Top Five Books to Read on the Road

Written by: Ben of Backpack Australia

There’s no better end to a long day of travel than by curling up on a comfy couch with a great book. There’s something special about carrying a book on the road. Of course, there are the practical reasons: a paperback is light, cheap, and can be easily traded in at the book exchange. But there’s something more; great writing inspires deep thought, and that’s what real travel is all about. Check out our five picks for the best books to read while you’re on the road.

Gregory David Roberts – Shantaram

Roberts robbed a series of banks in Australia during the 1970s, and was sentenced to nineteen years in jail. In 1980, he escaped prison and fled to India, where he delved deep into philosophy. The result is Shantaram, a mostly fictional account written after his return to Australia and subsequent imprisonment. The book is set in Mumbai, and tells the story of a man’s transformation from criminal to philanthropist.

Alex Garland – The Beach

The Beach embodies every travelers’ fantasies and nightmares. Written by Alex Garland (who later wrote the script for the zombie thriller 28 Days Later, The Beach follows a backpacker through Thailand in search of a “real” experience. He ends up on an island off the coast, living with an expatriate community amid fields and fields of drugs. This paradise quickly turns complicated. The book version is widely held to be better than the film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, so pick up a copy today before your next trip.

Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Written in the late 1970s, Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has turned into an international phenomenon. The book (which was followed up by a movie, as well as several sequels) is a tale of aliens, intrigue, and a search for “The Ultimate Answer”. There isn’t much on the surface that connects this to the art of travel, but hey, it’s a great read and you’ll certainly enjoy it for a couple of weeks while you’re on the road.

Chuck Palahniuk – Fight Club

If you’re searching for the most primal, human experience ever laid down in ink, look no further than Fight Club. Chuck Palahniuk has led an interesting life, and the events that shaped him shine through in his literature. Fight Club, also made into a hit movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, is the story of a deranged psychopath named Tyler Durden. The book speaks to all of the people who have been marginalized by society, and told that they can’t be somebody (though, of course, this lesson is delivered in the form of an insane underground fighting club).

Daniel Defoe – Robinson Crusoe

The last author on our list wrote approximately 350 years prior to the others, but is probably even more famous. Robinson Crusoe is Daniel Defoe’s seminal work. It tells the story of Alexander Selkirk, a castaway marooned on an island off the coast of Venezuela, and shares his exploits and adventures as he meets the locals. Looking for the best place to read this book? How about Robinson Crusoe Island, a pacific atoll that’s owned by Chile?

Ben is a freelance travel writer who currently works for Backpack Australia. Ben is passionate backpacker and has made travelling and writing his living. His past journeys have taken him through Europe, North Africa and latest Australia. His next trip will be to South America to experience the Rio Carnival!

Other articles by Ben:
Australias Top Ten Attractions
25 Popular Australian Slang Words
Guide To Australia Hostels

Possibly related posts:

1. 5 Unmissable Road Trips
2. The Cities Book and Other Coffee-Table Books
3. A Suitcase of (Some of) My Favourite Books
4. Little Treasure: Exploring La Graciosa – The 8th Canary Island
5. New Australian Driving Routes Guide