Great Books To Read While Traveling

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" - St Augustine.
Books make great traveling companions! I find it very comforting to read while I am traveling alone by train, bus or by air. A long commute magically becomes short and a droning train journey becomes quite colorful. So here is a list of books that you may find worthy of a good read while traveling. While it wouldn’t be possible to write a universal list of books because of the varied languages, tastes & genres available, I’m making a list of books that I have read & liked and I’m hoping you’d like them too.

Please note though, that the books mentioned here may not have much or anything to do with travel. They are however, books about people- real & fictitious, about psychology, spirituality, life and such. I have found that writings, music and every form of art melts all boundaries set by us humans. It enables us to explore worlds different from ours, transports us to higher planes mentally, excites us physically and finally helps us meet ourselves right where we are.

1. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid.

It’s a gripping tale about a very puzzling man called Changez who narrates to a suspicious American stranger about his American dream & love affair and how he was forced to abandon both. It is set in Lahore and written in impeccable English. It is less than a couple of hundred pages but packed with excitement. It very subtly analyses the state of our world today and brings in a stark comparison of life in the East & the West. The story is written in a monologue and the irony with which it ends is simply ineffable.

2. The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi.

It is the 1^st of the Shiva trilogy series by Amish. The story is set in the land of Meluha in 1900 B.C. It claims to use original archeological data borrowed for purpose of fiction. It chronicles the journey of Shiva, a Tibetan tribal who is believed to be the Neelkanth, the savior of the Meluhans and how he joins the Meluhan army to defeat the Chandravanshis & the Nagas.  You will come across familiar names from the Hindu mythology like Ganesha, Sati, Nandi and how they meet Shiva to help him in his endeavour.

3. The Secret of The Nagas by Amish Tripathi

It is the second book of the Shiva Trilogy. It picks up from where Shiva is trying to save Sati from a Naga attack. He wishes to put an end to the disturbances caused by the Nagas and so travels to Branga where he learns their true secrets & identities. He learns of Sati’s secret past and comes head on with the Nagas in their capital. There is a character in this book called ‘Bappiraj’ whose profile I found very similar to a Bollywood music director!!! Don’t know if anybody noticed! Reveals the humorous side of Amish I guess. On the whole, both the books are a must-read!

4. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff….and it’s all Small Stuff by Richard Carlson.

It is a very simple book and uses equally simple English. Almost all of us want to lead calm, peaceful, stress-free lives. So, this book talks about how one can stop letting the really tiny little things in life drive you insane. It helps you put things in perspective and is not so preachy like many books of this category are. It’s very thoughtful & encouraging and has titles like “Mind your own business” & “Wherever you go, there you are”. I felt it had stuff to think of while traveling. Maybe introspect even.

5. Lincoln, The Unknown by Dale Breckenridge Carnegie.

It is a biography of Abraham Lincoln. It is a beautiful book that gives us an insight into the world of a very reserved Lincoln and his journey from being a farm boy to becoming one of the most unforgettable presidents of the United States of America. You will weep with him, you will read with him, you will become president with him and you will be with him when that bullet hits him at theater in the end.

6. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda.

It is one of my favorites. It fundamentally talks about self-realization and self-mastery with scientific transparency. He narrates his life, his own spiritual journey and his encounters with many evolved masters. For me, it felt too good to believe. I felt like a little girl awestruck by the concept of magic & illusions. But I also felt that much in life is understood within the context of one’s own experiences. Thereby, even belief is questioned today.  It is one of those things that has many explanations attached to it and still remains ineffable.

7. The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck.

For those of you who first thought this was about travel, am sorry, it is not. It is about a different kind of journey altogether. It was first published in 1978 and perhaps Peck is best known for this book. It is an account of the elements that make for a contented human being, based on his experiences as a psychiatrist and largely as a person. He discusses many of his cases and details about discipline, the nature of love and grace. I found it very revealing & it has helped me understand human behavior & why we are what we are.

So here were just a few books for the list. And I’m not claiming that it has all the elements of a good review. But I am sincerely hoping that many of you out there would consider giving it a read through and that it makes your travel more enjoyable & enlightening. Often times, travel provides many revelations and what better way to stimulate our thoughts than books??

Happy reading! And Happy Journey!!