Undeterred by a change in plans after wrenching her knee on the Trans-Siberian, the indomitable Murphy explores Siberia in lieu of a planned trip on her bicycle dubbed Pushkin. Instead of the Russian Far East, she spent much of her three-month stay in and around Lake Baikal (where, naturally, she takes a swim). The book brims with personality and insight.  (SIB50, $15.95)