The cumulative effect [of The Creative Spark] is really much bigger than a bunch of individual interviews. I feel filled up, not overfull, but satisfied and moved by all of these people and their collective experiences. It’s really a portrait of life writ large, with the compelling undercurrent that these ‘famous people’ are real people like the rest of us. These are people living their lives, pursuing what most profoundly interests them, and by doing so, marvelous stuff happens. It’s like alchemy; something magical occurs. Something real gets created and shared, and we’re all the better for it.  

Larry Habegger, executive editor, Travelers’ Tales

This book is meet people you’ll love who you never knew or thought you knew but didn’t.

James O’Reilly, publisher, Solas House

Shapiro’s descriptions of each writer were miniature masterpieces, I felt, every one, in part because each was so different and in every case you evoked the very special and unique atmosphere of Isabel Allende showering her kindness on everyone, Tim Cahill and his open heart, Jan Morris with her wry compassion, Eric and Wanda Newby twinkling together. I know a lot of the people you describe in the book, and I feel you highlighted what is special about them and informs their writing.

Pico Iyer, author of Sun After Dark

Whether it’s getting up at 4 a.m. to photograph the sunrise over Jerusalem, or prowling Waikiki Beach’s Halloween madness, Michael Shapiro goes beyond the ordinary in his travels — and his writing. He brings a passion to his topics, digging beyond the surface to find deeper meanings and connections. But always with a sense of fun. And in the end, he and his readers are wiser for the effort.

Larry Bleiberg, travel editor, Dallas Morning News

Hooray for Michael Shapiro, for bringing us these sweet insightful visits with the great creators of contemporary travel literature. These are the writers who gave so many of us our longing for the road, our passion for place, who informed our own wanderings. I always wondered about their lives, and it took Michael Shapiro to track them down, get them talking, and share with us their perspectives on our world. They’ve been everywhere on the bluegreen earth, and they’ve chosen the best places to make their homes.

Lynn Ferrin, former travel editor, Via magazine

Excellent online planning tips and resources.”

Rick Steves, author, Europe Through the Back Door

We’ve seen other books that have tried to pass themselves off as travel Web guides. The reason we haven’t mentioned any of them before now is that they were laundry lists. Ah, but this title truly is a guide. It does include the laundry list of sites, but first takes you by the mouse and, click by click, teaches you to use the Internet in general and to conduct travel research in particular…Open the book to almost any of its 280 pages, and you’ll see color pictures of actual travel Web pages…The whole is written in easy to understand English – not computerese – and divided by color-coded headlines and other attractive visual elements. 

Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2000

Michael Shapiro’s lyrical text paints a vivid picture of Guatemala and when combined with Kraig Lieb’s evocative photography the result is a stunning portrait of this Central American country. This book makes me want to jump on the next plane. 

Robert Holmes, National Geographic photographer