Thomas Kohnstamm

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Thomas Kohnstamm (born November 24, 1975 in Seattle) is an American author and travel writer who mainly covers Latin America and the Caribbean. He has worked for Lonely Planet, various magazines and newspapers. His book, Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?, was published by Random House/Three Rivers Press in April 2008. Kohnstamm is a graduate of both Stanford University and Bowdoin College.

The book features various adventures Kohnstamm has while researching the Brazil guidebook including the restaurant where he has sex with the waitress which he includes the review as "a pleasant surprise . . . and table service is friendly" [1] and trading drugs in order to finance his research. [2] Kirkus Reviews gave the book a star review for unusual merit, stating it is "Notable for its spirited prose and insightful exploration of the less-romantic side of travel writing. Kohnstamm is one to watch." [3] A New York Times book review calls "this rollicking exposé of the travel book industry...the most depraved travel book of the year." [4]

In April 2008, News Ltd news outlets reported that Kohnstamm "admitted plagiarising and making up huge slabs of his guidebooks for Lonely Planet." [5] It was reported that he never visited Colombia, the subject of one guidebook he wrote for LP. However, he disputed the reports, saying they were taken out of context and claimed that Lonely Planet approved him to do the Colombia research, which was restricted to just the book's History and Culture sections, from home.[6] Other guidebook writers have now come forward to agree with Kohnstamm's assertion that these are prevalent issues in the industry. [7]