BootsnAll Travel Community

For some reason I always like to read books written by Erich von Dänicken while i'm traveling. Most of the books are written in the 60's and this man was considered a loony back than, becouse he has theories about the gods from ancienst cultures being aliens, that our civilisation was founded by aliens etc etc. I find that very interesting but can't link them with being on the road...

Also I like to read books by Jules Vernes, just becouse traveling is a hot item in those ones.

What I DON'T read is Lonely Planet. Ooow how I hate those...

1. Travels with Charlie: In Search of America - John Steinbeck. One of his lesser known books but a great read...and nowhere as depressing as some of his other books.
"Once a bum...always a bum. I fear its an incurable disease."
There was a great insight about being/traveling alone that I can't remember. I'll have to see if I can find it when I get home.

2. The Seven Daughters of Eve - Bryan Sykes. This book is a compelling narrative of the author's research into the genetic origins of all native Europeans. Although the rest of the world is not really discussed, the book reinforced that regardless of how different people from around the world look, we probably all originated from teh same line...one of the happy thoughts I keep in the back of my mind when I travel or otherwise.

And I agree that Celestine Prophecy was an inspiring book as well as its sequels - The Tenth Insight and The Secret of Shambhala.

Veena

... among the ones already mentioned (Hesse, Danicken, Steinbeck, Pirsig) I always carry "Illusions: Travels of a Reluctant Messiah" by Richard Bach. A very good read, very short, but the things said in it will stay with you for a long time. Also, a book I absolutely love is "A Soldier of the Great War" by Mark Helprin. There's some philosophical insights, but mostly I love it because of the completely amazing story. However it's a huge book, and sometimes I regret lugging it
chris

The Art of Pilgrimmage, by Paul Cousineau

It spoke to me in a way that everything the book described in spiritual travel related to how I've been feeling and what's been happening in my travel journey to Egypt.

The Alchemist, by Paul Coehlo

I always enjoy Hesse. 'Unterm Rad' and 'Narziss und Goldmund' left deep impressions in me. Then Charles Baudelaires' ' Die Blumen des Bösen' (Flowers of Evil) was my road side companion in South America, as well as a couple of Neruda poetry (example: Die Another Day).
I've read quite a few books (fiction and non-fiction) by Umberto Eco - extremely clever wrting! In my opinon the completest contemporary writer (I know off). If you happen to travel in Eastern Europe and/or the ME, pick up 'Baudolino'.

Then one of the most inspiring 'travel books' I know, is Goethes' 'Willhelm Meisters Wanderjahre'. That's spiritual travelling!

Adrian

www.aresthetics.ch/trav
My personal travel website

"meetings with remarkable men" by gurdjieff