Rating: 
Summary: A pleased reader
Review: If you find yourself having one of those ho-hum days, dreary days and are in need a quick pick-me-up, search out this book and buy it. Time flies when you are having fun! Lansky brings more than a chuckle or two; some of his escapades are downright sidespliting and hilarious. No one would ever dream the "running of the bulls" could be quite as Lansky tells it. My only regret is that he didn't take me with him, especially to the "gondola school." Just imagine travelling anywhere with this zany, outrageous man. He could certainly turn an ordinary adventure into a ride on the wild side. At least, by reading the book, you have the safety and comfort of home but the "pleasure of the trip" - great author, terrific off-beat book - don't miss it!
Rating: 
Summary: CERTAINLY ENTERTAINING!
Review: If you find yourself having one of those ho-hum days, dreary days and are in need a quick pick-me-up, search out this book and buy it. Time flies when you are having fun! Lansky brings more than a chuckle or two; some of his escapades are downright sidespliting and hilarious. No one would ever dream the "running of the bulls" could be quite as Lansky tells it. My only regret is that he didn't take me with him, especially to the "gondola school." Just imagine travelling anywhere with this zany, outrageous man. He could certainly turn an ordinary adventure into a ride on the wild side. At least, by reading the book, you have the safety and comfort of home but the "pleasure of the trip" - great author, terrific off-beat book - don't miss it!
Rating: 
Summary: Lansky ain't no Bryson
Review: Just finished Last Trout with no regrets, other than having bought it . It was mildly amusing producing six smiles and one chuckle. If you see it at a used book sale pick it up. Otherwise let it lie.
Rating:
Summary: Choose Travel Companions Carefully Or Wear a Wet Suit!
Review: No one gets his money's worth out of traveling as much as Doug Lansky does. He might be crazy, what with kickboxing in Thailand and hang-gliding in New Zealand, and while I don't want to fall off a gondola with him in Venice or ride in his rental car in Naples, I do enjoy reading about him. His humorous vignettes give a flavor of their writer's enthusiasm, curiosity, and life-zeal. This is wonderful reading for any traveller, arm-chair or otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: Funny Funny Stuff
Review: This is an entertaining and delightful read. Lansky has tried many things we have all wondered about -- and some we'd never dream of. From his 'tail' of running with the bulls in Spain to what sounds like the most grueling cross-country ski challenge ever, it is put together in a way that is mostly humorous, at times informative, and always surprising. I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Why do we torture ourselves?
Review: You know you are in for an hilarious treat when an author counsels his readers to read his book in "bite size" chunks, as the stories related are just about the right length for a trip to the bathroom.
In fact, nationally syndicated travel columnist Doug Lansky, author of Last Trout In Venice: The Far-Flung Escapades Of An Accidental Adventurer, even admits that he would be honoured if you decide to keep the book near the throne.Readers will immediately respond when Lansky gives us an overview of the various catchy slogans and photos used by travel boards.
The slogans, no matter how cliché and vague they may be, all seem to send out the same message: "Come and spend you money here."
As for photos of beach scenes, the author asks, have you ever wondered why they rarely show any people?
In fact, we are reminded that they often look unstepped on, the skies are always cloudless and the hotels are brand spanking new. Where are the tourists? Perhaps the hotels had to close due to violations of the fire code. Effective conveying of comical travel experiences requires keen observational skills, originality, and astuteness.
All of these elements are prevalent throughout the reading of Lansky's forty-six goofy essays as he gallivants around the world. The tale pertaining to Berlin's famous erotic Kit Kat Club is side splitting.
To gain entrance to the club, our author was required to put on some kind of an erotic costume. As he states, "I,m an erotic fantasy novice, or beginner, or whatever the correct terminology is for someone completely ignorant about the details of kinky behaviour-until Bill Clinton's impeachment trial."
We accompany the author to an alternative clothing and fetish shop called "Exciting."
If you have never been to one of these establishments, you surely are in for surprise!
You can just imagine the scene when Lansky asks the sales clerk if he can have the rubber shorts in his size without the synthetic genitalia! Reading Lansky's essays, you get the impression that there is no end to his shenanigans. He apparently is fascinated in trying anything from Summa wrestling, Swiss Yodeling, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, fly-fishing, and whatever else meets his fancy.
Did you know that hitting a ball in polo is like trying to play golf out of the window of your car while driving down the highway in rush-hour traffic? Why does he submit himself to such torture? Is it a learning experience or is he the slapstick comedian who will do anything for a laugh? This review was first published on the reviewer's own site
www.bookpleasures.com
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