Remember those days of wanderlust, travel, and adventure pre-pandemic? I am sure that like me, you’re missing packing your suitcase and jetting off to somewhere exciting. Well, we may not be able to travel physically right now but we can still get lost in a good book! Below I share 3 of my favorite books about wildness and travel that I’ve recently read, as well as 5 adventure-filled books that are on my to-read list for this year (and they should be on yours too!).
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
A book that takes you on an adventure of self-discovery as well as a journey across the West Coast of America. I absolutely loved this book. The movie, however, I wasn’t a fan of. Reading Wild has actually inspired me to add hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to my bucket list! Although this book has very mixed reviews, it’s funny, powerful, and a great read to escape the current lockdowns.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Based on real events, this book is about an adventure of a young man’s journey across the West of America over to Alaska where he pursues living a life off the land. Disillusioned by the hypocrisy of his bourgeois family and the society at large, Chris McCandless attempts to live out his ideal—to tragic consequences. Into the Wild has also been turned into a movie that has received many positive reviews.
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall
You don’t even have to like running or run yourself to enjoy this book. Born to Run takes you on an epic adventure to remote places around the globe while allowing you to question the science of running and your feet! You won’t leave this book feeling uninspired, in fact, you may even pick up ultrarunning yourself. Although I haven’t been inspired to run across deserts in my bare feet just yet, it’s not off the cards after reading this truly inspiring book. Born to Run is also currently in development to be made into a movie.
The Girl Who Climbed Everest: Lessons learned facing up to the world’s toughest mountains by Bonita Norris
The Girl Who Climbed Everest is a story about Bonita Norris’ journey of tackling the world’s most toughest and dangerous expeditions. After battling an eating disorder and anxiety at an early age, Bonita eventually discovered her life-saving passion for climbing. I am looking forward to this read not only to embark on Norris’ adventures but to also uncover her life lessons and learnings.
The Push: A Climber’s Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits by Tommy Caldwell
After watching The Dawn Wall on Netflix, I was inspired to add The Push to my to-read list. Caldwell is best-known for being the first person to free climb the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s vertiginous El Capitan. I’m not a climber or into climbing myself, yet this documentary film, as well as Free Solo, opened my mind to a whole new aspect of adventure and extreme sports.
Love, Life, and Elephants: An African Love Story by Daphne Sheldrick
I’ve not read or been interested in many memoirs before but I was drawn to Love, Life, and Elephants due to my love for these incredible animals as well as the compelling series of events that lead up to Daphne Sheldrick’s tireless campaign to put a stop to poaching. The conservationist was the first person to successfully raise newborn elephants, and worked as a co-warden of Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. Over her decades of work, she saved the lives of hundreds of orphaned baby elephants.
The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson
Imagine driving 14,000 miles across America to search for a mythical town. Well, that’s exactly what Bill Bryson, the author, did after 10 years of living in England. I’m looking forward to reading The Lost Continent not only for the travel adventures inside but also because of its anticipated humor.
Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson
After the success of his first book, The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America, Bill Bryson decides to backpack across Europe and share his travel adventures in Neither Here nor There… and they sound like quite the adventures!
Also by Anna: Your Guide To Responsible Travel During The Pandemic
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