Before the outback selfie, there was the travel memoir. Gain some wanderlust with ManScore's must read travel memoirs and books.

Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer
People have a lot of feelings about Christopher McCandless. Forsaking society and giving away his $25,000 in the name of adventure (or youthful hubris), McCandless set off on a variety of adventures across America in 1990 and eventually wound up dead in a van in the wilderness of Alaska. How he ended up there, whom he interacted with on his journey, and who this unique young man truly was, is what this incredible travel memoir is all about. Krakauer knows how to transport his readers in the beauty and hardship of the itinerant lifestyle across America. While the book was turned into a critically-acclaimed movie in 2007, the book has become required reading in a number of schools throughout America.

Desert Solitaire: A Season in The Wilderness by Edward Abbey
This classic of nature writing is right up there with Walden, if Walden were written by an anarchist. First published in 1968, this autobiographical tale is oddly peppered with true stories and fictional accounts as Abbey regails us with his adventures as a park ranger in Arches National Monument in the 1950s. From discovering a dead body to running the various rivers, this memoir is never dull, even when it veers toward polemics against increased tourism and the decline of the American West.

On The Road by Jack Kerouac
As a vagabonding soul myself, I had a strong predisposition against On The Road long before I’d read it. There were just too many indulgent teenagers in my life who’d read it and claimed it “changed their life” that I really didn’t have the time of day for it. Years later while rafting the Mississippi River, I picked up a copy and was completely floored. What I found indulgent in other readers is in fact intensely sincere in Kerouac; his cast of beat-down outsiders and their search for meaning and God and healing is not soon forgotten. Kerouac infuses his cross-country writing with the angst and free-jazz spirit of the age, searchers pounding coffee and cigarettes and booze with such fervor that it’s no wonder this book became an emblem for the Beat Generation to come.

The Motorcycle Diaries by by Che Guevara
In 1952, a 23-year-old medical student named Che Guevara set out with his best friend on the back of single cylinder 1939 Norton 500cc to experience the South America the two of them had only ever read about before. Their adventure exposed them to the poverty and hardships facing their country as well as the fallen beauty of their ancestor’s civilizations, and ultimately helped shape the Marxist views that would spur this legendary figure to lead a revolution. This bestselling memoir was originally advertised as “Das Kapital meets Easy Rider”, which doesn’t sound too far off. This book was also adapted into an acclaimed movie as well.

My Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck
In 1960, beloved novelist John Steinbeck decided to travel across America ostensibly to answer the question, “What are Americans like today?” In reality however, he was an aging novelist with a heart condition that could kill him at any moment. Knowing that any day might be his last, he wanted to see the country he loved so dearly one last time. Steinbeck set out with his dear standard poodle named Charley, and the two of them hit the road in a specially-made camper (dubbed “Rocinante” after Don Quixote’s horse). What ensues is a beautiful portrait (much of it highly fictionalized) of the “modern America” as seen through the eyes of this renowned storyteller and his trusty canine companion.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I’m including Paulo Coelho’s 1988 masterpiece here with the travel writing although it’s really more of a poetic parable about life’s journey. Originally written in Portuguese, this bestselling novel has been translated into over 70 languages. The book follows a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago who sets out on a journey to discover hidden treasure that keeps recurring in his dreams. Along the way he meets kings, scholars, the love of his life, and an aging alchemist (essentially a wizard) who teaches him about the “soul of the world”. Since the novel isn’t strictly about travel but is also laden with poetry and philosophy, it’s a fantastic read to take along with you on your next adventure.