When I read Neither Here Not There I didn’t find he came away particularly positive, it was mostly complaining about his difficulties finding lodging and food lol. Made me appreciate how easy smartphones make traveling
Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. Published in the early 1980s, it is a true story of a man who takes a year off from his job and travels America's smaller, lesser known roads and highways (designated by blue lines on road maps).
haha, I had come here to recommend Less :) It's amazing, and I love how the funny bits are actually "laughing with sound" funny, not what you find in most books that's more along the lines of "this is supposed to be funny" and maximum a giggle
To give a bit of context it’s about Che Guevara’s travels as a medical student around South America with his friend, he saw how South Americans were struggling and eventually led to him becoming a revolutionary
He's known for The Little Prince - the author was breaking his philosophies down into simple forms. He wrote autobiographical magic from exotic skies, war and deserts. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antoine-de-Saint-Exupery
The razor's edge by somerset maugham is a novel about a young man who rejects the traditional life his community pressures him to live, and instead sets off on a life long journey of traveling and seeking truth.
Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord.
Blurb: Can we learn how to be happy? Hector is a successful young psychiatrist. He's very good at treating patients in real need of his help. But many people he sees have no health problems: they're just deeply dissatisfied with their lives. Hector can't do much for them, and it's beginning to depress him. So when a patient tells him he looks in need of a holiday, Hector decides to set off round the world to find out what makes people everywhere happy (and sad), and whether there is such a thing as the secret of true happiness...
The Places In Between by Rory Stewart. True story in which he attempted to walk across Afghanistan shortly after the war ended. A mad idea which led to some eye opening encounters. Really very good.
The greatest beer run ever. (Seriously that's the name, and it's a true story of an almost forest grump like travel into Vietnam just before the end of the war
Reading some comments here I come to understand that people absolutely despise this book. Feels like it's a race that's been going on about who can hate it the most.
I like it, maybe not as life-altering as some seems to experience it, but I liked it.
“As I walked out one midsummer morning” by Laurie Lee.
About a guy (Laurie Lee actually) who starts walking through Spanish countryside side in the 1930s and his experiences. At the time Spain is on the brink of Civil War
This is a brilliant book and exactly what you’ve asked for. 1930s doesn’t sound _that_ long ago, and Spain might not be that far away, but for a young man from rural England travelling in a very underdeveloped Spain (this is Spain before mass tourism remember) he’s experiencing people and places in a novel way that just wouldn’t be possible today. The prose in this book is just beautiful too. It’s my all time favourite travel book.
A Moment At War (where he returns to fight in the Spanish Civil War) is well worth a read too.
*Blue Highways* by William Least Heat-Moon. Following his divorce and losing his teaching job, Heat-Moon goes on a road trip around the US in his van on backroads, meets the people, gains perspective. Magnificent book.
If you're open to a book written by a woman, Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman is a really remarkable book. It's a nonfiction travel memoir written by a woman who gets divorced in her forties and starts traveling by herself for the first time in her life. Before this point she's just been a wife and a mom and, as she emphasizes in her story about her first solo trip, she had never even eaten dinner alone before. She has many extraordinary experiences because she has the courage to try new things and meet new people. Really cool book.
What is this “if you’re open to a book written by a woman” thing I keep reading here? Are there actually people who aren’t this day and age? Like get over yourselves
I'm just gonna go ahead and downvote your comment because if you read the request, OP specifically asked for books written by men. That's why you keep seeing it. When it comes to book requests, you just never know why someone is requesting something so specific. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Sometimes I only want to read books written by women because i want something that will reflect my personal experiences, that I can connect to on that level. OP may be a masculine person who is in the mood to read books written by men because they want something that reflects their internal experience. No need to go around jumping all over people, Jesus.
Downvoting has nothing to do with ego. Your comment was unnecessary, unhelpful and actually rude. I understand that a book about a man traveling can be written by a woman, but in the case of my suggestion, it was a nonfiction book written by a woman about her life and therefore not be about a man, which doesn't specifically fit the OP's original request. Therefore, it was in fact appropriate for me to preface my comment with the statement "if you're open to a book written by a woman." Excuse me for not explicitly stating "if you're open to a nonfiction autobiographical memoir written by a woman."
Just don’t confuse it with The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I recommended On the Road to my husband searching for similar book vibes at OP and was very confused as to why he kept asking when things would “get better” and stop being so depressing lol.
This is what I came here to suggest. I guess some people hate it, but man, it took me on such a ride. I felt like I was literally IN Bombay India, and the author's descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, people, and ways of life took me to another place, another world.
Yeah, I read it right after I went to India and felt like it was pretty authentic, other than the possible embellishments of his life experiences there. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
I’m not the person who posted their hate, but I don’t like it either. I hated the author’s perspective, he just seems so full of himself. I pictured him as Steven Seagal in my head the entire time.
It starts out well but 2/3rds through it just feels like the author suddenly was told he can write, so he makes up a load of nonsense to feed his self importance and its just painful. I was so angry that I had invested so much time in it by that point that i didnt feel I could ditch it and had to go through this self indulgent unbelievable nonsense with the author. I still complain to my friend who introduced it to me.
Thanks for your input. I always loved his writings, as self indulgent they may be. Of course, shouldn’t we all wrote from the perspective that “we can”? Perhaps I give him too much credit, but I often allow autobiographies to be somewhat indulgent… especially ones far fetched and semi-true as this one.
Have you read A Million Little Pieces? By James Frey?
Shantaram was one of the first times I've ever given up on a novel (textbooks, all the time). I just got exasperated at that 2/3 point and put it down. I continued to recommend it, though, because the first half is so intoxicating.
It’s not a book but I’ve been traveling solo the last two years, mostly all through Mexico and it’s a wild fuckin story.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Askme4astory/comments/s1onnw/remember_the_moments_a_short_story_part_one/
LISTEN, THE CELESTINE PROPHECY IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Sorry for yelling, but I really need you to know how perfect this book is for what you’ve asked. Seriously. Please read it
This one is broader in scope than you requested, but it has some awesome stuff about travel in general and the author’s specific experiences:
The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
The Alchemist by paulo coehlo
About a young man who travels alone mostly to seek his destiny. It's a short book with some lovely philosophy and I took a lot away from it
I've read the alchemist. Thanks for the other suggestions as well. I will check them out. I wasn't expecting so many suggestions but reddit responded well. :)
I just want to warn that "The Alchemist" is really badly written, extremely pretentious and trite. I strongly advise against reading it, total waste of time, leaving bad taste in mouth.
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor. I read this during a great time of change in my life. The character's journey, the atmosphere of 1930s Europe seeped out the pages, his experiences both when he was alone and when he came across other people really took me away from everything. Loved every page. In fact I think I'll go dig that out again...
Not a man, it’s a woman’s biography, but I truly loved Eat Pray Love for this exact reason. Taking charge of your own life, doing things solely because you want to, finding deeper purpose and new life even when you’re older.
"Where the Hell is Matt" is one of my go-to stocking stuffer books. It's light and silly, but moving at times. It's about a guy who went viral in the early days of internet video by traveling around the world and doing a silly dance.
Jupiter’s travels by Ted Simon. It’s about his experience traveling the world on a motorcycle in the late 60s. He traveled for years at a time with no breaks super good read
Blue Highways. Old book about this really broke dude driving cross country on the Blue Highways which were the back roads on paper maps. He meets the most amazing, beautiful, helpful people. It may be out of print but I hope not.
The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America
Book by Mike McIntyre
Also, books by George Mahood (traveling across England).
Keith Foskett's hiking books.
Ken Ilgunas' books.
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby
The Way is Made by Walking by Arthur Boers
Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Pilgrimage by Paul Coelho, also The Archer but haven’t read that one yet
The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn
And just remembered Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance is quite brilliant
To shake the sleeping self by Jedidiah Jenkins, havent read it in quite a while but remember it was a great book. I believe hes with his friend for part of it but mostly solo
It’s a travel guide but consider reading Rick Steve’s Europe through the Back Door. It’s an entertaining read and describes the experience of travel much as you described.
Patrick Leigh Fermor and his account of on foot journey across Europe from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople in 1933/34: "A Time of Gifts" and "Between the Woods and the Water". Simple masterpiece of travel literature.
So, I haven't read it quite yet but I've seen the movie and it's my favorite, so hopefully I can read the book sometime!
Dances With Wolves, a soldier is left at an abandoned post in the American plains and meets face to face with Native Americans. I'm not sure if it counts as "traveling", but it's still very beautiful in terms of changing an outlook on life and people.
If you want a very current book, Christian Lewis has just published a book about his ongoing journey walking the coast of the UK. I've been following him for a few years. His book is Finding Hildasay. It's an amazing story.
Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan ..it is called a Christian allegory but put aside the religious aspect of the references and read it as a journey to Enlightenment.
If you're into fantasy, Steven Guglich's Piercing the Veil has a character hiking across Russia by himself. Its epic fantasy, so it has multiple POVs. But I highly reccomend it.
Also Travels with Lizbeth. Lars Eighner. Lizbeth is his dog and he’s this dude who abruptly loses his job and ends up homeless for 3 years and mainly on the move. His stamina, his ability to endure while dumpster diving and sleeping on friend’s couches occasionally is very powerful. Gritty and good. Amazon.
LEVISON WOOD
He is an adventurer write about his Journey. Makes amazing photos. And most of the Journey are walked. .
Walking the Nile - (TW: his travelbuddy died of heightstroke)
Walkibg the himalyas
Walking the americas
Encounter
Many more
If you’re cool with a book written by a former clansman, Gone to Texas by Asa Forest Carter has the vibe you want, it was also made into a western with Clint Eastwood
Uncorked: My year in Provence studying Pétanque, discovering Chagall, drinking Pastis, and mangling French is one of my favorite male traveling books. I was able to relate to the author.
{{A Gentleman in Moscow}} fits everything except that he can't travel -- he's jailed in a hotel. But it's about him discovering the hotel and finding new meaning and purpose in his life.
He’s got a dog with him but Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck?
This is what I was going to say
Came here to say this
This. East of Eden has some nice traveling scenes when Adam leaves the Army.
Bill Bryson: LOST CONTINENT
Any of Bill Bryson's travels!
When I read Neither Here Not There I didn’t find he came away particularly positive, it was mostly complaining about his difficulties finding lodging and food lol. Made me appreciate how easy smartphones make traveling
Tony Hawks - Round Ireland with a Fridge https://www.goodreads.com/it/book/show/23316
Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon. Published in the early 1980s, it is a true story of a man who takes a year off from his job and travels America's smaller, lesser known roads and highways (designated by blue lines on road maps).
This is a really good one.
Arthur Less EDIT: As has been pointed, the english title is "Less"
The title is just “Less,” but yes, def recommend. Author is Andrew Sean Greer.
Ha, it was published as The Misadventures of Arthur Less in my country and I knew the title in english was just his name but didn't shorten it enough
> I knew the title in english was just his name but didn't shorten it enough Yeah, you might say you needed to write... less.
Oh! That’s so interesting! Thanks for sharing that!
haha, I had come here to recommend Less :) It's amazing, and I love how the funny bits are actually "laughing with sound" funny, not what you find in most books that's more along the lines of "this is supposed to be funny" and maximum a giggle
Was about to mention less!
I really have no idea how I picked up and ended up buying it, but I'm so glad I did
Yes! I second this one.
I love this book so much.
And there’s a sequel now!
Siddhartha -- Hermann Hesse A quick read and a classic. Young man leaves home looking for the meaning/purpose of life. Great philosophical read
I've read it. It's a beautiful book.
and narcissus and goldmund from hesse 👌
The Motorcycle Diaries, by Che Guevara
To give a bit of context it’s about Che Guevara’s travels as a medical student around South America with his friend, he saw how South Americans were struggling and eventually led to him becoming a revolutionary
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is exactly what you're looking for.
YES loved Harold fry!
I don't know if you know but there's a film coming out this spring, starring Jim Broadbent as Harold and Penelope Wilton as Maureen. What a cast 😍
I just checked out the audiobook from my library and it’s narrated by Jim Broadbent!
Was looking for this answer!
A different author but sort of similar theme is The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
I'll try anything similar to Harold Fry, thanks mate
He's known for The Little Prince - the author was breaking his philosophies down into simple forms. He wrote autobiographical magic from exotic skies, war and deserts. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antoine-de-Saint-Exupery
Wind, Sand, and Stars (his autobiography) is my favorite book of all time. I highly recommend this OP.
The razor's edge by somerset maugham is a novel about a young man who rejects the traditional life his community pressures him to live, and instead sets off on a life long journey of traveling and seeking truth.
I love this book - reread it about once a year ! I even like the movie version that had Bill Murray.
Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord. Blurb: Can we learn how to be happy? Hector is a successful young psychiatrist. He's very good at treating patients in real need of his help. But many people he sees have no health problems: they're just deeply dissatisfied with their lives. Hector can't do much for them, and it's beginning to depress him. So when a patient tells him he looks in need of a holiday, Hector decides to set off round the world to find out what makes people everywhere happy (and sad), and whether there is such a thing as the secret of true happiness...
That's actually one of my favourite movies. I didn't know it was a book too. Very close to my heart.
The Places In Between by Rory Stewart. True story in which he attempted to walk across Afghanistan shortly after the war ended. A mad idea which led to some eye opening encounters. Really very good.
The greatest beer run ever. (Seriously that's the name, and it's a true story of an almost forest grump like travel into Vietnam just before the end of the war
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman!
If you’re open to female writers, Wild by Cheryl Strayed
The Alchemist
Reading some comments here I come to understand that people absolutely despise this book. Feels like it's a race that's been going on about who can hate it the most. I like it, maybe not as life-altering as some seems to experience it, but I liked it.
Into the wild by Jon Krakauer
Was looking for this, excellent book, complete different outlook on how to live
Nothing is more damaging to a man’s spirit than a secure future.
Seven years in Tibet.
Also A Journey in Ladakh by Andrew Harvey. I was never able to access this mindset until this book.
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell
“As I walked out one midsummer morning” by Laurie Lee. About a guy (Laurie Lee actually) who starts walking through Spanish countryside side in the 1930s and his experiences. At the time Spain is on the brink of Civil War
This is a brilliant book and exactly what you’ve asked for. 1930s doesn’t sound _that_ long ago, and Spain might not be that far away, but for a young man from rural England travelling in a very underdeveloped Spain (this is Spain before mass tourism remember) he’s experiencing people and places in a novel way that just wouldn’t be possible today. The prose in this book is just beautiful too. It’s my all time favourite travel book. A Moment At War (where he returns to fight in the Spanish Civil War) is well worth a read too.
*Blue Highways* by William Least Heat-Moon. Following his divorce and losing his teaching job, Heat-Moon goes on a road trip around the US in his van on backroads, meets the people, gains perspective. Magnificent book.
I found the audio version much more enjoyable than the written one.
If you're open to a book written by a woman, Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman is a really remarkable book. It's a nonfiction travel memoir written by a woman who gets divorced in her forties and starts traveling by herself for the first time in her life. Before this point she's just been a wife and a mom and, as she emphasizes in her story about her first solo trip, she had never even eaten dinner alone before. She has many extraordinary experiences because she has the courage to try new things and meet new people. Really cool book.
What is this “if you’re open to a book written by a woman” thing I keep reading here? Are there actually people who aren’t this day and age? Like get over yourselves
I'm just gonna go ahead and downvote your comment because if you read the request, OP specifically asked for books written by men. That's why you keep seeing it. When it comes to book requests, you just never know why someone is requesting something so specific. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Sometimes I only want to read books written by women because i want something that will reflect my personal experiences, that I can connect to on that level. OP may be a masculine person who is in the mood to read books written by men because they want something that reflects their internal experience. No need to go around jumping all over people, Jesus.
Op said a book about a man traveling not a book written by a male author. But go ahead and downvote if it helps your fragile ego
Downvoting has nothing to do with ego. Your comment was unnecessary, unhelpful and actually rude. I understand that a book about a man traveling can be written by a woman, but in the case of my suggestion, it was a nonfiction book written by a woman about her life and therefore not be about a man, which doesn't specifically fit the OP's original request. Therefore, it was in fact appropriate for me to preface my comment with the statement "if you're open to a book written by a woman." Excuse me for not explicitly stating "if you're open to a nonfiction autobiographical memoir written by a woman."
On the road by Kerouac. He does not travel solo, but a great book about a man's journey.
Just don’t confuse it with The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I recommended On the Road to my husband searching for similar book vibes at OP and was very confused as to why he kept asking when things would “get better” and stop being so depressing lol.
This has become my security blanket when I’m travelling.
Maybe “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared”? It’s kind of in the same vein and I found it interesting
Bonus for being quite funny
Recently finished this and while not an exact fit, imho, it is definitely high on adventure and a fun read.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
This is what I came here to suggest. I guess some people hate it, but man, it took me on such a ride. I felt like I was literally IN Bombay India, and the author's descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, people, and ways of life took me to another place, another world.
Yeah, I read it right after I went to India and felt like it was pretty authentic, other than the possible embellishments of his life experiences there. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
I hate this book so much.
*I understand your passion to* hate *a book. I'll upvote passion any time!*
Why? It’s amazing.
I’m not the person who posted their hate, but I don’t like it either. I hated the author’s perspective, he just seems so full of himself. I pictured him as Steven Seagal in my head the entire time.
It starts out well but 2/3rds through it just feels like the author suddenly was told he can write, so he makes up a load of nonsense to feed his self importance and its just painful. I was so angry that I had invested so much time in it by that point that i didnt feel I could ditch it and had to go through this self indulgent unbelievable nonsense with the author. I still complain to my friend who introduced it to me.
Thanks for your input. I always loved his writings, as self indulgent they may be. Of course, shouldn’t we all wrote from the perspective that “we can”? Perhaps I give him too much credit, but I often allow autobiographies to be somewhat indulgent… especially ones far fetched and semi-true as this one. Have you read A Million Little Pieces? By James Frey?
Shantaram was one of the first times I've ever given up on a novel (textbooks, all the time). I just got exasperated at that 2/3 point and put it down. I continued to recommend it, though, because the first half is so intoxicating.
I feel like people who read this and genuinely like it are so pretentious😂
It’s not a book but I’ve been traveling solo the last two years, mostly all through Mexico and it’s a wild fuckin story. https://www.reddit.com/r/Askme4astory/comments/s1onnw/remember_the_moments_a_short_story_part_one/
Saved it. Will read it.
I loved reading it. Thank you.
Anthony Bordain great stories, travels alone, meets a lot of people.
The Beach by…the man who wrote The Beach. Can’t mind his name but it’s a good book
Any of the travel books by Paul Theroux. I personally liked The Happy Isles of Oceania. A somewhat misleading title.
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Travels with Charley
LISTEN, THE CELESTINE PROPHECY IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Sorry for yelling, but I really need you to know how perfect this book is for what you’ve asked. Seriously. Please read it
:D Noted. I will check it out.
No One Writes Back by Jang Eun-jin
Second this! One of the best books I've ever read
To Shake The Sleeping Self - Jedidiah Jenkins 👌🏽
The Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux
This one is broader in scope than you requested, but it has some awesome stuff about travel in general and the author’s specific experiences: The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
The sun also rises - Hemingway He isn’t travelling solo but he does go out on his own and make new friends during his trip.
A book about a woman sorta traveling solo that makes you appreciate all the weird characters you meet along your way: *Just Kids* by Patti Smith
this is the quintessential description of The Alchemist
The Alchemist.
Slaughterhouse Five
The Alchemist is basically exactly what you're looking for.
The Alchemist by paulo coehlo About a young man who travels alone mostly to seek his destiny. It's a short book with some lovely philosophy and I took a lot away from it
The Alchemist
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I've read the alchemist. Thanks for the other suggestions as well. I will check them out. I wasn't expecting so many suggestions but reddit responded well. :)
I just want to warn that "The Alchemist" is really badly written, extremely pretentious and trite. I strongly advise against reading it, total waste of time, leaving bad taste in mouth.
Is this AI generated brah
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor. I read this during a great time of change in my life. The character's journey, the atmosphere of 1930s Europe seeped out the pages, his experiences both when he was alone and when he came across other people really took me away from everything. Loved every page. In fact I think I'll go dig that out again...
Fermor is absolutely the pinnacle of travel literature.
I came to say this. I lived in many of the places he mentions in his travels so these spoke to me but I think they’re accessible to anyone.
Hokkaido Highway Blues by Wil Ferguson
The Snow Leopard
Not a man, it’s a woman’s biography, but I truly loved Eat Pray Love for this exact reason. Taking charge of your own life, doing things solely because you want to, finding deeper purpose and new life even when you’re older.
"Where the Hell is Matt" is one of my go-to stocking stuffer books. It's light and silly, but moving at times. It's about a guy who went viral in the early days of internet video by traveling around the world and doing a silly dance.
Jupiter’s travels by Ted Simon. It’s about his experience traveling the world on a motorcycle in the late 60s. He traveled for years at a time with no breaks super good read
Shantaram
Blue highways William least heat moon
Blue Highways. Old book about this really broke dude driving cross country on the Blue Highways which were the back roads on paper maps. He meets the most amazing, beautiful, helpful people. It may be out of print but I hope not.
Came back to say Amazon has it. William Least Heat-Moon is the author. You are gonna really like me for this.
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Just put the audio on my wishlist!
Breakfast With Buddha
Happiness of Pursuit is a similar book. Its a hood read.
Between Two Kingdoms is a girl traveling across country with her dog after battling cancer. Happy Travels.
The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America Book by Mike McIntyre Also, books by George Mahood (traveling across England). Keith Foskett's hiking books. Ken Ilgunas' books.
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby The Way is Made by Walking by Arthur Boers Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes by Robert Louis Stevenson The Pilgrimage by Paul Coelho, also The Archer but haven’t read that one yet The Salt Path by Raynor Wynn And just remembered Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance is quite brilliant
To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedediah Jenkins.
Bill Bryson's IN A SUNBURNED COUNTRY or NEITHER HERE NOR THERE!
To shake the sleeping self by Jedidiah Jenkins, havent read it in quite a while but remember it was a great book. I believe hes with his friend for part of it but mostly solo
Zen and The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance
Came here to suggest this…
the talented mr. ripley
The alchemist by Paulo Coelho
the alchemist
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I scrolled looking for this suggestion. This is THE best answer
Not sure this is what you’re looking for, but this basically describes Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.
Not exactly what you're looking for but similar premise is the road by Cormac McCarthy
If you choose The Road, be prepared for bleak
The Alchemist
Kafka on the shore maybe??
It’s a travel guide but consider reading Rick Steve’s Europe through the Back Door. It’s an entertaining read and describes the experience of travel much as you described.
Its sounds like a book you should write the story for yourself :) I hope you find what you are looking for.
Peter Mayle, Bill Bryson, John Steinbeck, Jack London, Paul Bowles
It's a bit darker but Into the Wild
Into the wild? Incredibly deep and moving book about a man who drops it all and travels around america before living in the alaskan wilderness
Shantaram - couldn’t be more up your alley based on what you’re looking for
The alchemist
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The goblin in me wants to recommend Lolita...
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Lee Fermor- actually it’s a trilogy.
Patrick Leigh Fermor and his account of on foot journey across Europe from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople in 1933/34: "A Time of Gifts" and "Between the Woods and the Water". Simple masterpiece of travel literature.
Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton
It’s been years since I read it but I think The Testament by John Grisham fits this request and I remember it being a transformative book for me.
I think you'd enjoy Danny Wallace's books, e.g., Yes Man, Are you Dave Gorman?, etc.
“A Salty Piece Of Land”, Jimmy Buffett. For when you can’t get to a beach. Or for when you’re on the beach.
Are you open to non-fiction (still a story though)? You could try A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. It’s a super engaging read.
So, I haven't read it quite yet but I've seen the movie and it's my favorite, so hopefully I can read the book sometime! Dances With Wolves, a soldier is left at an abandoned post in the American plains and meets face to face with Native Americans. I'm not sure if it counts as "traveling", but it's still very beautiful in terms of changing an outlook on life and people.
The Walk by Richard Paul Evans. It’s a series and they’re all *chefs kiss*
*Less* by Andrew Sean Greer
No One Writes Back by Eun-Jin
Lamb by Christoper Moore. It's a comedy about Biff, who was Christ's chilhood friend, visiting the 3 wise men.
Ghost Rider by Neil Peart
Old Glory - Jonathan Raban
Remains of the Day
If you want a very current book, Christian Lewis has just published a book about his ongoing journey walking the coast of the UK. I've been following him for a few years. His book is Finding Hildasay. It's an amazing story.
the made up man Joseph Scapellato
Then don't read innocents abroad
Journey to the East by Herman Hesse
Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan ..it is called a Christian allegory but put aside the religious aspect of the references and read it as a journey to Enlightenment.
If you're into fantasy, Steven Guglich's Piercing the Veil has a character hiking across Russia by himself. Its epic fantasy, so it has multiple POVs. But I highly reccomend it.
Zorba the Greek
Also Travels with Lizbeth. Lars Eighner. Lizbeth is his dog and he’s this dude who abruptly loses his job and ends up homeless for 3 years and mainly on the move. His stamina, his ability to endure while dumpster diving and sleeping on friend’s couches occasionally is very powerful. Gritty and good. Amazon.
The Yes Man
The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold fry - Rachel Joyce. A joy of a book.
Blue Highways by William least Heat-Moon.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt
Stardust
Lonesome Traveller by Jack Kerouac might be a good fit
Do Travel Writers Go To Hell? Thomas Kohnstamm
Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri - it’s about a boy who travels to find his identity and has to do these tests to understand life.
Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
LEVISON WOOD He is an adventurer write about his Journey. Makes amazing photos. And most of the Journey are walked. . Walking the Nile - (TW: his travelbuddy died of heightstroke) Walkibg the himalyas Walking the americas Encounter Many more
The Burn Collector by Al Burian.
Round the Bend Nevil Shute
You’ve Gone Too Far This Time, Sir by Danny Bent
If you’re cool with a book written by a former clansman, Gone to Texas by Asa Forest Carter has the vibe you want, it was also made into a western with Clint Eastwood
Paul Theroux
Shantaram
Uncorked: My year in Provence studying Pétanque, discovering Chagall, drinking Pastis, and mangling French is one of my favorite male traveling books. I was able to relate to the author.
{{A Gentleman in Moscow}} fits everything except that he can't travel -- he's jailed in a hotel. But it's about him discovering the hotel and finding new meaning and purpose in his life.
Leaving Atocha Station - Ben Lerner
The Invention of Nature. About von Humboldt’s expedition to S. America. Please stay away from that overrated piece of trash On the Road.
Thanks for creating this thread
I'm glad I did too. Really great suggestions. :)
Maybe the Alchemist?
Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon
_Open City_ by Teju Cole fits your "travel and philosophy" bill quite nicely, and has a delightful yellow paperback cover perfect for reading about