“It seems then as if some charitable soul, after losing a great deal of time among the false books and alighting upon a few true ones which made him happy and wise, would do a right act in naming those which have been bridges or ships to carry him safely over dark morasses and barren oceans, into the heart of sacred cities, into palaces and temples.”

— RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Here in Fantasium one of our favorite past times is reading. There’s nothing better than settling down in a cozy place with a warm cup of coffee and a good book. When traveling you often have more extended periods of downtime than usual - flights, bus rides, waiting in lines, relaxing on a beach, etc - which makes it the perfect time to crank through books.

An important part of fostering a habit of being a bookworm is making sure you select good books to read through in the first place. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite books in hopes to give you a few ideas as to what you can read on your next trip - or even your next reading session at home.

Don’t think these are only meant for travel - if you’re just looking for something to read at anytime, these are all great options! We will save you the reading synopses of famous books. If it’s one that isn’t immensely popular, we will give you a quick summary.

We are constantly updating this list with new recommendations. Check back later if you’ve run through and need some more ideas - chances are there will be additions!

Books on Travel

Vagabonding, Rolf Potts

One of the most well known books on long term travel, Vagabonding is basically the traveler’s Bible. It talks about how to make it happen, how to make the most of it, and how to assimilate back into society when you return. It also provides tons of in print and online resources that are available for long term travelers.

Dark Star Safari, The Lower River, The Mosquito Coast, Jungle Lovers, Fresh Air Fiend, or The Pillars of Hercules, Paul Theroux

Travels With Charley In Search of America, John Steinbeck

Travels With a Donkey in the Cevennes, Robert Louis Stevenson

The Snow Leopard, Peter Matthiesen

Philosophical Works

Walden, Henry David Thoreau

Few books have had more of an effect on my life than Walden did. The first time I read this book I felt as if it were meant for me; up to that point I had spent my whole life gathering possessions, accumulating debt, and spending my time fruitlessly. Henry David Thoreau opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and ways to live that focus on accumulating happiness rather than things. This can be even more apparent when you’re traveling and don’t have all of the possessions you think you might “need” to survive.

Self-Reliance, Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

On the Shortness of Life, Seneca

Bhagavad Gita

Cloud Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown, Alan Watts

Autobiography of a Yogi, Parahmansa Yogananda

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sri Swami Satchidananda

Classics & Fiction

The Iliad / The Odyssey, Homer

A man departs for a war on faraway shores and goes on an epic, timeless adventure. The Iliad and Odyssey are not only some of the greatest works of literature of all time, they are a perfect companion for the traveler. The book is quite long, so try to snag it on Kindle if you can!

For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernst Hemingway

Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad

The Call of the Wild, Jack London

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson

On The Road - Jack Kerouac

Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts

History

The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara

One of my favorite books of all time, The Killer Angels takes you into the heads and hearts of the generals and soldiers present at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. It is a defining work of historical fiction (all events are 100% accurate; character dialog has been recreated) that goes into morality, duty and above all, warfare. If you enjoy this book, don’t miss the sequels, Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure.

Band of Brothers, Stephen Ambrose

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West, Stephen Ambrose

Matterhorn - Karl Malantes

The Last Stand: Battle of Little Bighorn, Nathaniel Philbrick

With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa, Eugene Sledge

Science Fiction

Dune, Frank Herbert

Dune is the granddaddy of all science fiction books. Not only is it frequently touted as THE original sci-fi book; it’s probably one of the best books ever written, period. Rife with references to religion, the environment, politics, social issues, and more, Dune accomplishes what many books cannot - it takes these complicated topics and weaves them into an intricate universe with incredibly deep characters and plot development. It’s a beast of a book, but each page is filled with some of the best writing in history.

The Ender’s Game Series, Orson Scott Card

Homecoming Saga, Orson Scott Card

Halo: The Fall of Reach, Eric Nylund

Recursion, Blake Crouch