Here are 69 books that The Unlikely Thru-Hiker fans have personally recommended if you like
The Unlikely Thru-Hiker.
Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.
I didnât sit down to write Carried Away with a personal sermon in my back pocket. No buried lessons or hidden curriculumâit was just a story I wanted to tell. But stories have a way of outsmarting you.Â
So when I chose these books, I wasnât looking for perfect comparisonsâI was looking for echoes. Some of these books will drag you through POW camps or strand you on a lifeboat with a tiger; others will lean in and whisper that youâve been running a program and calling it personality. A few say the quiet part out loudâabout grit, meaning, and purpose. Others ring you up with fable, abstractions, or science, but they leave their mark just the same.Â
This book hit me as both tragic and strangely hopeful.
Chris McCandless walked into the Alaskan wilderness with little more than a backpack and a stubborn streak, and people have argued ever since: was he brave, reckless, or just plain stupid? But his compulsion isnât as rare as we might think. In my book, Cole feels the same tugâescape the sterile shoebox apartment and the $8 lattes. This canât be all there is.
What drew me in wasnât the verdict but his hunger for something realâstripping away every layer of artifice most of us cling to. Krakauer tells it with empathy and curiosity, letting you wrestle with the questions instead of handing you neatly typed answers. I recommend it because it forces you to stare down your own compromises: freedom versus responsibility, idealism versus pragmatism.
Admire Chris or dismiss him, you wonât forget him. And the story lingers like aâŠ
Krakauerâs page-turning bestseller explores a famed missing person mystery while unraveling the larger riddles it holds: the profound pull of the American wilderness on our imagination; the allure of high-risk activities to young men of a certain cast of mind; the complex, charged bond between fathers and sons.
"Terrifying... Eloquent... A heart-rending drama of human yearning." âNew York Times
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned allâŠ
The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.
The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.
Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn theâŠ
As a travel writer, author, broadcaster, speaker, and producer, Iâve reported from over 100 countries on 7 continents for major print and digital publications worldwide and networks like National Geographic and Travel Channel. I kicked off my career with a solo, 12-month round-the-world backpacking adventure, largely inspired by the formative books I read below. Embracing the world with insatiable curiosity, an open heart, an open mind, a sense of humour, and enthusiasm to share my stories clearly resonated. Here I am, two decades later, author of a half-dozen bestselling books that focus on my own eclectic travels, which will hopefully inspire others as these books inspired me. Â
A deserved, all-time classic, this book seems to transcend time to capture the spirit of wanderlust. I was young and impressionable when I read it for the first time, and it inspired a sense of profound restlessness to explore, grow, and hit the road to see for myself.Â
Neal Cassidy and Jack Kerouac are wild, occasionally unhinged protagonists, and their journey consists of hustling, romance, and drinking their way to a good time. Kerouacâs writing made me long for similar misadventures, where life is simple and finding the road is all that matters. Subversively, the novel promotes a full life and whole human experience, which makes working 9 to 5 that much more difficult.
The legendary novel of freedom and the search for authenticity that defined a generation, now in a striking new Pengiun Classics Deluxe Edition
Inspired by Jack Kerouac's adventures with Neal Cassady, On the Road tells the story of two friends whose cross-country road trips are a quest for meaning and true experience. Written with a mixture of sad-eyed naivete and wild ambition and imbued with Kerouac's love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz, On the Road is the quintessential American vision of freedom and hope, a book that changed American literature and changedâŠ
Who can really claim that they know everything about the human heart, the mind, the soul? The infinite mysteries and complexities of what makes someone who we can call âhuman.â I'm betting no one. Certainly not me. But what's important is the passion to keep exploring, to keep digging through the mind in an effort to understand myself. That effort, along with what I discover, is one of the most tangible things that not only enriches my living life, but also gives me comfort facing the inevitable end. These books were passionate companions, inspiring me, for however long, to further my efforts in self-discovery.
This book resonated with me because itâs the story of a journey. A journey of personal discovery and resilience.
I know what itâs like to lose loved ones. My whole family is gone. I know whatâs itâs like to have the life youâve led, the life youâve believed in, be dismantled. And I know what itâs like to go on an expedition to find yourself again.
It doesnât matter how that expedition takes form; the journey to find yourself again is powerful, and Iâm still on that road.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERÂ âą A powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastropheâand built her back up again.
At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her motherâs death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from theâŠ
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa storiesâall reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argueâŠ
Iâve wanted to travel the world since I could look out a window. Itâs been an honor to spend my life exploring this planet, despite some of its inhabitants. I knew Iâd write books about it, even before I could write my own name. Itâs a joy to realize such a deep and early dream. My books are love letters to places Iâve lived and people Iâve met, plus some joking around in order not to scream or weep at some of whatâs out there. Iâve been a teacher, film editor, comedian, librarian, and now writer. Wherever you are, on whatever path: happy trails to you.Â
This became iconic for a reason â because many of us have been there or nearby, and we can relate.
Divorce has demolished many a soul, but this woman had a three-point recovery plan many have aspired to. In Italy, she ate well and fattened up on ice cream. In India, she fed her inner self at a yoga and meditation ashram for spiritual nutrition. Then, with step three, the romantic full circle was complete when she met her new love in Indonesia. She is a fine example of how a woman can indeed undertake a journey to find everything.
_________________
OVER 15 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
_________________
'Eat, Pray, Love has been passed from woman to woman like the secret of life' - Sunday Times
'A defining work of memoir' - Sunday Telegraph
'Engaging, intelligent, and highly entertaining' - Time
_________________
It's 3 a.m. and Elizabeth Gilbert is sobbing on the bathroom floor. She's in her thirties, she has a husband, a house, they're trying for a baby - and she doesn't want any of it.
A bitter divorce and a turbulent love affair later, she emerges battered and bewildered and realises it is time to pursue her ownâŠ
Iâm a former indoor kid and big-city girl, and I never imagined Iâd wind up spending months of each year pooping in the woodsâby choice! But walking all day every day on footpaths through the wilderness has become one of the greatest loves of my life, and Iâm so glad to have books by other adventurous folks to keep me company when Iâm back at home. Iâve written two of these books myself: How To Be Alone and What We Owe to Ourselves. I also write a weekly newsletter called Wild Letters, where I share honest stories of self-exploration both on and off the trail.
This story of Heatherâs record-setting hike on the Appalachian Trail absolutely blew my mind: 2,180 miles in just 54 days!
I was so enthralled by the grit it takes to push yourself to this kind of extreme (through rain, sleep deprivation, physical deterioration, and more), which combined with Heatherâs raw honesty about her initial lack of self-belief just made me want to root for her louder and louder.
Iâm forever fascinated by chosen sufferingâwhy we often crave hard things and how the pursuit of them changes usâand this no-holds-barred look into the world of competitive hiking was a delight to read.
Despite her success setting a self-supported Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, Heather âAnishâ Anderson still had such deep-seated insecurities that she became convinced her feat had been a fluke. So two years later she set out again, this time hiking through mud, rocks, and mountain blazes to crush her constant self-doubt and seek the true source of her strength and purpose.
The 2,180 miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Maine to Georgia, did not make it easy. Anderson struggled with its infamous rain, humidity, insects, and steep grades for 54 days. But because sheâŠ
Growing up, I built snow forts, climbed the white birch tree in my front yard, and talked to a rabbit named Bobby who lived in the bushes. I rode my bike on adventures, getting lost and exploring woods, ditches, and surrounding landscapes. In a household where I often felt unsafe, time outdoors was a refuge. Working in a career as a university professor of social work for the past 20 years, I have used mindful outdoor experiences, as well as yoga and meditation, as a source of healing. And I have loved sharing these practices with my students. Today, I am documenting my rewilding adventures in my van which has been a joyful way to honor my inner child.
This book blew my mindâthe story of two sisters who walked the Appalachian trail barefoot. Across rocks, mud, and snow, and with some seriously calloused feet, the sisters learn about persistence and what it means to be part of nature and part of a community of other hikers who are slowly shedding their âcivilizedâ selves.
I loved it because it kindled my own fantasy of walking the Appalachian trail myself someday. When I get whiny on an outdoor adventure due to challenging conditions, I can always think about the barefoot sisters who hiked 2000 miles over 6 months without shoes!
Rarely will you find books that explore the human emotions of a long-distance trek so honestly and clearly. --Roger Williamson, Campmor, Inc.
"Highly recommended." --trailsbib.blogspot.com
From the book: "We stood for a moment before the venerable signpost marking the summit. Scored with graffiti and the constant onslaught of weather, it stands perhaps three feet high, a wooden A-frame painted Forest Service brown with recessed white letters: KATAHDIN 5268 ft. Northern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail Below this were a few waypoints: Thoreau Spring, 1.0, Katahdin Stream Campground, 5.2. At the bottom of the list: Springer Mountain, Georgia, 2160.2. More thanâŠ
A Duke with rigid opinions, a Lady whose beliefs conflict with his, a long disputed parcel of land, a conniving neighbour, a desperate collaboration, a failure of trust, a love found despite it all.
Alexander Cavendish, Duke of Ravensworth, returned from war to find that his father and brother hadâŠ
Keith Foskett has hiked around 15,000 miles on classic hiking trails including the Pacific Crest Trail, El Camino de Santiago, and the Appalachian Trail. He has written four books, and contributes to various outdoor publications. Having once been described as an anomaly (it was apparently a compliment), he now divides his time between walking, cycling, and delving into the merits of woollen underwear.
One of the first thru-hiking books I read, and the first about the Appalachian Trail. Chronicling Brillâs 1979 hike of the Appalachian Trail, it doesnât show its age, but reveals that the reasons we hike, and the adventure never really change. Itâs poignant, honestly written, and a classic.
When David Brill's now-classic account of his 1979 thru-hike of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail was released in 1990, it immediately struck a chord with veterans and aspirants of one of the world's longest continuously marked footpaths. Over the years, the book has continued to sell through multiple printings.
As Far as the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker, now in its fifth (thirtieth-anniversary) edition and eighth printing, was recently released by the University of Tennessee Press. The new edition features a new preface on Brill's 2019 40th-anniversary reunion in Maine with his AT buddies, as well asâŠ
I have loved reading since I was a child. Books can take you places you will never go otherwise. Thatâs why itâs so important to have good, clean books that take you places you want to go and books that donât strand you somewhere you donât want to be. As a YA author myself, I am passionate about providing literature for teens that is adventurous and relatable, without the spice that often flavors todayâs books. I hope you love diving into this list of clean recommendations!
I love it when the main character is determined, and Dani is exactly thatâsheâs going to hike the Appalachian trail alone from Georgia to Maine.
I loved following Daniâs journey as she worked through grief, hard questions, and the divorce of her parents. Sheâs gutsy yet sensitive, afraid yet strong. The descriptions and emotions were great, and, in a way, I felt like I got to âhikeâ the trail along with her!
Twelve-year-old Dani is running away from home, or whatâs left of home anyway. Her older brother, who had muscular dystrophy, died a few months ago. Then her father left and her parents got divorced. Now home is just Dani and her sad, silent mother, and Daniâs got to get away. She plans to do something amazing, and go where her parents will never find her: sheâs going to hike the whole Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. The trail is a legend in her family, the place where her parents met, fell in love, and got married 14 years before.âŠ
In 1997, I was hired by the Northwest Youth Corps as a trail crew leader. That season, and across five more seasons, I built trails across the Pacific Northwest and Desert Southwest, including in many national parks. Since then, I have been in love with backpacking trails (including hiking the Long Trail and Colorado Trail), building trails, and writing about trails (Crosscut: Poems). I now live in Vermont with my wife and daughter. We have a trail we built that weaves through our woods.
On Trails: An Exploration is a completely different style of book. Rather than exploring trails through the lens of trail building, Moor, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, examines trails from a variety of angles. In a book that spans from the beginning of animal life to todayâs digital age, Moor examines the worldâs oldest trail, learns how to build trails, and even thinks about roads and the internet.Â
New York Times Bestseller âą Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award âą Winner of the Saroyan International Prize for Writing âą Winner of the Pacific Northwest Book Award âą âThe best outdoors book of the year.â âSierra Club
From a talent whoâs been compared to Annie Dillard, Edward Abbey, David Quammen, and Jared Diamond, On Trails is a wondrous exploration of how trails help us understand the worldâfrom invisible ant trails to hiking paths that span continents, from interstate highways to the Internet.
While thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to wonder about the paths that lie beneathâŠ
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to runâŠ
Iâve felt like a fish out of water for most of my life. My momâs English and my dadâs from Pennsylvania, so growing up it was always difficult to figure out who I was, where was âhome.â So I always felt uneasy and self-conscious about not fitting in, wherever I happened to be. I always felt vaguely homesick for somewhere else. Reading was one way I could escape, travel was another, more literal way. Which is how I ended up in South Africa, where I eventually got my master's in journalism/international politics. (And my adventures there, of course, led to my book.)
I loved this book because it shows that the setting/particulars of the âjourneyâ donât actually matter.
Itâs all about the authorâs voice, perspective, and, in this case, their sense of humor. If these aspects are unique and engaging, it doesnât matter where they went, or if you have any interest in seeing/doing those things for yourself.
Iâve always felt like I can resonate more with people that are willing to admit their fallibility, and even draw attention to/make light of it. To just how ignorant or clumsy or hapless or cowardly they are. I think that always makes for a better, more human story, a better connection with the reader.
On top of all this, I have a soft spot for the Appalachian Trail, since it crosses through Pennsylvania, only a few miles from where I grew up.
From the author of "Notes from a Small Island" and "The Lost Continent" comes this humorous report on his walk along the Appalachian Trail. The Trail covers 14 states and over 2000 miles, and stretches along the east coast of America from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south. It is famous for being the longest continuous footpath in the world. It snakes through some of the wildest and most specactular landscapes in America, as well as through some of its most poverty-stricken and primitive backwoods areas.
