7 Travel-Related Books You Can Read During This Community Quarantine

Go on an adventure with these different books.
by | March 30, 2020


Saint Augustine once said that “the world is a great book, and none study this book so much as a traveler. They that never stir from their home read only one page of this book.” That quote sums up the ultimate desire of modern-day travelers: to learn and discover whatever exists outside our comfort zones. but while we’re sitting idle in this time of great crisis, we can still wander with our minds by reading travel literature that tells stories of epic journeys.

 

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

 

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Kicking off 2020 with a classic, and a great read 🙂

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In this 1957 classic, Kerouac wrote of his own experiences through the book’s narrator Sal Paradise, in a highly charge tale of discovering one’s self and freedom across the vast frontier of the high and low grounds of America. Accompanied by Dean Moriarty (based on Neal Cassady) the duo takes off from New York hitchhiking their way towards Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Los Angeles and even into Mexico City. Along the way, they meet several unforgettable characters and experienced countless misadventures. Punctuated by killer prose and romantic descriptions of how it’s like being on the road, this book will pull you out of your room and make you pack your rucksack in a hurry, running towards the door and out into the road.

 

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux


Paul Theroux is known among travelers for his numerous non-fiction books about his world travels. Undoubtedly so, his most popular book is the Great Railway Bazaar. In this book, Theroux narrates his experiences of his epic rail journey from London across Europe and crossing through India and the rest of Asia. This is a book filled with fascinating accounts of self-discovery in a time prior to the West fully knowing the culture, religion, people and history of the East in the 1970’s. The Great Railway Bazaar also gives readers a vivid look back in time when traveling is vastly different to what it is today.

 

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer


The story of Into the Wild, which is about the death of Christopher McCandless in the wilderness of Alaska, was first told in an article written by Krakauer for Outside magazine in 1993. Krakauer followed up that story by writing a book about McCandless’ life. Into the Wild offers a glimpse into the mind of McCandless, his fascination with the writings of Jack London and Henry David Thoreau, and his feeling of estrangement with the world around him. Sometimes sweet, most times heart-wrenching, Krauker’s narrative introduces us to how McCandless turned his back to a life of convenience to test his will by setting out on a journey into the wild. Though he meant to get the most of life, tragedy struck after 119 days in the brutal Alaskan wilderness. Reading this book will give you a bittersweet desire to explore the great outdoors while teaching you to always respect the supremacy of nature.

 

The Beach by Alex Garland

 

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Good to go 😊 #thebeachalexgarland #booksandtravels

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The book that introduced Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand to the consciousness of countless backpackers. The story of The Beach kicks off at the start of the Banana Pancake trail in Asia and introduces a backpacking culture that further inspired many to travel. Alex Garland’s tale of adventure of finding that ideal paradise on Earth, features a cast of gregarious characters that heeded the call to see the world through traveling. If there is a piece of literature that would inspire you to pack your bags and just go, then this book is one of the few that would really stimulate your wanderlust.

 

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

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🦘REVIEW🦘 In a Sunburned Country – Bill Bryson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🇦🇺 As our semester in Australia comes to a close, I decided to get sentimental and read about Bill Bryson’s travels down under. Bryson’s genuine and at times self-deprecating charm made it feel like I was talking to an old friend about the pitfalls of their latest vacation. 🇦🇺 He truly left no stone unturned in this vast country, visiting Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, and seemingly every small town in between. In each city, we were given a brief history of some local oddity (usually a plane crash, shipwreck, shark attack, or failed exploration) and an endearingly awkward encounter between Bill and the Aussie locals. 🇦🇺 This book made me realize that there is SO much more to see in Australia. Way more than what we can fit in to the remaining two weeks we have here. I guess we’ll have to make another trip to see the living stromatolites in Shark Bay, Uluru monolith in Yulara, and the Karri Forest in Pemberton. 🇦🇺 What is your favorite Bill Bryson book? I have A Walk in the Woods and A Short History of Nearly Everything on my TBR. Which should I read next? -H ———————————————————————— #bookstagram #books #trees #nature #bookish #reading #readoutside #bookworm #readmore #books📚 #readinglife #bookster #travelwriting #billbryson #inasunburnedcountry

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Written in a brilliant and hilarious manner, Bill Bryson makes trekking across the Australia’s vast outback region seems like a walk in the park. In this travelogue that doubles as a guidebook on how to survive the wildlife of Australia, Bryson brings your imagination along to his journey while at the same time inspiring you to finally make your itchy feet to make the first few steps outside your comfort zone.

 

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail Book by Cheryl Strayed

 

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That time when… we reached 5000 followers and gave away two of our favorite books! ❤️📚🔥 #tbt

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Wild is a memoir written by American author Cheryl Strayed about her 1,100-mile hike on the treacherous Pacific Crest Trail in 1995. Fusing flashbacks to unforgettable events in her life with the difficulties she experienced in her journey, Strayed came up with an endearing read full of self-discoveries and tales of personal challenges, as she completes her hiking journey even without prior hiking experiences.

 

Vagabonding by Ralf Potts

 

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I started reading this 📚 book about two days ago, primarily because I’m very interested in long term travel (i.e. 6 plus weeks) & it’s benefits. A girlfriend of mine is currently traveling long term to various places throughout Europe, France, Switzerland etc and did the same thing last year to various other destinations like Hawaii, New Zealand & Bali etc for several weeks… & I’ve been completely amazed with how she just ups & spontaneously leaves without even so much as flight ticket in hand🤗😍. She makes plans on her own accord- day by day, living moment to moment. It’s absolutely amazing to me & appears to be quite liberating🤗😍! Plus, I do enjoy hearing about her daily tales on the road abroad, since we’re practically attached at the hip via WhatsApp! & so I’m very much so inspired to say the least… If you’re curious to find out about how you too might be able to travel long term despite being constrained by the many restrictions and conformities of “daily life” and the “orderly world”. Stay tuned for the book review on this 📚 piece! Because no one wants to wait until their ancient & dilapidated 👵👴to begin living their life jk😀🙊 ——-Follow @bibliophilemedonnalee

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Ralf Potts’ Vagabonding is a seminal work of literature that influenced the digital nomad movement. In this book subtitled as “An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-term World Travel“, Potts laid out his advices, philosophies and other insights about how to lengthen one’s journey around the world without burning a hole in the pocket. From saving up to trip planning to finding temporary jobs on the road, Potts’ perceptions about life on the road offer an inspiring message that anyone can pull off long-term traveling in their lifetime.

 

What books do you plan on reading while on quarantine? Share them below! 

Marky Ramone Go is a travel-junkie, writer and photographer based in the Philippines. Aside from contributing articles to various publications and websites, he narrates his experiences wandering the tropical paradise of the Philippines, the culturally rich regions of South East Asia, Sri Lanka and India on his travel blog Nomadic Experiences. After Asia, he is keen on exploring South America and eventually hoping to trace Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" trail in the United States to Mexico.

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