Key Takeaways
- I’ve been picking up a lot of random books in bookstores lately. This can often be hit or miss. I can’t count the times I’ve picked up books only to g
- However, this current stretch has produced some wonderful books and, since it’s been a while since I’ve done a best-books round-up, I think it’s time
- Those are my current favorite reads. If you’d like to see some of the other books I’ve recommended (or are currently reading), check out this page I c
We’ve been browsing bookstores more often lately — and while it’s always a bit of a gamble, this stretch has yielded some truly exceptional reads. Since it’s been a while since we shared a curated list of standout travel literature, now feels like the perfect time to revisit the genre. Whether you’re riding buses, trains, or planes, these titles make every mile richer. Here are seven travel books worth adding to your shelf — and your next journey:
1. All Over the Place, by Geraldine DeRuiter
Geraldine DeRuiter — widely known as The Everywhereist — brings her signature wit and warmth to this memoir. Chronicling cross-continental adventures, relationship milestones, and moments of self-discovery, the book balances humor with vulnerability. Though centered on love and identity as much as geography, its vivid storytelling and sharp observations make it a standout in modern travel writing.
2. The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World, by Torre DeRoche
After meeting fellow writer Masha in New York, Torre joins her on an impromptu pilgrimage across Europe and India — walking the Via Francigena in Italy and retracing Gandhi’s historic march in Gujarat. Equal parts introspective and adventurous, this book explores fear, healing, and serendipity against unforgettable backdrops — all told with lyrical precision and emotional honesty.
3. Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, by Joan Druett
Auckland Island — remote, windswept, and relentlessly harsh — became the unlikely stage for one of history’s most astonishing survival stories. In 1864, two separate ships wrecked on opposite ends of the island within months of each other. Joan Druett masterfully reconstructs both crews’ ordeals, contrasting their leadership, resilience, and ultimate fates. A gripping narrative grounded in meticulous research, it’s a powerful testament to human endurance and ingenuity.
4. Dispatches from Pluto, by Richard Grant
British writer Richard Grant trades London for Pluto, Mississippi — a tiny, unincorporated community in the heart of the Delta. With equal parts curiosity and humility, he immerses himself in local life: hunting, gardening, navigating racial and economic complexities, and learning what “home” means in a place outsiders rarely understand. This is travel writing at its most empathetic — less about destinations, more about deep cultural listening.
5. The Palace of the Snow Queen: Winter Travels in Lapland, by Barbara Sjoholm
Barbara Sjoholm spent three winters exploring Finnish and Swedish Lapland — returning repeatedly to understand its landscapes, histories, and people. Her focus on the Sámi, Europe’s only Indigenous people, elevates this beyond typical travelogue. She examines tensions between reindeer herding traditions and industrial development, tourism expansion, and climate change — offering a nuanced, respectful portrait of resilience and cultural continuity.
6. The Not-Quite States of America, by Doug Mack
Doug Mack sets out to visit every U.S. territory — from Puerto Rico and Guam to American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands — asking what “American” really means when citizenship doesn’t guarantee voting rights or full representation. His journey reveals rich histories, vibrant cultures, and complex political realities — challenging assumptions and expanding definitions of nationhood and belonging.
