OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BEST ADVENTURE TRAVEL BOOKS

Books about exploration and adventure are one of the most popular categories in travel literature.  Travel in general is often a celebration of discovery, but there is something especially intriguing and inspiring about the quest to truly push human boundaries.  Some of our recommendations are first and foremost funny, written from the self-deprecating point of view of everyday people subjecting themselves to extreme situations.  Three of the best writers in this genre include the adventure travel writer Tim Cahill, Richard Grant with God’s Middle Finger, and the hilarious English writer and scholar Redmond O’Hanlon.  Some of our recommended adventure travel books are as serious as it gets, with heart-stopping stories of harrowing voyages and devastating disasters.  The first-person accounts by Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air and Apsley Cherry-Gerrard in The Worst Journey in the World are especially well-written and hard to put down.  Others are just gripping stories like Endurance, the story of Ernest Shackleton's tragic expedition to Antarctica.  Awaken your adventurous spirit with these recommendations on eighteen of the best adventure travel books.

THE BEST BOOKS ON ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION

The Worst Journey in the World, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard

One of our top recommendations for those who enjoy stories about exploration is The Worst Journey in the World, the intense story of the tragic scientific expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott in 1911 to Antarctica, where five people died just after reaching the South Pole.  The author was one of the surviving members on the team, and he provides an extremely thorough personal account of the entire three-year campaign, with special insight into polar exploration at the time, the extreme challenges faced by the team, and the motivation that drives humans to such an endeavor.

Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer

Into Thin Air is the bestselling account of the 1996 disaster at Everest, and one of the best-known adventure travel books.  Journalist Jon Krakauer participated on the tragic climb, and his book provides a captivating view into the passion of the climbers, and a detailed view from his perspective on how everything transpired.  This is one of the most riveting real-life tales of survival, and one fo our top recommendations.

Endurance, by Alfred Lansing

Endurance is a book describing Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated quest to be the first to reach the South Pole.  Witness an awe-inspiring testament to true leadership and human resilience as the crew valiantly tries to survive, with a book often described as one of the best exploration stories of the modern age.  The book is written by Alfred Lansing.

God's Middle Finger, by Richard Grant

In God’s Middle Finger, journalist Richard Grant shares a truly wild experience exploring one of the most dangerous areas in the world, the Sierra Madre region in northern Mexico.  Despite the seriousness of the risk he is taking, Grant takes a humble and humorous view of his exploits, chronicling his adventures traversing lawless jungles and wandering into small villages in search of ancient hidden truths.

Into the Heart of Borneo, by Redmond O'Hanlon

One of the absolutely funniest adventure travel books on our list of recommendations, Into the Heart of Borneo by Scottish travel writer Redmond O’Hanlon, is the story of his woefully unprepared expedition to explore remote areas of this island in Southeast Asia, accompanied by friend and poet James Fenton and three native guides entertained at their ineptitude.  This was a dangerous expedition, not attempted by anyone since 1926, and just a hilarious adventure.

Farther Than Any Man, by Martin Dugard

Dive into the captivating tale of Captain James Cook, one of history's most renowned explorers, in Martin Dugard's meticulously researched work, Farther Than Any Man.  Uncover Cook's motivations and challenges from extraordinary journeys through undiscovered territories as a British navigator, drawn from the rich archive of his own personal journals. 

A Wolverine is Eating My Leg, by Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill is one of our favorite adventure travel writers, noted for his wry and self-deprecating humor and willingness to put himself into some crazy situations.  A Wolverine is Eating My Leg is one of his best collections of travel writing.  Follow Cahill's unexpected encounters as he travels around the world, with plenty of daring adventures and a lack of advance planning that will keep you laughing.

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost, by Rachel Friedman

The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost is a well-written and funny memoir by recently graduated college student Rachel Friedman.  Confused with what to do next with her life, she buys a ticket to Ireland and gets drawn into the wonders of exploring the world.  Following her own adventure in three different countries, Rachel recounts her experiences through self-deprecating humor with a unique and captivating voice. This book speaks to the hearts of those searching for where they belong in life.

Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts

Vagabonding is the quintessential guide by Rolf Potts on how to navigate long-term world travel, ahead of its time and full of practical insights on how to actually set off on that trip and make it successful.  There's plenty of inspiration by way of quirky experiences, irreverent musings on local cultures, as helpful travel tips peppered throughout this unique travel guide. With an off-beat sense of humor and no-nonsense approach, Vagabonding will likley inspire you that everyone is capable going wherever they want - both physically and mentally.

The Long Way Round, by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman

Long Way Round is the funny narrative of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman and their 20,000-mile motorcycle trip traveling east around the world.  They are both famous actors of course, but here they simply come across as normal friends lucky enough to follow a crazy dream.  Follow along to witness these famous faces transformed into helmet-wearing, road-loving adventurers, conquering the world one mile at a time.

The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz

The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom is the intriguing and inspirational account of a Polish Army lieutenant who in 1941, imprisoned in a gulag camp in Siberia after Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany, reportedly escaped with six others to walk 4,000 miles to eventually find freedom.  The 2010 movie The Way Back is loosely based on the story.

Blood River, by Tim Butcher

Blood River is the adventure masterpiece by journalist Tim Butcher’s attempt in 2000 to recreate the illustrious 1874 journey taken by H.M. Stanley into the heart of the African Congo.  The conditions were not much better for Butcher, making for an extremely arduous but entertaining adventure.  In this non-fiction narrative, readers join Butcher journeys down the mysterious and fabled Congo River, navigating its treacherous waters and exotic landscapes and offering captivating insights into one of Africa's most fascinating lands.

The White Spider, by Heinrich Harrer

Heinrich Harrer, the famous author of Seven Years in Tibet, was first and foremost a mountaineer, also known for his participation on the first team to scale the North Face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.  In The White Spider, he shares his own experience and the history of the many previous tragic attempts to conquer the mountain in his book.

AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, by David Miller

In AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, David Miller shares the experience of his mid-life quest to complete what is arguably the world’s longest single trail.  The book is not really to be compared with Bill Bryon’s more famous attempt in A Walk in the Woods; Miller’s narrative provides a more detailed background on the specifics around preparing for, and the practicalities of, making such a long and challenging journey.

Walden on Wheels, by Ken Ilgunas

Walden on Wheels is the story of Duke University grad student Ken Ilgunas’ quest inspired by Henry David Thoreau to live more simply to avoid the pain of massive student debt.  It is a hilariously honest and often embarrassing account of his trials and tribulations exploring America and living in a refurbished 1993 Ford Econoline van.  Ilgunas' journey of self-discovery provides an amazing blend of cheekiness and adventure.

Sailing Alone Around the World, by Captain Joshua Slocum

Fans of seafaring books will love Sailing Around the World, the inspirational story of Joshua Slocum’s voyage in 1895 as the first person to sail around the world, alone. A classic among sailing adherents, and one of the earliest accounts of sailing around the world, the book has been captivating readers since its first release at the turn of the 20th century.  When reading this book, one can’t help but be inspired by Slocum's bravery as he bravely persevered on this remarkable feat. 

SOME GREAT FICTIONAL NOVELS FOR THOSE WHO LIKE ADVENTURE

The Old Man & the Sea (fiction)

The Old Man and the Sea is Ernest Hemingway’s renowned novella about an old Cuban fisherman who makes the catch of a lifetime, leading to an epic battle between man and an incredibly strong marlin.  It is a suspenseful and moving story, symbolic in many ways, and a must-read for those who what to understand Hemingway.

Shantaram (fiction)

Shantaram is an epic fictional novel about an Australian heroin addict, generally based off the life experience of the author Gregory David Roberts.  The story is narrated by the protagonist Lin who escapes from prison and flees to the slums of Bombay.  Lin survives by establishing a medical clinic but then gets swept up into the world of the local mafia.  All in all, Shantaram is a fascinating window into the human spirit and into one of the world’s most vibrant and tumultuous cities.  See our review of Shantaram.