Posted: 10/19/2018 | October 19th, 2018
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 this year 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 and, this year, it’s sometimes taken me months to get around to finishing one.
I broke a habit and now getting back into the flow again is proving tougher than I thought (though I am setting specific time in 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 and I just haven’t had many to give. However, I finished a few books in the last couple of weeks, 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’s a lot of non-travel books in this list as I’m trying to expand my reading genres!
Dune, by Frank Herbert
I love the cheesy Sci-Fi 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”. I couldn’t put this book down. It had character depth, intrigue, action mixed in with philosophy and what it means to have power and lead a good life. I was hooked from the start.
From the 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 to the gimmicky souvenirs you’ll find at any shop in any tourist destination. It’s a small, easy read that is a great treatise on why we buy the things we do when we travel.
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. 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 nature of conspiracies.
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 across the coast of the state. Mark is one of my favorite wraiters and this book is very reiminsicent 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.
Andrew Evans’ 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 through deserts, mountains, and jungles until he eventually reaches his ultimate goal: Antarctica. This is a really beautiful read that touches on faith, family, and self.
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 to form new good habits will breaking the bad ones. 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!
This is the true story of Samuel Zemurray, a self-made banana seller who went from a roadside banana 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.
Ben Coates got stranded at Schipol airport, where he called a Dutch girl he’d met a few months earlier, and ask if he could stay over the night. He never left. Fascinated by his adopted home, this book is a travel book wrapped in a history book wrapped in a memoir. It is 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!
Former New York Times’s 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) that exist out there to allow people to plan everything 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 shackled to technology on your next trip! I got to read it before it came out. It’s good. Pre-order it!
Set in Amsterdam in 1943, Marijke de Graaf is sent 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 paint the tough emotions that come from tough choices is superb (and why this book topped the Canada 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 poigant book about the causes of her alcoholism, the effect it had on her life, 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 might be able to break them.
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So there you are! Those are my favorite books of the year so far. I know there are a few months left to go before the year is over. But, for now, enjoy these good reads. I’m hoping to go on vacation later this month with a pile of books so leave your suggestions in the comments as I’m always looking for a good travel book!
For more of my favorite books, check out these other posts:
The post My Favorite Books of 2018 (So Far) appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.
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