Don’t know if you’ve noticed, but over the last few years, Lonely Planet has seriously diversified it’s portfolio beyond guide books. I recently reviewed the superb Blue List 2007, and have been very much enjoying their newest New York City Guide, which came out in September. (I’ve only browsed it so far, but it is a SEROUS upgrade from their previous NYC edition). I plan to put it to use and review it in the near future.
But in the meantime, consider taking a look at The Lonely Planet Guide to the Middle of Nowhere. The good folks at LP have assembled 55 varieties of “nowhere”, broadening the concept to make nowhere a bit of a state of mind as well as place. The “nowheres” range from The Loneliest National Park in America (that is, Nevada’s Great Basin National Park) to the more obvious: i.e. the North Pole (a place where you can be “the only human being in an area 1 1/2 times the size of North America”) which appeals, I’m sure to the Ted Kazinski in everyone. The book is lavishly illustrated with photos and feels good to the touch, being hardback and perfect for the coffee table. The kind of book that friends will pick up and thumb through as they’re waiting for you to get ready, get dressed or do whatever you do wen people are waiting for you.