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Straying from the Flock: Travels in New Zealand | 
 enlarge | Author: Alexander Elder
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $6.99
You Save: $7.96 (53%)
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Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 42371
Media: Paperback
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9
ISBN: 0471718637
Dewey Decimal Number: 919.3044
EAN: 9780471718635
ASIN: 0471718637
Publication Date: April 25, 2005
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Condition: Very light to moderate exterior wear. Rare occurences of marks on interior. Quick Shipping! Please no Texas or APO/FPO buyers.
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Product Description
An illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere
The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand has captured the imagination of movie-goers over the past couple of years, and the country is a dream destination for many around the world. Straying from the Flock is an intimate and personal account of one passionate traveler's visit to this incredible country, its mountains and beaches, fjords, rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries. Each of the fifty chapters describes one day in his travels-fishing, flying, cattle herding, befriending locals at every turn. Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, the book not only describes the trip of a lifetime, but captures a life-altering experience for its writer. From mountains and rainforests to cities and beaches, Straying from the Flock is both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country.
Download Description
"An illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere
The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand has captured the imagination of movie-goers over the past couple of years, and the country is a dream destination for many around the world. Straying from the Flock is an intimate and personal account of one passionate traveler's visit to this incredible country, its mountains and beaches, fjords, rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries. Each of the fifty chapters describes one day in his travels-fishing, flying, cattle herding, befriending locals at every turn. Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, the book not only describes the trip of a lifetime, but captures a life-altering experience for its writer. From mountains and rainforests to cities and beaches, Straying from the Flock is both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country."
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| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
 A fascinating and rewarding stray! August 3, 2005
Tim Johnson (Fremantle, Australia)
40 out of 46 found this review helpful
I finished Elder's wonderful and rewarding New Zealand travelogue this morning over coffee in Fremantle and I enjoyed the account of his journey from Stewart Island in the far south to Cape Reinga in the far north thoroughly. This book is the best kind of travelogue because the writer presents a reasonable look into the country being visited-its foiables and its positives. This is not to say that the description is tedious and overly factual, after completing the book the reader is left satisfied with as reasonable an account of his journey as is possible given the two month time frame allowed for its completion.
I enjoyed Elder's observations about the nature of Australian life as opposed to Kiwi life: its origins, its developement and why, although geographically close, we are so different particularly when seen through the eyes of a visitor. From my perspective here in Australia I found his observations valuable if perhaps overdrawn.
I also found many of his thoughts about the huge differences between his native New York City and the life he found in New Zealand interesting. New Zealand's distaste for tipping and litigation is matched only by our own, however Elder's negative comments have fallen on my deaf ears. As a leftist I also found his conclusions on page 209 as to why New Zealand works so well also fitting our life in Australia: health is taken care of, as is education, old age and unemployment. Politically speaking, if a country as small as New Zealand can accomplish these civilities with its few natural resources then the question must be asked why can't other richer countries. Although coming from, as Elder points out, vastly different bckgrounds our two countries have adopted similar governmental parameters with similar positive results.
Elder's anecdotes about all the pieces of Kiwi culture that he encountered are wonderful reading: people running homestays, fishing guides, airplane pilots, adventure operators and guides-in short, a reasonable look at Kiwi society. We all realize that it is virtually impossible to encounter the totallity of a society on a holiday but Elder presents us with as complete a picture as armchair travellers will find and for this I reccommend the book very highly. You will have a most satisfying read.
A Great Book ! August 9, 2005
M. Brenke (USA)
39 out of 46 found this review helpful
I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, after reading this book it almost feels like I went along on the trip with Alexander Elder. He did a great job of describing the country and it's people, the good and the bad. I also really liked how he included bits of historical facts about each location he visited. The photo's on his website that corresponded to each chapter where also a great bonus.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing more about New Zealand.
A Poignant Portrait of a Tourist, a Country and its People August 15, 2005
Craig L. Howe (Darien, CT United States)
34 out of 47 found this review helpful
I have to admit; this book is not what I expected.
Dr. Alexander Elder contacted me earlier this month and asked if I might be interested in reading his newest book, the story of a two-month long trip to New Zealand.
Dr Elder, a professional trader, experienced technical analyst and practicing psychiatrist, penned two previous books, both best sellers which have achieved a measure of acclaim in trading circles.
Straying from the Flock, however, breaks new ground for the author. It weaves New Zealand's geography, history, business, culture and above all, its people into a readable, love story. Spend only a few minutes with this book and it will be apparent, Dr. Elder loves New Zealand; he discovered it in the mid-1990s. Tucked away on the other side of the world from his professional life, New Zealand is a country the size of England or Italy, yet it is populated by only three million unique souls and 6 million sheep.
Each chapter recounts another day in his two month visit. He eloquently describes the country's beaches, mountains, fjords and rainforests. He recounts colorful tales that cause many of the island's personable people to spring to life. Yet, also what emerges is a colorful portrait of a newly divorced, professionally secure, with grown children individual with a deep thirst to experience the world around him
Born in Russia, Dr. Elder has a superb command of the English language. All-too-often while reading this, I found myself wishing I had the eloquence with my native tongue that Dr. Elder has with his adopted language.
This is more than a guide book. Dr. Elder has penned a beautiful, intimate portrait of a unique land, its people and one of its favorite fans - Dr. Elder.
An Honest account, the book was a goodish read, but didn't much like the author - August 27, 2005
A. Woodley (New Zealand)
22 out of 54 found this review helpful
This was a bit of a dichotomy for me - I almost really liked this book, but I found myself quite put off by the author himself, which is a real shame because I thought this book had a lot to offer for travellers to New Zealand, I also think it has quite a bit to offer New zealanders who are planning to run accommodation businesses here. I imagine the Mr Elder is at the more demanding end of travellers and is thus one of those that we need to take note of when offering traveller services.
Alexander Elder is an older American traveller to New Zealand, and a reasonably frequent visitor here having been at least a couple of times before. So with this experience he picks a trip which takes in some of the more frequented places on the tourist trail here with the intention this time of writing a book. He travels alone and stays in bed and breakfasts and farm stays along the way and takes in some of the sights and activities which can be done.
He is at time brutally honest - both about the things he likes and dislikes along the way - clear warning to others travelling in his wake around the country. He does provide an enormous amount of recent information about the journey although this is at least 3 years old, it must have been written about a 2002 trip as this was the last time there was an election in the country which he mentions in the book.
A lonely planet guide will give you more information on the areas, but this is definitely a more personal account of his time here.
Elder is a fluent writer and had enough detail in here to interest me as a New Zealander and I am sure for other travellers coming here. I don't think the tour he took was particularly efficient - his travel around the South Island was particulary circuitous - frequently backtracking and one thing I wondered is why on earth he had a picture of Milford Sound on the cover when he didn't even visit there. Possibly it is one of the more scenic shots he had in his collection
There were a few minor and forgiveable errors in the text, all minor things - for instance he seems to remember the town of Otira coming after the tunnel through to Arhturs Pass - it actually comes before it. Like I said, all minor stuff and would not affect anyone's trip.
One thing I find utterly unforgiveable in this book is his seemingly constant problem with our system of responsibility under accident. For the record, all adventure operators pay a premium to the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) to cover costs in case of accident. All adventure operators are liable to criminal charges if there is an accident - liability can mean jail terms - not money. As doctors visits are only around $20US a visit and all doctors visits in case of accident (including specialists and surgery) are free - and our ACC pays a proportion of income to all those recovering from accidents until they are fit for work again. Perhaps with this information Mr Elder will more fully understand why we in new Zealand prefer this system to the American system of suing everyone - and why New Zealand can function as an adventure capital.
As I said, this is a personal account, and so it is hard to dissociate the writer from the travelling he did. Someone like Bill Bryson is much more personable and more prepared to enjoy the trip - Tim Cahill is pithier and more unusual. Mr Elder is actually quite readable, but not a very sympathetic character. I found it full of information and detail on New Zealand which interested me but at times I found myself rolling my eyes at his explanations.
Don't be put off by the dreadful introduction about Waiheke Island at the start which has almost no detail except what he ate and drank. The rest of the book has some excellent reading in it. Goodish and unusual read.
Great Book May 16, 2005
Bill Hunter (New Zealand)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
As a New Zealander who has gained a great deal of wisdom from Alexander Elders trading books I had to read this. I expected some combination of travel and trading like Jim Rogers books (`Investment Biker' and `Adventure Capitalist') which I didn't like that much.
But Elders book is much better, focussing on New Zealand, its people and history. `Straying From the Flock' compares favourably with Bill Bryson's Australian book `Down Under'.
It has to be said though that Bryson has a unique line in self deprecation and is content to accommodate the eccentricities of people he finds. It's these qualities which make his books often so funny. But as a trader Elder has well developed decision making abilities and often moves on before people's eccentricities (often just bad service) really begin to impact on his experience. Elder prefers to dwell on the positive and he obviously loves the country having made many trips here.
It's not to say that Elders book lacks a sense of humour. Both authors `suffer' from a heightened awareness of threats to their personal safety. For Bryson this typically is a morbid fear of exotic wildlife like snakes in Australia or bears in Appalachia. But as New Zealand lacks both, Elder substitutes a lack of guards rail on roads and walking tracks; it's just not as amusing.
Elder is also dismissive of bungee jumping, paragliding and other activities which he perceives have a lack of safety standards. Each to his own but the biggest threat to life here is tourists' occasional inability to adapt to driving on the other side of the road.
This book should appeal to tourists with time, money and a sense of adventure about meeting people, sharing food and wine. It's for people who travel to learn about themselves by exploring the differences in others. It is not a guide for those who want to experience extreme sports activities or for those content to view NZ from a bus eating McDonalds. Trust me, it does taste the same.
With photos this could have been a great coffee table book but in its current form it is well produced and cheap. Photos from Elders travels are accessible from his website which is a nice touch.
One last thought, Elder with a traders sense of timing made his trip to New Zealand when the exchange rate 40 US cents to the NZ Dollar. The exchange rate is currently 71 cents.
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