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Best Travel Books: Because You WILL Travel a Lot
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I’ve never thought that one of the things I’ll do a lot once I start my own business is travel. I thought I would be stuck in an office, growing my online empire, but that was so far from the truth. At some point, while I was building my company, I travel 5 months in a year: I went to trade show, expos, conferences, all to promote our work and get more contacts in the industry.
Truth is, though, that with the best travel books, you can explore some of the world’s most incredible places without ever having to leave your home. Whether you don’t have the funds to take a fantastic trip or you’re planning a future getaway, you’ll easily be able to pick the perfect destination for your time away. Filled with plenty of pictures and informative blurbs about unique destinations and popular tourist attractions, your travels will be far more interesting.
For me it wasn’t about not traveling, but about adding a little bit of fun to a business trip. I looked in advance for things to do or see and I usually got one more day at the destination (if possible) and I got to enjoy some places I would never have gone to otherwise.
What we have come to love about travel books the most is that they help to educate you about specific areas in the world. You’ll be able to delve into unique cultures, learn about native species, as well as the different environments that we are surrounded by. You would be surprised at how much you can learn about your local area if you were to invest in some of the best travel books.
There is so much to experience in the world, and with the insanely vibrant imagery in these books, it will feel like you’re traveling without having to spend thousands. From destinations, such as Fiji, to the Amazon, there is an extensive number of places that you can experience simply by flipping through the pages. Travelers will especially love these books, as they can help you to pinpoint unique destinations that you may have never thought of before.
During your time away from home, consider picking up some of the best travel books in the area you’re visiting! You might find yourself reinventing your itinerary so that you can have more amazing experiences that are indeed one of a kind.
By the end of your trip, you can guarantee you will have an assortment of unique picturesque moments, so you can show off your amazing travels and soak in everyone’s envy.
It’s easy to see how so many people have wanderlust to see things outside of what they’re faced with every day. Surely consider some of the best travel books for an exceptional experience you aren’t soon to forget.
Best Travel Books
Mapping the Mind
I started my interest in neurobiology in December 1998 after reading a discussion by Rita Carter in the FT showing that rational behavior under uncertainty and rational decision making can come from a defect in the amygdala. Since then I've had five years of reading more technical material (Gazzaniga et al is perhaps the most complete reference on cognitive neuroscience) and thought that I transcended this book.
But it was not so. I picked up this book again last weekend and was both astonished at a) the ease of reading , b) the clarity of the text and c) the breadth of the approach! I was looking for a refresher as I am trying to capture a general idea of the functioning of that black box and found exactly what I needed without the excess burden of prominent textbooks. Very pedagogical.
I read here and there comments by neuroscientists dissing the book over small details perhaps invisible even to experts. I just realize that Carter should keep updating it, as it is invaluable in my suitcase when I travel! I do not conceal my suspicion of "science writers" and journalists more trained in communicating than understanding and usually shallow babblers but Carter is an exception. Perhaps the science of the mind requires breadth of knowledge that she has. She is a thinker in her own right not just a "medical journalist".
The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger
I, Asimov: A Memoir
In I, Asimov I’ve discovered a genuine happy person, someone that did what he loved his entire life. I discovered that one of the biggest authors of Science Fiction actually stopped writing fiction novels almost completely for 20 years. I discovered that he enjoyed writing mystery short stories a lot. And this shouldn’t surprise me since most of the books in his SF series are, actually, mysteries. Especially the Robots ones.
His autobiography reads like the archive of a blog, with anecdotes and short stories of the author’s life. It made me smile so often, I didn’t believe it. I was reading in bed and I would read out loud to my fiancée something that made me laugh loudly.
Besides the laughs, I also appreciated the power of Asimov’s convictions. I’m taking example, as well, since sometimes I forget to support my opinions as strongly as I should. If you enjoyed Asimov's books, you're gonna love this one.
The Lost Colony (The Long Winter Trilogy Book 3)
On the non-fiction front, I love A.G. Riddle's works and I just finished his last book in the The Long Winter trilogy: The Lost Colony. I wanted to read it so much that I preordered the book and I put the day of launch in my calendar, 5-6 months ago, after reading the second book. The entire trilogy is an interesting take on time travel, actually, but it only makes sense in the final book, this one.
Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long
Understand how our brains operate at work throughout the day was really illuminating for me, especially because I manage other humans who have brains.
Green Hills of Africa
The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Here are some of the guests and some of their books, in no particular order. I recommend all of the below books. If I didn't like a book, I wouldn't have them on the show.
Around the World in 80 Days
The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness
The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living since the Civil War
Asylum
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex
Brain Rules: 12 Principles of Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home and School
My Berlin Child
Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes
I read Plato and the Platypus by Umberto Eco, which I found brilliant and was sucked into buying this book thinking it was about the same problem of categories. But Philosophy this is not, or if it is, it is not deep enough to give satisfaction. This is like a brief drink in an airplane lounge with someone funny, smart, witty, but not too funny. So I would give it my lowest rating: 4 stars (as an author I can't give below that --I just would not review).
Would I buy it again? Perhaps, but only for a plane ride. It left me very very hungry for both jokes and philosophy.