“Contains may superb color photographs that enhance Maxwell’s lively narrative.”

Library Journal

“… a beautiful and unmissable book about Scotland, its distilleries, and the whiskies they produce. The book was first published in 2001, and we should be grateful that it has returned to print in an updated edition. The late, great, Michael Jackson was, until his untimely death … the world’s best-selling author on whisky. … This book shows why Michael Jackson’s writing was, and remains, so widely admired. He is perhaps best known for definitive guides to whiskies: books in which the focus is very much on the bottles and their contents, with background information provided as appropriate about the distilleries in which the whiskies are produced.

Encounters of a Connoisseur turns this approach on its head. Chapter by chapter Michael Jackson progresses through individual areas of Scotland, or individual islands. The stories of the whiskies he encounters en route are told as the end point in stories that start with the place in which they are made before covering the distilleries and the factors that makes each distinct. The book is rounded off with an up-to-date directory of distilleries. Michael Jackson’s words are ably illustrated by the excellent photography of Harry Cory Wright which brings to life the landscape of Scotland and the settings of its distilleries in a variety of moods. The result is a beautiful and lyrical travelogue that leads the reader on a memorable journey around Scotland. It has never been a secret that Michael Jackson was a leading authority on whisky. What comes through in this book is his depth of knowledge about Scotland and, even more compellingly, his love for the country as well as for the products of its distilleries. This book is a fitting epitaph for an outstanding author.”

“Spectacular photography. This is a visual feast and fitting tribute to the world’s magnificent wild places.”

Wildlife Activist

“…the result is a delightful journey for the mind, and fine holiday gift, combining the joy of nature beauty and wonder of exotic geography.”

Woodland Hills Daily News [Los Angeles]

“The best, most balanced, authoritative and just plain excellent book on polar exploration that we’ve seen in years.”

“In one of his last books, Tibet, the Secret Continent, Peissel distilled the experience he had gained from his many Asian adventures, describing high-altitude flora and fauna; the history of Tibetans from the stone-age to the golden age of Tibetan Buddhism and the rise of the Dalai Lamas; the spiritual aspects of everyday life; and the exploration of Tibet from the early Portuguese missionaries to the 1904 military invasion of the British and the 1950 military annexation by China. He also recounted the destruction of Tibetan civilisation during the Cultural Revolution, as well as the recent reconstruction of monasteries and China’s relative relaxation on Tibetan religious and cultural practices.”

“Who better to take readers on a journey through Tibet than someone who has led 26 expeditions into its vast expanses and even dreams in Tibetan? Peissel is an experienced explorer with a passion for Tibet and the Himalayas, and this book is the culmination of four decades of enthrallment. A land divvied up by India, China, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan, Tibet holds the interest of many but the understanding of few; it’s truly a ‛world within a world,’ Peissel writes. In its text, the book shifts easily from mythology, to flora and fauna, to Peissel’s own adventure tales, to regional geopolitics, without breaking stride. But it’s the photos (also courtesy of the author) that truly bring the land alive, capturing its cliffside cave cities, its vibrant ceremonies and its countless unforgettable faces. The only portion of the book that isn’t exhaustive is its cursory discussion of Tibet’s brutal treatment under Chinese rule. For Peissel, whose love for Tibet is palpable, it’s probably too depressing a subject to broach.”

“I’m a big fan of all these ‘world trek’ type books and this might be the best one available… Some of the best pictures I’ve ever seen of a few of these treks are contained in this book. … The back of the book has quick stats/facts on each of the hikes, which I like. … Very highly recommended. You won’t be disappointed.”

“… such an inspiring book! Love it. Every time I open this book it makes me book another trip. Roraima, Cordillera Blanca, Kili, Pyrenees, Mont Blanc are some of the ones we have done. Of course you still need to get yourself a detailed guide for the actual walk but it’s the best present for anyone who loves hikes.”