Ethiopia

Although this steeply-priced little book is intended for school kids, adults might find it more useful than a steeply-priced travel guide. Not that it will tell you what to see or where to sleep or eat, but it covers all pertinent aspects of the country in simple language, along with plentiful photos. You could stick with those dryer sections of a Lonely Planet book or the encyclopedia, but for a comprehensive overview, why wouldn't you want this as well? So I say it's great for travelers too--it makes for a quick and an easy learning curve for enhancing your visit. Note that this is not one of those beautiful coffee table books. After your visit, you'll want to explore some of those. But for a basic understanding of the country, choose this.