The right book can genuinely change a trip, and not in a vague, bumper-sticker kind of way. It can shape the trip in the first place, slow you down when you need it, or light a fire under you when the road starts to feel routine. I’ve had books do all three. I’ve also had books do absolutely nothing for me, which is its own lesson in packing lighter next time.
A good book can also attach itself to a place. You might forget the name of the hostel, but remember exactly what you were reading there. Some of my strongest travel memories aren’t of landmarks or meals – they’re of books.
What makes a book a “travel book” is hard to pin down, though. It might mean a gritty memoir, a travelogue, a novel set in a city you’re about to arrive in, or a 900-page brick you did not mean to carry for as long as you have but can’t part with anyway. In the end, it’s less about genre than about fit: the right book for the trip, headspace, or version of yourself that’s on the road.
That’s what this list is for: picks from the Broke Backpacker team, organized to help you find the right fit for wherever you’re headed.
Photo: @jeff.w.bell
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Let’s Take A Look At Our Picks For Best Travel Books
Running With The Moon, Jonny Bealby
At a Glance
- Best for: Adventurous travellers who enjoy classic overland journeys and reflective travel stories.
- Type: Travel memoir, adventure
- Reading vibe: Immersive, reflective, thoughtful, adventurous
- Best read: Before a big trip (for inspiration), or on long train and bus rides
- Length: Medium (around 300 pages)
Running with the Moon is a book for those searching for tales of true, raw, gritty, old-school travel where plans fall apart, tragedies force reflection, and life is lived one day to the next without the help or distraction of the internet.
I first read this book at the beginning of my quest to see the world… and again, after spending 5 years on the road. The story hit me just as hard the second time – only now the lessons felt real.
This book encapsulates the spirit and rawness of real off-the-beaten-track adventure travel. It inspired me to ride a motorbike through Vietnam and to drive a beat-up car across Australia and New Zealand.
– Nic, Senior Editor & Roaming Renegade
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, John Koenig
At a Glance
- Best for: Long-term travelers who feel a lot but can’t always explain why
- Type: Creative dictionary
- Reading vibe: Reflective
- Best read: Before going to bed
- Length: Short, and can easily be read 10-15 minutes at a time
Travel, or life more broadly, produces emotions that often don’t have names. Or didn’t, until John Koenig decided to invent them.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows is built around a simple but very good idea: there are plenty of feelings we all recognize, but almost none of us know what to call. It might sound like a gimmick until you read it, and then it feels like someone has been quietly cataloguing your inner life without telling you. Rückkehrunruhe, the feeling of returning from an immersive trip only to watch it fade rapidly from your awareness, is one of dozens that stopped me mid-page.
It’s not a book you read front to back so much as one you dip into, which makes it well suited to the road. Pick it up at the end of a long day for a few minutes, and you’ll likely put it down having found a word for something you’ve been carrying around for years without knowing what to call.
It even inspired me to start inventing my own words, which is a good sign the book got its hooks into me.
– Jeff, Managing Editor
Siddhartha, Herman Hesse
At a Glance
- Best for: Travellers in search for meaning or questioning their path
- Type: Philosophical novel
- Reading vibe: Reflective, meditative, thought-provoking
- Best read: During slow travel days or quiet solo moments
- Length: Short (around 150 pages)
Siddhartha is a beautiful account of a young man’s spiritual journey of self-discovery. An odyssey of sorts that mirrors the process many adventurers go through in search of deeper meaning.
I first read it upon a friend’s recommendation – one I take into great consideration – and have since then revisited it many times.
I am driven by the poetic nature of life, and this is a book that does a great job encompassing that very same nature into simple, easily digestible words.
Siddhartha is a treat for the spiritual soul-seekers and a book that is sure to inspire you when you’re out on the road. It’s simple, it’s short, but powerful enough to linger in your mind and quietly shift the way you see things.
– Tomás, Brand Specialist & Whizz-Kid
Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts
At a Glance
- Best for: Extreme adventure travelers
- Type: A novel that’s somewhat of an autobiography
- Reading vibe: Immersive, intense, gripping
- Best read: Anytime you’re really looking to dive deep into a book or need some serious adventure travel inspo
- Length: Very, very long (but worth it!)
It’s been six years since I first read Shantaram, and despite my efforts, I haven’t found anything to even come close to surpassing it since then.
This absolutely insane, partly-true tale of a convict who escapes prison in Australia and finds himself tied up in the underworld of India’s Bombay in the 80s was written by Gregory Roberts, and many of the places featured still exist today.
When I grabbed myself a copy off a used book website, it was 2020, I had recently returned from traveling in India, and was in desperate need of some travel escapism.
I found myself ravenously tearing through the 900+ page novel, often coming back to reality several hours later wondering where the time had gone. It’s the type of adventure tale so immersive that made me feel like I WAS back in India.
The way Roberts describes each and every scene makes this more than just a book, but something akin to a movie that comes alive as you read along.
– Samantha, Travel Writer & Adventure Expert
The Comfort Crisis, Michael Easter
At a Glance
- Best for: Travelers craving a reset from comfort and routine
- Type: Self-development with elements of memoir and science-based exploration
- Reading vibe: Thought-provoking and reflective, with moments that make you question modern comfort
- Best read: When you’re feeling the pull to do something a little harder, a little wilder
- Length: Medium
Popular among “van lifers” and travelers, reading The Comfort Crisis is a powerful reminder that growth happens in “uncomfortable” moments. This book speaks to the magic of stepping outside your comfort zone, whether that means sleeping under the stars, pushing your limits, or simply choosing the harder path. As a van lifer, it really resonated with the lifestyle I have chosen.
It’s the kind of book that quietly nudges you and makes you realize how the comforts of modern life have changed you over time, often in ways you hardly notice.
– Ann, Social Media Manager
Greenlights, Matthew McConaughey
At a Glance
- Best for: Travellers at a crossroads or a bit of perspective
- Type: Memoir / self-development
- Reading vibe: Funny, reflective, motivating
- Best read: Before a trip or during a long one
- Length: Medium
Greenlights is not exactly a travel book, but it is one of the most powerful and inspiring books I have ever read, or listened to in this case, since it is on Audible and you get the added bonus of hearing it in McConaughey’s own voice, which is very much a win.
At its core, this book is about recognising opportunities, taking them when they are there, being present, and knowing when it is time to slow the fuck down. It is funny, thoughtful, honest, and full of the sort of advice that somehow feels both simple and genuinely useful.
This is a great one for travellers who are in a period of change, figuring things out, or just trying to stay open to whatever comes next.
It stays with you because beneath all the stories and charm, it is packed with real perspective.
– Will, Founder & Chief Adventurer
On The Road, Jack Kerouac
At a Glance
- Best for: Getting excited about travel
- Type: Irreverent travelogue crafted into a novella
- Reading vibe: Exuberant, experimental, edgy
- Best read: When you have time and focus to join Jack’s journey
- Length: Well, it was written in a few days… so you can read it as fast.
Upon its publication back in 1957, On The Road established itself as THE cornerstone of the ‘Beat’ literary revolution that was taking place across the Western world. Breathless, experimental and bursting with exuberance, the travelogue-cum-novel mixed the author’s real-life experiences of dirt-bagging across post-war America, with some very careful myth-making.
In the 60+ years since its release, the novel has inspired countless young and not-so-young people to get up and hit the road. The “story” is almost non-existent. We simply follow the author’s alter-ego and his new best friend as they hustle, hitchhike and(when means afford) drive (very fast) from the East Coast to the West Coast fuelled by youth, jazz, apple pie and amphetamines. But the book’s brilliance is the way it captures the small, everyday details of travel and the way it weaves the road into the writer’s inner journey.
After finishing ‘Road’, I read most of Kerouac’s works. To be honest, while I kinda had to nominate On The Road for this list, my personal favourite is actually Desolation Angels. Written a decade later, we find the author older, richer but fatter, sadder, sick of travel and nurturing a dangerous alcoholism that would soon kill him.
– Aiden, Senior Editor & Gear Manager
The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday
At a Glance
- Best for: Grounding your mindset with simple, daily doses of wisdom
- Type: Practical philosophy
- Reading vibe: Calm, clear and bite-sized
- Best read: As a daily ritual or when you’re in need of a mental reset
- Length: Short daily entries, 2-3 pages each
The Daily Stoic never leaves my side, well, my Kindle at least. Travelling is full of ups and downs and a constant life outside your comfort zone. Since travelling, the Daily Stoic has become my bible; it’s been a grounding practice to read a short, powerful insight that delivers wisdom and a fresh perspective on the unpredictability of life on the road.
Each page brings a new, daily piece of wisdom from the private diaries of Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome’s great emperors and world-famous philosophers like Epictetus and Seneca. All are broken down into short, digestible chunks that you can apply to everyday life.
It helps you to slow down, zoom out and focus on what you can control. With one-page reads that can spark thought-provoking conversations, profound journal prompts, and have a lasting impact, I highly recommend it as one of the best travel books ever.
– Dani, Senior Editor & Oceanic Explorer
Heat and Dust, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
At a Glance
- Best for: Solo female travellers
- Type: Historical fiction
- Reading vibe: Reflective
- Best read: On the road or for travel inspiration
- Length: Short
Set over two time periods, the book follows a granddaughter’s quest to investigate the life of her grandmother in India during British rule.
The lingering and captivating description of landscape, along with the immersion in time and place, have stayed with me since first reading this book many moons ago. The writer creates the environment as a defining character in itself. Her imagery of India, the heat, colour and vibrancy, is mesmerising and provides a backdrop pivotal to the story as the two lives unfold.
Heat and Dust also raises questions around personal freedom, wider social expectations, the seductive draw of the “other”, and spontaneity, all explored from a uniquely female perspective.
I concede this book would mainly appeal to solo female travellers, though I would also recommend it to anyone with an interest in distant lands, stark landscapes and cultural curiosity.
– Clair, Superstar PA
Maybe in Another Life, Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Best for: Travellers questioning whether they chose the right path
- Type: Contemporary novel
- Reading vibe: Reflective and easy
- Best read: During a long trip or in a period of uncertainty
- Length: Medium
It’s tough to know if life on the road was the right choice when other possible lives are constantly being dangled in front of you. Stay home and grind out a career. Move to Australia. Go off-grid to some bum-fuck-nowhere. The usual twenty-something urge to live a hundred different lives resonated with me a fair bit, and Maybe in Another Life was the first book that shifted my perspective on it.
The novel explores two alternate timelines of Hannah’s life based on a single choice. The fate versus free will debate is not new, but what I found most poignant was the idea that no matter the direction our lives take, we can still find joy in our circumstances.
My choice to travel is entirely my own, and learning to embrace whatever comes my way feels like one of those lessons worth learning early. Easily digestible, and a solid travel read.
– Taya, Editor & Resident Foodie
Travel the World on $10 a Day, Will Hatton
This list wouldn’t be complete without the original Broke Backpacker bible, our pride and joy!
Written by the Broke Backpacker founder, Will Hatton, it contains all the tools and little secrets you need to wander around the world on a tight budget. Travelling isn’t just for the rich, just as long as you’re willing to sacrifice some comfort for a whole new kind of meaning in your adventures.
It’s practical, it’s useful, it’s playful and it’s goofy. Plus you can get it for free by signing up for our newsletter!
Books That Bring a Place to Life
One of the best things a book can do when you are traveling is give you a richer understanding of where you are. Not a guidebook, but a book that pushes you beyond the surface.
That can mean non-fiction, but it does not have to. A novel set in the right place can give you just as much texture, sometimes more, because it gets at the feeling of somewhere rather than just the facts.
I’m obviously not going to attempt to give a recommendation for every destination on earth, but here are a few examples of books that genuinely deepened my appreciation for places I’ve been. I hope they encourage you to find a book that does the same for wherever you are going next.
- Chicago: The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
I picked this up in a book swap because there was literally nothing else to read in a little town in Peru, which is a delightful way to find a good book. The mix of architectural history, World’s Fair recap, and serial-killer insanity is bizarre but oddly effective, and later, when experiencing Chicago for the first time after I moved there, I was glad it had stuck with me. - Peru: The Conquest of the Incas, John Hemming
The definitive account of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. I visited Ollantaytambo shortly after reading about the battle fought there, and landed very differently because of it. Unfortunately, only the Kindle version is reasonably-priced these days. - Cambodia: First They Killed My Father, Loung Ung
Cambodia is beautiful, fascinating, and inescapably heavy. I felt like I would have been doing myself a disservice by not understanding more before visiting the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, and this memoir gave that history the proper human weight. - Vietnam: The Quiet American, Graham Greene
I read this on a boat on the Mekong heading from Cambodia into Vietnam, which was about as on-the-nose as it gets. Even though it’s fiction, it gave me a useful frame for seeing places like the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City and Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi. - Australia: In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson
Not every book in this category needs to wreck you emotionally. This one is funny, sharp, and was a very good read before I spent a couple of weeks wandering the Queensland coast in a van. - South Africa: Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela
It is a beast of a book, but I could not put it down. I ended up hiding in my rondavel on the Wild Coast, where Mandela was born, while party music blared outside, just to finish it. Worth every page. - Normandy, France: The Longest Day, Cornelius Ryan
A minute-by-minute account of the D-Day landings told from all sides: Allied, German, and French civilian. I read it right before visiting Normandy and touring the D-Day beaches, and it made for a far more meaningful visit than I would have managed otherwise.
Photo: Ana Pereira
Do You Actually Need Physical Books While Traveling?
As much as it pains a purist like me to admit, a Kindle or other e-reader is simply more practical on the road. It weighs less, lets you carry enough books to get stranded somewhere for six months without running out of reading material, and as long as you have an internet connection, getting your next read takes about thirty seconds.
Still, paperbacks can be worth it. Some books are just better in physical form (don’t press me for details – it’s just vibes), or are the kind you want to linger over rather than tap through.
And a real book has one thing going for it that digital does not: it can be swapped and passed around. Hostels, cafés, and guesthouses all over the world have shelves full of abandoned books, and every now and then one of them is exactly what you want. Better yet, once you’ve bought one book, you can often keep reading new books for free just by trading as you go. Try doing that with a Kindle.
Audiobooks have their place too: overnight trips when it’s too dark to read, bumpy chicken bus rides, or any time when you want to zone out rather than engage. Anything narrative-driven with a strong authorial voice tends to translate well. Anything you actually want to think about probably doesn’t. You can try Audible here with a free month trial if you want to give audiobooks a shot.
Photo: @willhatton___
What Makes a Good Travel Book, Anyway?
Not all of the books on this list are travel books in the traditional sense. Some don’t involve a journey at all. A few would raise eyebrows if you tried to pitch them as travel reads. But they earn their spot because they have the potential to change the way you’re seeing things.
A good travel book can do that in a lot of different ways. It might make you want to move, or it might do the opposite and help you be where you already are, which can be the harder trick. Some help you sit with uncertainty, which is useful because travel dishes out plenty of it whether you asked for it or not, usually at an inconvenient time.
Photo: @jeff.w.bell
And then there are the ones that don’t take you anywhere at all, but deepen where you already are; the kind of book that gives you the history, the context, the human story behind the place you’re standing in. Staring at a monument hits different when you know what happened there, rather than just nodding at it like an underprepared substitute teacher.
Sometimes, deep into a long trip when you’re tired, hungry, and quietly questioning every decision that led you here, the right book reminds you why you’re out there in the first place.
That’s what we had in mind when putting this list together. Not just books about travel, but books that deepen the experience of being on the road.
The Books I’d Still Pack Again
The books I’d still pack again are not always the most obvious ones. They’re the ones that proved useful in some way I did not fully expect. The ones that got me excited before a trip, kept me company when the road felt long, or gave me a way back into the experience when I got home and it all started feeling oddly unreal.
Different trips need different books. Sometimes I want something immersive and transportive. Other times I want something steadier or more reflective. And sometimes I just want a book that is good enough to hold my attention on a bus, stuck in a hostel on a rainy day, or when I need to do nothing because I just spent a week’s budget on an adventure tour that I didn’t need but absolutely did.
The ones I remember best are usually the ones that ended up feeling oddly well-matched to the trip itself, even if I did not know that when I packed them.
All that being said, the book I’d pack every time is The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.
Which book has become permanently tied to one of your trips?
- Don’t forget the essentials with our in-depth backpacking packing list.
- Sort your international SIM card out to avoid unnecessary hassle.
- Real adventures begin when you learn how to travel off the beaten track.
- Backpackers and frugal travellers can use our budget travel guide.
- Get yourself covered with trusty travel insurance before you leave.
- Investing in the best travel backpack for you will change your life!
The Great Railway Bazar by Paul Theroux was one of the books I used to read over and over again when I was a kid. It changed my life and inspired me to eventually spend the past 20 years of my life traveling and working arround the word. It is about his four-month journey by train in 1973 from London through Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, and his return via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Unbelievable book and the follow-up book Ghost Train to the Eastern Star published 30 years later as he takes the same trip again. This one really hits different than when I read it when it first came out, because I am sort of on a similar trip now re-visiting the places I first traveled to 20 years ago.
Fantastic list of travel books! I love how each recommendation captures the essence of adventure and exploration. These books will definitely inspire my next trip. Thanks for sharing such an amazing selection!
Absolutely love the connection between reading and traveling — both offer such a rich sense of immersion.
Adventure awaits—pack your bags and go.
Great recommendation of books here.!!
I like to read books when I travelling. Reading is good habit to follow
I thoroughly enjoyed the list and even sifted through comments to see if our reading tastes align. “The Dogs of Nam: Stories from the Road and Lessons Learned Abroad” is my favorite for long road trips.
I suppose that ‘Cambodia’ offers a captivating account of the nation, combining personal encounters with insightful analysis. Another must-read on my list is ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ by Che Guevara. This travel classic takes readers on a journey through South America on a motorbike and is a constant presence on the list of best travel books. I enjoy reading it while traveling by train.
I miss traveling so much! As soon as things “go back to normal” a bit more I am heading to EUROPE! This is a great list and in the meantime I will definitely make due with good books about places that I can’t visit (just yet!). I read a super exciting thriller that takes place in the Greek Isles, U.S. and Europe that I thought did a fantastic job at making me feel like I was really there called “Cyclops Conspiracy” by author William McGinnis. It turns out that the author has a whitewater rafting company so when he describes sailing in Greece I could vividly picture it and even though the book is about terrorists smuggling in nuclear weapons this surprisingly scratched my itch for an international locale.
Curious, how do people usually read while travelling? A physical copy of the book or something like a Kindle? I, by far prefer reading physical books, though I wonder if second hand bookstores, book swapping, etc. with fellow travelers is a thing? On longer travels where I’d read more than 1 or 2 books, buying or carrying them with me is impractical. What do people usually do?
I also love a physical book, lots of places on the travel trail have second hand book stores and exchanges, still. If you’re in a particular area or country for a while, some book stores will buy the book back from you (tho for a lower price) if you keep it in good condition.
I’m late to this party, but readers might still appreciate the website Visit This Read That; a collaborative, crowd-sourced, effort, to determine what books best to read when visiting a place.
https://visitthisreadthat.com/
I would recommend Man Mission by Eytan Uliel, eytanuliel.com for his info. Got this for my husband who is not the biggest reader, just thought he might like it. He totally does, it’s clever and fun. He took it on a trip this week and said it’s hard not to want to just fly somewhere awesome and see it all!
This list is a treasure. Keep up the good work.
One of the greatest travellers of the modern era was Peter Penney who travelled mainly on foot with virtually no money. His travels took him from Europe to Australia on foot through Burma, right after WW2. His best books are “Dust on my shoes” and “Anywhere but here”. A not well known author Peter Penney has an innovative style of traveling with few resources, no passport and picking up food and money along the road. His playgrounds range from Africa which he traversed back and forth, Asia,the Pacific Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, etc. His books are a must read for anyone in love with travel, dry humour and adventure.
hey will, really liked your recommendations. however, just noted a small mistake, for the book absurdistan you are using the wrong book cover and the description is a straight copy paste from goodreads. I think for your readers (including me) it would be welcomed to hear about the book in your own words. Keep on doing what you are doing, I truly found your blog inspirational. Jan
Thanks Jan, I’ll look into that – some of these book descriptions were not added by me but my one of my other writers so maybe that’s the issue anyway 🙂
Will, it`s great list! love it.
about “The Alchemist” book…
This book was a life changing read for me. I was moved and spiritually uplifted by this remarkable story. I usually only read biographies and non-fiction stories, but this has become my favorite book because of the meaningful lessons that are taught throughout. I can’t say enough about this book other than the fact that my children will hear it over and over again and I believe every person should own this book.
Julie,
https://www.julieannepeters.com/
Great recommendations here! I love a book that can help with my never-ending wanderlust. I have a historical fiction novel that should definitely be considered for this list called “The Jinn and The Sword” by authors Sara Cook and Robert Peacock. The book takes place during the 16th century imperial Ottoman court. There are some BEAUTIFUL descriptions of Istanbul and Venice. I really enjoyed the mental pictures the authors provided. Il Lupo, master swordswman, and his small posse crush an assassination attempt on the emperor and solve mysteries surrounding the theft of sacred relics. It is exciting, suspenseful, fun, and beautifully written. Check out the website for more info: http://www.thejinnandthesword.com/
Hope you will check it out!
I read “On the road” and was very impressed!
So many good books. Thank you for the list.
Ahhhh reading the Kite Runner in Pakistan = <3
Also, anything else by Khaled Hosseini, and The Alchemist are among my favourites!
I thought Shantaram was great, but frustrating in many ways…
‘Nice one Will!
I’ve read “Shantaram” a few times ‘cos it was just so inspiring and an exciting read! As well as “Just a Little Run Around the World.” I very much like the sound of “Honeymoon With My Brother: A Memoir.”
Have you ever read “Kevin and I in India” and “Rupee Millionaire” by Frank Kusy who is hilarious. In fact, I bought all his books! And “It’s on the Meter: One Taxi, Three Mates and 43,000 Miles of Misadventures around the World” a true story about three young British men who decide to travel the world in a London cabbie. It’s such a great read that not only did they make it, but they ended up breaking two world records along the way too!
I’ve read ‘its on the metre’, awesome book! 🙂
Good list mate. Shantaram and White Tiger enriched my experience in India for sure while of course Kerouac had a huge influence (Lonesome Traveller, Big Sur, Desolation Angels, Visions of Cody).. How about Jupiters Travels by Ted Simon.. he spends four years going 60,000 miles round the world on a Triumph in the 1970s. It’s epic and inspired me to travel in a big way. I read it twice. Also Ringolevio by Emmett Grogan, about the San Francisco Digger movement he helps put together after wild adventures in Europe. Good to see you spring back from that UK immigration dept pisstake and best of luck ….
Like you Will, I love to read books set in the country that I am travelling in. I love the feel of paper books but my kindle is more practical. I am looking forward to reading some of these from your list
Hi Will – A great list of books, many are personal favourites of mine. Would just like to add two follow up books of ones previously mentioned that might be of interset. Firstly, The Mountain Shadow, the follow up book to Shantaram (probably my favourite book). Obviously not as good as Shantaram but definitely worth a read. And secondly, Banco, the follow up book to Papillon, which details his adventures once he has found his freedom.
Will, if you didn’t know already, the film is out this year around April of Percy Fawcett and the lost city of Z. ,Was a great read and the film trailer looks awesome.
Holy shit but I did not know that, that is insanely exciting… thanks for telling me!
Can I add Marching Powder by Rusty Young for anyone going to Bolivia?!
Yes you most definitely can, epic book!
I am not fan reading while on travel, but I get interested with these books that you suggested. Gonna try this out.
Nice, a potential convert…happy reading on the road, Greg.
I love Bill Bryson! Check out Indonesian writer Agustinus Wibowo. His works have been translated into English. “Point Zero” is one of the best piece of travel literature I’ve ever read!
What a brilliant list! Some of the best books I’ve read and I imagine the rest are equally great. Thanks 🙂
Glad you like it, Jennie! More to come as I discover new favourites!
Great list – there’s lots I’m interested in reading. I completely disagree with Walking the Amazon, though. That book was very poorly written, which was so disappointing because it should be a fascinating story.
I would also suggest The Unconquered by Scott Wallace to learn about the uncontacted tribes in the Amazon. An incredible story.
For a book about South American, you can try to find ‘The Wizard of the Upper Amazon” which I read almost 40 years ago. About ayawasca and other jungle drugs.
Hi Will. Great site! Which book do you recommend to get ideas about places to visit? thanks 🙂
Hmmm… there’s a few around like ’50 places to visit before you die’ for example but really, it depends on what you want to see… I tend to do a bit of research online first and then simply pack my bag and head out on an adventure! 🙂
Hi – one of the books that inspired me when first travelling was Papillion – the tale of a French convict imprisoned on Devils Island off the coast of South America and his multiple escape attempts (sometimes to live with tribes in Venezuela) and solitary confinement for years on end. Also love the Tim Butcher books but my favourite African travel book is “Congo Journey” by Redmond O’Hanlon…he captures the Africa I know and love.
Papillion is now downloading to my kindle, it sounds absolutely awesome!! 🙂
there is also the film Dude, 1973 with Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen.
You will probably love the bit when Stevie has to tattoo a tribesman using a mirror to copy the one on his chest.
happy travels
I love this, a good book is so important on your travels! Which one is your favourite?
I always carry a copy of Illusions by Richard Bach…. Recently though, I read the Electric Cool Aid Acid Test – a great book, truly inspirational. I’m also a big fan of ‘Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know’ – Rannulph Fiennes is my hero! 🙂
I’m loving this list. Some excellent reads for the road on there. I particularly liked the underrated Travels on my elephant By Mark Shand. But dude I have a couple of bones to pick with you … How can you not include Notes from a small island, the Bryson classic!?! Or a single William Dalrymple book?! Time to update the list dude!
😉
Hi man! There is Dalrymple in there! He’s one of my favourite writers around, I popped in ‘Nine Lives’ – a great book! Hmmm, it appears I did indeed miss out a Byron classic but you can’t have everything man; 50 is a shatteringly small number when it comes to trying to put every decent book up! 🙂
So many great books! Thanks for sharing – my Amazon wishlist just got a whole lot longer 🙂
I have actually read some of these. Many more to add to my to-read list.
This list is AMAZING!! Now to just get my hands on some of these titles while I am on the road…. hmmm… 🙂
Thanks Lina!! I’m currently working my way through a whole bunch of books on South America! Any recommendations?
51: Jupiter’s Travels
52: Dreaming of Jupiter
Thanks for the list; have read about half of them so time to crack on with the rest!
Shantaram has got to be one of the best books I’ve read so far! Love your blog and sorry about the Nepalese monster 🙂
Cheers Eve! I love Shantaram, I read it right before I headed to India and it somehow prepared me! Regarding the Nepalese monster… I still have the scar to tell of my tale down the pub!
I recently found the White Tiger on a book swap shelf. It’s such a great book!
I just discovered your blog today and have been really enjoying reading back though your articles. Thanks!
The white tiger was one of the first books I read whilst backpacking in India, it’s awesome -really describes the country well! Have you been to India yet?