Looking for a book to give your favorite traveler? Or for yourself? Go beyond the predictable Travel Section at your bookstore: “Non-guidebooks” offer insights and information that will inspire the globetrotters on your list.
What are Non-guidebooks?
They’re books about the history and culture of places in the world. They can be factual, explaining how circumstances, such as war, shaped a nation. They can also be fiction, describing an experience in another part of the world. Maybe a collection of stories or articles that are travel-related, but not in the “Go-here, See-this, Eat-that” kind of way. Rather, they give readers a deeper understanding of people. They educate, entertain…and encourage us to keep exploring.
Non-guidebooks to give…or check out from your library
Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall: Every single country has geographical issues. Too much coastline…or too little. Mountains, rivers, vast plains, frozen tundra. You name it, somewhere it’s causing a headache for political leaders. Marshall takes ten countries or regions, shows us the maps, and explains the challenges: past, present, and future. “So it is with all nations, big or small. The landscape imprisons their leaders, giving them fewer choices and less room to maneuver than you might think.” He starts with Russia–you’ll understand Putin’s worries–then moves on to China, USA, Western Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India/Pakistan, Korea/Japan, Latin America, and the Arctic. Not just for travelers, consider this book for people who are interested in politics, current events…or geography.
Palaces for the People
A History of the World in 6 Glasses
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
*Non-guidebooks from Lonely Planet: Literature Collections
These books are related to travel because the stories happened during a trip. The writers–both new and established–share their tales on different topics. I love each book; I think you will, too. Here are three of my favorites. They’re about $15 each, but watch for LP specials on TravelSmart Woman’s website.
The Kindness of Strangers: 26 stories about how travelers were helped–or outright rescued–by people who could have just walked by. But they stepped in to offer everything from food to protection, just to aid a “foreigner.” This book restores faith in mankind and offers hope for the world.
By the Seat of My Pants: Here are 31 tales that are funny examples of when events don’t go as planned. Of course, these make the most memorable and exciting stories–both for telling and for reading. They also remind us that there can be humor in any situation.
A Moveable Feast: Nothing goes with travel like food; they’re inseparable. These 38 stories cover meals of all types, written by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, and Pico Iyer. No matter the ingredients, food fills us physically, emotionally, and spirituality. A “feast” of a book!
Need another gift suggestion? How about giving a travel magazine subscription?
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