A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
This was the first travel book I read. I picked up A Walk in the Woods after my dad finished it. We both had just finished a weeklong backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail (the focus of the book). I was mystified by how well Bill Bryson described not just the trail itself, but the feelings every backpacker has to overcome to successfully complete such a trip. Interwoven in the witty narrative, is natural history of the Appalachian Mountains so enthralling I didn't realize until I finished the book I had learned something. A Walk in the Woods is a great place to start for anyone looking for a troy enjoyable travel book.
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
It may appear a pattern is evolving, but this is the only other book by Bill Bryson on the list. In a Sunburned Country is about Bill Bryson's travels in Australia. It combines a series of trips to Australia into one witty narrative. I have always been fascinated by Australia, a place where every day is a fight to survive the oppressive desert, hungry crocodiles, poisonous snakes, and just about everything else that wants to kill you. I haven't travelled to Australia yet, but this book has put it high on my list. Not only is In a Sunburned Country an easy read, but it also provides context for the cultural differences in the land down under.
The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs
I should start of by warning that The Year of Living Biblically is not a traditional travel book. It is instead a memoir about one man's quest to follow the Bible word for word for one year. Along the way A. J. Jacobs travels to various places (such as Israel and a creationist museum in the US south) to compliment his chronicles and fill out the understanding he so desperately desires. I recommend The Year of Living Biblically to anyone who plans of traveling to Israel or just wants a better understanding of the culture surrounding one religion (Judaism) of the world.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
A lot of people liken Wild to the Pacific Crest Trail's version of A Walk in the Woods. I think it is so much more than that. Wild is a story about how a trip (or traveling in general) helps a person grow. Through traveling I have matured, but I have also found understanding and empathy for the world around me and other cultures. I recommend Wild because it shows how much more traveling can be than just a good time.
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