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Best Travel Books that actually don’t suck (Because Life’s Too Short for Boring Stories)
Let’s be real a lot of “travel books” are… a chore.
You know the ones. The overly poetic, slow-burn stories where nothing happens except the author drinks espresso in Italy and thinks deeply about life. Cool for them. Not great if you want an actual plot or at least one chaotic adventure. The reality is that travel books can be magic. They can make you crave adventure, inspire spontaneous plane tickets, or help you escape your own couch for a few hours.
So if you’re over the same dusty lists of Eat, Pray, Meh, here’s a roundup of The Best travel books in 2025 that actually slap full of drama, discovery, and destinations that feel like characters themselves.
After one too many disappointments, I’ve compiled this list of the best travel books that won’t make you want to throw them across the room.
“The Geography of Bliss” by Eric Weiner
First up is a book by a self-described “grump” who traveled the world trying to figure out why some countries are happier than others. Eric Weiner is the anti-travel writer—he’s cranky, skeptical, and refreshingly honest about the fact that changing your location doesn’t automatically change your life.
What makes this book not suck is that Weiner doesn’t pretend to have a spiritual awakening while watching the sunset in Bhutan. Instead, he gets drunk with Icelanders, hangs out in sketchy cafes in Moldova (officially the world’s least happy country), and tries to understand why the Swiss are so damn content despite living in what he describes as “a country that looks like God’s boarding school.”
The book is funny as hell but also surprisingly profound. After reading it, you’ll either book a flight to Thailand or decide that maybe your hometown isn’t so bad after all.
“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed
I know this was an Oprah book club pick and got made into a movie with Reese Witherspoon. BUT HEAR ME OUT. Unlike most “finding myself in nature” memoirs, “Wild” doesn’t romanticize the great outdoors or pretend that hiking is some magical cure for life’s problems.
Strayed was a complete hiking novice when she decided to tackle the Pacific Crest Trail, and she’s brutally honest about every blister, every mistake, and every moment she wanted to quit. She doesn’t suddenly become a wilderness expert or have a perfect transformation. She’s just a mess trying to become slightly less of a mess.
What I liked most about this book journey is Strayed’s unflinching honesty and good writing. She doesn’t try to make herself look good; the nature descriptions are brutal. Plus, any book that includes details about toenails falling off deserves respect for keeping it real.
“Rice, Noodle, Fish” by Matt Goulding
“Rice, Noodle, Fish” is the Chef Table from Netflix of the gastronomy literature, is a deep dive into Japanese food culture that somehow avoids the typical “white guy discovers Asia” tropes.
What makes this book special is that Goulding lets Japanese chefs, food workers, and everyday people take center stage. He’s there as an observer, not the hero, and he approaches Japanese food with genuine curiosity rather than treating it as exotic or strange.
The book follows Goulding across seven key regions of Japan, exploring everything from convenience store snacks to high-end sushi. It’s gorgeously photographed, these are real dishes made by real people, not Instagram setups.
By the end, you’ll understand not just what Japanese people eat, but why they eat it and what it means to them.
“Atlas Obscura” by Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras, and Ella Morton
This isn’t a narrative travel book—it’s more like the world’s weirdest bucket list, and I am HERE FOR IT. Forget the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Canyon; this book catalogs the places most travel guides pretend don’t exist.
We’re talking about a museum of broken relationships in Croatia, a village in Japan where dolls outnumber humans, underground salt cathedral in Colombia, and a garden of poisonous plants in England. It’s basically a guidebook for people who hate guidebooks.
What makes “Atlas Obscura” special is that it doesn’t just list weird attractions—it explains why they matter. These aren’t just Instagram show-off opportunities; is another perspective of travel with a purpose.
“Vagabonding” by Rolf Potts
This is the OG bible for long-term travel. Rolf Potts breaks down the why and how of travel; not just where to go, but how to travel slow, travel smart, and actually experience a place, not just collect selfies.
It’s perfect if you’re dreaming of quitting your job and traveling forever or
you need a gentle push to stop overplanning and start living.
“How to Travel the World on $50 a Day” by Matt Kepnes
If you want tips that *actually help* (not just “bring snacks”), Matt’s your guy. He’s been traveling for over a decade and breaks down exactly how to stretch your money, book smarter, and avoid rookie mistakes.
this book is ideal for those want to travel more but your bank account laughs when you try. here you’ll find authentic advices from a guy who slept in 80 airports and survived to tell us the story.
✈️ Just remember: your next great adventure might start with a book even if your passport’s currently collecting dust.
Now it’s your turn: What’s your favorite travel book? The one that made you want to quit your job, buy a one-way ticket, or text your ex from an airport? Drop it in the comments I’m always looking for my next escape.👇
