Wanderlust Books: 15 Picks…..You ever get that itch to pack your bags, book a random flight, and pretend you’re the kind of person who just effortlessly navigates airports? Yeah, me too. But then reality hits: my bank account laughs in my face, my boss expects me on Zoom at 9 a.m., and my kids still need snacks every fifteen minutes (seriously, how much goldfish crackers can one small human consume?).
So instead of hopping on a plane, I started reaching for books. Travel books. Memoirs. Fiction that made me swear I could smell the streets of Paris or the spices of Marrakech just from the pages. And honestly? These books saved me. They scratched that wanderlust itch without me having to explain to TSA why I accidentally packed nail scissors again.
So, here’s my list of 15 books that will satisfy your wanderlust from home—no passport required, no middle seat fights, no “your gate has changed” announcements. Just you, your couch, and stories that will take you everywhere.
1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Yeah, yeah—I know. Cliché. But listen, when Liz runs away to Italy, India, and Bali, eating pasta like it’s her full-time job, it’s kinda impossible not to be jealous. This book is like a warm bowl of spaghetti when you’re emotionally starving. Also, confession: I bought stretchy pants after reading it. No regrets.
2. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
If you’ve ever thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail but also know deep down you’d bail after mile three—this is your book. Bryson is hilarious and slightly unprepared (relatable), but the way he describes the mountains, the trees, and the sheer stubbornness of walking hundreds of miles will make you feel like you actually did it… without the blisters.
3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A book that makes you want to sell all your stuff and chase “your personal legend” across the desert. It’s short, dreamy, and a little woo-woo, but in the best way. You’ll probably underline half the sentences and pretend you’re suddenly a philosopher.
4. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
This one’s for the rugged adventurers who secretly browse Patagonia jackets online but never actually buy them. Chatwin’s travel writing is messy and brilliant and full of strange characters. You’ll want to grab a backpack and hitch a ride to South America (or just order empanadas and call it a day).
5. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
This book basically invented the idea of Americans running away to Italy and buying crumbling villas. Warning: you will want to drink wine at noon and renovate a farmhouse after reading.
6. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone is equal parts heartbreaking and badass. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, you’ll wonder if you should buy hiking boots… and then remember you hate camping. Still, her journey makes you feel brave just reading it.
7. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Okay, so maybe Kerouac and friends were a little reckless (fine, a lot reckless), but there’s something intoxicating about his version of cross-country America. It’s messy, jazz-filled, and totally road-trip-inspiring.
8. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Weiner basically travels the world asking: “What makes people happy here?” It’s part travelogue, part self-help, part comedy. You’ll learn why the Swiss are smug, why Bhutan measures happiness, and why Icelanders are basically the chillest people alive.
9. Tracks by Robyn Davidson
This woman literally walked 1,700 miles across the Australian desert with camels. Camels! I can barely make it to Target without Google Maps. Her grit and storytelling will make you sweat and squint like the sun’s actually in your eyes.
10. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
Think of this as the ultimate how-to manual for long-term travel. It’ll either inspire you to quit your job or at least romanticize the idea of doing so while sipping a latte at 2 a.m. and googling flights you’ll never book.
11. The Beach by Alex Garland
If you were alive in the 2000s, you probably remember the Leo DiCaprio movie. But the book? Way grittier. A backpacker’s dream gone terribly wrong in Thailand. You’ll want paradise, but also maybe Wi-Fi and bug spray.
12. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
This book is basically: what if an out-of-shape dude tried to retrace Hiram Bingham’s steps to Machu Picchu? Spoiler: it’s both funny and surprisingly informative. Also, you’ll Google flights to Peru immediately.
13. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
More philosophical than practical, but it makes you rethink why you travel (or why you want to). Also, it’ll remind you that sometimes the anticipation is as delicious as the actual trip. Like waiting for pizza delivery.
14. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Steinbeck takes his poodle, Charley, on a road trip across America. Do I even need to sell this more? It’s wholesome, funny, and makes you want to throw your dog in the car and just drive.
15. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
This is the epic novel that will swallow you whole. Set in India, full of love, betrayal, philosophy, and wild street-life adventures—it’s not technically a “travel memoir,” but you’ll feel like you lived in Mumbai by the time you’re done.
Random Tangent: Wanderlust Books: 15 Picks
I once bought a travel guidebook for Iceland even though I wasn’t planning a trip. I just wanted to look at the blue lagoons and volcanoes while sitting in my Target pajamas. It’s kinda the same with these books. Sometimes it’s not about going—it’s about pretending, daydreaming, or just having a mini-escape when you’re stuck in the same old routine.
Final Thought: Wanderlust Books: 15 Picks
Travel doesn’t always mean hopping on a plane. Sometimes it’s in the stories we read, the meals we cook from those stories, the playlists we make after. These wanderlust books are like stamps in your mental passport. Cheesy? Maybe. But hey—I’ll take book-induced wanderlust over airline peanuts any day.
So grab one, curl up, and let yourself get lost.
Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
