For the last five years, I’ve concluded the year with a list of my favorite reads. As a writer, reading comes with the territory. Writers just tend to read a lot. Then again, I’ve always been into reading ever since I was a little kid. I devour books. In a good year, I’ll read close to 80.

This year was not one of those years. I only read about 50 books.

As I compiled this list, I couldn’t help but notice that I gravitated a lot more to history, literature, and self-improvement than I had in the past. Though this is a travel website and I like to read a lot of travel books, I’ve found that so many fall into the same narrative arc that I just needed a break from another book on someone quitting their job to travel.

Instead, I’ve gotten a lot more into destination-specific travelogues rather than personal travelogues. That got me down a history rabbit hole and it’s where I’ve stayed most of the year.

I wonder if that will change in the new year. What will next year bring? Who knows!

Here’s what I loved this year though:

1. Sahara Unveiled, by William Langewiesche

Written by journalist William Langewiesche in the 1990s, this book is beautifully detailed and wonderfully written. I was hooked by the punchy prose from page one. Langewiesche travels from Algeria through Niger and Mali before finishing in Dakar. Along the way, he offers deep insight into the culture and history of the region at a time when there was a lot of change happening. A fascinating snapshot in time.

2. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing

This iconic book is about Ernest Shackleton’s epic journey to cross Antarctica in 1914. While trying to reach the South Pole, his boat got stuck in the ice and he and his crew were forced to abandon ship and walk north in hope of being rescued by a passing whaling boat. This book highlights their journey and survival as they spend over a year on the ice. It was absolutely riveting to read and a testament to the strong will and skill of the men involved.

3. The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi, by Richard Grant

Richard Grant is a UK writer who moved to Missisppi and has been writing some great stuff about the state for years (check out his last book, which is one of my all time favorites). This book is about the beautiful town of Natchez, a place I visited about six years back and really loved. In it, he talks about this weird quirky town and how it’s grappling with its past. He interviews all sorts of unique people and dives into the city’s history and customs. It’s travel writing at its best.

4. The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific, by Brandon Presser

This book recaps the famous Mutiny on the Bounty from the 1700s. The Royal navy mutineers ended up on the modern-day island of Pitcairn and the book traces the mutiny. I never really knew much about this incident and it was really interesting to see what happened to the crew who made it home and what happened to those who mutinied (and the island culture they created).

5. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman

I liked this book so much that I read it twice. It utterly changed my life and how I view time. The gist is this: there will never be enough time to do everything, so don’t try. Get used to the fact that some things just won’t get done, and that when you do “master email” all you do is add more emails to your list. It is an anti-time-management book and has profoundly influenced the way I now look at time and what I do with it. I can’t recommend it enough. It was my favorite book of the year.

6. Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, by Celeste Headlee

This book was recommended to me by a friend who also read my new favorite book, Four Thousand Weeks (see above). Do Nothing, rather than being a book on the nature of time, is more about how we need to separate work and play and have more room to be “bored.” We view busyness as a good thing but this book says creating holes in our calendar allows us to process our thoughts and be creative. It’s a lot more focused on work/life balance and very much a good second read after Four Thousand Weeks.

7. Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life, by Luke Burgis

This book is about how, whether we realize it or not, we mimic all behavior we see and how there’s really no such thing as independent thought. We are all influenced, consciously and subconsciously, by models in our lives (think about how you didn’t feel like pizza until you saw someone else eating it) and we then mimic that behavior. It was a fascinating look at how we all make decisions.

8. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, by Tembi Locke

Set in the lush Sicilian countryside, Tembi discovers the healing powers of food, family, and unexpected grace after her husband dies. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home is a captivating story of love lost and found (it was a New York Times bestseller too). I absolutely loved the powerful imagery and emotion of this book. I teared up so many times. It’s an incredible read.

9. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States, by Daniel Immerwahr

This book chronicles the history of the United States empire. It covers how the country grew, acquired overseas expansions, how “mainland” Americans felt about it, and how US dominance after World War II influenced the world map. Even today, the US has lots of territories and overseas possessions that we never really think about (see Doug Mack’s The Not-Quite States of America for a travel version of this). While dense, the book illuminates a lot of history that we don’t really talk about.

10. Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America’s Forgotten Border, by Porter Fox

Porter Fox grew up in Maine and, after a life of travel, decides to learn more about the US/Canada border. So, starting in Maine, he heads west tracing the border, learning about its history and meeting interesting people all the way to Washington. With a lot of vivid descriptions and historical background, Fox weaves together a really wonderful travel book.

11. The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller

Last year, I read Circe by Madeline Miller and many of you recommended picking up her first book, The Song of Achilles, which tells the tale of Achilles from the perspective of his love, Patroclus. While I didn’t like this as much as Circe (mostly because she advanced so much as a writer in her second book), this book was still phenomenally written. It’s an amazing first book. If you haven’t read anything by Miller, definitely pick up both because you won’t be disappointed.

12. How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together, by Dan Kois

Dan Kois and his family are in a rut in their suburban life. So, he and his wife decide to take their two daughters on a trip around the world in hopes of finding ways to be closer as a family. I found this book to be really insightful with hilarious prose and astute observations. In certain parts, you get to hear from his kids too on their version of the stories he tells.

13. The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard

This book traces Theodore Roosevelt’s journey through the River of Doubt. After he lost the Presidential election in 1912, he had the opportunity to go down to Brazil. Originally supposed to be an easy trip, he opts to map the River of Doubt with Cândido Rondon, a Brazilian Colonel put in charge of him. Along the way, they get sick, have frightening encounters with natives, have to deal with murder, and experience a lack of provisions as they map this never-before-mapped river. It was an eye-opening read.

14. 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans, by Karl Pillemer

This book focuses on 30 lessons learned from people at the end of their life. Pillemer interviews hundreds of seniors to find out what their biggest lessons in life were and then distills it down to 30 that cut across work, life, relationships, marriage, money, success, friendship, and more. At 41, I have learned a lot of these lessons already but it was a good reminder of what is important and what is worth spending my time and energy on. It’s definitely a book anyone, especially those who are young, should read.

15. The Vagabond’s Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel, by Rolf Potts

Rolf is one of the original budget travel experts and his first book Vagabonding is a travel classic. His newest book is all about bringing your adventurous, curious, and open-minded travel mindset home with you. With insightful quotes and reflections, the book showcases just how much travel is a way of life and not just the act of “going somewhere.” After years of limited travel due to COVID, this book is the perfect reminder that travel is a mindset that should be embraced anywhere and everywhere you go.

The post The 15 Best Books I Read in 2022 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

This year was a phenomenal reading year (one positive outcome of being stuck at home because of COVID). I managed to read a lot of books on a variety of subjects. Not all of them were winners but most were. As we wrap up the year (and start buying books for the holidays), I want to share some of this year’s favorites.

These books transported me to places when borders were shut, taught me history, myself, and made me rethink how I view the world.

And, with winter approaching, nothing beats snuggling inside with a warm cup of tea and a good book!

So, without further ado, here are the best books I read in 2021 (in no particular order):
 

1. Take More Vacations, by Scott Keyes

In this book, travel expert Scott Keyes, the founder of the cheap flight website Scott’s Cheap Flights explains how to score bargain airfare and improve your trips. Scott knows everything there is to know about booking flights. This book is half practical tips and half travel philosophy. Keyes demystifies the entire process of how airfare pricing works, and his strategies for getting cheap flights will apply to you regardless of where you live. If you want to save money on your next flight, this book is a must-read.

2. Circe, by Madeline Miller

This novel follows the fictionalized life of the Greek goddess Circe, the goddess of sorcery. It is a well-written page-turner that spans Greek history, humanizing Circe in a way that makes her an interesting and three-dimensional character (as opposed to the rather flat villain we get in The Odyssey). The author really brings Circe to life and creates a complex tale of becoming who you were always meant to be. I highly, highly recommend it! I couldn’t put it down once I picked it up.

3. The Expanse, by James S. A. Corey

This hit Amazon TV show is actually based on a an awesome book series. This nine part series follow humans (fractured in people living on Earth, Mars, and “The Belt”) in the near future after discovering an alien portal to systems around the universe. If you love sci-fi and are looking for a fun, fast-paced series to pick up, pick this series up. Each book is fantastic, featuring epic world building and excellent writing. The ninth and final book came out last month so you can read it all in one go without having to wait too!

4. Land of Love and Drowning, by Tiphanie Yanique

Set in the US Virgin Islands and taking place over the course of the 20th century, this book uses the author’s own family history as well as island history to tell a story that features a lot of magical realism. It took me a few pages to get into it (it’s not a genre I read often), but it really picks up after the first 20-30 pages (so make sure you give it time to unfold). It’s a vibrant, layered read, and I can see why the author won so many awards for it and why it won such critical acclaim.

5. Breath, by James Nestor

Breath is about how we breathe. I know that sounds boring, but it was actually quite fascinating. The book argues that proper breathing can literally solve pretty much all of our health problems. While I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, there’s still a lot of interesting and detailed information in here on how improving your breathing can reduce allergies (something I have struggled with for years), increase energy, and reduce sleep apnea and snoring. If you have sleep or breathing issues, give this a read.

6. Less, by Andrew Sean Greer

This Pulitzer Prize–winning book follows writer Arthur Less on the eve of his fiftieth birthday. After finding out his lover is getting married, he says yes to number of business trips and workshops that sends him around the world. (So I guess it’s kind of a travel book in that way.) The more I read this book, the more I fell in love with it. It’s a fun love story that offers a satirical look at the American abroad that’s both poignant and subtle. And the twist at the end? Wow! You never see it coming!

7. What Doesn’t Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness, by Tessa Miller

This book — part personal story, part resource for others with chronic illness — chronicles the author’s battle with IBD and Crohn’s (a disease which affects the bowels). It’s smartly written, informative, and an eye-opening (and frustrating) look at the gaping holes and systemic failures of the for-profit US medical system. Three in five Americans have some kind of chronic illness and this book goes a long way in helping to understand their struggles on both a personal and systemic level.

8. Deep Work, by Cal Newport

This book is about how to avoid distractions and produce deeper work. While repetitive in parts, the book does have a lot of great tips on how to do “deep work” and live a less distracted life — while also highlighting why this kind of work is actually vital for us. Whether you’re looking to improve your workflow, make more time for friends and family, deepen your hobbies, or nip your procrastination in the bud, this book has lots of tips and insights. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in productivity/time management.

9. How I Built This, by Guy Raz

Guy Raz is famous for his podcast How I Built This where he interviews entrepreneurs about how they built their companies. In this book, Raz compiles all the lessons he’s learned from his podcast into a single resource. It book follows the “hero’s journey” arc about stating and succeeding at starting a business. It’s full of tips and insights, both practical and philosophical. While I normally hate business books but found this really enjoyable and full of excellent advice.

10. Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah

When Austin’s Snowpocalypse cut the power, I picked up this book by Trevor Noah (host of The Daily Show) about his life in South Africa and ended up reading the entire thing in one day. I found it eye-opening and educational to read about growing up as apartheid South Africa right as apartheid was ending. His reflections are funny and hard-hitting. The book provided ample perspective what it was like growing up in South Africa and a deeper appreciation for Trevor Noah himself.

11. The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga

At first, I couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t like the format or how he wrote it and I was thinking of putting it down. Then, suddenly, a day had passed and I was almost done with it. So the book grew on me! The main character, Balram, is an antihero who revels in his self-serving ways as he works to get out of his village in India to become a powerful man. It was a NYT bestseller and won the Man Booker Prize in 2008, so even if the book doesn’t hook you right away stick with it!

12. Scotland Beyond the Bagpipes, by Helen Ochyra

Ochyra is a UK travel writer who realized that, despite many visits to Scotland for work, she had never really seen the country. So, spurred by the loss of her mother, she hops in a car and heads off to explore Scotland in depth to get a better sense of the country. This book is funny, easy to read, and full of insights into Scotland (a place I love immensely). If you’ve been to Scotland, you’ll appreciate her stories and insights. And if you haven’t, this book will spur you to book a trip!

13. The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Written by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, this book is the epic tale of Alma, a fictional female botanist living in the 1800s. It was so captivating that I couldn’t put it down (which shouldn’t be surprising; it was a NYT bestseller and won the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction). It follows her life from birth to old age, featuring an abundance of complex characters. At its heart, it’s story of finding one’s place in the world. It also has a few plot twists and is super well written.

14. The Queen’s Gambit, by Walter Tevis

After falling in love with the Netflix miniseries (I watched it twice), I decided to pick up the book. It’s a quick, easy read, and fun read. Even if you don’t play chess, you’ll still enjoy the book as it is more about people than it is about the game. The show followed the book pretty closely, so if you watched the show, you know what happens. There’s not a lot of differences. But, again, if you liked it on the small screen, you’re also going to love the book.

15. The Yellow House, by Sarah Broom

This memoir traces Broom’s family history in New Orleans, far from the tourists partying on Bourbon Street, diving into life in the city’s poor areas and what it was like growing up Black in a city defined by race. Broom delves into her upbringing, and how 2005’s Hurricane Katrina changed not only NOLA but her and her family. It gave me a lot of insights into life on the Crescent City that you don’t pick up as a visitor. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, this book is must-read.

16. L’Appart, by David Lebovitz

Lebovitz is a well-known travel writer who writes prolifically about Paris (I actually had the pleasure of meeting him while I lived there). In this humorously written, insightful book, he uses his apartment renovation to examine at various aspects of French life. He’s like a Parisian Bill Bryson and is able to really peel back the layers of life in Paris to show what it is actually like living in the City of Light (spoiler alert: it’s not as whimsical as other books and films make it seem!).

17. Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is the story of Ifemelu, who moves back to Nigeria after studying abroad in the United States. It follows her and her college boyfriend’s stories, shifting perspectives between them and between life in the US and in Nigeria. It’s a massive book — it’s over 600 pages — but it’s brimming with incredible prose and storytelling that highlights the challenges of moving to a new country, returning home, and trying to fit back into your old life. It’s incredible and worth taking the time to savor.

18. In Every Mirror She’s Black, by Lola Akinmade Åkerström

Travel writer, photographer, and best-selling author Lola Akinmade Åkerström’s debut fiction novel, In Every Mirror She’s Black is an arresting read for anyone looking for insight into what it means to be a Black woman in today’s world. Lola is an amazing travel writer and that talent is apparent in her novel from page one. Told through the perspectives of three detailed and complex characters as they navigate live in a new country (Sweden), In Every Mirror is fast-paced, richly nuanced, and accessible.

19. The Premonition: A Pandemic Story, by Michael Lewis

This book by Michael Lewis is about the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s not an indictment of Trump, but rather it’s a book about the failures of the CDC, planning, and the inertia of bureaucracy. I learned a lot about our country’s past pandemic planning and why the CDC was so slow to take COVID seriously (when you learn why, you’re going to be very depressed — especially considering how many millions of people have died and how many of those deaths could have been prevented).

20. Beyond Guilt Trips, by Dr. Anu Taranath

As every traveler knows, traveling abroad can provide new perspective — but it can also be unsettling and confusing. It can be challenging or awkward to speak about racial and cultural differences, even though these differences might have fueled the desire to travel in the first place. In this impactful and practical book, Dr. Anu Taranath helps us unpack our baggage about who we are to help us become better travelers so we can have deeper, more authentic experiences.

21. How to Avoid Climate Disaster, by Bill Gates

This book is about the complexity of moving to a carbon-neutral world. His solution isn’t groundbreaking (“we need the political will!”) but what I enjoyed was his detailed breakdown of just how interwoven carbon is into every industry. We focus a lot on air travel and cars but they actually aren’t the biggest challenges we face. The whole book was super fascinating and shed a lot of light on just how complex (but possible) change is — if we have the political backing of course!

22. American War, by Omar El Akkad

Set at the end of the 21st century, American War imagines a bleak (but sadly realistic) future where the United States, overwhelmed by the ongoing climate crisis, faces a second civil war as the South secedes again. It was a wonderful, captivating read that follows the protagonist through childhood into adulthood as they struggle against life in a country at war. It’s a gripping, prescient, and grim tale that’s really about how hate and revenge damage not only us but those around us too.

23. Between Two Kingdoms, by Suleika Jaouad

Suleika Jaouad was your typical college graduate living in Paris (something I’m jealous of!) when her health started to decline. Heading home to the United States, she learns she has a deadly bone marrow cancer which throws her life into turmoil. This memoir recounts her diagnosis, treatment, and eventual recovery and re-entry into “normal life” (whatever that means). A NYT bestseller, it is a moving book that dissects pain, loss, anger, and acceptance. It was one of the most powerful books I read all year.

24. Think Again, by Adam Grant

This new book by Adam Grant is about how to re-evaluate your beliefs — and also how to talk to people who disagree with you. I felt it was very pertinent given where society is today (especially here in the USA). In an age where people battle it out on social media and argue at the dinner table at Thanksgiving, this book really made me think about how I form opinions, change my mind, and interact with people who disagree with me. It’s impactful, practical, and eye-opening.

25. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, by Tom Reiss

This book tells the tale of Alex Dumas, the father of famed writer Alexandre Dumas. Alex Dumas was the son of a French aristocrat and slave on what is now Haiti. When he was a teen, his father took him to France to live the life of a nobleman. When the Revolution came, he quickly gained fame due to his constant military successes. It was really interesting to learn about the forward-thinking racial equality that happened in revolutionary France and how Napoleon undid that when he came to power.

26. Ghana Must Go, by Taiye Selasi

I bought this book up thinking it was a travel book about Ghana but it was actually a fiction book about a Ghanese family living in the US coming to terms with the death of a father who abandoned them. This beautifully written tale looks at issues of family, abandonment, and forgiveness. While the book wasn’t what I expected, the vibrant prose pulled me in from the first line. It is an absolute marvel of a book. Taiye Selasi is an incredible writer and I was constantly amazed by their talent.

27. Over the Edge of the World: Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe, by Laurence Bergreen

This detailed book highlights the groundbreaking and fascinating history of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s 16th-century round-the-world trip. The book explores the true risk and daring of the adventure but also illuminates at the world as it was in 1519. There’s a lot of information here about sailing, social hierarchy, colonialism, and politics, as well information on how these voyages changed the world. If you’re a history nerd, you’re going to love this book.

28. Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It, by Charlamagne Tha God

Charlemagne tha God is a radio DJ / TV host I’ve heard about in passing over the years. This is his memoir about his upbringing in rural South Carolina and what he’s learned from going from being a jailed drug dealer as a kid to becoming a wealthy celebrity as an adult. While there are lots of eye-opening stories in the book, it’s also full of insight and wisdom too. I especially love his idea that there are no failures, only lessons, and his emphasis on putting in the work if you want to succeed.

29. BONUS: Ten Years a Nomad, by me

Of course, I’m gonna add my book to this list! Ten Years a Nomad is my memoir about my ten years backpacking the world as well as a treatise on my philosophy on travel. It follows the emotional journey of a trip around the world – from planning to being out there for the first time, to making friends to the emotions of coming home and everything in between. I talk about the reality of long term travel and the lessons that come from that lifestyle. It’s my opus on budget travel and backpacking!

31. BONUS #2: How to Travel the World on $50 A Day, by me

This book features all my best tips in one easy to follow format that you can take with you when you travel. It will help you become a master traveler and navigate the world. It’s like this blog but WAY more detailed, covering everything you need to know to travel the world with confidence. Whether you’re heading out on the road for a few weeks, a few months, or a few years, this book can show you the ropes so you safe money, stay safe, and have fun!

Reading has been especially important this past year as many borders remained closed and the pandemic continued to ravage much of the world. During this challenging time, books helped me escape, stay calm and relaxed in a world going crazy, grow my business, and grow as a person too.

While the year definitely had its ups and downs, it was an excellent year for reading. That’s a fine silver lining if you ask me. Pick up one of these books and let them move you as much as they moved me.

P.S. – If you’re looking for more suggestions, be sure to check out all my favorites on Bookshop. It’s not as cheap as Amazon but the money helps small, independent bookstores rather than Amazon. (If you only use Kindle, here’s the Amazon link.)

The post The 28 Best Books I Read in 2021 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

One of the things I did a lot of this past year was read. (I mean for a while there wasn’t much to do anyway). When I finally hit the road, I read just as much. Buses, ferries, trains — they’re all perfect places to read a book. Happy hour at some random bar in a random city? Another great opportunity to read! Give me a glass of wine and a book and I’m a happy camper.

Since it’s been a while since I last give a list of some of my favorite books, I’d thought I’d share what I’ve read this year that I really loved.
 

1. Take More Vacations, by Scott Keyes

In this book, travel expert Scott Keyes, the founder of the cheap flight website Scott’s Cheap Flights explains how to score bargain airfare and improve your trips. Scott knows everything there is to know about booking flights. This book is half practical tips and half travel philosophy. Keyes demystifies the entire process of how airfare pricing works, and his strategies for getting cheap flights will apply to you regardless of where you live. If you want to save money on your next flight, this book is a must-read.

2. Circe, by Madeline Miller

This novel follows the fictionalized life of the Greek goddess Circe, the goddess of sorcery. It is a well-written page-turner that spans Greek history, humanizing Circe in a way that makes her an interesting and three-dimentional character (as opposed to the rather flat villain we get in The Odyssey). The author really brings Circe to life and creates a complex tale of becoming who you were always meant to be. I highly, highly recommend it! I couldn’t put it down once I picked it up.

3. The Expanse, by James S. A. Corey

This hit Amazon TV show is actually based on a an awesome book series. This nine part series follow humans (fractured in people living on Earth, Mars, and “The Belt”) in the near future after discovering an alien portal to systems around the universe. If you love sci-fi and are looking for a fun, fast-paced series to pick up, pick this series up. Each book is fantastic, featuring epic world building and excellent writing. The ninth and final book came out last month so you can read it all in one go without having to wait too!

4. Land of Love and Drowning, by Tiphanie Yanique

Set in the US Virgin Islands and taking place over the course of the 20th century, this book uses the author’s own family history as well as island history to tell a story that features a lot of magical realism. It took me a few pages to get into it (it’s not a genre I read often), but it really picks up after the first 20-30 pages (so make sure you give it time to unfold). It’s a vibrant, layered read, and I can see why the author won so many awards for it and why it won such critical acclaim.

5. Breath, by James Nestor

Breath is about how we breathe. I know that sounds boring, but it was actually quite fascinating. The book argues that proper breathing can literally solve pretty much all of our health problems. While I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, there’s still a lot of interesting and detailed information in here on how improving your breathing can reduce allergies (something I have struggled with for years), increase energy, and reduce sleep apnea and snoring. If you have sleep or breathing issues, give this a read.

6. Less, by Andrew Sean Greer

This Pulitzer Prize–winning book follows writer Arthur Less on the eve of his fiftieth birthday. After finding out his lover is getting married, he says yes to number of business trips and workshops that sends him around the world. (So I guess it’s kind of a travel book in that way.) The more I read this book, the more I fell in love with it. It’a a fun love story that offers a satirical look at the American abroad that’s both poignant and subtle. And the twist at the end? Wow! You never see it coming!

7. What Doesn’t Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness, by Tessa Miller

This book — part personal story, part resource for others with chronic illness — chronicles the author’s battle with IBD and Crohn’s (a disease which affects the bowels). It’s smartly written, informative, and an eye-opening (and frustrating) look at the gaping holes and systemic failures of the for-profit US medical system. Three in five Americans have some kind of chronic illness and this book goes a long way in helping to understand their struggles on both a personal and systemic level.

8. Deep Work, by Cal Newport

This book is about how to avoid distractions and produce deeper work. While repetitive in parts, the book does have a lot of great tips on how to do “deep work” and live a less distracted life — while also highlighting why this kind of work is actually vital for us. Whether you’re looking to improve your workflow, make more time for friends and family, deepen your hobbies, or nip your procrastination in the bud, this book has lots of tips and insights. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in productivity/time management.

9. How I Built This, by Guy Raz

Guy Raz is famous for his podcast How I Built This where he interviews entrepreneurs about how they built their companies. In this book, Raz compiles all the lessons he’s learned from his podcast into a single resource. It book follows the “hero’s journey” arc about stating and succeeding at starting a business. It’s full of tips and insights, both practical and philosophical. While I normally hate business books but found this really enjoyable and full of excellent advice.

10. Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah

When Austin’s Snowpocalypse cut the power, I picked up this book by Trevor Noah (host of The Daily Show) about his life in South Africa and ended up reading the entire thing in one day. I found it eye-opening and educational to read about growing up as apartheid South Africa right as apartheid was ending. His reflections are funny and hard-hitting. The book provided ample perspective what it was like growing up in South Africa and a deeper appreciation for Trevor Noah himself.

11. The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga

At first, I couldn’t get into this book. I didn’t like the format or how he wrote it and I was thinking of putting it down. Then, suddenly, a day had passed and I was almost done with it. So the book grew on me! The main character, Balram, is an antihero who revels in his self-serving ways as he works to get out of his village in India to become a powerful man. It was a NYT bestseller and won the Man Booker Prize in 2008, so even if the book doesn’t hook you right away stick with it!

12. Scotland Beyond the Bagpipes, by Helen Ochyra

Ochyra is a UK travel writer who realized that, despite many visits to Scotland for work, she had never really seen the country. So, spured by the loss of her mother, she hops in a car and heads off to explore Scotland in depth to get a better sense of the country. This book is funny, easy to read, and full of insights into Scotland (a place I love immensely). If you’ve been to Scotland, you’ll appreciate her stories and insights. And if you haven’t, this book will spur you to book a trip!

13. The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Written by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, this book is the epic tale of Alma, a fictional female botanist living in the 1800s. It was so captivating that I couldn’t put it down (which shouldn’t be surprising; it was a NYT bestseller and won the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction). It follows her life from birth to old age, featuring an abundance of complex characters. At its heart, it’s story of finding one’s place in the world. It also has a few plot twists and is super well written.

14. The Queen’s Gambit, by Walter Tevis

After falling in love with the Netflix miniseries (I watched it twice), I decided to pick up the book. It’s a quick, easy read, and fun read. Even if you don’t play chess, you’ll still enjoy the book as it’;s more about people than it is about the game. The show followed the book pretty closely, so if you watched the show, you know what happens. There’s not a lot of differences. But, again, if you liked it on the small screen, you’re also going to love the book.

15. The Yellow House, by Sarah Broom

This memoir traces Broom’s family history in New Orleans, far from the tourists partying on Bourbon Street, diving into life in the city’s poor areas and what it was like growing up Black in a city defined by race. Broom delves into her upbringing, and how 2005’s Hurricane Katrina changed not only NOLA but her and her family. It gave me a lot of insights into life on the Crescent City that you don’t pick up as a visitor. If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, this book is must-read.

16. American Kingpin, by Nick Bilton

This book is about Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, a dark-web site that sold drugs, organs, and weapons. The Silk Road was the first modern darknet market and shaped the way criminals do business in the modern world before eventually being broken up by the FBI. Bilton immediately captivates you and draws you into this true story of greed, murder, and delusions of grandeur. It’s amazing story of a genius kid who uses his intellgence for evil. I could not put this book down.

16. L’Appart, by David Lebovitz

Lebovitz is a well-known travel writer who writes prolifically about Paris (I actually had the pleasure of meeting him while I lived there). In this humorously written, insightful book, he uses his apartment renovation to examine at various aspects of French life. He’s like a Parisian Bill Bryson and is able to really peel back the layers of life in Paris to show what it is actually like living in the City of Light (spoiler alert: it’s not as whimsical as other books and films make it seem!).

17. Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This is the story of Ifemelu, who moves back to Nigeria after studying abroad in the United States. It follows her and her college boyfriend’s stories, shifting perspectives between them and between life in the US and in Nigeria. It’s a massive book — it’s over 600 pages — but it’s brimming with incredible prose and storytelling that highlights the challenges of moving to a new country, returning home, and trying to fit back into your old life. It’s incredible and worth taking the time to savor.

While the pandemic has been incredibly stressful and challenging for many of us, one of the few silver linings for me is that I’ve been able to read a lot and, for that, I am thankful. So, if you’re looking to pick up a new book, here are some wonderful ones to read!
 

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This year hasn’t been what anyone expected. As COVID has reminded us, you never know what tomorrow will bring. And, this year, it didn’t bring too many great things (especially for folks like myself working in the tourism industry).

However, if there’s been one silver lining, it’s that being home this much has allowed me to supercharge my reading. While this year started off slow, since COVID, I’ve been averaging a book (sometimes two) a week. (I mean, after all, what else am I going to do?) Books that have sat in my bookcase for a long time were finally opened.

So, as I look back on this year as it comes to an end, I can find at least one good thing about it!

And, since it’s been an entire year since I a post about my current favorite reads. (As we head into the holiday season, a book is always a good gift idea!) Here are all the books I’ve read this year that I’ve loved:
 

Looking for Transwonderland, by Noo Saro-Wiwa

This was one of the best travel books I’ve read in recent memory. I absolutely loved it. Author Noo Saro-Wiwa returns to her Nigerian homeland from London to learn more about her heritage, country, and her father (who was executed in 1995 in Nigeria for protesting against the government). It’s filled with vivid descriptions, engaging prose, and wonderful dialogue that gives a lot of insight into the culture and diversity of Nigeria (a country I’ve yet to visit). It’s a must-read.

The Invisible Hook, by Peter Leeson

This book is about the economics of piracy in the 1700s. I know that sounds boring but it was actually super interesting. The Invisible Hook is a fascinating look at how pirates created constitutions, workers’ compensation programs, governed themselves, and used branding to minimize battles. Turns out, everything you think you know about pirates is just flat wrong. You wouldn’t think a book on “the economics of piracy” would be interesting and eye-opening but you’d be wrong on that account too!

Atomic Habits, by James Clear

This cultural bombshell of a book teaches us that small changes to our habits can create big results and help us create systems to achieve our goals. It was a good guide to how to structure your life for maximum pleasure (like waking up early to read!). While I do a lot of what he suggests, there were some tidbits that made me rethink my own habits. It’s the most practical habit creation book I’ve read and a must-read for anyone interested in productivity/time-management.

See You in the Piazza, by Frances Mayes

Frances Mayes is famous for sitting under the Tuscan sun, but in this book she and her husband Ed take you off the tourist trail and around thirteen regions in Italy. Just as wonderfully written as his New York Times bestseller Under the Tuscan Sun, this look at Italian food and culture was inspiring and informative. Wheather you’ve been to Italy or not, this book will fill you with wanderlust. I’ve been to Italy many times before but this book makes me want to go back as soon as possible. It’s a country I never tire of.

An Arabian Journey, by Levison Wood

Levison Wood is a British author and explorer who likes to go on long walks. And I mean long walks. He’s walked the Nile, the Himalayas, and the Americas. In this book, Levison spends months walking across the Middle East during the height of the Syrian civil war. I’m a big fan of Wood: his engrossing stories are filled with people and interesting facts about places. While I have no plans on walking across any country for months at a time, I found myself devouring this book as quickly as his previous ones.

The Great Influenza, John M. Barry

This is a fascinating look at the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed upwards of 50,000,000 people. Covering how the flu works, public health measures, and other aspects of what happened during the outbreak, it’s a fascinating look at what happened — and the lessons that we should have learned from it for COVID. While the book was eye-opening, skip the entire first section: it’s a really boring history about the main scientists and doctors and not needed at all. After that, though, the book really picks up though!

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman

I loved the 2007 movie Stardust and it was only after listening to Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass on writing (which is excellent) did I realize it was based on a book that he wrote! So, I picked it up and devoured it in a few sittings. It’s a magical tale off adventure and the story kept me saying, “And then what happened?” — which is precisely what you want any book to do. It’s a wonderful page-turner that will have you daydreaming about adventure.

Meeting Faith, by Faith Adiele

Faith Adiele is an extraordinary travel writer and also super nice — one of my favorite humans. This book chronicles her life in Thailand, where she lived at a remote Buddhsit monastery. The memoir chronicles how she became the first black Buddhist nun in the country, shedding life on her journey — both physical and spirital. It’s a remarkable book about finding your place in the world set in one of my favorite countries in the world.

Nerve, by Eva Holland

Written by fellow travel writer Eva Holland, this book is all about the science of fear. What causes it? How do we get over it? And how does it relate to adventure? Using her desire to get rid of her own fears, she delves deep into the science of fear to discover what we can do about it when we experience it. Eva is one of my favorite writers and she knocks it out of the park with her first book. As someone who is afraid of flying (ironic, isn’t it?), I found it fascinating.

Tracks, by Robyn Davidson

This book follows Robyn Davidson as she travels 1,700 miles across the Australian outback in 1980. Making the dangerous trek with four camels and her dog, I found her story riveting (it was actually made into a film in 2013 starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver). And as someone who has visited some of the places she went, it was a super interesting account of what they looked like long before I came through. I was captivated from page one of this thrilling tale of grit and adventure.

The Three-Body Problem, by Liu Cixin

Some friends turned me onto this award-winning sci-fi trilogy that involves aliens, space exploration, human psychology, and the terrifying concept of “a dark forest” that I haven’t stopped thinking about. The third book is my favorite. It’s perhaps one of the greatest sci-fi trilogies I’ve ever read and I’m super psyched Netflix is finally making it into a series! It’s a dense read that spans generations, but the story will keep your guessing. It was epic, detailed, and unique.

The Yellow Envelope, Kim Dinan

This book by Kim Dinan was an engaging travelogue about a woman who felt uneasy in her marriage and life in Portland. After convincing her husband to travel the world, they head on an adventure that tests their marriage. Along a journey that lasts longer than they thought, Kim finally finds her place in the world. While this is a stoy found in many travel books, it’s also story many people can relate to. I enjoyed her writing and the transformational stories she shared.

Talking to Strangers, by Malcolm Gladwell

This is probably now my favorite Malcolm Gladwell book. It’s an amazing look at how we (frequently fail to) communicate with each other. It talks about how we default to truth and make assumptions about people’s intentions. We often don’t put ourselves in the other person’s shoes to understand why they are reacting the way they are — and usually fail to ask too. It was an insightful and practical read _ especially in today’s political climate where honest communication is worse than ever.

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

After Stardust, I picked up another Gaiman book: Neverwhere. In this fantasy, an everyday Londoner, Richard, gets caught up in “London Below,” a world where the supernatural takes place without people above knowing about it. The book is based on a TV series Gaiman wrote, though the book was better received. The worldbuilding transforms London into a whole new world. Incredibly well written and filled with vivid imagery, this is my favorite novel of the year.

Ten Years a Nomad, by me!

And, finally, since I haven’t mentioned it in a few months, if you haven’t picked up a copy of my book, now’s a great time to do so. Ten Years a Nomad is my memoir and follows my ten years backpacking the world. It talks about the ups and downs of life as a permanent nomad, sharing my favorite stories and lessons learned — as well as my philosophy on travel in general. It’s my treatise on long-term travel and something I poured my heart and soul into. I hope you enjoy it!

This has been a great year for reading, and I’ve found some wonderful titles and incredible new authors. COVID may have ruined my travel plans, but I’m an even more devout reader now. If you have any suggestions, drop them in the comments.

P.S. – If you’re looking to get any of these books and are from the US or the UK, I highly recommend Bookshop. It supports independent booksellers — and still makes sure you get your books fast. The discounts aren’t as big, and obviously, there’s no Kindle, but if you’re still getting hard copies, please support your local bookstore. I know it’s super hard not to use Amazon (I default to it too often), but these small stores need our help!

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At a time when we can’t travel the world, the next best thing we can do is pick up a good travel book. As Emily Dickenson said, to shut our eyes is travel. Books transport us to distant lands and cultures. They nourish our wanderlust, entertain us, inform us, and provide us with a reservoir of potential trip ideas.

In short, they’re magic.

I love reading travel books. Without them, there would be places and cultures I’d never have heard of. Travel books have added depth to my travels and helped me develop much more nuanced perspectives of different countries and cultures.
They’ve also inspired me to visit tons of new places all around the globe.

Of course, I love traveling even more than reading but since we can’t do that right now, books are our window out into the world.

If you’re are itching to get your fix but are stuck in lockdown or self-isolation, here are some suggestions to get you started and keep your wanderlust stoked:
 

1. The Atlas of Happiness: The Global Secrets of How to Be Happy, by Helen Russell

Helen Russell, author of one of my favorite books, The Year of Living Danishly, wrote this comical visual guide that takes readers around the world — from Iceland to New Zealand to Japan to Ireland — in search of the ways that people define and discover happiness in their lives. It’s an informative, well-researched, and a feel-good guide to how the world stays happy — which is especailly important these days!

2. Ultimate Journeys for Two: Extraordinary Destinations on Every Continent, by Anne and Mike Howard

Having founded Honeytrek.com, Anne and Mike teamed up with National Geographic to curate these recommendations for intrepid couples. Chapters are organized by type of destination (beaches, mountains, deserts, and so on) to help travelers discover new places and experiences based on their interests. It’s an amazing resource for finding inspiration and ideas for your own travels (even if you’re a solo traveler).

3. The Dogs of ’Nam, by Christopher K. Oldfield

In this collection of short stories, our extremely budget-conscious Director of Content, Chris, recounts fumbling his way across the world as a backpacker on a budget. This is not a glamorous tale of luxury travel but rather a true and honest accounting of what it means to be a traveler. His adventures (including being stalked by a jaguar in Costa Rica and living at a Buddhist monastery in Japan) will entertain you, make you think, and inspire you to get out there and have some adventures of your own!

4. Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea, by Kira Salak

The British explorer Ivan Champion was the first individual to successfully cross the island of Papua New Guinea in 1927. In this book, author Kira Salak, the first non–Papua New Guinean woman to traverse this relatively untouched country and write about it, details her own epic adventures, experiences, and self-discoveries as she tries to mimic Champion’s epic journey. It’s a riveting look into the wild jungles of a country that so few have been able to visit firsthand.

5. Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana, by Stephanie Elizondo Griest

This is the story of a young journalist who travels to Russia, China, and Cuba to witness the effects of communism and explore a world not many of us get to see. Griest relates her experiences as a volunteer at a children’s shelter in Moscow, a propaganda polisher at the office of the Communist Party’s English-language mouthpiece in Beijing, and a belly dancer among the rumba queens of Havana. It’s an eye-opening glimpse at life in lands often considered “the enemy.”

6. Rediscovering Travel: A Guide for the Globally Curious, by Seth Kugel

In his book, Kugel challenges travelers to reignite our age-old sense of spontaneity. Remember traveling without constantly summoning Google Maps, consulting TripAdvisor, and using travel points? Remember being curious having not Googled every answer, every direction? Seth argues that, while challenging, those misadventures were also rewarding. Seth’s own misadventures highlight (often hilariously) how to embrace digital tools in a way that will complement your trip — not smother it.

7. My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile, by Isabel Allende

Allende is best known for some of her more famous works, such as The House of Spirits and The Japanese Lover. But in this memoir, she explores her personal journey living in numerous countries and her complex emotions toward her Chilean homeland. The book paints a vivid, nostalgic picture of the world from which is is from. Sometimes funny, sometimes sorrowful, its insight and realism are what make this a captivating read.

8. Misadventure Is Better, by David Campbell

“If it isn’t a good time, it’s usually a good story.” That’s the backbone of this hilarious tale. Campbell, born to an American father and French mother, has been confused about where he belongs since day one. After graduating from college, he decided to go abroad for a while to figure things out. He worked as a cycling tour guide in Europe, enrolled in the Peace Corps in Senegal, earned a master’s degree in New Zealand, went back to Senegal for his thesis research, and then returned to New Zealand.

9. Wanderlust: A Love Affair with Five Continents, by Elisabeth Eaves

Written by Elisabeth Eaves, this book follows her journeys around the world as she satiates her wanderlust and learns about herself. It started off slow but I really loved the writing here. It really drew you in and left you inspired. The book follows her from being a student studying a broad to being a backpacker around the world to living in Pakistan and Australia. Along the way she comes to peace with the wanderlust inside her and figures out how to balance being a nomad and someone with roots.

10. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, by Jack Weatherford

I never knew much about Genghis Kahn so when this was recommended to me, I thought why not. It was a surprisingly pageturner. This was not some dry history book filled with footnotes but a vividly told story about Kahn and his descendants. Most history books miss the “story” part but not this one. It has an arch, vivid imagery, and incredible characters. And it fills you in a lot on the Mongolian empire. Who knew they had a central bank, universal education, paper money, didn’t torture, or had religious freedom?

11. Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home, by me!

Ten Years a Nomad is a memoir about my ten years traveling and backpacking the world, my philosophy on travel, and the lessons I learned that can help you travel better. It takes you on a trip around the world from start to finish: getting the travel bug, planning, setting off, the highs and lows, the friends made, what happens when you come back — and the lessons and advice that result from all that. I poured my heart into this book. It is my opus on travel and features all my best stories too!

12. How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, by me!

Okay, I know I include this book in every list, but it’s awesome, so you should read it! This New York Times best-seller, called “the bible for budget travelers” by the BBC, will teach how to master the art of travel so you can save money, get off the beaten path, and have a more local, richer travel experience, no matter where you’re going. It will help you plan for the trip you can take when the world starts again and we can all leave our house!

In these times when we can’t travel with our bodies, we can still travel with our minds. These books will help fill your days and recharge your wanderlust battery for when you can finally traverse the world again.

If you have any suggestions that I can add to this list, leave them in the comments!

P.S. – If you’re looking for more suggestions, be sure to check out all my favorites on Bookshop. It’s not as cheap as Amazon but the money helps small, independent bookstores rather than Amazon. (If you only use Kindle, here’s the Amazon link.)

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Another year is almost over, which means it’s again time for my annual best books of the year list! This year, I sort of fell off the book-reading wagon. Writing my own book, moving to Paris and then Austin, and running a conference was exhausting and, by the end of the day, I was often too tired to read.

But, while Netflix often whisked me away to dreamland, I did manage to read a lot of great books this year. It may not have been as many as I would have liked but one can still not be mad at averaging two books a month.

So, as we come to end of 2019, here are my favorite travel and non-travel books I think you should pick up to consume:

1. Ten Years a Nomad, by me!

This is my new(ish) book!!! Unlike my previous books, this is not a “how to” guide but a collection of insights and stories from the road. It’s a memoir of my ten years backpacking the world and the lessons I learned along the way. This book gets to the heart of wanderlust and what extended travel can teach us about life, ourselves, and our place in the world. It’s available as an audiobook too! I think it makes for the BEST Christmas gift and it would mean a lot if you picked it up!

2. River Town, by Peter Hessler

This book is about American writer and journalist Peter Hessler’s time living in Fuling, China, in the 1990s as one of the first Peace Corp volunteers allowed into the country. I loved his book Oracle Bones, so I was excited to read this one. While I don’t think it’s quite as good as ,em.Oracle Bones, it’s nevertheless an insightful, fascinating, well-written account of what living as an expat in China was like during a time of great social and political upheaval.

3. Lands of Lost Borders, by Kate Harris

I read this right after I handed in the final draft of my book Ten Years a Nomad and was blown away by Kate Harris’s magical prose. Kate writes the way I would love to be gifted enough to write. The book follows her journey cycling the Silk Road from Turkey to Tibet and is filled with vivid descriptions of the people and places she encountered. Kate does a magnificent job of weaving adventure and philosophy. It’s one of the best books I read all year.

4. The Joys of Travel, by Thomas Swick

Thomas Swick has been a travel writer and editor for decades and is one of the giants in the industry (it’s been fun to get to know him over the years; I only regret not finding his work sooner). The book is a quick but thoughtful read on the emotions we feel as travelers and is filled with lovely stories from his time living abroad in Poland and how mass communication has changed travel. It’s a relatable, insightful book that reminds us why we travel.

5. Here Lies America, by Jason Cochran

This book examines death tourism in America and the forgotten history that comes along with it. My friend Jason Cochran spent time roaming the country exploring the secret past of America’s greatest memorials through the lens of his family’s history. It’s an intriguing and absorbing look at the history of the US (I learned a lot I didn’t know and I’m a history buff!) and how we remember our history (and what parts of that history we conveniently choose to forget).

6. The Atlas of Happiness, by Helen Russell

Written by best-selling author Helen Russell (who also wrote the amazing and entertaining book The Year of Living Danishly), this book examines what makes certain cultures happy and others not. (In many ways, it’s like The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner.) The book highlights interesting facts from cultures all around the globe and it’s writing style makes it an easy read, offering practical tips and insights you can implement in your own quest for happiness and meaning.

7. Stillness Is the Key, by Ryan Holiday

Written by best-selling author and modern-day philosopher Ryan Holiday, this book is a short and easy (but impactful) treatise on the need for stillness in your life. In this fast-paced world, we forget that slowing down can provide us with calmness, thoughtfulness, and help us lead a happier and more balanced life. As someone who has gone through a lot of change this year, I found a lot of wisdom in the book. It’s his best writing to date and has tips and wisdom that everyone can implement.

8. Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker

As an insomniac, I was hoping this book would help me learn how to sleep better. It didn’t. But what it did do was show me just how important sleep really is and why I need to try to get a lot more of it. It’s a compelling, eye-opening book — especially considering that in our fast-paced, over-worked world the manta “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” dangerously common. But reading this taught me just how misguided that phrase is and that if I don’t try to sleep more, I’ll be dead much quicker!

9. Dark Matter, by Blake Crouch

Without giving too much away, this sci-fi book by Blake Crouch revolves around the idea of an infinite multiverse where every possible outcome of a decision plays out — and each decision thereafter creates another split, and so forth and so forth. It made me really think about regret and the decisions we make in our lives in a way I never thought about before. I couldn’t put the book down and found it a profoundly impactful book. It changed how I view regret.

10. Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me), by Carol Tavris

I know that I’m raving about a lot of books on this list, but this is hands-down the best I read all year, one that made me look at people differently. We have a hard time saying, “I was wrong” (even when presented with facts that show 100% we were wrong). This book delves into why people double down on false information. In an age of “fake news,” it was an eye-opening look into how people reduce cognitive dissonance. Everyone should read this book!

So there you have it! My favorite books of 2019. I wish the list was longer so I could say I kept my promise to read more, but all you can do is pick up and keep going! I have a pile of books on my coffee table I’m getting through quicker, now that I’m at home more.

Regardless, if you’re looking for some good books this holiday season, pick one of these up (especially mine, because, hey, let’s be real, I’d appreciate the support!).

If you have any suggestions on what to read, leave them in the comments.

P.S. – If you’re looking for more suggestions, be sure to check out all my favorites on Bookshop. It’s not as cheap as Amazon but the money helps small, independent bookstores rather than Amazon. (If you only use Kindle, here’s the Amazon link.)

The post My Favorite Books of 2019 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

A few years ago, I read the book The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell. I think it originally came up as a suggested book on Amazon. I can’t fully remember. But, I stuck it in my queue, ordered it, and it sat on my bookshelf until it was time to read it. I couldn’t put it down. It was funny, well written, interesting, and an insightful look into Danish culture. It was one of my favorite books I read that year.

Last year, I somehow convinced Helen to speak at TravelCon and got to meet her in person. Now, she has a new book out called The Atlas of Happiness. It’s about why people in certain places are happier than others. It’s a phenomenal book (you should get it). Today, Helen shares some of what she learned in researching that book!

Here’s a funny thing: if you’ve been online today for more than a fraction of a second, you may have started to get the sense that the world is A Terrible Place. Even the committed traveler with an open mind could be forgiven for thinking that the outlook is pretty bleak.

And if you’ve seen the headlines today or been on social media and you’re feeling low as a result, you’re not alone.

It’s easy to get the idea that the world is becoming more miserable by the minute and that happiness is a luxury in these troubled times.

But over the past six years, I’ve learned that there are people all around the world finding ways to stay happy, every day. And that happiness is something we’re hardwired to seek out – wherever we are.

I started researching happiness in 2013 when I relocated from the UK to Denmark. I’d spent 12 years living and working in London as a journalist, and I had no intention of leaving, until out of the blue one wet Wednesday, my husband came home and told me he’d been offered his dream job…working for Lego in rural Jutland. I was skeptical to start with — I had a good career, a nice flat, great friends, close family — I had a life.

Okay, so my husband and I both worked long hours, we were tired all the time, and never seemed to be able to see each other very much. We regularly had to bribe ourselves to get through the day and we’d both been ill on and off for the past six months.

But that was normal, right?

We thought we were ‘living the dream.’ I was 33 years old and we’d also been trying for a baby for as long as either of us could remember, enduring years of fertility treatment, but we were always so stressed that it never quite happened.

So when my husband was offered a job in Denmark, this ‘other life’ possibility was dangled in front of us — the chance to swap everything we knew for the unknown. Denmark had just been voted the world’s happiest country in the UN’s annual report and I became fascinated by this. How had a tiny country of just 5.5m people managed to pull off the happiest nation on earth title? Was there something in the water? And if we couldn’t get happier in Denmark, where could we get happier?

During our first visit, we noticed that there was something a bit different about the Danes we met. They didn’t look like us, for starters — quite apart from the fact that they were all strapping Vikings towering over my 5’3” frame — they looked more relaxed and healthier. They walked more slowly. They took their time to stop and eat together, or talk, or just…breathe.

And we were impressed.

My Lego Man husband was sold on the idea and begged me to move, promising we’d relocate for my career next time. And I was so worn out by my hectic London life that I found myself agreeing. I quit my job to go freelance and decided I would give it a year, investigating the Danish happiness phenomenon first hand — looking at a different area of living each month to find out what Danes did differently.

From food to family life; work culture to working out; and design to the Danish welfare state — each month I would throw myself into living ‘Danishly’ to see if it made me any happier and if I could change the way I lived as a result. I decided I would interview as many Danes, expats, psychologists, scientists, economists, historians, sociologists, politicians, everyone, in fact, to try to uncover the secrets to living Danishly.

I documented my experiences for two UK newspapers before being asked to write a book: The Year of Living Danishly, Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country.

Since then, I’ve been humbled and moved to hear from readers from across the globe with wide-ranging life perspectives, but the one constant was a need to share the happiness secrets of their own cultures. Some of the themes that sprung out were universal — such as social interactions, exercising out of doors and finding a balance in life — while others were intriguingly unique.

So I set out to research into unique happiness concepts from around the world, interviewing people internationally until The Atlas of Happiness — my new book-baby — was born. It isn’t a compendium of the happiest countries; instead, it’s a look at what’s making people happier in different places. Because if we only look at the countries already coming top of the happiness polls, we miss out on ideas and knowledge from cultures we’re less familiar with.

Nowhere is perfect. Every country has faults. But I wanted to celebrate the best parts of a country’s culture as well as national characteristics at their finest – because that’s what we should all be aiming for.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Did you know, for example, that in Portuguese there’s something called saudade — a feeling of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia for a happiness that once was — or even a happiness you merely hoped for?

And while Brazil may be famous for its carnival spirit, the flipside of this, saudade, is so central to the Brazilian psyche that it’s even been given its own official ‘day’ on the 30th of January every year.

Most of us will have experienced a bittersweet pleasure in moments of melancholy — flicking through old photos, or caring about anyone enough to miss them when they’re gone.

And scientists have found that this temporary sadness — counter-intuitively — makes us happier: providing catharsis; improving our attention to detail; increasing perseverance and promoting generosity. So we should all spend time remembering those we’ve loved and lost — then practice being a little more grateful for the ones still around.

Finland ranked number one in this year’s UN World Happiness report thanks to a great quality of life, free healthcare, and education funded by high taxes.

But there’s also something else the Finns enjoy that’s infinitely more exportable: kalsarikännit — defined as ‘drinking at home in your underwear with no intention of going out’ — a pursuit so popular it even has its own emoji, commissioned by The Finnish Foreign Ministry.

In common with most Scandinavians, Finns aren’t shy about disrobing, and they all have such enviably well-insulated houses that stripping down to their pants is apparently completely okay even when it’s minus 35 degrees outside. What you drink and crucially how much of it you knock back is down to the individual, but it’s a uniquely Finnish form of happiness and mode of relaxation that we can all give a go.

In Greece, they have a concept called meraki that refers to an introspective, precise expression of care, usually applied to a cherished pastime — and it’s keeping Greeks happy despite turbulent times. This is because having a hobby improves our quality of life according to scientists, and challenging ourselves to do something different also creates new neural pathways in our brain. Having a passion that you take pride can be of extra benefit to those who can’t say the same for their primary occupation.

Because meraki can make life worthwhile if your 9-5 is more of a daily grind. Many tasks that need to be taken care of on a day-to-day basis aren’t particularly challenging or inspiring – from filing, to raising purchase orders or even — dare I say it — some of the more gruelling aspects of parenting.

But we can break up the never-ending cycle of mundane work with our own personal challenges — things that we’re passionate about that we can genuinely look forward to doing. Our meraki.

Dolce far niente — or the sweetness of doing nothing — is a much-treasured concept in Italy — often hashtagged on Instagram accompanying pictures of Italians in hammocks. Okay, so Italy hasn’t exactly topped any happiness rankings in recent years, but the cliché of the carefree Italian still exists – and with good reason.

Italians do ‘nothing’ like no other nation and perfecting the art takes style and skill – because there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s watching the world go by over coffee and a cornetto. It’s laughing at tourists. Or politicians. And crucially it’s about savoring the moment and really enjoying the present. Many of us search for relaxation by traveling to exotic locations, drinking to oblivion, or trying to blot out the noise of modern life.

But Italians let the chaos wash over them. Instead of saving up our ‘fun quota’ for an annual escape, they spread it over the minutes, hours and days throughout the year and ‘enjoy life’ in all its messy reality.

One of the happiest countries in the world, the Norwegians must be doing something right. And quite aside from their enviable Scandi-lifestyles and the safety net of all that oil, Norwegians have a secret ace card up their sleeves: a concept called friluftsliv. This roughly translates as ‘free air life’ and it’s a code of conduct as well as a life goal for most Norwegians – who like to spend time outdoors and get high, as often as possible.

Anyone who’s ever visited the country will know that if you meet a Norwegian out in nature, their objective tends to be the highest mountain nearby – and there’s a saying in Norway that “You must make an effort before you can have pleasure’.

Most Norwegians believe you have to work for things, to earn them with physical endeavors, battling the elements. Only once you’ve climbed a mountain in the rain and cold, can you truly enjoy your dinner. It’s an old fashioned approach to the good life but numerous studies show that using our bodies and getting out into nature as often as possible boosts mental and physical wellbeing.

Which is all very well, on paper. But how to apply these principles and all the things I’d learned in real life? Well, I took it slowly — dolce far niente style. I had to learn not to be the archetypal Londoner, working all hours. Instead, I had to try relaxing once in a while.

Radical, I know.

Next, I got on the hobby train. I found my meraki in pottery, in cooking and trying out new recipes, often inspired by the countries I was researching. Some weeks, we ate well. Others, not so much (my husband still hasn’t forgiven me for ‘Russian month’). I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve done a fair amount of underwear-drinking, too.

The Finnish concept of kalsarikännit and I are now firm friends. And because I was working less and being more mindful of living well and looking after myself, it was relatively easy to adopt the Norwegian ethos of friluftsliv.

So now I try to ask myself: what did I do today? What did I climb? Where did I go? But the biggest mind shift was the realization that to be happy, we have to be comfortable being sad sometimes, too. That we’re at our healthiest and happiest when we can reconcile ourselves to all our emotions, good and bad.

The Portuguese saudade was a game changer for me — helping me to come to terms with the life I thought I’d have and find a way to move on, without resentment or bitterness. Because when you let go of these things, something pretty amazing can happen.

By learning from other cultures about happiness, wellbeing and how to stay healthy (and sane), I found a way to be less stressed than I was in my old life. I developed a better understanding of the challenges and subtleties of coming from another culture. My empathy levels went up. I learned to care, more.

Optimism isn’t frivolous: it’s necessary. You’re travelers. You get this. But we need to spread the word, now, more than ever. Because we only have one world, so it would be really great if we didn’t mess it up.

Hellen Russell is a British journalist, speaker, and the author of the international bestseller The Year of Living Danishly. Her most recent book, The Atlas of Happiness, examines the cultural habits and traditions of happiness around the globe. Formerly the editor of marieclaire.co.uk, she now writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, including Stylist, The Times, Grazia, Metro, and The i Newspaper.
 

The post The Atlas of Happiness: Discovering the World’s Secret to Happiness with Helen Russell appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

I’ve been terrible this year when it comes to books. I started off with a reading bang, but writing my own book and planning TravelCon took up so much time that I must admit that I haven’t read a lot this year.

By the end of the day, I just didn’t have the energy to process words. I used to read a book every week or so; this year, it’s sometimes taken me months to finish one.

I broke a habit — and now getting back into the flow again is proving tougher than I thought (though I am setting a specific time during my day to read again, so that’s good).

And that is why it’s been a long time since we had a “best travel books of the year” list. I’ve been asked for recommendations, but I just haven’t had many to give. However, I finished a few books in the last couple of weeks, so I finally feel I have enough suggestions to warrant a new post!

So here is a new post on my favorite books of 2018 (so far). There are a lot of non-travel books on this list, as I’m trying to expand my reading genres!
 

Dune, by Frank Herbert

I love the cheesy Syfy channel movies based on this book and finally decided to pick up this massive 800-page tome. The story centers around Paul Atreides and the desert planet Arrakis, one of the most important planets in the cosmos because it produces the “spice.” The world building is amazing. I couldn’t put this book down. It had character depth, intrigue, and action mixed in with philosophy and what it means to have power and lead a good life. It’s no surprise that this is one of the most epic and important sci-fi works ever written.

Souvenir (Object Lessons), by Rolf Potts

From the best-selling author of the backpacking bible Vagabonding, this new book by Rolf Potts explores the hidden lives of ordinary things. Potts goes back several millennia to examine the relic-driven journeys of Christians as well as the gimmicky souvenirs you’ll find at any shop in any tourist destination. It’s a short — but insightful — read that is a great treatise on the power of souvenirs and why we buy the things we do when we travel.

Conspiracy, by Ryan Holiday

This is a real-life story of how Gawker outed PayPal founder and billionaire investor Peter Thiel as gay and how, seeking revenge, Thiel helped fund the Hulk Hogan lawsuit that, in the end, brought down the Gawker empire (Gawker was sued by Hogan for publishing his sex tape). Featuring interviews with all the key players, this book is a fascinating and sometimes scary read about how one man can bring down an empire, ego, and the insidious nature of conspiracies.

Tip of the Iceberg, by Mark Adams

Back in 1899, Edward H. Harriman (a rich railroad magnate) converted a steamship into a luxury cruise for some of America’s best scientists and writers and embarked on a summer voyage around Alaska. Now, author Mark Adams retraces that expedition, traveling over 3,000 miles along the coast of the state. Mark is one of my favorite writers, and this book is very reminiscent of Turn Right at Machu Picchu. Mark brings insight into the people, history, and culture of the state in a way he did with his other book.

The Black Penguin, by Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans’s life was laid out for him: church, mission, university, marriage, and children. But as a gay kid stuck in rural Ohio, he escaped to the pages of Nat Geo (which he now works for). After being shunned by his family, Evans set out on an overland journey halfway around the world. This is the story about his 12,000-mile journey over mountains and through deserts and jungles until he eventually reaches his ultimate goal: Antarctica. This is a really beautiful read that touches on faith, family, and self.

Atomic Habits, by James Clear

Not travel related, but Atomic Habits gives you a solid framework for improving yourself every single day. In this book, Clear discusses habit formation and reveals strategies that will teach you how forming good new habits will break the bad ones. It’s practical, insightful, and eye-opening. As he says: “If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system.” James is an amazing writer and person, and I was super excited to get my hands on his book when it came out!

The Fish That Ate the Whale, by Rich Cohen

This is the true story of Samuel Zemurray, a self-made banana seller who went from a roadside peddler to kingmaker and capitalist revolutionary. When Zemurray showed up in America in 1891, he was penniless. By the time he died 69 years later, he was one of the richest men in the world. It’s a fascinating story of the kind of Gilded Age capitalism that doesn’t exist anymore (for good reason) and will give you a new look at the whole sordid nature of the banana industry.

Why the Dutch Are Different, by Ben Coates

Ben Coates got stranded at Schiphol Airport, where he called a Dutch girl he’d met a few months earlier and asked if he could stay over the night. He never left. Fascinated by his adopted home, this is a travel book wrapped in a history book wrapped in a memoir. It’s also a look at modern Dutch culture and society, as well as how it got that way and what the future holds for the country. It’s one of the better books on the Netherlands I’ve read — and I’ve read a few!

Rediscovering Travel, by Seth Kugel

Former New York Times Frugal Traveler columnist Seth Kugel is one of the world’s best travel writers. In this book, Kugel challenges the lack of spontaneity in adventure in today’s world because of all the websites (like this one) out there that allow people to plan everything down to a T instead of letting travel just happen. It’s a collection of amusing stories designed to inspire you to be a little less tied to technology on your next trip! I got to read it before it came out.

The Dutch Wife, by Ellen Keith

In 1943, Marijke de Graaf is sent from Amsterdam to a concentration camp in Germany with her husband, where she faces a choice: death, or join the camp’s brothel. It is there she encounters SS officer Karl Müller. Keith’s ability to seamlessly combine different timelines and narratives as well as paint the emotions that come from tough choices is superb (and why this book topped the Canadian best-seller lists when it came out!).

Blackout, by Sarah Hepola

Ever blacked out so hard from drinking that you forgot hours of your evening? This was Sarah Hepola’s life, during a time where she spent most evenings at fancy parties and dark bars until last call. This self-reflective and poignant book about the causes of her alcoholism, the effect it had on her life and the lives of her friends, and Hepola’s rediscovery of herself is a touching book that will make you think about the negative habits in your life — and how you can break them.

So there you are! Those are my favorite books of the year so far.

If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I created on Amazon that lists them all!

You can also find all of my books in my Bookshop store, which is like Amazon BUT it supports locally-owned small bookstores. If you’re in the US, you can find my bookshop store here

The post My Favorite Books of 2018 (So Far) appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

The end of the year is just that time for favorites lists – and I’ve written about the best travel books many times over! I love talking about travel books. Why? Because part of the tool belt of any traveler is a good book. Long bus, train, or plane rides can get pretty boring and can give you a lot of “dead” time if you haven’t mastered the art of the 10-hour blank stare. Additionally, reading travel books helps you learn about the destinations you are visiting. The more you know about a place, the more you can understand a place.

I am a voracious reader and even used to have a book club on this website where I shared all the books I read. Today is another one of those days where I share some of the books I’ve read recently! If you’re looking for some great reads, here are my current list of the best travel books to inspire you to travel to far-off lands:
 

1. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

A book about following your dreams, this is one of the most-read books in recent history. The story follows a young shepherd boy from Spain to Egypt as he follows his heart, goes with the flow, and learns love and the meaning of life. The book is filled with wonderful and inspirational quotes. My favorite: “If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man… Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living right now.” I can’t recommend this book enough.

2. Love With a Chance of Drowning, by Torre DeRoche

This book is written by travel blogger Torre DeRoche. While I’m normally not a huge fan of “travel love stories” I actually couldn’t put this book down. It’s a beautifully written book about overcoming her fear of the ocean to sail across the Pacific with her boyfriend. The way she describes the scenery, the people, and her experience makes me want to follow in her footsteps. It’s powerful, vivid, and moving. It’s also the best travel book I’ve read all year.

3. The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah

Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Shah decides to buy a house in Casablanca. He moves his family from England in hopes of breaking out from the monotony of life in London as well as exposing his children to a more carefree childhood. While dealing with corruption, the local bureaucracy, thieves, gangsters, jinns causing havoc, and the hassle that seems to come with even the most simple interactions, Shah weaves a story that is simply one of the best I’ve read all year. It’s endlessly enthralling.

4. On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

Written in 1957, Jack Kerouac’s Beat Generation classic is a timeless travel novel. The story follows his character, Sal, as he leaves New York City and heads west, riding the rails, making friends, and partying the night away. The main character’s frustration and desire to see the world are themes that can resonate with many of us. What I especially love about On the Road is that through all his travel adventures, he becomes a better, stronger, and more confident person — something I can personally resonate with.

5. Looking for Transwonderland, by Noo Saro-Wiwa

This was one of the best travel books I’ve read in recent memory. I absolutely loved it. British author Noo Saro-Wiwa returns to her Nigerian homeland to learn more about her heritage, country, and her father (who was executed in 1995 in Nigeria for protesting against the government). It’s filled with vivid descriptions, engaging prose, and wonderful dialogue that gives a lot of insight into the culture and diversity of Nigeria, a country I’ve yet to visit. It’s a must-read.
 

6. The Lost City of Z, by David Grann

This book seeks to find out what happened to Percy Fawcett, an adventurer and explorer who trekked through the Amazon jungle in search of the fabled lost city of Z. Blending history, biography, and travelogue, Grann intermingles information about Percy’s life and expeditions with the science behind the myth of Z and the possibility that there could have been vast advanced civilizations in the Amazon that we have yet to discover. I learned a lot about the region and history of the cultures that inhabited the land long before Westerners arrived.

7. The Beach, by Alex Garland

Besides The Alchemist, this is probably my favorite travel book. (I like the movie too, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, but the book is way better.) Focused on a group of backpackers, what I love about Garland’s tale and their search for the ultimate backpacker paradise is that many of us can identify with Richard and his quest to “do something different and get off the beaten path.” Yet in the end we often realize that very quest is an illusion. It’s a fun, page-turning tale about how backpackers’ search for the “ideal destination” can end up ruining that ideal. I love this book a lot!!

8. Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts

Written by the godfather of vagabonding, Rolf Potts, this book is a must-read for those new to long-term travel. Rolf spent 10 years on the road (he even walked across Israel), and his book contains valuable insights, interesting quotes, and a lot of practical information. From saving to planning to life on the road, this is a must for newbies. It’s an inspirational book and one that really affected me when I was planning my trip. It delves into the why and philosophy of long-term travel that no other book has come close to doing.

9. In A Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson

It’s hard to pick just one book by Bill Bryson because they’re all great. He’s one of the most prolific and recognized names in travel writing. This book chronicles a journey through Australia and takes you from east to west, through tiny little mining towns, forgotten coastal cities, and off-the-beaten-path forests. Bryson includes lots of trivia in his tale as he travels around in awe — and sometimes in fear (thanks to box jellyfish, crocs, spiders, and snakes) — of this enormous country. This is the book that inspired me to go to Australia.

10. Dispatches from Pluto, by Richard Grant

As a big fan of the state of Mississippi, I was excited to read this book, in which English writer Richard Grant and his girlfriend move to rural Pluto, Mississippi. Their aims are to live a better life, escape the big city, lower their cost of living, and try something new. Along the way, they learn to hunt, garden, fend off wild animals, handle snakes, and befriend some interesting characters too. Grant dives into the contradictions of this state, from race relations and class to education, food, and family.

11. Turn Right at Machu Picchu, by Mark Adams

This book recounts Adams’s tale of roughing it through Peru in search of Inca ruins and ancient cities while following archaeologist Hiram Bingham’s original route to the famed Machu Picchu. The book taught me a lot about Peru, and I am inspired to visit a lot of the sites Adams explored on my trip there next year. Like him, I fully plan to turn right. It was the best travelogue I’ve read in the past year and has inspired me to visit a lot of the places he did in the book whenever I finally make it down to Peru!

12. A Year of Living Danishly, by Helen Russell

This was probably my favorite book I read that year. When her husband gets a job at the Lego offices in Jutland, Helen Russell decides to head to Denmark with him, freelance write, and try to figure out why the Danes are so happy. From childcare, education, food, and interior design to taxes, sexism, and everything in between (turns out the Danes love to burn witches), Helen’s funny, poignant story kept me enthralled from start to finish. It’s informative, hilarious, self-deprecating, and tells a great story of someone trying to fit in.

13. The Art of Travel, by Alain de Botton

A departure from travel books where the author recounts their adventures on the road, this book examines the why of travel. Why do we travel? What drives us? Botton delves into every aspect of travel, from the journey to the destination to the return home. His sophisticated prose and vivid imagery sucks you in as he examines the mundane, the beautiful, and the wondrous. It’s one of the most thought-provoking travel books I’ve read.

14. From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home, by Tembi Locke

Recently made into a captivating Netflix series, this New York Times bestseller tells a powerful tale of love, grief, and resilience. Estranged for years from her husband’s Italian family, the author connects with them on the island of Sicily after his death. There, she discovers the unexpected healing powers of food and family as she reflects on their romance and life together. The powerful imagery and emotion of this book made me tear up so many times. It’s an incredible read.
 

BONUS: Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home, by me!

Ten Years a Nomad is my memoir, focused on a decade of travel and backpacking. In it I share my philosophy on travel, the lessons I’ve learned (that can help you travel better), and the reality of long-term travel. Prepare to take a trip around the world from start to finish, from getting the travel bug, to planning and setting off, to all the the highs and lows that come from nomadic life. I poured my heart into this book, my opus on travel. In it you’ll find all my best stories too!
 

Books about travel inspire us to go visit far-off lands and imagine us doing incredible things. Bryson’s In a Sunburned Country inspired me to visit Australia! I hope these travel books inspire you to travel the world and feed your wanderlust. If you have any suggestions that I can add to this best travel books list, leave them in the comments.

If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I created on Amazon that lists them all!

You can also find them listed in our Bookshop store, which helps support locally-owned bookstores. If you’re in the US, click here to check out my Bookshop store!

The post 15 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Welcome to the latest post in our Africa column by Natasha and Cameron from The World Pursuit. This month they are sharing their favorite books about the continent that will inspire you to visit!

When we first decided to travel around Africa, I called a family friend from Swaziland. She gave me an hour-long rundown of travel on the continent and threw in a nice list of books to read.

The first one I picked up was The Elephant Whisperer. In some ways, Lawrence Anthony’s story about the bond he forms with a wild elephant herd captures the magic you can only find in Africa. The feeling is almost palpable and the air at times feels electric.

The diverse continent has no shortage of inspiration for stories. It’s supplied us with an endless stream of books to consume during our travels. Here are my 10 favorite books to read about Africa:
 

1. Disgrace, by J. M. Coetzee

South African author J. M. Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and this beautiful but tragic novel left me traumatized. It’s a dark and disturbing tale of disgrace. A university professor is dismissed from his job after an affair. He escapes to his daughter’s farm in the Eastern Cape and is forced to come to terms with the reality of life after an attack in which his daughter is raped and impregnated and he is brutally beaten. The book is heavy, but it does a great job of depicting the violence of post-apartheid South Africa.

2. Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen

I had for a long time put off reading the book, scoffing at the idea of a foreigner writing an evocative novel on Africa. However, when I read an excerpt in the Masai Mara, I changed my mind. What I love about this book is the language. Karen was a true poet, and her deep affection for the bush and Africa’s people — and writing — make you fall in love, too. The book draws you in and makes you want to be transported back to yesteryear and experience the romance of exploration and nature.

3. Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith

This long-running series tells the story of a women’s detective agency based in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. The first book follows Mma Precious Ramotswe as she works to found her own detective agency. I love the spunk of her character! It’s all about bringing girl power to the African continent, where many women are still considered second-class citizens. To see a woman tackling gender stereotypes in Botswana is exciting.

4. The State of Africa, by Martin Meredith

The book is a bit heavy and factual. However, if you want to understand modern-day Africa and the challenges that the continent faces, there is no better book. Martin Meredith effectively gives a crash course in African politics, starting with the birth of African nations. He offers perspective on the poverty and challenges facing Africa. Despite the book’s density, Meredith’s writing keeps the reader’s attention with his wit and insights. It’s thought-provoking and will likely shatter any preconceived notions.

5. Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This disturbing but engrossing novel takes readers through the Biafran War (Nigerian Civil War) through perspectives of various characters. The book provides a haunting glimpse into the brutality of Nigeria’s civil war, portraying the hardships that both sides endured. (Sadly it’s a story we find all across the African continent: lines are drawn in the sand and tribalism often lead to the clash of neighbors, friends, and even family.)

6. The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, by Lawrence Anthony

Leave it to a book about elephants to be the happiest on this list. In order to save a rogue herd from being culled, Lawrence Anthony introduces them to his private game reserve, Thula Thula, in South Africa. What ensues is a heartwarming story that connects the audience with the beauty of these amazing creatures. The connection that Lawrence forms with the matriarch of the herd will transform the way you perceive animal intelligence and emotion. (His next book, The Last Rhinos, is also worth reading).

7. Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds, by Joy Adamson

I had to pick this book up after finishing The Elephant Whisperer. Elsa is the famous Kenyan lioness who was raised by George and Joy Adamson. The two conservationists took on the daring task of raising the cub in captivity after George orphaned her by killing the mother, teaching her to fend for herself in the wild. It’s an amazing story about companionship and love in the African bush. I’m a firm believer in conservation and that we simply need more people to care about these animals.

8. The End of the Game, by Peter Beard

While The Elephant Whisperer is heartwarming and beautiful, The End of the Game is gut-wrenching. Throughout the ’60s and ’70s, Peter Beard spent much of his time working and photographing Tsavo National Park. A drought swept through the park, and the large population of elephants were confined with little food and water. The result was a mass killing. Beard’s diaries turned coffee table books are a work of art and at times a glimpse into the mind of a mad genius.

9. Long Walk to Freedom, by Nelson Mandela

“As I finally walked through those gates to enter a car on the other side, I felt — even at the age of seventy-one — that my life was beginning anew. My ten thousand days of imprisonment were over.” What more can be said about Nelson Mandela? He is possibly one of the most influential and inspirational Africans to have lived. When he passed away in 2013, it was a loss to the world. His autobiography covers the span of his life up until he becomes president of South Africa. It’s a moving and evocative book.

10. Palace Walk, by Naguib Mahfouz

This first novel in Naguib Mahfouz’s Cairo Trilogy charts Egypt as it moves into the modern age. Set just after the end of World War I, this epic follows a Cairo merchant whose family follows strict social and religious rules. The book’s omniscient narrator does an excellent job of never passing judgment on the characters’ flaws, instead of allowing their actions to speak for themselves. The book gave me a revealing glimpse into North African and Arabic culture.

There are so many great books about Africa that can offer a better sense of the continent. I believe exploring literature is just as important as exploring the world. Every piece of literature on Africa you read shines a bit more light on a place that can still be referred to as the “Dark Continent.”

Natasha and Cameron run the blog The World Pursuit, focusing on adventure and cultural travel. The two of them met in the film industry before they decided to abandon the American lifestyle and travel the world. Follow their adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I created on Amazon that lists them all!

The post 10 Books that Will Inspire You to Visit Africa appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.