Seeing the world is an experience that we shouldn’t take for granted. For one, it can help us expand our knowledge about other cultures and traditions. In addition, Psychregnotes that traveling can help improve our mental health by encouraging us to be spontaneous, boosting our self-confidence, and lowering our stress levels.
To inspire you to go see the world, we’ve listed below four travel books that will give you a serious case of wanderlust.
Land of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road
In this book, Kate Harris masterfully narrates how she spent a year cycling the Silk Road. Aside from offering stories of Kate’s travels in some of the most remote places on earth, Land of Lost Borders also invites the reader to seek the answers to existential questions such as “Where do you go when every place on earth has been explored by people before you?” This book can help you understand why it’s important for you to explore the world, even if millions before you have already gone on a similar conquest.
The Art of Travel
Alain de Botton’s The Art of Travel will take you on a philosophical journey to discovering the purpose behind traveling. Here, Alain shares his experience on the road as he enjoys Barbados with his partner and explores Provence through Van Gogh’s eyes — all while inspecting how great thinkers, artists, and writers saw the world through centuries of traveling. Despite writing from a philosopher’s perspective, Alain is still able to keep his words of wisdom and insights accessible for the regular reader.
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide
Anthony Bourdain was one of the world’s most loved celebrity chefs due to his deep appreciation and openness to all global cultures. In World Travel, Anthony Bourdain will guide you through some of his favorite places on the planet, as well as give you advice on what you should eat, where you should stay, and what you should avoid. Anthony’s stories are supplemented by insightful essays from his peers and loved-ones, which makes this travel book perfect for any curious traveler who seeks guidance in exploring the world.
Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
If going on a long haul trip is included in your bucket list, you should read this book by the godfather of vagabonding, Rolf Potts. Here, Rolf writes a ton of valuable insights and practical information when pursuing a long journey. In addition, he also gives expert advice on how to save for your trip and what you should do to survive on the road. Moreover, Rolf also touches on the philosophy of long-term travel and how it can change your life forever. Indeed, anyone who aims to go on a vagabond journey in the near future will pick up a lot of useful tips and knowledge from this book.
Hopefully, the books we’ve listed above will encourage you to widen your horizons and see the world, especially as restrictions are lifted. If you want to learn how to be a more responsible traveler, be sure to check our post ‘Tips for a Conscious Travel’