Best Travel Books December 2024

Dark Star Safari

Embarking on an overland odyssey from Cairo to Cape Town, Theroux’s “Dark Star Safari” is a gritty, unflinching portrait of modern Africa. With his trademark wit and keen eye, he navigates bustling markets, rickety buses, and remote villages, offering a raw glimpse into a continent both familiar and alien. Theroux’s personal reflections and encounters with locals paint a complex tapestry of hope, despair, and resilience. A must-read for armchair travelers and those seeking to understand Africa’s evolving landscape.

The Great Railway Bazaar

Embarking on an epic four-month journey by train, Paul Theroux’s “The Great Railway Bazaar” is a captivating travelogue that whisks readers across Europe and Asia. With his keen eye for detail and wry humor, Theroux paints vivid portraits of the characters he encounters and the landscapes he traverses. From the Orient Express to the Trans-Siberian, each railway line becomes a story unto itself, revealing the heart of the places he visits. It’s a book that’ll make you yearn for adventure and the romance of rail travel.

Touching the Void

In this gripping memoir, Joe Simpson recounts his harrowing near-death experience on Peru’s Siula Grande. With raw honesty, he details the excruciating physical and mental challenges faced during a disastrous climb. Simpson’s vivid prose transports readers to the icy peaks, where every decision could mean life or death. His tale of survival against impossible odds is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, leaving you pondering the limits of human endurance and the power of the human spirit.

Tracks

In 1977, Robyn Davidson embarked on a daring 1,700-mile trek across the Australian outback with only four camels and her dog. Her memoir, “Tracks,” is a raw and introspective account of this incredible journey. Davidson’s vivid prose brings the harsh landscape to life, while her honest reflections on solitude, self-discovery, and the complexities of human nature captivate readers. This inspiring tale of adventure and perseverance will leave you questioning your own limits and yearning for the wild.

Adrift

Callahan’s harrowing tale of survival at sea grips you from the first page. His 76-day ordeal, adrift in a tiny raft after his sailboat sank, is recounted with raw honesty and surprising humor. I found myself holding my breath during his encounters with sharks and marveling at his ingenuity in catching fish. The author’s introspective moments and vivid descriptions of the vast, lonely ocean left me pondering the resilience of the human spirit long after I finished the book.

The Long Way Home

Saroo Brierley’s memoir is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. Separated from his family at five, he survived India’s streets before being adopted by an Australian couple. Twenty-five years later, armed with hazy memories and Google Earth, Saroo embarked on an impossible quest to find his birth mother. His journey, filled with heartache and hope, reminds us of the enduring power of love and the unbreakable bonds of family. A truly inspiring tale that will stay with you long after the last page.

Endurance

In “Endurance,” Alfred Lansing masterfully recounts the harrowing tale of Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated Antarctic expedition. I was captivated by the crew’s unwavering resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Lansing’s vivid prose transported me to the icy wasteland, where I could almost feel the biting cold and hear the groaning ice. The book’s pacing kept me on edge, marveling at the men’s ingenuity and sheer will to survive. A truly inspiring account that left me in awe of human endurance.

The Lost City of Z

In “The Lost City of Z,” David Grann weaves a spellbinding tale of obsession and adventure. Following the footsteps of British explorer Percy Fawcett, Grann plunges into the heart of the Amazon, seeking answers to a century-old mystery. As I turned each page, I felt the oppressive heat and heard the whispers of the jungle. Grann’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling transported me to a world of untamed wilderness and forgotten civilizations. This book isn’t just an exploration of the Amazon; it’s a journey into the depths of human determination.

Born to Run

Lacing up my worn running shoes, I couldn’t help but smile as I cracked open “Born to Run.” McDougall’s vivid storytelling transported me to Mexico’s Copper Canyons, where the enigmatic Tarahumara Indians run like the wind. Through personal anecdotes and scientific insights, he unravels the secrets of these superathletes, challenging everything I thought I knew about running. As I turned each page, I felt my own feet itching to hit the trails, inspired by the primal joy of movement that McDougall so beautifully captures.

Two Steps Forward

Zoe, a recently widowed American artist, and Martin, a British engineer reeling from divorce, find themselves on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. As they trek across Spain, they confront their pasts and unexpected feelings. With blistered feet and open hearts, they discover that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. Simsion’s witty prose and keen observations make this a heartwarming tale of second chances and self-discovery on the ancient pilgrim trail.