I'm pleased I bought this guidebook. I was initially tempted to purchase a book that concentrated solely on the Latvian capital Riga as that is where I was visiting. This guide's coverage of Riga, running to about 20-odd pages, is certainly adequate for a short break as is its coverage of the other Baltic capitals, Vilnius in Lithuania and Tallinn in Estonia [which is the European Capital of Culture in 2011]. So, potentially, you could get at least three weekend breaks worth of value out of this one book - which is probably reason enough for me to recommend it to you.
What I really liked about this guidebook though is its extensive coverage of what lies outside of these famous cities. When I thought of expanses of pine forests, clear lakes, meandering rivers, unspoilt countryside, plentiful wildlife, picturesque villages, wooden houses and stunning, pristine beaches, I have to admit that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia weren't the first places that came to mind. To its credit, this guidebook changed that. Page after page of fine illustrations and high-quality photographs showcase the beauty of the Baltic States' largely undiscovered rural and coastal regions. Plenty of suggestions for places to visit and things to see and do combined with a decent "Traveller's Needs" section, fairly clear maps and a useful "Survival Guide" would make this an invaluable guidebook for anyone considering touring this fascinating but little-known part of the world.