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Non Fiction Travel Books List
For the list of non fiction travel books, I have included short essays, self-help books, city guides and some real life stories that are, however, not strictly autobiographical in nature. You may find a few of the books also work well for the Travel Memoir Books page.
If you are after more travel book suggestions make sure to check the Travel Book Master List.
Discover the Swedish ethos of balanced living with this little book of Lagom.
The Swedish concept of Lagom (pronounced “lah-gom”) roughly translates to “not too little, not too much, just right.” This charming book introduces readers to a new way of balanced living that promises happiness and sustainability in work and in life
How to Be Danish: A Journey to the Cultural Heart of Denmark – Patrick Kingsley
What links Sarah Lund and Lars von Trier? Or Carlsberg and Kierkegaard? Or even Shakespeare and Metallica? The answer lies in Denmark, the country that has gripped the British imagination more than any other in recent memory. But though we watch their TV series, wear their jumpers, and play with their toys, how much do we really know about the Danes themselves?
The incredible true story of the women who fought America’s Undark danger.
The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.
Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy
Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them. A strict vow of secrecy nearly erased their efforts from history; now, through dazzling research and interviews with surviving code girls, bestselling author Liza Mundy brings to life this riveting and vital story of American courage, service, and scientific accomplishment.
Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts
There’s nothing like vagabonding: taking time off from your normal life—from six weeks to four months to two years—to discover and experience the world on your own terms. In this one-of-a-kind handbook, veteran travel writer Rolf Potts explains how anyone armed with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel. Now completely revised and updated, Vagabonding is an accessible and inspiring guide to… (read more)
How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter by Matt Kepnes
For over a decade, Matt Kepnes (aka Nomadic Matt) has used his massively popular travel blog to teach readers how to travel the world on a budget.
Traditional media shows you expensive hotels, resorts, cruises, and packages because that’s what makes them money. They make you believe you have to spend lots of money to have a great experience traveling.
This book will show you why that is a lie and how you can visit any destination in the world.
The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
Even as de Botton takes the reader along on his own peregrinations, he also cites such distinguished fellow-travelers as Baudelaire, Wordsworth, Van Gogh, the biologist Alexander von Humboldt, and the 18th-century eccentric Xavier de Maistre, who catalogued the wonders of his bedroom. The Art of Travel is a wise and utterly original book. Don’t leave home without it.
What are your favourite non fiction travel books?
