Most travel guides strive to be all things to all people. Refreshingly, the Traveller"s History of Australia does one thing and does it well, giving the reader a thorough, if occasionally dry, sketch of Australia"s land, people, and history. It"s especially strong when handling Australia"s 53,000 years of precolonial history--the continent"s geographical and biological anomalies and the history and customs of its aboriginal peoples are usually given short shrift in the thumbnail histories provided by most travel guides. A handy "historical gazetteer" firmly ties the book"s historical themes to the places travelers will actually visit. There are even whimsical appendices explaining why boomerangs return and what makes kangaroos hop. A boon for the curious, thoughtful traveler, this history is an excellent way to enhance your understanding (and enjoyment) of your destination. --Andrew Nieland