Turn Right at Machu Picchu

Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time

By: Mark Adams

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Writer for the New York Times and GQ, Mark Adams is also the acclaimed author of Mr. America. In this fascinating travelogue, Adams follows in the controversial footsteps of Hiram Bingham III, who’s been both lionized and vilified for his discovery of the famed Lost City in 1911 - but which reputation is justified?

©2011 Mark Adams (P)2012 Recorded Books

Critic Reviews

“Adams deftly weaves together two story lines, each peopled with striking characters and astonishing landscapes.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Spellbounding, exceptional vocals

Having visited Macchu Pichu in 1985, it was fascinating to learn the backstory. The author is witty, knowledgable, and an excellent writer. The vocals captured the personalities perfectly and kept me wanting to hear more. I suggest printing a map of the area to reference while reading; the names of places in Peru are confusing when just listening.

Delightful

The author, Mark Adams, retraces the steps that led Yale Professor, Hiram Bingham, to discover Machu Picchu one hundred years ago, on July 24, 1911.

The chapters more or less alternate between Bingham’s and Adams’ expeditions. Adams packs a lot of information into the book. He includes anecdotes, observations and sometimes he tosses in hilarious tidbits. He also includes information on the flora and fauna as well as Inca history of the area. He also describes what it is like today. I picked up a bit of trivia: “Peru has twenty of the thirty-four types of climatic zones of the Earth and mules have bowel problems at high altitudes.”

The book is meticulously researched. The author does an okay job with intertwining three separate plots. I discovered that the April 1913 issue of the National Geographic is all about Bingham’s discovery of Machu Picchu. This is available on CD or on line for members. It was great to hike the Inca trail without doing the physical work and deal with the mosquitoes.

Andrew Garman does a good job narrating the book. Garman is an actor and audiobook narrator.

Great Travel Log

Listened to it almost straight through. Never drags. I was sad to see it end. No false drama, just clever pacing.

Good book for history enthusiasts

I enjoyed this book although it leaned more in the direction of an educational text book... so if you're looking for action, this isn't the place but I would recommend the book to anyone interested in expanding their historical horizons. I also enjoyed the narration!

A+ Narration!

I liked this story--the writer has a great style and I will read more of his work based on this book--but it was the narration that really made this shine. Andrew Garman really made it come alive. I felt like I was listening to them talk. If I wasn't rushing off to book club to tell everyone how much I loved this on audible, I would write more. I want to listen to it again!

Interesting but condescending.

The reader was very good. Easy to listen to and he didn't try to "act out" the different characters with make-believe voices, although he did use an Australian accent for one of the leads. This actually worked pretty well, however, because it helped to differentiate between the two leads and he didn't overdo it.

Although I learned a lot about Machu Picchu, a place that has long fascinated me, I found the author wrote in a subtly condescending voice, as though his level of comfort was his highest priority. His job had always been, as an editor, to send true adventurers out to get the stories. For once, he wanted to be the adventurer, but, frankly, he should have stayed back at the office where he would have plenty of hot and cold running water, good Scotch in the desk drawer, and people around him who spoke English as their first language.

History and Adventure intertwined

Loved the descriptions of people, places and events. At times I laughed out loud! I'm ready to take off to live in a tent and go exploring!

Bravo!

Wonderful on all counts! I am so looking forward to my trip to Machu Picchu in March. Listening to this book has turned a sightseer into a hopeful explorer.

I loved this book.

It made me want to go out on my own adventure. Definitely gonna listen to this book again. Loved it!

Not What I Expected

This would've been fine for someone already very interested in Machu Picchu, but for me it was too dry and impersonal, and failed to pull me in. Good narration, though.