Do Travel Writers Go to Hell describes the process of writing a travel book, including all the adventures and misfortunes that go along with the job. The author's story is sometimes saucy and has brazen confessions revealing that his adventures were less than “Lonely” Planet. The book gives an insight into the underpaid overworked world of travel writers, and exposes how the books travelers often regard as their "travel bibles" are often hastily researched and copied from other travel books.
Kohnstamm is very good at describing people and places. I loved his writing style (similar to Paul Theroux's), but the content of the book left me with 1) No desire to travel to South America and 2) No intention to ever rely on any travel book's advice again. Some of us may be shattered by revelations found in Do Travel Writers Go to Hell. This book could be a great, eye-opening experience for all travelers.