Thomas Kohnstamm

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Thomas Kohnstamm
Born (1975-11-24) November 24, 1975 (age 45)
Seattle, Washington, United States
OccupationWriter, Video Producer
GenreNon-fiction, Fiction
Notable worksDo Travel Writers Go to Hell? Lake City

Thomas Kohnstamm (born (1975-11-24)November 24, 1975) is an American author from Seattle, Washington.

Fiction[]

Kohnstamm's novel Lake City was published by Counterpoint Press in January 2019. The dark comedy was called “a caustic satire on class privilege and deprivation” by The Seattle Times[1] and “hip, intrepid, and philosophical” by Publishers Weekly.[2]

Non-fiction[]

Kohnstamm's book Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?, a gonzo style memoir was published by Random House/Three Rivers Press in April 2008. The author drew criticism, and according to the author, death threats,[3] after he said in publicizing the book that he had performed a "desk update" of a guidebook - before later clarifying that he had only been commissioned to write the front-of-book (introduction, history, culture, etc) chapters and oversee the other writers.[4][5] He also called into question both the accuracy and the practices of his fellow travelguide writers.[6]

Lonely Planet's publisher Piers Pickard defended their rate of pay, and the accuracy of their work.[5][7] Other guidebook writers defended some of Kohnstamm's claims, contrasting with those of Pickard who had first claimed "no freebies — period", before then admitting freebies could be taken under some circumstances.

The book received positive reviews. The New York Times observed "were I his editor, I’d want his blood",[8] but also admitted "As a reader...I could not get enough of the most depraved travel book of the year". Another review praised Kohnstamm's "spirited prose".[9]

Notes[]

  1. ^ https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/in-lake-city-a-neer-do-well-narrator-prowls-seattles-back-streets/ The Seattle Times
  2. ^ https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-64009-142-9 Publishers Weekly
  3. ^ KC Summers and Thomas Kohstamm (April 29, 2008). "Can You Trust your Travel Guidebook?". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Frank Bures (April 14, 2008). "Thomas Kohnstamm's Lonely Planet: The Firestorm Around 'Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?'". World Hum.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Peter Munro (May 4, 2008). "A guide delusion makes it Lonely at the top". The Age.
  6. ^ Tim Shipman (April 14, 2008). "A travel writer on a not so lonely planet". The Daily Telegraph.
  7. ^ Lonely Planet. "Thomas Kohnstamm and our guidebooks". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/travel/04armchair.html
  9. ^ Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2008). "Starred Review - Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?". Kirkus Reviews.

External links[]

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