It sure is a long read. However, this man's love for Spain is truly profound. He writes with such intense passion about every aspect of the country - the people, their unique charm and warmth; the rich and diverse culture that has been passed down through generations; the mouthwatering food that tantalizes the taste buds; and the breathtaking landscape that leaves one in awe. Despite the fact that I had to read it piecemeal over a period of 6 months, it was still a joy to do so. It is indeed a solid investment of time to get through this extensive work. But if you have a deep affection for Spain, then it is most definitely worth it. You will be transported to a world full of beauty, history, and vibrant life.

I picked up this book with the intention of simply skimming through and reading only the sections related to the parts of Spain we were planning to visit. With nearly 1000 pages, it was just too long to read cover to cover before our trip, especially considering all the other books I had assigned myself. So, I also got the audiobook, which became the primary way I consumed this book. Looking at the table of contents, I estimated that I would read about 30% of it.

However, Michener had me hooked. I skipped two chapters and a bit in the beginning, but every time I would go back to the physical book to look ahead and decide where to skip in the audio, I would end up reading instead. His writing style is a seamless combination of travel memoir, personal experiences, and Spanish history, which follows the religious, cultural, culinary, and political lines both ancient and contemporary to his time. In the end, I managed to skip very little after my initial starting point, and I was even a little sad that I hadn't just read it from start to finish. I probably ended up reading 85% or more, and if we weren't leaving in 3 days, I would go back and read the parts I skipped. Having never heard of Michener before picking up this book, I am now motivated to read more of his other works.

During my broader reading for this trip, I realized that the "western civilization" history I knew largely overlooked Spain, and I was shockingly uninformed about all but the most basic highlights, and knew nothing about the 20th century in Spain. I had briefly corrected this before reading this book, and I found that it was a nice complement since it was written in the late '60s when Franco was still in power. So, knowing a little about what actually happened after his death was useful in comparing it to the conversations and speculations Michener presents.

Iberia successfully gives you a sense of Spain and a desire to explore and experience all that Michener has detailed. Although it's a bittersweet longing because, even though I haven't even gone on my trip yet, I can't help but feel that Michener has helped me love a Spain that no longer fully exists. Much of the change, I'm sure, was a necessary improvement (after a fascist dictator and all that), and maybe I'll find that I'm wrong, but so much has changed in the modern world since the 1960s, and I expect Spain even more so.

One final note, while the audiobook was excellent, you do miss out on Vavra's amazing photographs in the physical copy. They are intentionally not directly correlated with the text to serve as illustrations, but they are themselves a great capture of the Spain that Michener is documenting. Certainly worth going back to look at them if you choose to listen.

It's really quite challenging for me to rate this book.

To be honest, it's not really in line with my personal style. This is the very first work I've read by him.

Certainly, there were parts that I did like. However, I found myself frequently skipping over large sections.

In those parts, he seems to get completely lost in the minutiae of describing architecture or engaging in rather idiosyncratic conversations about music.

On the other hand, it's undeniable that he is a good writer.

It's obvious that he has a deep love for Spain, which comes through in his writing.

All in all, it's not a bad book. It just doesn't quite click with me.

Maybe for someone with a different set of interests, it would be a real gem. But for me, it's just an okay read.

I listened to a significant portion of this book prior to my trip to Spain.

Interestingly, it was more enjoyable when played at a speed of 1.25 as the reader, although slow, was quite good.

I firmly believe that Mitchner's books are best read in their printed form so that one can easily identify the chapters that might be skipped.

From this book, I gleaned a wealth of knowledge about Spain that I couldn't have obtained from a mere travel manual.

In particular, the information regarding bullfighting was extremely informative, providing me with a deeper understanding of this traditional Spanish activity.

Overall, it was a great addition to my pre-travel preparations and enhanced my anticipation for the journey ahead.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite not usually being a devotee of this author. His writing is typically long-winded and highly anecdotal when compared to his other works. However, I believe this particular book was more personal, filled with stories of his所见所闻 and the lessons he learned from his encounters, which made me appreciate it even more.

It reads like a travelogue, and since I have a longing to visit Spain, I relished hearing about it. In fact, that's how I "read" this book: by listening to the unabridged audio in my car. It was an incredibly interesting experience, as if I was driving through an almost holographic projection!

I especially took pleasure in the parts where he talked about revisiting the original place where he first arrived in Spain and then went on to explain how it had changed (not all for the better, in my opinion).

Certainly, it's not a true "history of Iberia" or of Spain. But I think I did gain a sense of the country while reading it.

Someday in the future, I will probably pick up this book and read it again.

I absolutely LOVED this travelogue. Michener employs his magnificent and flowing writing style to explore each Spanish city. The detail is truly captivating.

He vividly describes each city's unique culture, rich history, diverse lifestyles, magnificent monuments, charming streets, and various dwellings. It's like he is painting a vivid picture in my mind.

However, I did not manage to finish this wonderful book. The reason is that it contains just TOO much information to fully absorb without actually being in Spain.

But here's the plan. We will embark on a trip to Spain, armed with this book, and truly live every single page. It will be an adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of Michener's descriptions and experiencing the beauty and charm of Spain for ourselves.

I can't wait to see how this journey unfolds and how this book will enhance our understanding and appreciation of this wonderful country.

Most James Michener books require a real commitment to finish, and this one is no exception. The trade paperback version consists of 920 pages. Iberia is the first Michener book I have read that contains photographs throughout. However, I must admit that, for me, they didn't enhance the story in any significant way.

I have also read other very long Michener books such as Hawaii, Caribbean, Mexico, and The Covenant. These were all presented in a historical fiction format, beginning 10,000+ years ago and continuing up to the time he wrote the book.

That format worked well because there was a logical progression of history until the book was completed. So, even if very significant events occurred after the book was written, they didn't necessarily impact the book.

Iberia, on the other hand, deviates from this format. It is divided into 13 chapters that are mostly geographical. There is a chapter on bulls and bullfighting. The issue is that each chapter is part history lesson and part travelogue, based on the author's multiple visits to Spain starting in 1931 and presumably ending in 1967 - the book was published in 1968.

The problem with this is twofold. Firstly, much of what he describes is no longer accurate or still in existence. Secondly, what he chooses to describe and cover in relation to his visits is completely random.

As usual, the writing is excellent and the history is informative, but the format doesn't hold up well over time.

I am a huge fan of Michener, and thus, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It offers a vivid snapshot of Spain during the time when Franco was still in power. The information provided is extremely rich and detailed, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of that era.

However, since it was published in the '60s, it is somewhat dated when it comes to serving as a travel guide for future trips. Nevertheless, it remains a great source of historical information.

One aspect that stands out is the detailed exploration of bullfighting, which was clearly a passion of Michener's.

The descriptions of the bullfighting scenes and the cultural significance attached to it add an extra layer of depth to the book.

Overall, despite its limitations as a modern travel guide, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of Spain.

It provides a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era and showcases Michener's talent for bringing history to life.

This was one of the few books by James Michener that I had never read.

So, I thought I should add it to my list of his works.

I'm not sorry that I did, but it is not one of his best.

I was not aware that Iberia is not a novel, as most of his books are.

Instead, it is a hybrid between a history of Spain and a travelogue.

Albeit one that ended in 1967, shortly before its publication in 1968.

I did learn a great deal about Spain that I never knew before reading this book.

And I am more interested in learning about modern day Spain than I was prior to reading this book.

However, it's not a book that I would strongly recommend to anyone.

It has its merits in providing historical and cultural insights, but it may not engage all readers in the same way as some of his more captivating novels.

Overall, it's an interesting read, but not a must-read for everyone.

More a weighty travelogue than a historical novel (I was expecting the latter - my bad for not checking the reviews...).

I did note that Franco and his right-wing Nationalists' actions seem to have been conveniently ignored while the sins of the Spanish Republican side get specifically mentioned. Or is that just typical for a lot of conservative post-Macarthy American authors? Hmmmm...

The first roadhump in my reading of Michener's works (8 so far...), it hasn't put me off reading others. It did make me consider at least 3-4 major philosophical and societal questions. For example, how does history get written and who decides what is included and what is left out? Also, what role do personal biases play in the telling of historical events? And how can we ensure that we have a more accurate and complete understanding of the past? So I still consider it time well spent.

This is a comprehensive volume on Spain.

Michener recounts the various parts of Spain from his travels in the 1960s and prior.

So some of the topics are fifty years out of date.

However, he shares a great deal of history, which can provide valuable insights into the country's past.

I was advised to read this book before a vacation to Spain.

It can help me better understand the culture, traditions, and historical background of the places I will visit.

Although some of the information may be outdated, the overall historical perspective is still relevant.

By reading this book, I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for Spain and make the most of my vacation there.

I look forward to exploring the different regions of Spain and seeing how they have changed over the years.

Perhaps I will discover some new and interesting aspects of the country that Michener did not cover in his book.

Overall, I believe that this book will be a useful guide and source of inspiration for my upcoming trip to Spain.

It is truly beneficial to gain a different perspective from what is typically stated in official documents. This particular perspective is a civilian's point of view in 1968. I am certain that numerous things have undergone changes since that very moment. My own background, by nature, makes me oppose his personal opinions regarding the architecture in Southern Spain. However, if yours also contradicts, it is essential to strive for objectivity and selflessness. After all, everyone has the right to express their opinion. This is a simple book about traveling around Spain. I hold a great deal of admiration for his descriptive abilities as they have summoned me on many occasions to vividly imagine and be present in such places. His description of buildings, people, and even the light is truly spectacular. So, this is definitely a plus point for him. Eventually, it is indeed a good book that anyone can enjoy.