The Travelers' Tales Adventure List The Travelers' Tales Guide to the Best Adventure Travel Books High Adventure Here are twenty-one of our favorite adrenaline-charged books. These daring adventurers discover themselves as they struggle to survive life-and-death ordeals, revealing the fragility of the human body and the magnificence of the human spirit. Addicted to Danger Jim Wickwire and Dorothy Bullitt This mountaineer's story will have you shaking your head in disbelief--but you'll have a better idea of why some people climb mountains, even when others are dying all around them. (Pocket Books: 0671019910) Annapurna Maurice Herzog A must read for anyone interested in the Himalayas or Nepal. The first successful climb of an 8,000-meter peak was led by Herzog in 1950. The team of French climbers not only successfully made the ascent, they charted their own way, and then miraculously survived a harrowing descent. An impressive adventure story that celebrates the human spirit. (Lyons Press: 1558215492) Annapurna: A Woman's Place Arlene Blum An inspiring chronicle of the first all-women ascent of a major Himalayan peak. This 1978 expedition of thirteen women had a dramatic impact upon the world of women high adventure travel, and changed perceptions of women's endurance. An intimate portrait of an extraordinary team of women, this is a moving story of daring and determination, with an outcome that is both tragic and triumphant. (Sierra Club: 1578050227) Danger! James O'Reilly, Larry Habegger, & Sean O'Reilly (eds.) Risk lurks on every journey in this suspense-packed collection of stories. Whether trapped in an underwater cave, escaping an avalanche, or surviving the century's worst storm at sea, each author faces moments of raw terror and finds deep reserves of courage. The Travelers' Tales editors selected the finest writing of its kind by the likes of Bill Buford, Sebastian Junger, Janine Jones, Andrew Todhunter, Peter Maass, and many more. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211325) Fall of the Phantom Lord Andrew Todhunter After a bad fall, rock climber Dan Osman decided to study falling by, well, falling. In this remarkable book, extreme sports enthusiast and writer Todhunter climbs--and falls--with Osman, and in the process, explores his own fears and the nature of risk. (Anchor Books: 0385486421) Into the Wild Jon Krakauer One of the best-told and most poignant accounts of what makes young men risk their lives. Krakauer tells the story of Christopher McCandless, who left a bright future to journey alone into the wilds of Alaska to prove himself--and died in the process. This compelling and disturbing narrative is simply unforgettable. (Anchor Books: 0385486804) Into Thin Air Jon Krakauer You've heard the hype about the 1996 Everest disaster, but this story of what went wrong is extraordinary. Illuminating and thought provoking, Krakauer relays in detail the events that led to the deaths of twelve climbers. The narrative combines this journalistic rendering with a deeply personal accounting, as Krakauer struggles to understand each person's role in the catastrophe, and painfully wrestles with the event's lingering questions about the role of guides and paying clients. (Anchor Books: 0385494785) A Lady in the Rocky Mountains Isabella Bird Bird is one of the first great women travel writers. Taking her doctor's advice, she left England at the age of 22 to travel as a cure for her ill health. In the winter of 1873, Bird ventured alone, mostly on horseback, through the Rocky Mountain wilderness. She befriended desperados, herded cattle at a hard gallop, fell through ice, got lost in snowstorms, and lived in a cabin so cold her ink froze as she wrote. (University of Oklahoma Press: 0806113286) No Mercy Redmond O'Hanlon This book is the best of Redmond O'Hanlon's wild escapades in search of rare forms of wildlife. Here, he searches for a living dinosaur in a remote Congo forest. Brutally funny, vastly informative about wildlife and equatorial Africa, it is the ultimate I'm-Glad-I'm-Safe-at-Home reading. (Vintage: 0679737324) The Perfect Storm Sebastian Junger A gripping narrative about sailors and fishermen caught in one of the biggest storms of the century, and their struggle for survival in the face of ferocious winds and 100-foot waves. You will come away with an enormous respect for both the power of the ocean and those who voluntarily drop into monstrous seas to rescue the crews of ships in distress. (HarperCollins: 0060977477) Polar Dream Helen Thayer Told it could never be done, Thayer, at the age of 50, became the first woman to ski solo to the North Pole. With her beloved husky Charlie, Thayer traveled 345 miles in 27 days and confronted her fears and a few polar bears along the way. (Dell: 0385312628) Travels on My Elephant Mark Shand A dream of seeing India from the back of an elephant becomes an 800-mile journey through Indian life. Shand learns to become a mahout, or elephant handler, and develops deep friendships with his local accomplices. The true star of the story is Tara the elephant, and Shand's plan to sell her at the animal market at the end of his journey begins to unravel when he realizes he's in love with her. A poignant and hilarious memoir. (Overlook Press: 0879518685) Running the Amazon Joe Kane Kane describes the first descent of the Amazon from its source in the Andes to its joining with the Atlantic Ocean a continent away. It is a vivid study of group dynamics and dogged individual persistence in the face of enormous odds. (Vintage: 067972902X) Sahara Unveiled William Langewiesche Captivated by the Sahara, Langewiesche decides to trek across it, 1,200 miles from Algiers to Timbuktu. Merging historical detail with his own astute observations and personal anecdotes about people met along the way, he relays the nuances of his journey in exquisitely rendered prose. By the time you finish the book, Sahara will forever hold a different meaning. (Vintage: 0679750061) Sea Change Peter Nichols When his marriage fails, Englishman Peter Nichols decides to sail alone across the Atlantic in his 27-foot boat, Toad. At sea, he reflects upon the wrecked marriage and the odd twists his life has taken. As Nichols slowly realizes that Toad has a flaw below the waterline which makes her less than seaworthy, he begins a battle for survival on the open ocean. (Penguin USA: 0140264132) A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush Eric Newby Newby's account of his ill-advised, poorly planned, hopelessly doomed attempt to climb a mountain in Afghanistan is one of the funniest mountaineering books ever written. (Lonely Planet: 0864426046) Terra Incognita Sara Wheeler Wheeler brings the past alive by weaving her own adventures in Antarctica with those of great explorers of the past (Shackleton, Scott, and Amundsen), giving insights into the lives of men and women who bravely live and work under isolated and difficult conditions. (Modern Library: 0375753389) Testosterone Planet Sean O'Reilly, Larry Habegger, & James O'Reilly (eds.) The editors at Travelers' Tales have collected terrific stories from the multifaceted world of male experience. From the absurd to the sublime, from terror to gallantry, Testosterone Planet combines adventure stories with tales of awareness and wonder. Scuba dive the world deepest cave, fly through a cyclone, learn to curse, study Tantric sex, and feel the perfect punch in the face. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211430) Touching the Void Joe Simpson Simpson miraculously survives a bone-crushing fall in the high Andes, but is mistakenly left for dead by his friend and climbing partner. Trapped alone in a deep crevasse--crippled, starving, and frostbitten--he summons vast reserves of physical and spiritual strength in his effort to survive. Truly an epic tale of suffering and survival, and a testament to the camaraderie of two climbers. (HarperCollins: 0060916540) Tracks Robyn Davidson This is a completely marvelous story of a woman, her dog, and four camels crossing the stark and isolated Australian Outback. As she faces the challenges of the desert, Davidson discovers resources within herself that mirror the riches of the vast land she traverses. Davidson emerges as a heroine who combines sensitivity and extraordinary courage. (Vintage: 0679762876) The White Spider Heinrich Harrer The White Spider is a classic of climbing and what makes climbers tick. Written by the author of Seven Years in Tibet, it is an account of the young Harrer's legendary ascent of the North Face of the Swiss Eiger. Harrer also tells the moving story of the previous tragic attempts to scale the forbidding wall of rock and ice. (Penguin USA: 0874779405)   Women's Adventure Great women adventurers inspire us all to follow in their footsteps as they face danger with strength, determination, and grace. This diverse collection of books is full of the passion and poetry of women's lives. Annapurna: A Woman's Place Arlene Blum An inspiring chronicle of the first all-women ascent of a major Himalayan peak. This 1978 expedition of thirteen women had a dramatic impact upon the world of women's high adventure travel, and changed perceptions of women's endurance. An intimate portrait of an extraordinary team of women, this is a moving story of daring and determination, with an outcome that is both tragic and triumphant. Recently published in a 20th anniversary edition. (Sierra Club: 1578050227) A Woman's World Marybeth Bond (ed.) This collection of stories encourages women to set out for adventure and make their own dreams real. The stories span continents, cross generations, and are written by every kind of traveler, from novice to adventurer. Winner of the Lowell Thomas Award for Best Travel Book. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211066) Bury Me Standing Isabel Fonseca Gypsies are known for traveling endlessly and almost everywhere, yet they are among the world's most mysterious people. Fonseca lives and travels with them and lifts the curtain on this fascinating culture. (Vintage: 067973743X) Canyon Solitude Patricia McCairen McCairen was the first woman since the 1950s to travel solo down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This inspirational book is a must read for rafters, hikers, and anyone thinking of embarking on a solo adventure in the wild. (Seal Press: 1580050077) Climbing High Lene Gammelgaard Gammelgaard was the first Scandinavian woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. In this account of her climb, she details both her triumph and the horrendous and deadly blizzard of 1996 that overshadowed her remarkable feat. (Seal Press: 1580050239) East Along the Equator Helen Winternitz Penetrating equatorial Africa has never been easy, and this account of a woman's journey up the Congo River from Kinshasa to Kisangani will confirm that travel there is as difficult as ever. Her great adventure is fraught with peril from an unseaworthy vessel, corrupt officials, thieves, and the dangers of disease along the river. The political landscape has changed since the book was written, but the challenges remain the same. (Grove/Atlantic: 0871131625) Kite Strings of the Southern Cross Laurie Gough This is a passionate and poetic travel narrative about Gough's return to a Fijian paradise, interwoven with tales of her other journeys around the world from Malaysia to Morocco. Her story is heartwarming, funny, and wise--a profound testament to the lessons of the road. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211309) A Lady in the Rocky Mountains Isabella Bird Bird is one of the first great women's travel writers. Taking her doctor's advice, she left England at the age of 22 to travel as a cure for her ill health. In the winter of 1873, Bird ventured alone, mostly on horseback, through the Rocky Mountain wilderness. She befriended desperados, herded cattle at a hard gallop, fell through ice, got lost in snowstorms, and lived in a cabin so cold her ink froze even as she wrote. (University of Oklahoma Press: 0806113286) My Journey to Lhasa Alexandra David-Neel This spirited adventure tells the story of Frenchwoman David-Neel, who made history in the early 1900s by walking, disguised as a male beggar, from China across Tibet and into the forbidden and fabled city of Lhasa. She was the first Western woman ever to enter the city. (Beacon Press: 080705903X) Out of Africa Isak Dinesen Dinesen (the Danish countess Karen Blixen) ran a coffee plantation in Kenya in the early part of the 20th century. Her book portrays a strong, determined, and sensitive woman living in a strange and beguiling land--hunting lions by night, raising an orphaned antelope, and establishing an independent life among Africans and colonial adventurers. (Modern Library: 0679600213) Polar Dream Helen Thayer Told it could never be done, Thayer, at the age of 50, became the first woman to ski solo to the North Pole. With her beloved husky Charlie, Thayer traveled 345 miles in 27 days and confronted her fears and a few polar bears along the way. (Dell: 0385312628) Shooting the Boh Tracy Johnston Johnston participated in the first descent of the wild Boh River in Borneo. Dealing with extreme rapids, giant leeches, incapacitating foot rot, and hot flashes, Johnston takes the reader on an intense and empowering ride. (Vintage: 0679740104) Terra Incognita Sara Wheeler In this engaging book, Wheeler brings alive the past by weaving her own adventures in Antarctica with those of explorers from the past (Shackleton, Scott, Amundsen), giving insights into the lives of men and women who bravely work under isolated and difficult conditions year round. (Modern Library: 0375753389) Tracks Robyn Davidson This is a completely marvelous story of a woman, her dog, and four camels crossing the stark and isolated Australian Outback. As she faces the challenges of the desert, Davidson discovers resources within herself that mirror the riches of the vast land she traverses. Davidson emerges as a heroine who combines sensitivity and extraordinary courage. (Vintage: 0679762876) West with the Night Beryl Markham A true explorer, Markham grew up in East Africa and became an African bush pilot in the 1930s. She was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from east to west, and in this inspirational and wise memoir, Markham recounts her discoveries, rescues, and narrow escapes. This is much more than a pilot's memoir--it is women's adventure at its finest. (North Point Press: 0865471185) Women in the Wild Lucy McCauley (ed.) A first-rate collection of stories of women's adventures as they foray into the wilderness kayaking, flying, swimming, hiking, camping, and climbing their way around the globe. Includes stories by Annie Dillard, Jane Goodall, Alice Walker, Lousie Erdrich, Robyn Davidson, Tracy Johnston, Gretel Erlich, and Terry Tempest Williams. (Travelers' Tales: 188521121X)   Spiritual Adventure Adventures of the soul can be as exciting as climbing the highest mountains or crossing the most tumultuous seas. Here are fifteen great tales in which the writers set out on bold journeys and find emotional and spiritual illumination along the way. City of Djinns William Dalrymple If you could take a pill and understand India, that pill would have many of the qualities of this marvelous book about New Delhi, and its phantasmagoric inhabitants by one of England's finest travel writers. (Acacia: 0006375952) Empire of the Soul Paul William Roberts Empire of the Soul tells the fascinating story of Roberts' 20 year quest to come to terms with the ascendancy of Indian guru Sai Baba from humble beginnings to world-class spiritual leader. This romp through India is immensely readable and thought-provoking. (Riverhead: 1573226351) Entering the Sacred Mountain Rabbi David A. Cooper A rabbi roams America and Israel as he explores and integrates in his own life the disparate practices of Judaism, Buddhism, and Sufism. This book is an exceptional inner journey in the spirit of Thomas Merton's Seven Story Mountain. (Bell Tower: 051788464X) Hidden Journey Andrew Harvey Here is the remarkable journey of a rational atheist as he goes from Oxford to his native India and confronts the nature of belief and the soul after an unexpected meeting with a young woman who is purportedly the embodiment of the Divine Mother. His mystical experiences are as extraordinary as they are well-written. (Penguin USA: 0140194487) The Island Within Richard Nelson Alaska is stamped on the American imagination as a vast frontier, and this book is one of the best on the subject. Incorporating Native American spirituality, it provides a deep and vivid evocation of life and hunting in the Alaskan wilds. (Vintage: 067973239X) Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride Gary Paulsen A stunning account of the inner workings of a man's life as seen through his motorcycle adventures around the USA. At age 57, stricken with heart disease, a midlife crisis, and a good dose of wanderlust, Paulsen sets off on a Harley. This journey brings him into the core of himself--and from it he emerges indelibly changed. (Harcourt Brace: 0151930937) The Road Within Sean O'Reilly, James O'Reilly, and Tim O'Reilly (eds.) In this award-winning collection of spiritual travel stories, outstanding writers chronicle life-changing experiences from every corner of the world, radiantly expressing what it is to be human. Writers include Huston Smith, Natalie Goldberg, Andrew Harvey, Barry Lopez, Annie Dillard, Bill Buford and Lyall Watson. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211198) Salvation on Sand Mountain Dennis Covington This is an unforgettable story of one man's spiritual journey among ecstatic Christians in the deep South, involving snake handling, strychnine drinking, faith healing, and speaking in tongues. Covington first attends a snake-handling service out of curiosity, then begins handling the huge rattlers himself. He eventually breaks with the snake handlers, but does not come away unscathed. (Penguin USA: 0140254587) Seven Years in Tibet Heinrich Harrer In this classic account, Harrer tells of his years in Tibet during World War II. After trekking over the Himalayas to the forbidden city of Lhasa, he became a teacher and friend of the young Dalai Lama. His story combines physical adventure with emotional and spiritual growth. (Putnam: 0874778883) Sex Death Enlightenment Mark Matousek While ostensibly an AIDS memoir, this book is a testament to the power of travel to open the heart and mind. A gay man goes to India and searches for meaning and spirituality against the background of an abused childhood. He discovers the healing power of love, and his honesty is an inspiration to all. (Riverhead: 1573225819) The Sign and the Seal Graham Hancock Journey with a modern day Indiana Jones as he seeks to uncover the secret of the lost Ark of the Covenant. His quest takes him from Israel to Africa where he uncovers the lost history of the Ark. Hancock sets the standard for both scholarship and adventure in this book, which reads like a good detective story. (Touchstone: 0671865412) The Snow Leopard Peter Matthiessen The quest in this book is seemingly to find the rare and elusive snow leopard in a remote Himalayan region of Nepal but it goes deeper--to a hunt for self-knowledge and a probe of the human condition. The writing is so evocative you can't help but get caught up in the spiritual journey. (Penguin USA: 0140255087) The Spiritual Tourist Mick Brown A trail of chance and possibly providence leads Mick Brown from the cult figure of Madam Blavatsky to the genial and enigmatic Mr. Creme in London. The adventures multiply with gurus and charlatans around the world. This is must reading for anyone who wants to delve into the realm of the New Age. (Bloomsbury: 158234034X) The Sword of Heaven Mikkel Aaland In this combination of adventure travel and spiritual memoir, Aaland recounts the strange events that turned a skeptic son of a scientist into a journeyman who carries mysterious pieces of a broken Shinto sword to eight far-flung countries in search of world peace. This is a fresh and poignant memoir of growing up in fear of the Cold War and a fascinating glimpse into the complex world of Shinto. (Travelers' Tales: 1885211449) Tying Rocks to Clouds William Elliot The author, a mental health worker in a psychiatric hospital, sets off on an improbable journey: to answer the riddle of his parents' death by traveling the world and asking life's simplest and most profound questions of the world's foremost spiritual figures: What is God? What is life's purpose? Why do people suffer? The results are not only lovely but--dare we say--enlightening. (Doubleday: 0385481918)   Return to The Travelers' Tales Adventure List

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