Utopias Elsewhere: Journeys in a Vanishing World
soc sci Daniels, a British travel writer and psychiatrist, wanted "to experience the full flavor of Communist autocracy" before it became an endangered species. So in 1989 he visited Albania, North Korea, Romania, Vietnam, and Cuba. He coyly admits to being somewhat right of center politically, but insists that this bias does not influence his writing. However, his book is both patronizing and condescending. The reader will quickly tire of his cute jokes and ploys perpetrated on unsuspecting, innocent people. Most annoyingly, he quotes extensively from the writings of Marx and Lenin, among others; however, he never footnotes and rarely indicates the source of the citation, which is an easy way to quote out of context. Romania's revolution is mentioned in one sentence in a brief afterword. What could have been an insightful view into the remaining heart of Communism in 1989 turns out to be an early 1950s throwback to when "Commie pinkos" lurked behind every bush. Buy this only if you have patrons who are active in the John Birch Society.- Paula M. Zieselman, Library Consul tant, New YorkCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.