“Who Owns the World: The Surprising Truth about Every Piece of Land on the Planet”
Grand Central, $15.99
Learning who owns what around the world is an endlessly fascinating, if sensitive, subject. After all, who among us is not curious about our neighbors, even if they do live thousands of miles away? In “Who Owns the World,” Kevin Cahill and Rob McMahon wade through a mass of statistics to reveal the details of land ownership. The numbers are downright startling. Of the world’s 6,602,000,000 people, for example, only 15 percent own any of its 36,933,896,500 acres. Two of the largest landowners in the United States are the federal government (not a surprise) and a private individual, media magnate Ted Turner. But the absolutely largest individual landowner on the planet is Queen Elizabeth: the British queen owns an astounding 6,698,146,531 acres. By comparison, the next person on the list, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, owns a measly 580,000,000 acres, followed by the current pope at 177,000,000.
“Hide This French Book Xtreme”
Apa Publications, $12.99
There has been a trend in recent years for language newbies to approach a strange tongue not by learning standard usage but by mastering the nuances of slang and idiom: in other words, to appear cool when struggling mightily. Hence, this “extreme” version of the French language will be useful to even those folk who failed, or barely passed, French class in high school. It has examples of ordinary conversations, plenty of slang words and phrases as well as risque expressions and entertaining quizzes. There also are tips about texting in French (leave out the accented letters) as well as chapters on love and dating, the Internet, style, health, going green, pop culture and bad language (useful when you want to know, for example, if you have been insulted). But, as the editors maintain, it is always good form to greet the French with a “parlez-vous anglais?” (Rather than assuming they speak English). It will make a world of difference.
“Dubai Encounter”
Lonely Planet, $12.99
It is probably fair to say that Dubai is unlike any other place in the Middle East. Multicultural and materialistic to a fault, it appeals to visitors who are attracted to its triple threat of sun, sand and entertainment, even in an economic downturn. Author Olivia Pozzan describes what to see and where to shop, eat, drink and play in the city-state’s various neighborhoods. In recent years, Dubai also has become known for its eye-grabbing architecture and none more famous than the iconic and sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, or Arabian Tower, which stands on its own artificial island. Described are clubs, gourmet restaurants, cheap eats, beaches, museums and galleries, desert landscapes and spas. In addition, the author mentions such essential Dubai experiences as sheesha cafes where the scent of flavored tobacco in a relaxing atmosphere attracts visitors and locals alike; and souqs, the chaotic yet colorful marketplaces that sell everything from Arabian perfume to traditional kandouras (robes).
“Samoa & Tonga”
Lonely Planet, $16.99
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The Samoan islands are divided into two political entities: Samoa and American Samoa: Samoa’s two main islands are Upolu and Savai’i; American Samoa consists of a series of islands, including Tutuila (the familiar Pago Pago is here) and the Manu’a Islands (Ofu and Olosega and Ta’u). The latter part of the guide is devoted to Tonga, which consists of 171 islands and has a population of 100,000. Literary visitors will appreciate a visit to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum (the peripatetic Stevenson spent his last four years in Samoa). He is buried in a Victorian tomb at the top of Mount Vaea, which offers views of the small city of Apia. On Sept. 29, 2009, an earthquake measuring 8.3 on the Richter scale struck Samoa. The subsequent tsunami killed more than 180 in Samoa, American Samoa and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu; the rest of Samoa was unaffected. For more information, see lonelyplanet.com/samoa.
“Frommer’s London 2010”
Frommer’s/Wiley, $19.99
London is no longer what it used to be. Depending on your point of view, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. The authors insist that contemporary London is less English and more international. “It’s becoming easier to find a cafe au lait and a croissant than a scone and a cup of tea,” they write. But traditionalists need not fret. They can still dine at Rules, for example. Established as an oyster bar in 1798, it is one of the oldest restaurants in London and may well be the oldest. Here you can still savor an old-fashioned sweet (such as treacle sponge). And, of course, traditional English pubs still can be found as well as authentic fish and chip shops. The guide also briefly describes the city’s various neighborhoods and the best places to stay (from the very expensive to the inexpensive). All the major attractions are here as well as plenty of quirky sites, from the egg-shaped, steel-and-glass and somewhat controversial City Hall to literary places (the various London homes of Virginia Woolf). And for those who truly want to experience London, the authors feature “the world’s greatest pub crawl,” a sampling of the best pubs from Belgravia to Trafalgar Square. Includes a foldout map.