IF YOU CAN READ, YOU CAN TRAVEL

Which Is The Greatest Travel Book Ever Written? Discover 10 Contenders

Image: Kira auf der Heide

If reading can take us anywhere, then reading adventure and travel books can be compared to an epic mind journey through distant lands and situations without ever leaving the comfort of our seats.

Over the centuries, quite a few gifted minds have penned harrowing tales of exploration, endurance, and discovery. Some of them, like Jules Verne, devised amazing journeys and machines without ever leaving their homes; while others, like Ernest Shackleton, experienced firsthand the hardships most of us only have nightmares about. So, buckle up, read on, and see for yourself which of these 10 amazing reads entices you more.

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The legendary John Steinbeck set out to discover his native land in 1960 when he was almost sixty years old. Accompanied only by his dog, Charley, he traveled all across the United States in a pick-up truck.

His journey took him through almost forty states, and he saw things that made him proud, angry, sympathetic, and elated. All that he saw and experienced is described with remarkable honesty and wit in Travels with Charley, a book that is both entertaining and informative about 1960s America.

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The book that launched a thousand conservation efforts, My First Summer in the Sierra is based on John Muir’s original journals and sketches of his 1869 stay in the Sierras, where he was hired to supervise a sheep flock at the headwaters of the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers.

One of the heroes of America's conservation movement, Muir deserves much of the credit for making the Yosemite Valley a protected national park and for alerting Americans to the need to protect this and other natural wonders. He describes the flora and fauna of the mountains as well as his visits to Yosemite and his climbs of Mt. Hoffman and other peaks in the range.

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A well-known classic, Jack Kerouac’s On The Road tells the story of two friends whose cross-country road trips are a quest for meaning and a true life experience. Written with a mixture of urgency and poetry, this novel is the quintessential American vision of freedom and hope.

The amount of characters and places visited by the two protagonists gives a sense of their frantic lifestyle and infinite thirst for adventure. To say that this book inspired thousands of road trips is falling short of the truth.

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The first 8,000-meter mountain to be climbed, Annapurna was an epic conquest for the French Alpine Club expedition in 1950. Led by the distinguished French mountaineer Maurice Herzog, the legendary group pummeled through intense environments and experiences most of us would only dream of attempting.

The book, wonderfully written by the expedition leader, describes in great detail the experiences lived with breathtaking courage and grit, making it one of the greatest adventure stories ever told.

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"Call Me Ishmael" might well be one of the most famous beginnings of a book and that happens because what follows is a tale so harrowing and absorbing that made its way to the pinnacle of American literature since its publication in 1851.

A one-legged captain, Ahab, condemns his crew by dragging them into his obsession to hunt the white whale that took his leg. Narrated by crewmate Ishmael, **Moby Dick**is a great description of life aboard an XIX-century whaling ship and is based on a true story.

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Another timeless classic, Jack London’s **The Call of the Wild**was first published in 1903. The story follows the life of a pet dog named Buck, who is stolen from his California home and sold into the brutal life of an Alaskan sled dog during the Gold Rush of the 1890s.

As Buck adapts to his new environment, he must tap into his primal instincts to survive the harsh wilderness and cruel treatment from his masters. London’s narrative captures the essence of raw nature and highlights the struggle between civilization and the wild.

Image: Marek Okon

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea is a legendary science-fiction book that young children and grown-ups alike can thoroughly enjoy. And such a feat was accomplished by a writer who practically never left his room.

A fantastic submarine commanded by the mysterious Captain Nemo embarks on an odyssey around the world from Ceylon to the South Pole. This classic novel, written in 1870, predicts with incredible accuracy the inventions and advanced technology of the twentieth century.

Image: Michael Clarke

While some of the stories on this list are fiction, a few real-life accounts are so extraordinary that no one would be blamed for thinking unreal (wait for the last item on the list). Jon Krakauer’s novel based on the true events of his 1996 Mount Everest adventure could easily pass for fiction and was even used as the base for a 2015 movie.

**Into Thin Air**is a masterful description of the conditions on a mountain so prestigious that it has become a tourist magnet of sorts, often ignoring its very real dangers. And it exemplifies with crude examples the perils and dire consequences that making light of such a place can produce.

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

If you thought Tom Hank’s movie Cast Away was an original story, think again. A timeless classic precedes it by a couple of centuries and it is so well known that its very name has been used for ages as a common term to describe a lonely situation or individual.

Robinson Crusoe is the story of a man cast away on a Caribbean island for 26 years. The novel describes in first person the discoveries, fears, adventures, and perils of our hero, as he learns to survive by himself and even thrive in a wild environment.

Image: Jay Ruzesky

In 1914, a party led by veteran explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton set out to become the first to traverse the Antarctic continent on the Endurance. But, as the ice field slowly thickened, the ship was encased in a death grip, crushing their craft, and marooning 28 men on a polar ice floe.

In the epic struggle that ensued, Shackleton led his team on a quest for survival over some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world. Icy seas full of huge waves, mountainous glaciers and icebergs, brutal cold, and ever-looming starvation were their enemies for many months. The fact that the 28 men made it out alive is a testament to Shackleton’s incredible skills, leadership, and courage.South is the legendary man’s own account of the ordeal.

What science says

It was false after all: 10 health myths that sound true—but aren't

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Health myths are everywhere! These ideas were simply passed down for so long that they became part of what we believed. But now science has stepped in to clear things up. Does cold weather make you sick? Can lemon detox your body? Is reading in low light really harmful? Let's uncover the truth behind 10 common health myths!

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Have you ever been told that cutting your hair will make it grow faster? We're sorry to say that's just a myth. Hair grows from the root, not the ends. So, trimming it won't boost growth, though it does help remove split ends that can make your hair look dry or unhealthy.

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This is one of the most common health myths. Cold weather often gets blamed, but it's not the temperature that makes you catch a cold. During winter, we tend to stay indoors with others and keep the windows closed, an environment that makes it easier for viruses to spread. That's why colds tend to be more common in winter!

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The idea that eating before bed automatically leads to weight gain is a myth. In reality, it has more to do with what you eat and how much, rather than the time of day. Often, when we eat very late at night, we're tired and more likely to reach for quick, high-calorie, heavy foods. This can disrupt sleep and lead to consuming more calories than we burn, both of which may affect weight. If it's close to bedtime, it's better to have something light and healthy in a moderate portion than to skip a meal altogether.

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Does wearing glasses weaken your vision? Myth! If an eye doctor prescribes glasses, wearing them as directed helps correct your vision; it won't make it worse. Additionally, the right glasses can help prevent or reduce headaches caused by reading or spending long hours in front of a screen.

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This myth is closely related to the previous one. If you love reading and sometimes have to do it in low light because of the situation, don't worry. According to experts, reading in low light doesn't cause permanent or irreversible eye damage. However, it's not recommended because it can make your eyes feel tired or strained, leading to discomfort or headaches.

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We're all different, and so are our bodies. The idea that everyone should drink exactly eight glasses of water a day is more of a general guideline than a rule. Staying well hydrated throughout the day is extremely important, but how much water you need depends on factors like your weight, age, climate, and overall health. We should prioritize staying consistently hydrated instead of obsessing over the number of glasses we drink.

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Some people say drinking lemon water helps eliminate toxins and cleanse the body. While adding a slice of lemon to your water is a refreshing way to stay hydrated, it doesn't have any special "detoxifying" powers. The vitamin C in citrus fruits is beneficial, but the body has its own natural detox system. The liver and kidneys are the main organs that filter waste and eliminate toxins.

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Not all fats are bad! Just like other food groups, your body needs fats to function properly. The important thing is knowing the difference between healthy fats and those that can be harmful. Foods like avocados, seeds, olive oil, fish, and nuts are rich in healthy fats. On the other hand, the fats found in processed or fried foods are the ones that can have a negative impact on your body.

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Liver diseases can be serious. While heavy and frequent consumption of alcohol and fats is a major contributor, it's not the only cause. Liver problems can also result from many other factors. These include viral infections, autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, high blood pressure, and exposure to certain chemicals.

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There's some truth to it: breakfast is important because it replenishes our glucose and energy levels and supports proper metabolism. However, the idea that it's the most important meal of the day might be an exaggeration. Everyone's body has different needs, and all meals are important, so we shouldn't skip any of them!