Your summer travels are obvz going to lead to their own adventures, but since traveling includes lots of downtime (and layovers), it’s the perfect time to go on a mental adventure by diving into a good book. And if you’re not traveling this summer, books are even more necessary. From foodies to adventure-seekers and everyone in between, there’s a book on this list sure to resonate with how you like to experience new places, people and things. Add these reads to your nightstand or carry-on: Each has a unique take on the love of travel.
1. The Foodie: The World on a Plate: 40 Cuisines, 100 Recipes, and the Stories Behind Themby Mina Holland. Part cookbook, part history text and part travelogue, this book is perfect for the traveler whose top priority is eating and eating well. The World on a Plate is chock full of recipes and cooking tips nestled in with the intricate backstories of both familiar and little-known ingredients, dishes and customs. So when you have dinner guests over for the Ethiopian Chickpea Stew, be sure to tell them about the warm cultural practice of gursha, which means to prepare perfect bites of food and share them with friends and family. (Photo via Penguin Random House)
2. The Globetrotter:The Lost Girlsby Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner. Who doesn’t dream sometimes of chucking it all, packing a bag and taking a trip around the world? Three Manhattan friends recount their decision to do just that in this funny, heartwarming, moving memoir. Just before crossing the threshold into their thirties, Jen, Holly and Amanda made a pact to quit their high-stress New York City jobs, leave their boyfriends behind and take a year-long trip of a lifetime. Their experiences in India, Peru, Vietnam, Kenya and Australia transcend the page as the three women navigate foreign lands, bumble through travel mishaps, and check dream after dream off their bucket lists, all while becoming closer than ever before. (Photo via lostgirlsworld.com)
3. The Budget-Conscious Wanderer: How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes. Having traveled to over 80 countries and territories, Matt Kepnes, otherwise known as Nomadic Matt, knows a thing or two about traveling on a budget. This guidebook is filled with all the tips and tricks he’s learned since doing a total life-180 in 2006 and pursuing his dream of traveling the world. From ideas for pre-trip saving (switch to a credit card with travel perks) to ways to cut back on spending while you’re away (look into tourism cards to see the sights, which often include admission to top attractions), this book is a budget traveler’s bible. Plus, Matt breaks it down by location, giving specific money-saving advice for wherever you’re adventuring. (Photo via Penguin Random House)
4. The Posh Jetsetter: My Paris Dream by Kate Betts. In 1986, armed only with a recently acquired college degree and an intense love for the city of light, fashion journalist Kate Betts headed to Paris to chase her dreams. Once there, she completely immersed herself in French culture. Through her vivid prose, Kate transports the reader. “Every streetscape and boulevard seemed to shimmer in the heat and summer light like an Impressionist Tableau,” she writes. Her love for the city is infectious and her journey up the ladder to become one of the most influential women in fashion journalism is inspiring. Grab a fresh baguette, a bottle of wine and your best friends because this book is meant to be shared and savored. (Photo via Penguin Random House)
5. The Adventure-seeker:Wild by Nature: From Siberia to Australia, Three Years Alone in the Wilderness on Foot by Sarah Marquis. Lovers of Wild, rejoice! This memoir by National Geographic explorer, Sarah Marquis is your next white-knuckle read. For three years, Sarah relied on her own smarts, athletic ability and wilderness skills to travel the globe from north to south on foot. Her journey was marked with hardship, but the beauty and freedom she found in being alone in the wild with sheer survival as her goal are awe-inspiring. (Photo via Macmillan)
Do you have a favorite travel-themed read? Let us on know on twitter @BritandCo!
