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-04-12 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this craggy mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive accounts of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ariège valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbières. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the most memorable possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to France. Full coverage: Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean-de-Luz, Parc National des Pyrénées, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, Vallée d'Aspe, Vallée d'Ossau, Gave de Pau, Cauterets, Gavarnie and its cirque, Barèges, Luchon, Vallée de l'Ariege, Montségur, Vallée de l'Aude, Cathar castles, Perpignan, The Têt valley (Equivalent printed page extent 102 pages).

Download or read book The Pyrenees Rough Guides Snapshot France written by Rough Guides and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-04-01 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guides Snapshot France: the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It leads you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ariège valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbières. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you make the most of your trip, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. The Rough Guides Snapshot France: the Pyrenees also covers Pau, Lourdes, the Vallée d'Aspe and Vallée d'Ossau, the Cirque de Gavarnie, the Comminges, the Val d'Ariège and Vallée de l'Aude, the Pays de Sault, Roussillon, Perpignan, the Côte Vermeille and the Vallée de Tech. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of the Rough Guide to France. The Rough Guides Snapshot France: the Pyrenees is equivalent to 84 printed pages.

Download or read book Lonely Planet France written by Lonely Planet and published by Lonely Planet. This book was released on 2017-03-01 with total page 1749 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet France is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Grab a cafe creme at a Parisian sidewalk cafe, take in glacial panoramas above Chamonix or explore the Champagne-soaked city of Reims; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of France and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's France Travel Guide: Full-colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, art, literature, cinema, music, architecture, politics, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, wine Free, convenient pull-out Paris map (included in print version), plus over 130 colour maps Covers Paris, Lille, Flanders, the Somme, Normandy, Brittany, Champagne, Alsace, Lorraine, the Loire Valley, Burgundy, Lyon, the French Alps, Basque Country, the Pyrenees, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Corsica and more eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet France, our most comprehensive guide to France, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for a guide focused on Paris? Check out Lonely Planet's Paris guide for a comprehensive look at all the city has to offer; or Pocket Paris, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. The world awaits! Lonely Planet guides have won the TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Award in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' -- Fairfax Media 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

Download or read book The Pyrenees Rough Guides Snapshot France includes Pays Basque Pau Lourdes Parc National des Pyr n es and Perpignan written by and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-05-23 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this craggy mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive accounts of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ariège valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbières. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the most memorable possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to France. Full coverage: Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean-de-Luz, Parc National des Pyrénées, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, Vallée d'Aspe, Vallée d'Ossau, Gave de Pau, Cauterets, Gavarnie and its cirque, Barèges, Luchon, Vallée de l'Ariege, Montségur, Vallée de l'Aude, Cathar castles, Perpignan, The Têt valley (Equivalent printed page extent 102 pages).Now available in ePub format.

Download or read book The French Pyrenees Rough Guides Snapshot France includes Pays Basque Pau Lourdes Parc National des Pyr n es and Perpignan written by Rough Guides Snapshot and published by Rough Guides UK. This book was released on 2012-04-12 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guide Snapshot to the Pyrenees is the ultimate travel guide to this craggy mountainous region, and also includes coverage of the beguiling Basque country. It guides you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive accounts of all the sights and attractions, from surfing big waves in Biarritz and inspecting pre-historic paintings in the Ari�ge valley to taking a trip on the charming Petit Train Jaune and exploring dramatic Cathar castles in the Corbi�res. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best caf�s, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you have the most memorable possible, whether passing through, staying for the weekend or longer. Also included is the Basics section from The Rough Guide to France, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the country, including transport, food, drink, costs, health and festivals. Also published as part of The Rough Guide to France. Full coverage: Bayonne, Biarritz, St Jean-de-Luz, Parc National des Pyr�n�es, Pau, Lourdes, Tarbes, Vall�e d'Aspe, Vall�e d'Ossau, Gave de Pau, Cauterets, Gavarnie and its cirque, Bar�ges, Luchon, Vall�e de l'Ariege, Monts�gur, Vall�e de l'Aude, Cathar castles, Perpignan, The T�t valley (Equivalent printed page extent 102 pages).

Download or read book Cycling the Canal de la Garonne written by Declan Lyons and published by Cicerone Press Limited. This book was released on 2019-01-16 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guidebook to cycling the Canal de la Garonne route from Bordeaux to Toulouse. Covering 290km (180 miles), this long-distance cycle across south-western France can be completed in 1 week and is suitable for both first-time and experienced long-distance cyclists. The route is described from north to south in 7 stages, each between 31 and 59km (19–37 miles) in length. A 135km (84 mile) excursion from Bordeaux to Lacanau on the Atlantic coast is described as well as optional side trips exploring the countryside and historical towns and villages, including Agen, Moissac, Marmande and Montauban. 1:100,000 maps and profiles included for each stage? Refreshment and accommodation information given Information on cycle shops with repair facilities along the route Advice on planning and preparation

Download or read book Northern Spain Barcelona Pamplona Andorra written by Kelby Carr and published by Hunter Publishing, Inc. This book was released on 2010-09-14 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors guide us through every corner of this fascinating region, where they have spent much of their time over many years. GaudiOCOs Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of the most unusual churches in the world, with its melting sand-castle appearance and odd bubble-shaped spires. Catalonia''s Costa Brava provides stunning views as the Mediterranean waves clash with the jagged coastline. The stretch of small resort cities along the Costa Brava, which means the Rugged Coast, feels like a world caressed by the heavens. Stand above the rocks and look down to the sweeping coastline, the sea stretching endlessly. Relax at a seaside bar, sipping cocktails. Hike the trails leading from the shore to the hills above. Unlike the tourist-swarmed French Riviera, the Costa Brava is intimate. It''s like discovering a well-guarded secret. There are several busy resort cities, but there are also many quiet and isolated beaches. Some of the prime beach cities include Roses, L''Escala and Blanes. Mountain-climbing destinations, ski resorts, spa villages, Gallo-Roman ruins and prehistoric cave paintings are abundant in the region. Catelonia is marked by breathtaking cliffs, expanses of beaches and the thriving, hip seaside city of Barcelona. In the Navarre region, men taunt large, dangerous animals for PamplonaOCOs annual Running of the Bulls. Andorra is its own little world, and not just because it''s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the size of Rhode Island). Nestled atop some of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees, the principality is filled with amazing architecture, surreal panoramic views and some of Europe''s finest skeeng resorts. Andorra attracts tourists for its duty-free shopping alone. Because many visitors are French and Spanish residents seeking bargains, there is a very authentic European flair to a vacation here on the one hand. On the other hand, the shopping deals can lend the principality''s capital, Andorra la Vella, an unfortunate bargain-basement ambiance. Catalan is the national language, but French and Spanish are widely spoken. This is an ideal destination for lovers of both the city and the great outdoors. Quite possibly one of the globe''s best adventure travel destinations, the capital city itself is also an urban oasis perched at an altitude of 3,300 feet."

Download or read book The Rough Guide to France written by David Abram and published by Rough Guides. This book was released on 2003 with total page 1354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From cosmopolitan Paris to the sunny Cote d'Azur, from historical Normandy to the rocky Pyrenes, this new edition updates the best of towns, attractions, and landscapes of every region. 100 maps. of color photos.

Download or read book The Rough Guide to Dordogne the Lot written by Jan Dodd and published by Rough Guides UK. This book was released on 2010-05-03 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Rough Guide to the Dordogne and the Lot is the ultimate handbook for discovering the region, from its spectacular limestone caves to the fairytale ch�teau of Najac. Discover walks and cycle trails to ancient cliffs and peaceful riverbanks, and stop off at world-famous vineyards. Foodies will enjoy a full-colour section on A taste of P�rigord, sharing the best of the region's world-renowned cuisine, while readers are directed to the finest restaurants and water-side caf�s, not to mention festivals and local markets. Whether you're looking for the best campsites or the most stylish hotels, you can rely on accommodation suggestions for every budget and taste. You'll find practical advice on travelling around the region, from boat tours to rail services, relying on the clearest maps of any guide. Explore all corners of this region with authoritative background information on everything from the region's varied landscapes and wildlife to its fascinating history and cultural heritage. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to the Dordogne and the Lot.

Download or read book Guide to Bordeaux written by Euprintpress Publishing and published by Boris Aleksandrov Todorov. This book was released on with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bible of Bordeaux includes all you need to prepare in advance and adore your city trip. It contains the most interesting sights, restaurants, shops and advises what to do when you are in Bordeaux as well as some useful information about its night life. Including valuable information and an in-depth advice, it is an essential reading for everyone!