Travelers' Tales is a new kind of travel anthology, marrying the best of the guidebook and travel literature. Mexico is the second book in this series: a wonderful collection of place-specific tales previously scattered far and wide. Veteran travel writers James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger read hundreds of stories to select those that best capture the experience of Mexico.

Mexico, so prone to stereotyping, is one of the most deceptively complex countries in the world. "Melting pot," a phrase most often applied to the U.S., is applicable in a deeper way to Mexico's towering and ancient layering of civilizations, which continues to this day in a swirling crosscurrent of indigenous peoples, multiple languages, dialects, riotous art and music, religions behind religions, hidden cosmologies, uncounted ruins, and secret knowledge. We forget just how old Mexico is.

As the editors write in the Preface: "The world is not our private zoo or theme park; we need to be better prepared before we go, so that we might become honored guests and not vilified intruders." To give readers a taste of this country and its people, the book is organized into five sections:

• "Essence of Mexico" contains stories that reflect some essential character of the landscape, the people, or the traveler's experience of the country.
• "Some Things to Do" has accounts of particular places and activities that previous travelers have found worthwhile.
• "Going Your Own Way" contains experiences that are farther off the tourist track, relayed by an author who interacted more intimately with the local people or was willing to travel farther afield.
• "In the Shadows" explores the darker side of Mexico, so that visitors might be aware of the complexities beyond the cheerful face presented to tourists.
• "The Last Word" has one last magical moment, to remind the reader just why Mexico is worth visiting.

There is perhaps no better way to prepare for a trip, or to vicariously experience another country and its culture, than to listen to those who have gone before; Travelers' Tales Mexico brings the best of those voices together for the first time.

Notable authors include: Carlos Fuentes, Alice Adams, Pete Hamill, Mary Morris, Alma Guillermoprieto, and Charles Bowden.

Selected as one of the Top Five Travel Books for 1994 by the San Francisco Examiner.