The success of any great travel book is not measured in awards, but in miles. the distances our imaginations take and the miles they inspire us to walk, drive and fly—those are the things that matter when it comes to these books. And sometimes reading a travel book can be as transformative as the trip itself.
Are you ready for a reading list that will change the way you travel? here are the 15 must-read travel books, according to seasoned globetrotters. prepare for a bad case of wanderlust.
You are reading: Books about adventure travel
1. “the rings of saturn” by w.g. sebald
when asked for his choice for the best travel book, james kay, editor of the lonely planet website, chose a work that does not fit into any genre.
“travelogue? memory? novel? WG Sebald’s account of a walking tour of the English county of Suffolk defies categorization. the narrator winds a few miles up the coast, but his mental journey feels much larger. This book combines seductive descriptions of the places and people he encounters with musings ranging from the history of herring fishing to colonialism in the Congo to the reign of a Chinese empress,” said Kay. “‘The Rings of Saturn’ contains a philosophy for travelers who want to dig below the surface of a destination: take it easy, look for stories, strive to be a more thoughtful explorer. take a copy of this unique issue with you and cultivate your sense of curiosity at every turn. who knows where it might take you?”
2. “a mobile party (food adventures that change lives around the world)” edited by don george
some of us live to travel and travel to eat. And when you need a book to fuel a gourmand journey, “A Moving Party” has you covered with this celebration of 38 gourmet tales from around the world, said Debbie Arcangeles, host of The Offbeat Life podcast, which highlights the lives of freelancers from The ubication.
“‘A Moving Feast’ is a compilation of short stories by famous chefs, writers and foodies from around the world,” he said. “Everyone shares a love of food and the power it has to bring people together. reading the stories will give you an insight into the culture and induce a serious case of food lust.”
3. “the art of travel” by alain de botton
With so much travel literature telling us where to go, we can lose sight of the purpose behind traveling. Alain de Botton’s “The Art of Travel” serves as a reminder of how and why when it comes to hitting the road, said Michelle Halpern, travel blogger at Live Like It’s the Weekend.
“many travel books play on our travel dreams, but de botton takes a brutally honest and philosophical look at why we travel and exposes truths we don’t want to see. or believe, that is, that the fantasies we have about a place can often be better than the reality we encounter once we arrive,” she said. “He is incredibly eloquent as he describes the mundane moments of a journey that are often overlooked in memory. It’s not just about the moments of greatness, every little element is part of the whole experience.”
4. “the alchemist” by paulo coelho
Most travelers are looking for something on their adventures, whether it’s amazing archeological sites or the most delicious food. but while you are busy looking for something external, you usually end up discovering a part of yourself that you never knew was there. That’s exactly what happens in Paulo Coelho’s book “The Alchemist,” said Cory Varga, travel expert and founder of the couple’s travel blog You Could Travel.
“‘The Alchemist’ tells the exciting story of an Andalusian shepherd who wants to travel in search of a treasure. But during his adventures, instead, he finds himself,” Varga said. “coelho shows us the journey that matters: a journey of lessons and enchanting stories of snakes, love, dunes and alchemy”.
5. “Half Rare: A Bloody Valentine for the World of Food and the People Who Cook” by Anthony Bourdain
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there is a special place in every traveler’s heart for anthony bourdain. But between his award-winning TV shows and best-selling books, it’s hard to choose which part of his storytelling is more influential. Luckily, Meagan Driller, travel writer and owner of women’s business retreat company Vaera Journeys, makes the decision a little easier with her choice of “medium raw,” Bourdain’s follow-up to “kitchen confidential.” “.
“tony comes to us in this book a little older, a little more worn and, above all, wiser and more apologetic than his firm positions of the past. He is still the same Anthony Bourdain, with the same convictions about what makes a good kitchen, but years on the road have softened his soul in this memoir,” he said. “Traveling changed Anthony Bourdain. It opened his eyes to a world that was forgiving and kind, to a world of people less fortunate than he was but happier than he could be, and taught him the importance of stepping out of his comfort zone as a means of to grow. .”
6. “Lands of Lost Frontiers: A Journey Down the Silk Road”, by Kate Harris
The urge to seek the unknown is what is behind many people’s urge to travel. but where do you go when you feel that every place on earth has already been visited by millions before you? Is there any place left to discover? Kate Harris contemplates these questions, and more, in her memoir of a year cycling down the Silk Road.
“This book is unlike any other travelogue I’ve ever read: a meditation on seldom written about remote places, history and frontiers,” said travel enthusiast elizabeth sile, senior editor at real simple. “Harris perfectly captures what it feels like to want to explore, not to take the perfect instagram or mark the best views, but to be exposed to wilderness and discomfort.”
7. “A Woman Alone: Travel Tales from Around the World” edited by Faith Conlon, Ingrid Emerick and Christina Henry de Tessan
The sheer amount of “what ifs” when considering solo travel is enough to keep many travelers at home. “a woman alone” will help you overcome the fear of exploring alone and encourage you to do it on your own terms, said travel influencer tanyka renee.
“My initial problem with wanderlust was that I never had anyone travel with me. I spent years pushing adventures into the background due to my fear of traveling alone,” she said. “‘A Woman Alone’ is full of true, transparent and uplifting stories of women traveling alone. this book will give you the push you need to face your fears and see the world for yourself.”
8. “the adventures of tintin” by hergé
What could be more inspiring to a young traveler (or older nomads who are still young at heart) than the action-packed adventures of a reporter and his pup as they traverse the globe? Visually driven Tintin comics gave Inma Gregorio, a seasoned traveler who runs the travel blog, a world to travel in, a sense of wanderlust as a child, and continues to influence her travels now.
“‘the adventures of tintin’ by belgian cartoonist hergé was a series of comics that took me to egypt, congo, tibet and even the moon before I was 8 years old. they gave me very good memories and I recommend the series for all ages, ”he said.
9. “blue roads: a trip to america” by william minus heat-moon
Big cities attract most tourists, but smaller towns have a lot to offer, according to author William Less Heat-Moon. His book “Blue Roads” inspired travel writer Chris Clemens, founder of Upstate Exploration, to focus on places in upstate New York you might not find on every map.
“heat-moon was intrigued by the small towns most people pass through, if they even hear of them,” clemens said. “what he found, and what i found in similar places in new york, is that each place has a gem to discover. it could be a high street revitalization project, or a particular resident with an interesting collection, a historic site with an amazing backstory, or an amazing bakery with a special recipe only locals know about. ‘blue highways’ is the perfect travel story of an average man visiting average places and having extraordinary experiences.”
10. “Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Haven’t Been and Never Will” by judith schalansky
It’s easy to see why travelers love Judith Schalansky’s “Pocket Atlas of Remote Islands.” It fits easily into a bag, features beautiful maps and, most importantly, reminds you that there is still so much of this world to see, said Kristin Henning, travel blogger at Travel Past 50.
“This book simultaneously seduces us with detailed discoveries and deters us with stark images from distant parts of the world. for travelers who take pride in finding less-traveled corners of the world, this book humbles them as much as it inspires them,” he said. “Each of the featured islands is presented with the vital statistics of the earth, including an intriguing timeline of human interaction, set against a delicately drawn map. a short poetic essay follows, with tales of rare fauna, accidental discoveries, or abandoned hopes. What other travel book makes you yearn for places you know you’ll never visit?”
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11. “Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town” by Paul Theroux
African safaris top the wish lists of many travellers. but paul theroux’s book “dark star safari” shows a deeper and more vibrant side of this fascinating continent, while sharing what happens on a road trip from cairo to cape town, said nicole labarge, who runs the blog adventure travel travelgal nicole.
“most people would be put off by the dilemmas theroux faced, but it finally inspired me to travel overland from cairo to cape town in 2015. i read the book again on my journey and smiled and thought: ‘Yes! that’s so true ‘about the countries he was visiting,’ he said. “Africa is a misunderstood continent, but [theroux helped me see that] going beyond safaris is [where] the real Africa is.”
12. “wandering: an uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel” by rolf potts
Some people are so enthralled by travel that a two-week annual vacation will never satiate them. they set out to create a completely nomadic life, making countless sacrifices along the way. The refreshingly candid “Tramp” teaches you exactly what it takes to build a life on the road, said Dane Faurschou, a surfer, mountain climber and photographer who has been traveling non-stop since 2007.
“Anyone thinking of traveling for more than the average one-week Christmas vacation has something to learn from this book, whether it’s how to budget while traveling or change their entire mindset toward money in the first place” , said. “It influenced my relationship with money and possessions, helped me minimize my life and taught me to spend money in a way that allowed me to extend my travels as long as I wanted.”
13. “the beach” by alex garland
what traveler doesn’t daydream about that imaginary island surrounded by crystal clear waters and bathed in a golden sun? But fantasies never live up to expectations, and that’s exactly what “the beach” reminds us of, said Clemens Sehi, travel writer and creative director of Travelers Archive.
“The book changes the way people think about the definition of paradise. Garland creates the image of paradise, making the reader think that the characters have truly found heaven on earth, and then begins to hit them with reality through betrayal, deadly secrets, and violence,” Sehi said. “The book taught me that there is no such thing as paradise. It is not worth looking for this utopia. instead, beauty can be found in the reality of the daily lives of local people, and that is much more valuable to explore.”
14. “what makes you not a buddhist” by dzongsar jamyang khyentse
Religion and travel go hand in hand. even if you are not practicing your own spirituality, you are witnessing the devotional practices of various cultures when you explore. and sometimes you choose one or two beliefs that fit your life. “What Makes You Non-Buddhist” helps travelers learn about Buddhism and use its principles to stay grounded, even when it’s tempting to get caught up in the new and exciting experiences of visiting a foreign country, said Kristin Addis, a blogger at trips in be my travel. muse.
“although it sounds like a religious text, this book is more of a way to understand the buddhist cultures of asia. the book reviews the four noble truths of Buddhism with examples from a western way of life,” he said. “It helped me appreciate the constant change of travel, both the ups and downs, as Buddhism emphasizes acceptance of the ever-changing nature of life.”
15. “The Haves and the Have-nots: A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Global Inequality” by Branko Milanovic
traveling exposes you to the most rewarding and harrowing parts of civilization. “The haves and the have-nots” can give you some context on the latter, said Amanda Plewes, owner of the travel blog Midway.
“This book opens the eyes of travelers to the privilege of coming from a country like the United States. I loved that the book took gross domestic product and normalized it to the us. uu. dollars in terms of purchasing power, so you could actually understand the true difference in income between people in different countries,” she said. “If you travel to understand the world, this book focuses on one of the key pillars, money, to put wealth inequality in context.”
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