Travel Writing

Follow Klosterman, "Tauntaun" and a musical playlist on a road trip across the country to the historic sites of rock and roll's greatest tragedies. Learn about these deadly landmarks from one of today's best music critics as he explores the significance of death and why he can't keep a girlfriend. Klosterman's self-deprecating wit will have you enjoying the ride. –Saraphine

American-born writer Bill Bryson lived in England for 20 years before returning to New Hampshire. I’m a Stranger Here Myself is a unique memoir of a U.S. native whose extensive travels abroad have given him new eyes for his old homeland, and the result is hilarious, poignant, and surprising. A great summer read. –M.M.

After blowing open the behind-the-scenes world of restaurants in Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain sets his sights on a global quest for the best eateries the world over. Traveling from Cambodia to Cancun, Morocco to Montreal, Bourdain writes funny and fierce portrayals of real people and their local delicacies. What makes Bourdain so good is the way he personalizes things to the extent where we are really in the locales with him. A great book for food aficionados, travel bugs and anyone who enjoys cantankerous cooks. –Zack

Halliday takes the trip you are dying to hear about but never wish to go on yourself. She dives head first into every crazy adventure she can, defying common sense and the locals' warnings. It is better to have learned these lessons from Halliday than to have to discover them yourself. You will be laughing out loud all day long. –Saraphine

While Bourdain may seem like an uncanny candidate to edit a book of travel writing essays, he is actually an excellent choice. Aside from being a cook and a fantastic writer, Bourdain has taken it upon himself to visit every nook and cranny of the globe in search of good eats and the people behind them. Travel writing is a relatively new addition in the canon of nonfiction, and a riveting, acutely relevant one at that. Warning: reading this collection may make you want to buy plane tickets. –Zack

This incredibly authentic story of a young couple out to change the world has a good dose of humor and a very readable style. It contains enough reality to be slightly depressing, enough hope to be reasonably uplifting, and enough self-revelation to show what it’s really like to transplant yourself in a third-world country. –Nici