Russ Malkin's new book - Big Earth: 101 Amazing Adventures
 

Big Earth: 101 Amazing Adventures: Amazon.co.uk: Russ Malkin: Books

Just out but anyone read it yet?

The heavily BMW sponsored website is not just related to biking, not been through it but maybe some useful info/ideas in there though.

101 amazing journeys of the world

I guess we're supposed to have heard of Russ Malkin?

The goon who made a drama and crisis out of every normal everyday happening on the Long Way sagas - good at rolling and breaking 4x4 suspensions.

Yes, that's the fellow, think even my mother has heard of him

Does anyone else think the Amazon reviews read like they've been written by a PR person at the publishing company?

:innocent:

Tsk, Matt you cynic....but yes, bit too many glowing reviews on something that's only now getting plugged

I guess he's a UK phenom; in any event Amazon (US) has never heard of him or his book...

I bought a similar book (without a celebrity author) in the mid-nineties which I have to say was pretty cool--had everthing from white-water rafting the Zambezi to hot-air ballons to overlanding, etc. Thinking back, reading that book probably sparked my interest in overlanding, and thus in motorcycles.

Hes a motorsports movie maker who has hired to direct LWR, RTD, LWD and the By Any Means shows. It looks as if the book is a compilation of the 'mini adventures' found in these television shows.

An interesting idea, but I find it a bit cringeworthy. The website is quite good; sort of a 'how to' for motorcycle travelling (if your wanting a similar journey to that of E&C).

I guess it all ads to the commerical viability of 'adventure touring'......I wonder what Thomas Cook would make of all this doh

Yes Tony, thats the very guy, you have summed him up well..... 'A legend in his own lunchtime'!

:thumbup1:

For anyone looking for cool adventure travel ideas, I think that National Geographic Adventure magazine is really good, although now that I live overseas I haven't seen it in a while, not sure if it is still published.

Also, they were a bit heavy on the $400/night "ecolodges" and such, but in addition they feature some cool low-budget destinations.

Hmmmm...

I liked the LWR as it kept me in an overlanding frame of mind during the soooooo long saving period before our trip.

However that looks a bit cringey! But don't judge a book ......

I do find the "Customers Who Viewed This Item Also Viewed" listing quite telling...

You're not wrong matt! That's not even subtle!... All three reviews by LisaB, SarahD and the other one were all written on the same day too (probably right after the team marketing meeting!)

They really thinks it's important to get across that he really is an adventurer, and that he's part of Big Earth, LWD, LWR etc. Oh, what a glossy cover it has!.....

Or written by Russ Malkin and staff?

Oddly enough, the first two reviewers have only ever done one review ... i.e they registered on the day solely for the purpose of "reviewing" this book.

The 3rd reviewer actually has one other review ... a grand total of 2 reviews. The other review she did was also done (oddly enough) on the same day ... 14th April. I guess she decided to review one more book while she was logged on, having created an account for the sole purpose of "reviewing" this book. Hell, thats Russ Malkin's time she was spending doing that other "review".

LOL!
You and I have had many laughs about this goon.

Particularly as we travelled and met people who had actually been in the background of the 'heroic exploits'.

It's almost worth another book!

haha, here is the latest review, probably by someone on this site:

************
The above reviewers are frauds working for Russ, 16 April 2011 By ChrispySprite

Russ is an untalented and overrate carpetbegger who leeches off the coattails of Thingy who leeches off Ewen. The book is a sad reflection of pointless TV "adventures" dumbing down life. Don't touch this book with a bargepole.
*****************

LOL:rofl:
Not me - promise!:innocent:



The next move will be to flood public libraries with the book.
My local (UK) one has a row of 8 copies of Race to Dakar on the shelves - mostly never been borrowed.
No other book in the library has more than one copy. I hope the local authority did not buy them at our expense.

This is actually quite a good read if your a Dakar Rally fan

Interesting that you can rate the reviews. The negative one (above) gets 2 out of 2 people found it helpful, the positive reviews are not highly rated.

What a lovely mix of metaphors... Couldn't have writen it better myself :1eye::stuart:

Chrisp

Oh you naughty boy !:funmeteryes:

Russ strikes back
 

It seems Russ Malkin (or one of his 3 book-reviewing staff) must have complained to Amazon UK ... cause they have taken down the "4th review".

If the Malkin/RTW/Thingy publicity machine is sufficiently observant and powerful to be able to persuade Amazon to remove someones own review (albeit adverse), it speaks volumes of their self-perceived infallibility and self-assurance - or is it fear of their inability to field honest criticism.

They may be too pompus and conceited to respond here to us 'unwashed' on HUBB.
A pity, especially considering the fact that some other posters here might have actually done a little more - and learned some potentially embarrasing truths on the way!

I will happily review my opinion should the 'Messiahs of adventure travel' actually come down from on high and post a defence and correct any of the misconceptions that appear to be forming.

Maybe the reviewer concerned could also ask Amazon the reasons (and motivation) for the removal of his/her review. Surely Amazon support a mixed balance of opinions.
Or is it back to Waterstones and Zavvi?

Perhaps they removed the 4th review because it is not a review of the book but a critiicism of a bloke and his marketing strategy

There are some very bitter threads appearing on the Hubb these days

Edit - sorry not the Hubb specifically but travel orientated motorcycle websites generally

No doubt yes ... but Amazon obviously dont review every single review on every single book - that would be a waste of manpower. They only attend to it if the author raises a complaint about it with Amazon. Even then they would normally take weeks to get around to it.


I would suggest "cynical" is a much more accurate word than "bitter". Usually when I see HUBB cynicism, like in mocking the positive reviews on Russ' book, there is a pretty good reason for it. Those reviews were quite frankly comical.

Chrispy has posted a new review 20 minutes ago:

quote

THE FOLLOWING REVIEW WAS POSTED ON 16 APRIL 2011. YESTERDAY IT WAS REMOVED. WHY? IS THIS SENSORSHIP OF HONEST OPINION ON A BOOK? OR IS IT BULLYBOY TACTICS BY RUSS MALKIN'S PUBLISHERS? IT LEAVES A VERY SOUR TASTE IN THE MOUTH THAT RUSS IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO COMMENT ON A REVIEW WITH A BALANCED RESPONSE?

MY ORIGINAL REVIEW RECEIVED 3 OUT OF 3 LIKES (AKA 100%). THE OTHER THREE IMHO FAKE REVIEWS RECEIVED EITHER 0% OR 16% LIKES...

QUOTE
The above reviewers are frauds working for Russ, 16 April 2011 By ChrispySprite

Russ is an untalented and overrate carpetbegger who leeches off the coattails of Thingy who leeches off Ewen. The book is a sad reflection of pointless TV "adventures" dumbing down life. Don't touch this book with a bargepole.
UNQUOTE

unquote

We'll see if it is allowed by Amazon to go live...

Chrispy has also emailed a complaint to Amazon. He will let this forum know if/when he receives a reply.



Chrispy is not bitter at all. He just finds it amusing that some random publisher's/Russ's mates/ flunkies/ Russ himself can post ott and sycophantic reviews, so would like to balance the playing field a little :thumbup1:.

Regards
Chrispy's Director of Communication

This thread is the most f:funmeteryes:n I've had on the HUBB in a while!!

I can't stop laughing. :rofl:

But one thing I don't get is aren't reviews meant to be for people that have actually read the book?

Not to defend Russ Mckfuddle and his publishers or Amazon but since no one else is adding this perspective (and I like to play the devil's advocat) I would just say that if Cripsy's review was just a dig and not a review from a reader then I think that Amazon is justified in removing/moderating the comment. However if Crispy did read the book then it is justified and shouldn't have been removed. The same goes for the earlier positive 'reviews' of course.

So which one was it Crispy? Dig or Book review?

:oops2: I think I just stirred up a can of worms... :biggrin3:

That's what I just said about 2 inches above you

Uh, helloooo?! Aren't book reviews supposed to be by people who buy the book, read it, and give it an objective review? I think if three reviews are obviously posted by the author and/or publisher, as seems to be the case this time, it is fair game to post whatever "reviews" you deem appropriate.

Or do you think its cool to just have the author, publisher, and their flunkies/minions post several dozen five star reviews? It is they who are subverting the review process, not Chrispy. I think further reviews are in order...

EDIT: I would like to add that when I lived in the US, I did most of my shopping on Amazon, and one reason was the reviews--they are very helpful, much more so than on most websites. So any attempt to corrupt them is inappropriate and highly undesirable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboCharger (Post 332899) So which one was it Crispy? Dig or Book review? :oops2: I think I just stirred up a can of worms... :biggrin3:

A bit of both...:smiliex:

Chrispy received this email reply from Amazon
====
Dear Mr Bright,

We encourage all feedback on the Amazon.co.uk website, both positive and negative.

However, it has come to our attention that your recent reviews of "Big Earth: 101 Amazing Adventures" does not comply with our customer reviews guidelines as:

It focused on the author and their intentions, rather than reviewing the item itself.

Your review couldn't be posted on Amazon.co.uk as written. I'd recommend submitting your review again, restricting your comments to the item.

Please take a look at our Review Guidelines for information about acceptable review content:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/guidelines/review-guidelines.html

We hope to see you again soon at amazon.co.uk website.

=====

So rather than saying that Russ has no talent and claiming credibility based on his connection to Thingy and Ewen, Chrispy has now written the following sanitised review. Let’s see if they publish that.

****
I find that Russ's ramblings are those of a man who has no talent as an author. Everything is a rehash of stuff you can find in the BBC book series "Unforgettable Places to See/Things to do Before You Die". Furthermore I find a majority of pictures that include the same person's face in various places/poses, rather than the place/people itself/themselves in its/their unspoilt beauty very annoying.
****


C

Chrispy has done his bit. Others may feel free give their balanced views. Over to you chaps and chapesses...

Viva LaSpriteStuff.com :donatello:

Although potentially a little harsh at times, best thread ever! I, too, laugh out loud regularly. Might actually have a look on Amazon to see what the fuss (or should that be Russ?) is about . . . . :whistling:

You think this is the BEST THREAD EVER ? WOW, SOOOOOOO funny, dude.
You laugh out loud? REGULARLY? AMAAAAAZING, dude.
Three pages of heroes reveiwing the reveiws? Not the book of course, none of them have read it.
I think.......well, never mind what I think. Just get out more you people.

OI!! You are dangerous when allowed free WiFi!

Step away from the net book and go and do some sightseeing!!

Hi Nick
All sightseen out for today. Back from the Italian winebar and Estonian Bierkeller... Thanks for all your help in Tallinn. Back to cheerful Yorkshire mañana.

cheers
C

Well i have never ever heard of Russ before til i read this post, still trying to not lol

No need to read the whole book to review it, an attempt should be enough.

"Constipated for 1 week, went to Tony P's library and grabbed one of the 8 copies of Rush's book hoping to reverse the indisposition scared by all the extreme adventure tales. Having read a couple of pages under strong dizyness, I ended up vomiting into my pants instead. After three weeks anally blocked and two weeks throwing up daily I am waiting for the softcover edition to carry it in the First-Aid-Kit we'll carry in our overland trip to India: should be very effective against food-poissoning , since a short reading would stop the most persistent/severe diarreha and would garantee a thorough stomach cleaning. Cannot recommend it as good reading, though. 1 star".