I love a good travel and adventure book, and I adore reading nomad books. They inspire and remind me of why my husband and I have chosen to sell it all and head out into the world. I prefer nomad books written by women.
Many of the “nomad” books are geared toward “digital nomads” and the younger nomads of the world. I like to focus on nomad books that appeal to me as a woman and as an active senior traveler. But whether you’re an armchair traveler or a full-time nomad, adventure travel books are always a fun read.
Here is a list of all the adventure travel books I’ve read or have been recommended to me. There’s over 100 books on my list! Click to see my complete travel book list. Below are some of my favorites.
My Five Favorite Nomad Life Books You Must Read
Every single one of these stories resonates with me as a nomad. From Kate Evan’s bisexual adventure through housesitting around the world in Call It Wonder: an odyssey of love, sex, spirit, and travel to the classic Tales of a Female Nomad by Golden Gelman, I hope you, too, find your nomad story within these beautiful entries into the travel writing canon.
Thus, I present my list of my favorite nomad travel books so far.
Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman
I read this book a couple of years ago right before I headed off by myself to Latin America. It was the perfect book to open my solo-travel mind and to remember that traveling by myself would be safe and an adventure. I’ll never forget how she learned about herself, women, and local community by chopping onions with the women of the village. Would you do that? Read about my travel magic moments.
Call It Wonder: an odyssey of love, sex, spirit, and travel by Kate Evans
Evans has a way of getting into your soul and living there for awhile. Although her stories travel the world, they also traveled through my body as she lived and breathed her pains and joys, I did too. This is an embracing love story set on a premise of travel and life, and it’s an inspiring tale for any future nomad.
American Dirt (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel by Jeanine Cummins
Using the term nomad in relation to this book might be offensive. Afterall, the main character must escape cartel violence in order to save her life and that of her son’s. She traverses the coyote path of Mexico to get to the US. So she’s a nomad, but she’s more a victim seeking aslyum than a nomad venturing out into the world. By reading this book, it reminded me all too well of my privledge as a “nomad” and how in one easy scene, a life can change. All of us who call ourselves nomads and travel the world full-time need to read this book for a real understanding of life as a nomad.
The Rhythm of Everything: A Journey Through Nature, Science, and Faith by Bonnie Truax
I’m not a religious person, and I find the dogmas of religion a bit much. I am fascinated, though, by how the dogmas compare across religions and the way these dogmas influence behavior globally. As I travel, I see these influences broadly. When Truax throws in a bit of nature to prove her point that God exists, it challenged me to see the role Mother Nature plays in structuring my own dogmas about beliefs and morals. This book is no relaxing beachside read; it’s a tramp through your preconceptions with a jolly good wallup at the end. Don’t miss it.
The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Volume 12: True Stories from Around the World by Lavinia Spalding
I would be completely remise in my honor of women’s travel writing if I didn’t include the standard bearer of women’s travel writing. Annually, Spalding pulls together the best pieces from the travel writing canon and praises the women who write it. In this particular volume, I adored walking across Azerbijian, performing an autopsy in Ireland, and getting conned in Colombia…all while enjoying the book as if I were sitting in a coffee shop with my nomad buddies talking about our lives as full-time travelers. If you’re not yet launched and you need some insight into what full-time travel is really like, Spalding will take you there.
The Nomad Life Series by Chris Englert
I wouldn’t be true to my ownself if I didn’t point you to my three books about Nomad Life. Grab Two Carry-ons if you’re getting ready to launch, grab Nomad Life if you want to see how our first two years really went, and grab Wanderlust Wisdom for true insight from 25 other nomads about the tribulations of full-time travel.
If you have favorite travel writing books you’d like to recommend, please send me a note. I’ll add it to my famous Travel Writing Book List.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.