Where you will find me at any bookstore I visit.
Travel means more to me than just “40% off on NYC hotels” and “JetBlue has a new spring sale”, it is about the journey, the stories, the adventure, and that is probably why I enjoy travel literature so much. While some writers tell stories about parts of the world that I am already familiar with, others continue to educate and inspire me to open my eyes and learn more about places I had never even knew existed. So I thought I would mention a few travel books that I have recently read and enjoyed. Some you might have heard of before and maybe a few are new to you and will bring you as much pleasure as I had reading them. As always comments are welcome, so feel free to add to my list.
I also hope some of them may trigger something within you and inspire you to go away. Whether you go traveling around the world or take a two week break, expenses are always involved. If you are going to spend a large amount on your credit card (http://mozo.com.au/credit-cards), you want to be sure that it will be for a trip of a life time. You want every penny to be well spent.
Into the Wild By John Krakauer
Chris McCandles decides after college to discard all of his possessions and pack it up for the Alaskan wilderness. Along the way he encounters many life changing moments and leaves his mark with numerous people as well. McCandles’ story, while both interesting and rebellious, ultimately leads to a tragic ending.
The Best American Travel Writing 2008 By Anthony Bourdain
Twenty-five pieces are selected by one of my personal all-time favorite travel writer/personalities Anthony Bourdain in this must read book for travel readers. An astonishing array of publications are plucked and put into this fun read. In the introduction Bourdain says he picked pieces that “spoke the loudest and most powerfully to me were usually evocative of the darker side, those moments fearful, sublime, and absurd; the small epiphanies familiar to the full-time traveler, interspersed by a sense of dislocation—and the strange, unholy need to record the experience.”
Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story By Tony And Maureen Wheeler
In 1972 two young people met by change in Regent’s Park in London on a park bench. What they would wind up doing over the next 35+ years would revolutionize the way in which independent travelers would plan a vacation. Tony and Maureen Wheeler chronicle the personal and professional ups and downs of their life over the last three decades and bring you along for the ride. What started out as the two of them sewing together pamphlets for friends and family turned into a multimillion dollar worldwide corporation.
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas By Hunter S. Thompson
Ina drug induced haze characters Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo take a good old fashion American road trip to Sin City to cover the Mint 400 motorcycle race. Along the way they encounter a few problems and meet up with some more colorful characters, destroy a few hotel rooms and of course partake in more drugs. Definitely a fun, yet at times trippy, read by one of the all time best writers Hunter S. Thompson.
Following The Equator: A Journey Around The World By Mark Twain
The oldest and quite possibly funniest travel book on this short list is by legendary writer Mark Twain. 1897′s Following The Equator, Twain writes about a failed investment that hit him hard financially. In order to extricate himself from debt, he takes off for a year long trip around the globe via steamship. Exotic locales like South Africa and Australia are mentioned in this journey. There are countless Mark Twain quotes that will be ingrained in your head after reading this classic travel journal.
Three Weeks With My Brother By Nicholas And Micah Sparks
Bestselling writer Nicholas Sparks and his older brother Micah–set off on a once in a lifetime trip around the world. The siblings not only thought this would be an excellent opportunity to visit some amazing parts of the planet, but they also saw it as a chance to talk about their sometimes rough childhood and the current fate of their family. This break from their home life would be a chance to do some much needed fraternal bonding. Other topics covered along the way include religion, one brother is strict about it while the other does not believe in it so much. Despite their opposing views on life and what is important and not important about it, the two grow closer together by the end of this trip.
