Jamaica: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture

Very good look at the history and overview of the makings of the most beautiful country we've ever seen. It really helps to understand the personalities and the heritage that brought them to the point they are at now.

I was looking for a book that would tell me more than the best beaches or resorts to visit. This book is much more in depth about the culture and people than most travel books. If you want to know about the real Jamaica and not just what you see at a resort or on a tour, this is the book for you.

The greatness of Mason's guidebook is that it gives history and politics as well as travel information. Mason provides a basis for understanding the place. Another great travel companion is "Jamaica Girl" by Jon Michael Miller. Miller's novel also shows you the real Jamaica, far behind the walls of the famous all-inclusive resorts. You will see the struggles and the joys of a wonderful people, as well as meet Rosalind Juliet Mitchell, a fabulously brave and resourceful protagonist, on her search for love and freedom. It is by far the best book about Jamaica I have ever read. A wonderful story, suspenseful, sexy, funny, disturbing, and quite moving. Wonderful characters. And a great message about the power of love to transform one's existence. A great read for a vacation, or, even, a vacation in itself.