As a LP Thorn Tree member - a forum sadly experiencing its own form of COVID-19 lockdown - I thought this was an interesting look at researching/writing a guidebook to inspire and assist, to quote the author, "independent culture freaks" to explore a developing country, economically and close to the ground, in the early '80's.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/joe-cummings-lonely-planet-thailand/index.html