There is an endless amount of nature to be explored. Maybe you’re uncertain about the risks of adventures or simply need some motivation to get you going. No matter your case, these six novels will inspire you and your next outdoor adventures to bring you perspective into the world ahead.
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
A #1 New York Times bestseller, Wild has become one of the most referenced books on self-exploration adventures.
Four years after her mother’s death, divorce, and distance from family, she made an impulsive decision to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert. From California to Washington State, her solo hike contained no experience or training, but simply sheer will. Strayed’s writing is humorous and amiable as she captures her trek with all the terrors and excitements that come with being a young woman alone on a healing journey. Readers will be enthralled with her story and compelled to spend some time in nature for self-reflection.
Hector and the Search for Happiness by François Lelord
This international bestseller literary fiction is a story of inspiration for travelers needing a new perspective on how travel can create healing and connections.
As a young psychiatrist, Hector felt unsatisfied with his life and decided to travel around the world. Around the world, he keeps a list of observations based on the people he meets. His journey turns into a connection with the human soul as he tries to find the answer to what makes people feel their best and their worst. Lelord’s work strives from personal anecdotes from his life as a psychiatrist in France who found inspiration on a trip to Hong Kong. Readers will love the message in this novel on taking a moment to enjoy all the aspects life has to offer, especially on our travels as we meet new people and learn about one another’s lives.
She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild by Gale Straub
From this collection of stories comes empowerment to outdoorsy women with its travel photography and personal narratives highlighting the bravery of women traveling on their own terms.
40 women shared their unforgettable stories in nature from vans and trucks to biking and backpacking. The variety in women gives readers a myriad of different scenarios to follow with women doing solo trips to travel with their children right beside them. From Straub’s work she has created a community through this book and her media platform, She Explores, that brings together creative women with a love for adventure. Readers will enjoy the narratives of each woman along with the tips and advice they give to women planning their own trips and the visuals that follow them.
Wild Life: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World by Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
From a renowned wildlife ecologist comes this personal memoir on the relationships between humans, animals, and the Earth.
Going on expeditions in the most remote area, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant creates her narrative as she becomes the Black female adventurer she always wished to be and explores the wilderness in the media. With expectations of a dreamy adventure, Dr. Wynn-Grant finds the world in a new light as she overcomes challenges and finds a new perspective from her nearly twenty-year career in the wild. Her expertise lies in how human activity influences carnivore behavior and ecology while also being a passionate storyteller for the work she discovers. Readers will be transformed by her story and the insight she gives through her explorations.
Rising: Becoming the First North American Woman on Everest by Sharon Wood
A Finalist in Mountain Literature for the 2019 Banff Mountain Book Competition Category, Wood reflects on the seventy days she spent climbing Mount Everest on her successful trip to become the first North American woman to reach the summit.
Facing hardships like no other, Wood gives her personal account of the trials and tribulations she went through. Her book dives into her motivations, teammates, moments of hopelessness, and overall reflections on her experiences. Her dangerous trek creates a gripping story filled with adrenaline and growth that shows the strength of the human spirit to continue on. Readers will feel motivated to take on their adventures after reading Wood’s quest on Everest.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson’s bestselling book gives insight into the history and ecology of the Appalachian Trail to inspire your next trail and the beauty in learning about the nature we see.
The Appalachian trail stretches from Georgia to Maine overlooking beautiful terrains in America. Bryson’s guide is incredible in its information and storytelling to give readers a personal insight into how to take on the trail. His account includes the people he meets along the way with the animals that stop by and the importance of these interactions in his journey. Bryson’s writing is hilarious in its storytelling and makes for a wonderful read to find clarity in nature and all it has to offer.
There is more nature to explore than human life can contain. Nature brings perspective and tranquility to our lives which can often be hectic and unknowing. Hopefully, these novels can bring clarity to your life and excite you to try something new, somewhere new.
For nonfiction books embracing the outdoors click here.
For books on nature check out our Groundbreaking Natural Disaster Books that Any Reader Would Love bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
