"Emails from over the Edge" by Nick Woolsey

during my recent visit to Pai, in Northern Thailand, I had the chance, due to Nick's kindness, to read his book "Emails from over the Edge" . Exciting, since I have a great repect for anybody having the confidence to not just write, but be published.

Nick Woolsey is a very interesting, not to mention nice, guy and reading his book gave me a tanatlizing glimpse into his world and mind, and was an entertaining and enjoyable read.
The book tells a bit about Nick's life before he discovered poi, his experiences and adventures planting trees, attending retreats and discovering Burning Man.

The book can be ordered via Nick's website www.playpoi.com

"Midnight in Sicily" by Peter Robb

In an intoxicating mix of crime and travel writing, Peter Robb, a writer who lived in Southern Italy for fifteen years, sets out to understand both the historical roots of the Mafia and it's central place in contemporary Italian politics. And whether he's touting the gustatory pleasures of Sicilian ice cream, unveiling Arab origins of pasta, or unravelling the criminal history of a bandit, Robb seductively brings Sicilian culture to life.

"Remarkable and lively. As an introduction to post-war Italy....it can have few equals."
-The Times Literary Supplement

"The Leopard" by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa

"The Leopard" is the story of a traditional way of life at the point of decline. In the spring of 1860, Fabrizio, Prince of Salina, still rules over thousand of acres and hundreds of human beings, including his own numerous family, in mingled splendor and squalor. Then comes Garibaldi's landing in Sicily and the fall of the Bourbon monarchy in Naples.The Prince must decide whether to resist the forces of change or come to terms with them.