Now in full-color comesa witty and engaging look at Europe's history and art, from America's European travel guru. Rick Steves' Europe 101 helps you make the most of your sightseeing. A fun but informative guide, this "professor in your pocket" features chronologically organized chapters?from the pyramids to Picasso?that explain the forces behind Europe's most important cultural and artistic periods. Other features include handy lists of sights that allow you to link your newly acquired knowledge with the specific paintings, sculptures, and buildings you'll see on your trip, a humorous, readable style that is a joy to read compared with the history textbooks you slept on in school, and timelines, maps, drawings, and photos that illustrate Europe's story and round out your education.
Amazon.com Review This neat little book gives you enough practical knowledge of European art history to make your trip to the great museums and churches a lot more enjoyable. It connects yesterday's Europe with today's sights -- art, museums, buildings, and people. An essential tool for any traveler's backpack or suitcase.
A Great Book for a bit History and Art "sort-of-interested-person" November 17, 2008 This is a great book for.......as it said on the book "Europe History and Art 101." Nothing too heavy but very informative. It's really nice easy reading....
some of the jokes were funny at the beginning but not so much at the end because it's bit boring.... but, if you just like to have a easy read then I strongly recommend it. Enjoy~
Art and History of Europe October 16, 2008 This book is a great little tour guide to the art and history of Europe. The author -- Rick Steves -- a well known tour guide describes the art and history of Europe in plain language which is easy to read and understand. He does not waste words and gets right to the heart of the matter. He also tells you which museums have great collections and mentions specific works of art that he particularly likes or recommends. He does an excellent job putting the works of art into perspective. He describes European history in brief but informative sketches and focuses on the main events and memorable historical figures. This is all done with great brevity as is necessary for a short but comprehensive view of the many rich historical periods in Europe. This compact survey of the art and history of Europe is an invaluable resource.
What a great way to enhance your trip October 4, 2008 I last visited Europe 25 years ago on our honeymoon trip as a fresh graduate from art school. I have just returned from a month long trip to Europe with my family and while on the trip read Europe 101. The book completely enhanced the trip for me by providing the cultural and historical background for the art I was seeing. Yes - it covers several millennia of art and history in 500 pages, yes it is a survey but it is the best overview and survey I have read.
RS is very open in the book that this is an opinion piece and that it is NOT a scholarly work. However, it does a great job bringing to life and placing into a meaningful context what you are seeing. I often think that travellers (myself included) have a limited appreciation of what they see because it is viewed as old or older with no real connection to the history and culture of the times.
Highly recommended, fun to read, and take his modern opinions with a grain of salt and enjoy and learn.
A non-european eye on Europe September 30, 2008 As being European myself, I expected from this book an independent eye and a reorganizing mind to describe European history and art. I was not deceived. A real overview with the right accents on 525 pages. I especially liked the timelines about each historical period, and the organization of monuments attached to art historical periods. Humour is also present: like hard rock and heavy metal to indicate stone and metal ages of prehistory.
Great book July 13, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
A must have whether or not your travel to Europe. If you do indeed go, read it before and during your trip. Other books are available; however, this one works really well and covers a wide swath or history - and thus interests.
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