The season for embracing hygge is upon us and that means books, books, books! Luckily, autumn is book season and a slew of new books have been released and some just coming to prominence. Whether you’re looking to get inspired for future travels, or live vicariously through other’s adventures, we’ve selected five new autumn travel reads, perfect for curling up with a mug of hot cocoa.

1) To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins

For anyone who is nervous about turning thirty, or who has been following author Jedidiah Jenkins on Instagram since the beginning, this book is for you. Jedidiah spent over a year cycling 14,000 miles from Oregon to Patagonia and had not only incredible travel adventures, but profound life-altering revelations along the way. Exploring what being an adult really means, struggling with shaking off his upbringing and coming into his own, along with the pure physicality of a 14,000 mile bike ride, this book is perfect for exploring the depths of one’s own mind and spirituality.

2) A World Worth Seeing by Brian Nelson

190 countries in 90 pages? Brian Nelson meets this challenge and still has room to give travel guidance. While more of a collection of travel notes than a book of stories, this book exemplifies the yearning that comes with wanting more, combined with the drive to keep going which is, in its own way, incredibly motivating. Brian did not let anything stop him on his robust journey around the world.
In this very digestible layout of geographically aligned travel plans, he takes the reader on his routes in a logical way.
There are few stories in this book, but that is not the goal behind the writing of it. It’s a bit like discovering an explorer’s book of notes. A teaser, if you will. Enough to get you interested in learning more and making your own stories, instead of living solely vicariously.
The beginning section is a helpful 101 section for those who want to take on the challenge of extreme world travel but who may not have thought of details like vaccines and visa requirements. The beauty of Brian’s travel philosophy is “travel light, travel fast.” No carry-ons, no hassle. From fry sandwiches in Afghanistan to Ethiopian injera, Brian has sampled some of the world’s most interesting cuisines.
Here’s hoping Brian writes more about his experiences to inspire others to get out there!

3) Inner Ranges: An Anthology of Mountain Thoughts and Mountain People by Geoff Powter

Summit mountains from the comfort of your snuggie. A very engrossing and lovely before-bed-read broken into various mountain-oriented essays, this book weaves together a compilation of adventure stories from the mountains of Canada. Geoff is a veteran mountaineer, having completed 13 Himalayan expeditions, accompanied by deep thoughts, of course.  Often, an adventurer’s favorite talking partner is a fellow adventurer, and Geoff includes conversations with others in his book, including famous alpinists David Jones and Sonnie Trotter. If you’re looking to experience every detail of mountain life, from the smells to the feel of the cold, this book will fit you like a well-worn snowshoe.

4) Lines on a Map: Unparalleled Adventures in Modern Exploration By Frank Wolf

Bringing together twenty years of fast-paced adventuredom, this book highlights extreme moments in most of the world along with surreal moments that only travel can bring, including the following:
private lunch with former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau during an 8000 km canoe journey across Canada; discovering the past and present on a 900 km hiking and kayaking journey from Skagway, Alaska, to Dawson City, Yukon; negotiating the cultural divide during a whitewater paddling expedition in Laos and Cambodia with Russian extreme kayakers; exploring the nature and politics of a multi-billion dollar pipeline in northern BC by hiking, biking and kayaking the GPS track of the proposed project route from the oil sands to the British Columbia coast; discovering the truth about the existence of Sasquatch in northern Ontario; retracing Viking history during a canoe trip across Scandinavia.

5) East of Croydon: Blunderings through India and South East Asia By Sue Perkins

For those who know and love Sue Perkins from The Great British Baking Show will love how her voice and signature humor comes through in her travel writing. A departure from extremely knowledgeable and prepared adventurers, Sue herself is 1) afraid of flying, 2) has no practical skills 3) doesn’t do well with boats and 4) a hypochondriac. A perfect recipe for travel hijinks? Yes. With warm and gooey delightful layers (not unlike the fabulous sponges of GBBS), this book chronicles her journey on the Mekong River, travelling from the vast delta in Vietnam to the remote and snowy peaks of Tibet. This book will poignantly and hilariously inspire even the most timid of travelers to leave their home and see what adventure befalls them.

Excited about a full season of books? Let us know what other travel-oriented books you discover on your literary journey!

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