Island Wise: Lessons in Living from the Islands of the World

Most armchair travel books leave readers with little but a keen desire to abandon their Barcaloungers and take off for distant lands. While this volume certainly beckons readers to some of the world's most intriguing isles, it also offers something more: customs and concepts taken from the islands that, say Frawley-Holler, can be applied to what we might call the real world. The 25 chapters on lovely island locales from Tahiti to Greece to Alaska include informational tidbits about each island's culture, history and natural beauty--and a life lesson that can ostensibly be derived from its peoples and practices. In Jamaica (""Practice Patience""), locals attain tranquility by""refusing to allow obstacles, problems, or delays to trigger high blood pressure, stress, anger, or frustration."" The author, an editor at Sarasota Magazine, believes that readers too can learn to practice patience, use waiting time for productive purposes and cut out whining and complaining. On Likiep Atoll in the Marshall Islands (""Embrace Simplicity""), a code of conduct laid down by colonialists in the 1800s means""a very distinct culture rooted in a steadfast morality, dignity and a care-and-share attitude,"" and she offers suggestions to help readers live simply. The prose is generic travel-mag boosterism, but Frawley-Holler's suggestions might calm some readers' nerves until it's time for a real getaway.