Normally we hate those guides that tell us in no uncertain terms where to go, and we especially hate it when they tell us that if we don’t go there, we’re uncool, bad parents or doomed to die miserable and unfulfilled. But “The New Traveler’s Atlas: A global guide to the places you must see in your lifetime” ($29.99, Barron’s) is such a pleasure to peruse that we don’t mind its bossiness so much. An updated edition of a perennial Barron’s best seller, it’s styled as a coffee-table book and focuses on about 50 dream trips, from Patagonia and Dubrovnik to Yosemite National Park and Kyoto, with great photos and thorough information that balances the practical with the compelling. Those unlikely to use its phone numbers and dining tips will enjoy being able to simply dream from an armchair, and active travelers will find the resources and insider info truly helpful.
