{"product_id":"unlikely-destinations-the-lonely-planet-story-paperback","title":"Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eTony Wheeler\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eMaureen Wheeler\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFounders of the phenomenally successful publishing company Lonely Planet, Tony and Maureen Wheeler have produced travel guides to just about every corner of the globe. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eLonely Planet Publications was born in 1973 when the Wheelers self-published a quirky travel guide, \u003ci\u003eAcross Asia on the Cheap.\u003c\/i\u003e This was quickly followed by what soon became the backpackers' bible, \u003ci\u003eSouth-East Asia on a Shoestring.\u003c\/i\u003e Going boldly where no other travel publisher had ventured, they catered to a new generation of independent, budget-conscious travelers long before the advent of mass tourism. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eUnlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story\u003c\/i\u003e is a unique mix of autobiography, business history and travel book. It traces Tony and Maureen Wheeler's personal story as well as the often bumpy evolution of their travel guide business into the world's largest independent travel publishing company. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNot surprisingly, after thirty years in the business, the Wheelers have an unrivaled set of anecdotes which they share in \u003ci\u003eUnlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story.\u003c\/i\u003e They have been hassled by customs, cheated by accountants, let down by writers, banned in Malawi, berated for their Burma guide and had books pirated in Vietnam. Tony has been gored by a cow in Benares, declared dead around the world in an assortment of gruesome and greatly exaggerated accounts and their company has been accused of the \"Lonely Planetization\" of the world. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough it all, from the heady days of discovery in the '70s to the rocky patch after the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Wheelers' passion for the planet and traveling hasn't diminished and comes shining through in this enthralling travelogue. But above all, their memoir reveals the spirit of adventure that has made them, according to the \u003ci\u003eNew York Daily News, \u003c\/i\u003e \"the specialists in guiding weird folks to weird places.\"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the 30-plus years since \u003cb\u003eTony\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eMaureen Wheeler\u003c\/b\u003e started Lonely Planet Publications, it has grown to become the world's largest independent guidebook publisher with more than 500 titles in print. The Wheelers spend six months living in Melbourne, Australia and travel the world for the rest of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 7.8 x 5.2 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e May 15, 2007\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51757459407136,"sku":"9780794605230","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/b4a8f94d314afda36567c875cfed482f.webp?v=1780103440","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/unlikely-destinations-the-lonely-planet-story-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}