From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Kohnstamm is an American author, and travel writer who worked previously for Lonely Planet.[1][2][3]
Kohnstamm's travel writing mainly covers Latin America and
the Caribbean.[4] [5]
In addition to Lonely Planet, he has worked for various magazines
and newspapers. Kohnstamm is a graduate of both Stanford
University and Bowdoin College, holds an MA in Latin American Studies and speaks both
Spanish and Portuguese.[6][7]
Books
Kohnstamm’s book Do Travel Writers Go to
Hell?, a gonzo style memoir
was published by Random House/Three Rivers Press in April
2008.
Controversy
Kohnstamm came to general public attention prior to the release
of Do Travel Writers Go to
Hell?. The author drew criticism, and allegedly death
threats[8], after
he was quoted as admitting to performing a "desk update" for a
guidebook to Colombia.[9][10]
He stated in the interview that "They didn't pay me enough to go
(to) Colombia. I wrote the book in San Francisco. I got the
information from a chick I was dating - an intern in the Colombian
Consulate." A quote was also taken from his book that said "...what
I can’t plagiarize, I can always make up," calling into question
both the accuracy and the practices of Lonely Planet, and fellow
travel writers.[11]
Subsequently Kohnstamm claimed the situation had been "blown way
out of proportion."[10][9] and
agreed his "regrettable" and "unfortunate choice of words" about
Colombia had come off as "flippant", but were part of a larger
interview and digression.[9] He
argued that the "...what I can’t plagiarize, I can always make up,"
quote lifted from the book had been intended as "to be humorous"
when taken in context.[9]
Lonely Planet immediately responded to the furor: Regarding
Kohnstamm's claim to have written for the Colombia guide without
having revisited the country, Lonely Planet clarified that he had
only been commissioned to write the introduction and history
chapters (although an anonymous Wikipedia contributor from
Kohnstamm's home town quickly clarified that he also contributed to
the culture, food & drink and environment sections) for that
book, stating "when he was commissioned it was understood that he
wouldn't be going to the destination"[12]
something Kohnstamm confirmed and "stressed" in later
interviews.[13][9].
Further, spokesman Piers Pickard defending their rate of pay, and
the accuracy of their work.[5][10].
Other writers defended Kohnstamm's claims in regards to the
behaviour of those in the industry, contrasting with those of
Pickard who claimed "no freebies — period", before admitting that
they could be taken when "obtained through a tourist office", but
not in "exchange for positive content".[10]
Pickard also admitted to the practice of completing guides from a
desk, but only in "cases where writers cannot travel to dangerous
areas" or the scope of the project, suggesting "We can't cover the
whole of the Australian outback. That's like imagining our authors
sleep in every single hotel".[10].
Lonely Planet, through editor Christopher Ward, re-assured their
readers that there were "only the kind of minor inaccuracies we
would normally expect of guidebook text that was coming up to its
review date".[5]
Whilst criticism of the author was prevalent with one observing
"were I his editor, I’d want his blood"[14],
reviews of the actual book were often supportive, with the same
reviewer stating "As a reader...I could not get enough of the most
depraved travel book of the year". Others praised Kohnstamm's
"spirited prose". [15]
Notes
- ^
Carlin Romano (April 27, 2008). "You'll never look at a
travel book the same again". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/entertainment/books/20080427_You_ll_never_look_at_a_travel_book_the_same_again.html.
- ^
Richard Woodward (May 4, 2008). "Armchair Traveler".
New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/travel/04armchair.html?scp=1&sq=kohnstamm&st=nyt. Retrieved
2008-08-05.
- ^
Joshua Bernstein (September 16, 2008).
"Are these the dumbest travel
trends?". Forbes
Traveler. http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24353551-5013414,00.html.
- ^
Thomas Kohnstamm (April 21, 2008). "Hot Beaches of Central
America". Forbes
Traveler. http://www.forbestraveler.com/islands-beaches/central-americas-hottest-beaches-story.html.
- ^ a
b
c
Lonely Planet. "Thomas Kohnstamm and our
guidebooks". Lonely Planet. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/thomas_kohnstamm.cfm.
- ^
Thomas Kohnstamm, Thomas Kohnstamm Bio from
official website www.thomaskohnstamm.com
- ^ Random House Catalogue for
Thomas Kohnstamm www.randomhouse.com
- ^
KC Summers and Thomas Kohstamm (April
29, 2008). "Can You Trust your Travel
Guidebook?". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/04/25/DI2008042502737_pf.html.
- ^ a
b
c
d
e
Frank Bures (April 14, 2008). "Thomas Kohnstamm’s Lonely
Planet: The Firestorm Around ‘Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?’".
World Hum. http://www.worldhum.com/qanda/item/thomas_kohnstamm_the_firestorm_around_do_travel_writers_go_to_hell_20080414/.
- ^ a
b
c
d
e
Peter Munro (May 4, 2008). "A guide delusion makes it
Lonely at the top". The
Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/guide-delusion/2008/05/03/1209235234265.html.
- ^
Tim Shipman (April 14, 2008). "A travel writer on a not so
lonely planet". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1584987/A-travel-writer-on-a-not-so-lonely-planet.html.
- ^
Alexi Mostrous (April 14, 2008). "Lonely Planet writer, Thomas
Kohnstamm, claims he fabricated guidebook". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3742731.ece. Retrieved
2008-09-14.
- ^
David Appell (April 25, 2008). "Fluff, Loathing, and "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" in Travel Journalism". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-appell/fluff-loathing-and-dont-a_b_98658.html.
- ^
Richard Woodward (May 4, 2008). "Armchair Traveler".
New York Times. http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/travel/04armchair.html?scp=1&sq=kohnstamm&st=nyt. Retrieved
2008-08-05.
- ^
Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2008). "Starred Review - Do Travel
Writers Go to Hell?". Kirkus Reviews. http://www.kirkusreports.com/kirkusreviews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003702280.
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