With travelling domestically (and inwardly) on our mind, we couldn’t resist but to share these fascinating stories recommended by Karma Group Literary Luminary Philip Blackwell of Ultimate Library. From Cheryl Strayed’s ‘Wild’ (now a motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon) to ‘Into the Wild’ (also a movie directed by Sean Penn), your journey begins here…
1. ![]()
Zen and the Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
This is a powerful examination into some of the biggest questions of our existence. In this influential book, we follow the journey of father and son on a motorcycle trip across the North-West of America. It is a compelling story of love, relationships, values and ultimately looks at how we live our lives as human beings.
2. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
After ten years living in England, Bill Bryson returned to the US, driving 14,000 to find he had become a stranger in his homeland. Bryson’s acclaimed first success, The Lost Continent is travel literature at its best – hilariously funny, while tinged with heartache – it is the book that first staked Bill Bryson’s claim as one of the most beloved writers of his generation.
3. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Following the death of her mother and the breakdown of her marriage, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. Four years later, with nothing left to lose, she decided to hike the Pacific Road Trail alone. With no training in hiking and no guide, Strayed risked her life to find a path to a more hopeful and positive future, above and beyond her grief.
4. ![]()
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Krakauer tells the true story of Chris McCandless, a young man who walked alone in the Alaskan wilderness. Months after he died, his emaciated corpse and SOS note were found amongst the remains of his belongings. In this moving portrayal of one man’s dedication to stepping away from civilisation, we are reminded of both the joys and dangers of the wild.
5. ![]()
My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
Having been packed up every Autumn for a holiday in her car as a child, Steinem became accustomed to life on the road at a young age. In vivid stories that span her entire career, she writes about her life as a feminist icon and how her travels impacted both her politics and her ideology. This is a memoir of the road that explores its profound and endless possibilities.
