Are you one of those people who likes to read books that take you on a journey around the world when you are not traveling? Are you one of those who say “I read a book and my life changed”? Travel books that inspire you to take a journey between the pages of a book or discover routes that will change your life are waiting for you in this article!
I have chosen these books especially for those who often ask me for book recommendations. We can say that Travel Books are starter books for the books in the list below. After reading these books, I don't know how we can keep you at home.
Travel Book of Evliya Celebi
Evliya Çelebi is one of the most important travelers of the 17th century. He brought together his travels over 40 years in the lands of the Ottoman Empire in his work called “Seyahatname”. Travelogue is a very rich work of 10 volumes. The versions of the 10-volume book written in contemporary Turkish were published by different publishers between 250-350 TL. If you say you can't read that long, you can also choose books that are easier to read with names such as Selections from Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname, and short summaries of Seyahatname.
Ibn Battuta – Travel Book of Ibn Battuta
Ibn Batuta lived in the 14th century, even before Evliya Çelebi. The traveler, who was born in Morocco, visited Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Anatolia, Eastern Rome (Istanbul), Central Asia, India, Maldives, China and Andalusia during his 28-year trips. He recorded many subjects such as social life, natural beauties and beliefs in Arabic. You can find the Turkish translation of the book for around 30 TL.
Marco Polo – Marco Polo's Book of Travels
Marco Polo, who lived in the 13th century, was born in Venice. His journey from Venice to Asia followed the Silk Road and extended to Mongolia, one of the most powerful states of that time. The book of the 25-year journey has also inspired Christopher Columbus. You can find the book for around 13-15 TL. There is also a Netflix series about Marco Polo's adventure with Kublai Khan in Mongolia, it's called Marco Polo, I recommend you to watch it.
Alain de Botton – The Art of Travel
Alain de Botton evaluates the concept of travel differently from a vacation, allowing you to reflect on the philosophy of travel. It treats travel as a concept that enriches the soul and takes us on a completely different journey. It is one of my bedside books. You can find the book for around $15.
Marlo Morgan – A Pair of Hearts
A Double Hearts chronicles the journey of an American woman in Australia, both physical and spiritual. This book has been on the bestseller lists since its first publication. After the book, which tells about the 4 months that the American woman spent with the Aborigines, who are Australian natives, became popular, there were also conversations that it was not a true story, but a fiction. Fact or fiction, this is a book that touches you and enters a world that not many people enter. You can find the book for around 20-25 TL.
Jack London – The Way
Road is a road book that tells the adventurous story of the famous author Jack London in the Americas. You will see all the reflections of the author's adventurous and vagrant personality in this book. You will read the stories of illegal trains, struggles with hunger and cold, stories up to begging in Jack London's language. You can find the book for around 6-7 liras.
Jules Verne – Around the World in 80 Days
Although it was launched as a children's book, Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days is a book that has inspired many people who dream of making a world tour. The book tells the story of Phileas Fogg, a gentleman from London, and his assistant Passepartou, traveling the world in 80 days.
Around the World in 80 Days was published by many publishers. You can find it on many websites for 5-6 liras.
Of course, this is not the only inspiring book by Jules Verne. He has many books such as Lantern at the End of the World, Journey to the Moon, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, where you can see the richness of the author's imagination and be inspired. You can also buy the books as a set.
Murat Belge – Istanbul Travel Guide
The Istanbul Travel Guide is a guide book that anyone who wants to explore Istanbul can take and get to know this ancient city from street to street. When I started to discover Istanbul, I bought it and benefited a lot from this book. Since Murat Belge adds his own style and stories to this travel guide, the book ceases to be a dry travel guide.
While I was writing this article, unfortunately, none of the websites I searched for the book were in stock. I hope new editions of the book continue to be published. The last sale price was around 50 TL.
Of course, the number of these books can be increased much more. However, today I tried to create a list for those who go and say "I want to buy inspirational travel books, which ones should I buy". If you have other suggestions, don't forget to add them as comments!
Stay Home For Now!
2 Comments
It's a very good list, Sevil. Around the World in Eighty Days brought me back to my childhood. When I first read this book, I had a passion for traveling. I hope it will inspire others as well. I wish to get through these difficult days by producing more.
Greetings Gokhan,
Sometimes it's good to go back to those days.
Yours