This Book is About Travel: A Modern Manual - 15 Countries With 15 Things by Andrew Hyde

by Andrew Hyde

Andrew Hyde spent the last two years on the road traveling to 15 countries with only a backpack of 15 things to his name, this book is a collection of stories as a critique of the world of modern travel. "More of an anti-guidebook than a specific travel guide, This Book is About Travel will take you places." -Brad Feld - Foundry Group "Andrew gave up his routine, comforts and all his possessions - except his backpack - to live a life that most only dream about." -Kathy Sierra "This book is...a portrait of the inquisitiveness of the human spirit, narrated by an objective, analytical, self-aware voice." -Natty Zola - Everlater.com

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall the narrative is looking to inspire and uplift, but often comes off as naive. While travel often leads to a heightened sense of oneself due to being the stranger in a strange land, it also provides many an escape from living life's many difficult moments. The author even points this out through his story of an Israeli soldier he meets that spends his days and nights of "travel" getting drunk and high, but then never makes a connection to his own escape from commitments and relationships.

I recommend reading this book for the handful of tales and general travel advice, but after you turn the last page, call your best friend, hug your spouse and kiss your kids, as that's living life to its fullest. Especially, if you're doing all of that while traveling.

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because traveling has always been a passion of mine. Heck, in the last 6 months I’ve been to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, an Argentina. So I thought I knew my stuff when it comes to traveling the world.

However, after reading this book, I was wrong. However much I know, Andrew’s knowledge is well beyond that. This guy has done it all in the last two years.

Just wait till you read the story about how he got banned from one of those 15 countries!

Entertaining and informative whether you have the travel bug or not.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really a manual, and not really a book about travel, rather a collection of (poorly proofread) blog posts from some of the author's specific travels. It is good for what it is - it just isn't quite what it says on the tin.

[Märt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as tight and deep as “Vagabonding” (which may be the best book about long-term travel) - and the author is the kind of an "active person" (in US and international startup scene) who would need to produce something ie. write a book after "just" 18 months of travelling rather than to do it after decades as his “life’s work” - but nevertheless there are some nice angles, quotes and advice here for a traveller to think about and relate to.

There are topics which you would expect to find in a “travel book” (why travel, how to explain it to close ones, how to pick destinations and budget, travelling responsibly towards “locals” and the “environment” etc) and then there are the extras which made reading for me worthwhile:
- Invented “practical games” to enhance his experience, for example: 1) “Mark, Sue” - when bored in a foreign country, take turns following a local male and a femal stranger from a public place to public place, thereby learning where locals go and getting into mini-adventures; 2) He spent several days in a U.S. city without cash to get a feeling what it’s like to be homeless and have to beg for food - pretty ballsy
- Interviews with “professional travellers” about their travel and life philosophies
- Tackled several complex topics that tend to come up when travelling, including his (in)famous dissing article about Nepal and the commercialisation of the Annapurna circuit, which got serious media coverage in 2011

My most important takeaway from this book was making the connection on how long-term travel conditions one to live life deliberately. When not travelling, one rarely explores one's home area or sets up free time for exploration and adventuring. But it really spices up life so one should! I’ll end with related 3 quotes:

"People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” - Dagobert D. Runes

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime." —Mark Twain

"Traveling, for me, has really been about learning to live my life deliberately. To both plan with intention and relax into spontaneity. This never really ends. So you finished a solo trip. Take a friend along on your next adventure and see what happens. You spent four months backpacking through Southeast Asia? Go stay in a hostel in Seattle for the weekend and go kayaking on the sound. Done traveling for a while? Keep telling your stories. Build the fire you learned how to make and invite others to share it and to feel it’s warmth. Help plant the spark in someone you care about.” - The author

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book when I was on a nice trip to Machu Picchu.

Essentially, I didn't really feel there was a lot of content here.

Even now I can barely remember a single thing and I only read it 5 years ago, so that's not a good sign.

It's also humble bragging and self-indulgent.

"Look at me, I'm so awesome and I traveled to all these places!"

You can only get away with that if you're a very insightful and funny writer and (at least in this book) Andrew Hyde isn't.

[Mary Thengvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew is a friend of mine, and he writes like he talks, which is to say this book is extremely engaging, and equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking. Definitely a good read while you're stuck in the middle of a non-traveling spell, or equally as good to pack in your bag as a quick read during a trip. But be careful... this book will make you want to travel! No doubt about that :)

[Sean Helvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think very highly of Andrew and really enjoyed reading this book. While I am not particularly interested in many of the locations which he focused on, his writing style is extremely relatable and endearing. There are some highly original insights contained here and it is very different than your typical travel book in a good way.

[Eric Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to get you energized about travel! This is a great book that takes your mind on an adventure through various parts of the world based on Andrew's adventures and thoughts. If you travel frequently or are on the fence about your next big trip, after reading this book you will be booking your next plane ticket.

[Anwen Garston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago and revisited it in the summer of 2015. I think I had really high expectations when I first read it. It's a collection of stories about travel. Some are interesting others less so. If you like that kind of thing you'll enjoy it.

[Leah Pearlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooooooooo helpful

I read this book during one of my first traveling experiences and it gave me so many helpful tips and ideas and perspectives for settling in to travel. Grateful for those who have forged the way before me and lived to write about it ;-)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but there were some grammatical errors that stuck out.

[Linsen Loots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Hyde is awesome.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light but pretty interesting collection of travel stories / thoughts from the guy that's famous for only owning 15 things.

[Danie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loose collection of essays, some of it will stick in my mind.

[Gerbz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mark, Sue sounds fun =}