10 Life-Changing Books That Will Bring Out The Nomad In You

Reading Time: 6 minutes

wan·der·lust

/ˈwändərˌləst/

(as defined by Google)

noun

a strong desire to travel.
“a man consumed by wanderlust”

10 Life-Changing Books That Will Bring Out the Nomad in You was inevitable. As a former teacher, the focus of my master’s degree in education is reading and literacy. Reading, too, is a journey. A great book can transport you to faraway lands, inspire life changes, heal painful wounds, deepen familial bonds, prompt self-reflection, and provoke many other significant thoughts and feelings. For this reason, including books in this cyber community is essential. We can’t grow or learn without literature. Therefore, you will frequently find book recommendation lists here at Living Learned.

Have you read any great books lately?

I would love to hear your recommendations. Please share them in the comments!

I thought our first list should reflect the heart and soul of this site – a deep and eternal love of learning and growing through travel. Has wanderlust struck you? If you’re looking to nurture that urge to get up and go, or if you’re hoping to inspire others to get on board your travel train, then you’ll want to check out or share my list of 10 Life-Changing Books That Will Bring Out the Nomad in You.

10 Life-Changing Books That Will Bring Out the Nomad in You

1. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Ralph Potts

Life-changing. If you love to travel and plan to read this book, expect to be moved – both literally and figuratively! This list- topping how-to guide on long-term travel provides more than inspiration. It serves as a guide on how to make it happen. Many who have read it are now professional (some very well-known) nomads and travel bloggers who have hit the road permanently. The cover should display a caution sign, “Read at Your Own Risk: Not responsible for uncontrollable wanderlust, sudden onset of nomadic tendencies, or lost luggage.”

2. How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter by Matt Kepnes

Okay, so now that the nomad in you has been stirred, you have to finance this brand new vagabonding lifestyle. Enter, Matt Kepnes, travel blogger extraordinaire. Matt’s blog, nomadicmatt.com, specializes in teaching his readers how to scrimp and save their way around the world. Matt detailed his many tips and tricks for budget travel in this one handy, dandy literary guide. In this book, you’ll learn to get off the beaten path to experience the authentic local culture no matter where you land. He even outlines pricing and destination information, so there are no monetary surprises upon arrival. As a bonus, you’ll find pages upon pages of listings of his favorite (cheapest) travel service companies.\

3. WorldTrek: A Family Odyssey by Russell Fisher

A true story, this book recounts the journey of a family who trekked around the world for an entire year. Homeschooling their 12 and 13-year-old daughters was easy on the road. In fact. the whole clam learned so much more than they ever could within the confines of classroom walls. Read about the incredible journey, including which countries they visited, where they stayed, what they ate, and all the details of their remarkable expedition. Russell also includes tips to help readers plan their own around-the-world-trip. If you’ve ever felt inclined to throw caution to the wind and live life as a nomad, this book will help you see that “settling down” doesn’t have to mean settling down. This one certainly is a book that will bring out the nomad in you, as well as your whole family.

4. Destination Earth: A New Philosophy of Travel by a World-Traveler by Nicos Hadjicostis

If you love Instagram, you’ll enjoy this colossal book. Within the large, colorful pages of Nico’s guide to travel, readers will find 60 remarkably vibrant, beautiful images from around the world. Stories, practical advice, budget travel tips, and how-tos are also expertly written by this philosopher of adventure. According to a professor from my old alma marta, Ron Leonard, Professor of Philosophy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, “…his philosophical reflections provide unique insights into the process and value of education through travel.” You know how much I value educational, meaningful, purposeful travel, and Nico’s writings teach us exactly how to intentionally embark on each transformational journey.

5. Secret Marvels of the World: 360 Extraordinary Places You Never Knew Existed and Where to Find Them by Lonely Planet

Reading this book really does make you feel like you’ve been let in on a secret, a very odd secret. Discover new and bizzare points of longitude to see where each wondrous location lies. Uncover exotic and inexplicable rare gems with each turn of the page. I would recommend using this text as a guide in creating your travel bucket list since most of them you have to see to believe! Choose a few of these lesser-known wonders to visit. As a result, you’ll help reduce overtourism while visiting splendidly secluded and sometimes scary destinations. For me, the Stairway to Heaven, or the disappearing island of Fonuofo’ou would be must-dos. Although Fiji’s natural waterslide sounds fantastic, too. This one will ignite your sense of adventure and is sure to bring out the nomad in you.

6. Journeys of a Lifetime, Second Edition: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips by National Geographic

Who knows how to see the world better than the travel writers at National Geographic? This anniversary edition is a no-holds-barred guide to the best destinations for any adventure-seeking traveler. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mountain bike in Transylvania. Visit museums around the world. Luxuriously cruise across oceans. Every continent and every form of transportation is covered. This book delivers stunning images and full-color maps. Additionally, you’ll find practical travel tips. Readers learn how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of each journey.

7. All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft by Geraldine DeRuiter

Looking to laugh and cry? Or to laugh so hard you’ll cry? Geraldine’s book gets you there. Her stories are candid and honest. This tribute to her husband doubles as a book about overcoming fears of travel. Therefore, it’s not so much a guide to travel as an extension of herself. You won’t find how-tos or uncover secret travel locations in this book. She reminds readers that travel can deepen family connections while bringing them closer to their history. On her blog site, everywhereist.com, Geraldine’s official bio states, “TIME Magazine described her work as ‘consistently clever’ and The New York Times said her writing was ‘dark and hilarious.’ Her blog has received accolades from The Independent, Forbes Magazine, and The Huffington Post because sometimes features editors get drunk.” This speaks volumes about her edgy writing style and the wry humor you should expect from this novel.

8. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

It seems cliche to recommend this all-time favorite. This masterpiece has already served as inspiration to most avid travelers. However, it makes the list because if you haven’t read it, you need to. A modern classic, this book has already changed the lives of countless readers of all generations. This magical story depicts the journey of a young boy who dreams of venturing off on a journey in search of a worldly treasure. Although, even he couldn’t have imagined the riches he’d find. Moreover, this well-loved favorite reminds us to listen to our intuition, seek adventure, and live in a state of perpetual pursuit of our dreams.

9. Escape from the Ordinary by Julie Bradley

Julie and her husband set sail for over seven years and lived to tell the tale. Written from Julie’s perspective, this remarkable true story reminds us that anyone can embark on the sometimes treacherous journey of self-discovery. Candidly detailed descriptions of their thrilling adventures will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking to learn about boats and the technical aspects of sailing, you should probably skip this one. However, if tales of surviving storms at sea, thwarting shark encounters, and escaping near-death experiences spark your sense of adventure, then this book is for you. As you read, you can’t help but wonder, “What would I have done?”. Any novel that provokes self-reflection is a must-read in my book.

10. 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Revised Second Edition by Patricia Schultz

Not a novel, but sure to bring out the nomad in you, 1,000 Places may be the ultimate “travel guide”. Sure, destinations are listed. However, Patricia also includes hotels, restaurants, popular tourist attractions, festivals, and the best times to visit each location. As a result, you almost don’t even have to create your own bucket list, as this book ticks off all the wish-list worthy boxes. She covers everything from castles to beaches, safaris to pyramids, and opera houses to hidden islands. Geographically organized, the book divides the globe into eight regions, then alphabetically by country, making it easy to find whatever you’re looking for. It’s a fantastic tool that can be used to plan your itinerary when traveling to any destination.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and love. My hope is that you will, too!