Any suggestions on the best guidebooks for Rome, Florence and positano?

Lonely Planet.

Michelin Greens are excellent for sights.

If you want the currently best-researched and authoritative books in English on sights, the Blue Guide series. For Rome: The Blue Guide to Rome, for Florence, the Blue Guide to Central Italy.

Lonely Planet is reliable for "tougher" countries, like Vietnam. But for mainstream Europe, its coverage of major sights is superficial and plagued by political correctness. It is, however, useful for things like clubs and guides to transport passes.

Lonely Planet and Rough Guides offer the most practical information. Frommers and Fodors guides skim the surface and are not really much use once you are there. Footprint are good, similar to Rough Guides in content. DK Eyewitness have lots of glossy pictures which are good but they are very heavy to carry due to the type of paper used and don't have much practical info. So it depends on what info you are after.

I would always choose Lonely Planet as it shows me good detailed maps and how to get from the airport or train station to the next place I need to go, also places to stay and eat and what there is to do. Each to their own though.

Kay

10 Best (of Rome, etc). They are small and light enough to fit into a small purse, and hit all the major highlights, as well as where to eat, stay, shop, in a list form.

If you've already done some research ahead of time, they are great to have with you day to day. I've used them for N.Y. Paris, Prague and my daughter's giving me hers for Rome.

Don't any of you think it's a little bizarre to be on the FODORS website, but referring people to other guidebooks? Lonely Planet is a completely different company! This is like patronising a fancy restaurant, but saying that you really prefer the other fancy restaurant across the street! It's rude! If you really think that Frommers has a better book, then go hang out on the Frommers forums. Geez.

Lonely Planet
Rough Guide
Access
Time Out

I don't want to eat at the same fancy restaurant every day, I like a little variety. One restaurant might emphasize one thing and the place next door might have a different expertise. Both are great at what they do, but offer different things.

I don't think it's rude at all - just answering the OP's question. Perphaps she already has the Fodor's books, and is looking for something with another slant.

Also "Rick Steves" guidebooks. www.ricksteves.com

Well I like Rick Steve's but he's a bit more informal in tone. Not sure he has much on Positano but its a totally different type of place than Rome and Florence - not really big on sights. Some people bash Rick but he's helped me on many trips - good suggestions on which sights to choose and also practical information - when to go, how to get there.

I don't think we need to apologize for not saying Fodor's - this site must be working for them in some way or they'd shut it down.

If I compare the Fodors books before and after the travel talk site, I notice that the Fodors has improved their books by incorporating subjects the travelers really cared about. For example, the section on DCC on Fodors guides reads like a summary of what have been written on this forum.

The "bestness" depends on the objectives of the traveler. If a first time traveler tries to read a guide book because it it best at giving undifferentiated detailed descriptions of large number of attractions, the reader can easily get overwhelmed.

I think in alot of ways which book you like depends on you and your personality - if I were just starting out, I'd go to the library and check out a bunch - them MAYBE purchase the one I like best to take along. These days I more or less make my own guidebook from the internet - print out information, maps, etc. and put them in a folder - my "vacation brain". I sure do love the internet - I don't know how people did independent travel before that time unless they were willing to play it pretty loose.

Can you get to a bookstore or library to browse yourself? Everyone has their own favorites for different reasons. Budget travel, more luxurious travel, good maps, nice photography, etc. etc.

Florence is the center of Renaissance art. I would not rely on the dilettante Rick Steves whose knowledge of art is as thin as a layer of oil paint.

See that's exactly the point why people need to pick their own guidebooks. If you aren't particularly seeking out seeing the Renaissance art of Florence, Rick Steves might be OK for someone.

The very first post of Lonely Planet is a good one... but not if these people are luxury travelers. As another example.

The Cadogan series of guides are the best I've used by far.

They have an Italian Riviera and Piedmont issue and an Italy one.

They are well-researched, well-written, pithy, humourous and full
of essential information that is updated regularly.

......further to the Rick remark - what if the OP is going to be
in Florence for one or two days and it's a first-time visit to
that glorious city of Renaissance delights?

Vasari and his erudite buddies aren't really going to be of much
use when you just want to see the Bapistry, Duomo and that fella
with the slingshot plus a leather jacket and some gelati.

So yes, check out the travel section in a bookstore or library and
find what suits you best. Who knows, it could be Ricky!

The Original Poster made no mention of her intentions once in Florence. But one would assume she would want her information from a source who is knowlegeable.

I have not read his Italy book but someone thought they were giving us a gift when the give us Ricky's Spain. His knowledge of Spanish art is limited and his writing is lazy and uneducated. And after seeing an episode about Italy of his on PBS, it is clear little sticks.

He is supposedly a professional travel writer and writes about art. As such he should be held to a different standard than the casual tourist.

In addition, Rick Steves has no tastebuds. And if you do happen to go to a place he recommends, it will be overflowing with tourists, most of them clutching his book to their bosoms as if it were Holy Writ.