10 Books for People who Love Travel

I’ve always had a fascination with learning about and better understanding the world. I remember in elementary school, probably 4th or 5th grade, we had to pick a country to research and write about. I picked China, because to 10 year old me who was living in a small town in upstate NY, China was the most foreign and unusual place I could imagine. Maybe this is why I became a researcher; I truly find it fascinating to understand people.

Before I could actually travel much at all, I learned about new places by reading. And today, I still discover destinations through other people’s writing. Books have influenced where I go, how I travel, and the type of tourist or traveler I try to be. These are some of the travel-related books that I love; the ones that took me to places I had never thought of visiting and challenged my worldviews.

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A Cook’s Tour - Anthony Bourdain

I love pretty much everything Bourdain has created, and this book is one of my favorites. Bourdain travels the world in search of the “perfect meal.” But his version of perfect is food with meaning, meals that connects people, and makes you feel something. Of course, he brings his recognizable sense of self-deprecating humour, making this one of the least pretentious and most human pieces of food writing out there.

“The whole concept of a ‘perfect meal’ is ludicrous. ‘Perfect,’ like ‘happy,’ tends to sneak up on you. Once you find it...it’s gone. It’s a fleeting thing, ‘perfect,’ and, if you’re anything like me, it’s often better in retrospect.”

― Anthony Bourdain

​Pretty Good Number One: An American Family Eats Tokyo - Matthew Amster-Burton

Japan is the number one place on my bucket list that I haven’t made it to yet, and this memoir of an American family who spend a month eating, exploring, and trying their best to fit in only made me want to visit more. I particularly love how meals define their trip and their understanding of Japanese culture; exploring unfamiliar dishes and ordering systems, while making the best of their mistakes and introducing their young child to tastes and experiences she wouldn’t have encountered anywhere else. It’s an easy and fun read, and one that I’ll likely re-read when I finally have a trip to Japan booked.

Travel as a Political Act - Rick Steves

Few people write about places with the approachable authority and nuance that Rick Steves has become known for. In this book, he goes beyond his typical beat in Europe, humanizing places that we’re taught to be wary of, and using history to try to explain present day cultural nuances. I know that this book will naturally appeal to people who are already more open minded and willing to travel, but I truly think so many others could benefit from reading his perspectives.

​“When we travel - whether to the ‘Axis of Evil’ or just to a place where people yodel when they’re happy, or fight bulls to impress the girls, or can’t serve breakfast until today’s croissants arrive - we enrich our lives and better understand our place on this planet. We undercut groups that sow fear, hatred, and mistrust.”

- Rick Steves

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller - Nadia Wassef

In this memoir, the author tells her story of being a female entrepreneur in Egypt in the early 2000s. She opens a “modern” bookstore that offers titles in multiple languages and on a variety of subjects that might have previously been unavailable to many of her customers. I found it fascinating to understand how the political climate, bureaucracy, and just the simple fact that she’s a female had such an impact on her ability to start and run this business.

Vagabonding - Rolf Potts

This one is a bit more guide and self-help than storytelling. I’d describe it as the Tim Ferriss equivalent to travel writing, and I can understand how that’s not for everyone. But when I was living in the US with only two weeks of vacation, this book was definitely motivating. Potts talks about the practical sides of travel, budgeting, packing, and adjusting to life outside of your comfort zone.

“Sadly, the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ (someday I’ll do this, someday I’ll do that) is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.”

- Rolf Potts

Sovietistan - Erika Fatland

Recommended to me by fellow Substacker Daniel, this book took me through a part of the world I honestly didn’t know or think much about. The author travels through the former Soviet Republics in Central Asia, aka the “stans.” She describes the evolution that each of these countries has gone through in the post-Soviet era, and how geography and history has shaped each one, all through the lens of a female writer and journalist. Her storytelling quickly drew me in, but the way she incorporated historical importance into her discovery of what these countries are like today really intrigued me. I’m looking forward to reading some of her other works now, particularly “High.”

Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer

I used to be mildly obsessed with the idea of trekking to Everest Base Camp, and this book was probably the cure for that, while still allowing me to be captivated by the adventure. Krakauer writes about his experience on Everest in 1996, during a particularly disastrous climbing season. What begins with excitement, as he introduces the very different personalities and backgrounds of the people around him, quickly turns into something far more terrifying and heartbreaking. While I still find the whole endeavor deeply fascinating, this book confirmed that I am not strong enough for such a journey, neither emotionally nor physically.

Don’t Go There - Adam Fletcher

I enjoyed this book, so I found it surprising when I was writing this article to see that so many people disliked it. It could be that I was reading it during COVID, when going anywhere was basically a fever dream, which made me overlook what others describe as whiny and entitled. Either way, I enjoyed reading about Fletcher’s experiences in places that many people never venture to. I took his retelling as good-natured and an attempt to be humorous, which made this a light and enjoyable read.

Eat My Globe - Simon Majumdar

A man who is truly obsessed with food quits his job to travel and eat, basically, my dream scenario! Because of this book, places I had never considered to be foodie destinations, like Iceland and Australia, have made their way onto my bucket list. The detailed account of his journey is honest, not too serious, and had me craving dishes that I unfortunately can not find here in the South of France.

Around the World in 80 Trains - Monisha Rajesh

I think this one is pretty mainstream, and Rajesh has become well-known for her train travel and writing. It’s not so much the train part that interested me, but how she brought the journey to life through her observations of and conversation with fellow passengers. This will appeal to anyone who has ever been at the airport or train station and wondered, “Where are all these people going?”

Before I had the means to travel, books were how I crossed borders. In a lot of ways, they still are. These are the books that have had an impact on me, and I’m always looking for more suggestions. Let me know your favorites and what should be on my to-read list!