If this is your first time traveling abroad, "The Smugglers of the Sulu Islands" may not be the guide for you. But if you've already roamed the planet a bit, this diverse collection of travel stories is a must read. It provides such useful tips as which conversations to avoid with the head of a Philippine smuggling gang or an undercover Hong Kong vice cop. It explains how to economize on Caribbean cruises by hitching a ride on a gravel barge. Some...