Oh, Tim Ferriss, what have you done? At first we were convinced that this manifesto was some kind of revolutionary credo to packing all your job worries away and creating a life where work is minimal and prosperity abundant. After all, Ferriss has presented a blueprint for the 9 - 5 worker to chuck their job and join what he refers to as ‘the New Rich.’ He accomplishes this by creating an architecture that relies on finding products to sell (largely online) and building a system that is, if not self-operating, at least as close as you can get to it through outsourcing (YMII - Your Man in India), testing and automation. Once this system is set in place, you are now free to take a series of ‘mini-retirements’ and travel the world to your heart’s content. Trouble is, much of what he defines as the ‘New Rich (NR)’ involves living in other countries where bargains are plentiful and your US dollar buys you more. But what if your idea of rich does not involve spending six months in South America or Southeast Asia? And just how ‘rich’ are we talking here? Ferriss was able to use his system to make around $40,000 a month, and while for many that would certainly be comfortable, especially given the low work load, there are those for whom this would simply not be considered rich. Old or new. (Of course, that number should be growing for the author with the success of this book.) Satisfactory for some, but not a panecea for all. Excellent website. - Tim Devine

It is no secret that the travel business has been dramatically affected by the advent of online resources. Once reliant on travel agents for fact finding and itinerary planning, recent studies show that over 80 million American travelers now go to the internet to research, book or plan trips to their favorite destinations. That’s the good news. The downside is there is so much information online that it’s sometimes hard to know what you don’t know! Now, even that problem is solved with Ran Hock’s new release, ‘The Traveler’s Web.’ In it, Hock makes straight an often unwieldy array of travel information and options that can appear random and disparate. The book covers everything from transportation resources (plane, trains, automobiles, cruises, boats, barges, ferries, even canoes!), to hotels, guides, meals, resorts, parks, festivals, museums, attractions, exchange rates, insurance, maps, kids travel, senior travel, cybercafes and even a few websites dedicated to the subject of how to pack (have you ever heard of onebag.com?). It’s all intelligently organized and features a healthy array of screenshots to show just how functional the web can be in meeting even the smallest of a traveler’s needs. As with many web books, circumstances are constantly changing, so Hock has developed a companion website that has links and updates to all the information in the book. www.extremesearcher.com If summer travel is on your list, grab a copy of this 400 page complete resource well before you take off. - Tim Devine

There are plenty of wine travel books on the market, but what makes CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY special is several attributes. First, a coat pocket sized appearance with a hard cover lends itself to take along totes and easy consultation, especially the numerous maps and charts which display the latest wine country wineries, hotels, restaurants and more. Reviews of hundreds of wineries from 11 top regions throughout the state also lend to travelers who plan on going beyond the usual Napa/Sonoma Northern California regions. From suggested touring routes to winery web pages, phones, descriptions of wines and more, CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY is a top field guide not to be missed: a pick for any California visitor or resident who loves wine and travel. - Midwest Book Review