I’ve got a confession, guys. I’m a full-blown book nerd. Honestly, I’ll read pretty much anything from non-fiction history novels to the sappiest of romances. It’s a hobby that works very well with my love of travel since I’ve always felt that a good book can transport you to a new place or time. Here are a few suggestions of books that inspire wanderlust!
What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding-
“But I say that plane tickets replacing cats might be the best evidence of women’s progress as a gender. I’m damn proud of us.”
I admit that this book reads as much like a little black book of conquests as it does a travel memoir. But Kristin Newman’s self deprecating and sharp wit is endearing and I found myself chuckling throughout the book. It does tackle the concept of a modern woman taking the reigns on her life and breaking the norms. It’s a nice reminder to those of us who might want to take the path less traveled that we’re not alone.
The Beach-
“If I’d learnt one thing from traveling, it was that the way to get things done was to go ahead and do them. Don’t talk about going to Borneo. Book a ticket, get a visa, pack a bag, and it just happens.”
This is the quintessential travel book about a backpacker on a journey to find an island paradise who then consequently ruins said island paradise. It’s a concept that is talked about a lot in travel circles. Do you keep that small island paradise you visited in the Philippines to yourself or tell the world and risk it becoming the next Koh Phi Phi? I read this while backpacking Southeast Asia and highly recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting the region!
Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It-
“I learned to forgive myself for being scared and imperfect, for making mistakes. I stopped allowing myself to use those mistakes as an excuse to not try new things. Instead, I have to be brave. I have to try. That’s what Eat Pray Love makes me do.”
Eat, Pray, Love was an amazing book that touched many people. In fact, it was so infectious that the author put together this compilation stories from people who were so inspired by the original that they made the change they needed in their lives. What I liked most about the book is that all the changes weren’t necessarily travel related. There were stories about overcoming anxiety and the struggle of keeping your individuality while embracing motherhood. Those were the stories that touched me the most.
Girls Who Travel-
“But girls, we just want adventures. We want international best friends and hold-your-breath vistas out of crappy hostel windows.”
I just finished this gem by Nicole Trilivas, a talented writer and fellow wander, and couldn’t have loved it more! When she offered to send me a copy to check out, I couldn’t resist as the story sounded right up my alley. I was so intrigued by the adventures of the books protagonist Kika Shores, that I read the entire book in one day. The book is a mix of travel and romance but what really drew me in is that it deals with the part of travel no one talks about– coming home. Having just come home from a several month trip, I identified with Kika’s need for excitement and the struggle of trying to find it every day life.
Into Thin Air-
“But at times I wondered if I had not come a long way only to find that what I really sought was something I had left behind.”
This was one of the first travel related memoirs I had ever read and it’s stuck with me ever since. The book details a teams’ perilous ascent to the peak of Everest. Krakauer has this way of drawing his reader in and keeping them on the edge of their seats. I honestly felt like I was part of this impossible journey to the top of the world. Making the journey to Everest Base Camp has been firmly on my bucket list since I’ve read this book as a teenager.
The Alchemist-
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The Alchemist is just one of those books that seems to fall into peoples’ laps at the exact moment that they need it. The story follows a young shepard’s journey across land and water to follow his dreams. Along the way he learns many important life lessons. I read this book while traveling through the Greek Islands and it really spoke to me at that time in my life. I’ve reread it several times since and each time it speaks to me in a different way.
Hopefully you enjoyed this list of books that inspire wanderlust! I love how a book can bring me to a new place even if I can’t travel for other reasons.
Did I miss your favorite? I would LOVE to hear your book suggestions in the comments!
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This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of the product links, I’ll earn a small percentage at no extra cost to you. All proceeds go to keeping this site up and running! I did receive a copy of Girls Who Travel for review. As always, all opinions are my own.
I love to read though I don’t get as much time to do it as I used to before the kids. Now I am busy reading their literature so I can discuss. Will add these to the list of things I would love to read – always inspired for travel!
Well I’ve read about half of those, so not so bad. I have been told on more than one occasion that I travel so much as a substitute for love, i.e. I only travel because I can’t get a boyfriend, which is the plane tickets replacing cats argument i think.
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That was my favorite quote out of all of these! I definitely recommend the book if you haven’t read it yet. I laughed out loud the whole time I was reading it!
Isn’t it ironic how we all want to go to those “hidden gems”?? I’ve read “The Alchemist” and “Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It” but I didn’t really like either of them. :/
Eat, Pray, Love wasn’t really my cup of tea either but Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It was totally captivating! It was rewarding to read about so many women taking charge and making the change their life needed. I definitely suggest giving it a try!
What I Was Doing While You Where Breading wins the all name award. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover but I am loving this one on the title alone. Do you think it make a good baby shower gift? The Alchemist and finding your personal legend is spot on. We actually played that for our daughter on her college tour trip last year. I wonder about somebody who put Into Thin Air on an inspiration travel list. I totally get it. Nepal is amazing and on our very short list but that book made me give up on ever summiting Everest.
Haha I see your point with Into Thin Air, but for me the book really spoke to me about adventure and personal growth. I don’t think I’ll ever be crazy enough to try and summit but I would love to hike to base camp someday!
I have read only one books from this list, and have also seen the movie by the same name: ‘Eat, Pray, Love . I think it really connects well with the travel theme, though it inspire me more to introspect about life rather than travel. I guess, different people get inspiration from different things. Great compilation of travel books, though!
The book on the list is actually completely different then Eat, Pray, Love. It actually chronicles the story of several women who are inspired to make a change in their life after reading the book. It’s very inspiring both for travel and life in general. 🙂
You got me from the first sentence!! I’m a book nerd too ! !I just wrote a post on how I’m addicted to book! It’s a serious disease I buy so much I try to get my boyfriend helping me in my book shopping frenzy!! Thanks for the recommendations ! I didn’t know those books and I’m always eager to find new ones to read (hence the previous sentences ^^) . I’m going to start reading Vagabonding soon did you read it? I also have a book review section in my blog (which has currently only one review lol) and I will talk about this book if you ever want to check it out! Thanks so much! I’ll pin your post 😉
I haven’t read Vagabonding yet but it’s on my list for sure! Let me know when your review goes up as I would LOVE to read it 🙂
I have added the ones I haven’t read to my list to read. I have to say Eat Pray Love is probably one of the worst books I have read, it took me forever, just couldn’t get into it, despite having visited 2 of the places!! I have seen the beach but never read the book, might be interesting to read, see how much better than the film it is 🙂
I actually didn’t like Eat, Pray, Love at all either but Eat, Pray, Love Made Me Do It is a totally different type of book! It’s actually a bunch of stories from women inspired by the book to make a change in their life. I would definitely suggest giving it a try!
Alright!! Keep you posted 😀
I must say I did not read any of these books… I was reading a lot before, but somehow I stopped. I should start again with Eat Pray Love Made me do it.
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I would add On the Road by Kerouac and Wild by Cheryl Strayed