As a backpacker I found the book to be mildly offensive. As entertainment I found it quite amusing. I have read and enjoyed most of his other books but I imagine that I would be offended by some of his other books if I lived in England for instance. He is writing to be humorous and it is very easy to offend the people you are using as subjects of your humor. On the other hand some of his books about traveling in England made me want to do the same type of trip and as an outsider I could see the humor in his encounters.