Truck It!: The Drive Around the World That Saved My Life

by Bobby Bolton

Synopsis

Genres: Audiobook, Memoir, Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure

328 pages, Hardcover

Published July 24, 2025

Reviews

[Tom]

I’ve followed Bobbys adventure on social media for sometime. Reading his book didn’t disappoint and gave a great insight into his journey, along with the hardships they both faced. It’s an inspiring story and I’ve personally taken the mindset of “worrying about it when we get there” on board since reading this book.

[Egle]

Life is adventure, nevermind the reason you start one its always gonna be an experience you never forget. Listening to this book and actually following #truckit adventures made me realise how much missed good adventure book. Enjoyed every page and story and then cried.

[Michelle Duffy]

Loved this book! As a family of travelers ourselves, we definitely identified with some of the struggles and triumphs mentioned on the road. A great memoir of adventures full of humor and genuine emotion. I definitely recommend it.

[Diana Maria]

Sometimes the worst needs to happen to force you to chase your dreams.

[Caz]

This memoir is about finding oneself on an adventurous road trip with a dog and newfound love. You follow beautiful landscapes and a few challenges along the way. It’s a compelling and inspirational read.

[Lewis Parkes]

Very easy read, can easily keep picking back up and down.

However too one dimensional & descriptive of their journey - lacked insight and needed to dig deeper on certain themes

[George Foord]

i enjoyed the travelling parts but did not like authors attitude of knocking over ancient arches and letting his dog chase goats of the lead with no apology etc

[Chloë Blyth]

Inspirational, Cautionary, and Beautiful

My boyfriend is the owner of this book, but I hijacked it as the "reader" out of the pair of us when I found myself at his house without a book. I don't tend to read nonfiction, but with it being a travel story, I was intrigued - and who wouldn't be intrigued by the idea of travelling from Wigan to Australia in a big blue truck with a dog? Throw in the love story (and another dog) and some danger, and I found myself carrying this book around like a blanket in the current cold weather!

As it was all new to me (I hadn't followed Bobby & Marie's journey online) I went in free from spoilers and oh boy was I engrossed.

This isn't just a journey of epic proportions, this is an adventure of the soul. The highs and lows, the terrifying moments and the heartwarming, and the humour (particularly the "guessed" translations) all make this book a stand out read for me this year.

This book dispels some ideas you may have about certain places and cultures, but reinforces others. It is no mean feat to travel so far by truck, and the journey, people, and situations will be on my mind for a long time.

I really don't want to write spoilers because you need to experience this for yourselves, but I will tell you that I finished reading this book with a tear in my eye. Somehow, from one man and a dog, we end up with a family living the nomad dream together. And when I say "together," I mean it. Because it's not just Bobby's adventure, it's all of theirs.

Now to return the book to its rightful owner, so it can be read again at a far slower pace, as I eagerly wait to discuss!

[Alison]

Truck It!: The Drive Around the World That Saved My Life by Bobby Bolton
I have been following him and Marie For awhile and was really looking forward to reading his story and to see how the two of them met. They are perfect for each other.
He left his hometown to get over a heartbreak, and wanting to travel the world. He sold everything and fixed up a huge truck to make this a reality. The adventure is crazy at times and a big lesson in patience when things didn't go his way. He traveled with his dog Red, and luckily he met Marie and her dog Rubia early on in the story while hiking, and what a team they make.
They are now working on converting and even bigger truck for their next journey
I cannot wait for another book of their journeys. Marie is also writing a book.

[Maxx Taylor]

True Modern Day Explorers

This book started playing through my headphones by accident after I’d finished another, and I couldn’t reach to pause it. I’m so grateful I didn’t, one of those rare happy accidents. Bobby’s narration truly brings his, Marie’s, Red’s, and Rubia’s stories to life. It felt like I was right there with them, swept along on every adventure. A captivating piece I couldn’t put down, and I can’t wait to see where their journeys take them next.

[Gatis]

Listened to it as an audiobook while waiting all the time for some grain of something meaningful to arrive without ever coming to it. First hour is mildly entertaining after that, it gets cyclic and repetitive, and the rest is just about the parasitic life of Instagram-style influencers and self-entitled spoiled kids. If Instagram superficiality and emptiness were condensed in a book, this is it.

[Beth]

we watched Bobby's Liberation episode and became hooked. following his journey, seeing him come back to life and fall in love with himself and the world again was amazing. his journey is so inspirational!

[Sam Collins]

A well written account of a fascinating journey! Really enjoyed this. The audio book is read by the author and his passion really carries over!

[Annika]

Rekommenderar ljudboken. Författarens dialekt är en upplevelse i sig.

[Anelia Kostova]

Unimaginable adventure! Loved every minute of it! Captivating story telling and a privilege to be part of the journey

[Chloe]

Don’t follow their insta / read this with no context, very ‘meh’

[Sharon]

Appsolutely brilliant book. Couldn't rate it any better. Just need a follow up book now.

[Leon Boehmer]

Really cool book about travelling Asia in this tumultuous time. A gripping summary of all the highs and all the lows that one might encounter whilst overlanding with two humans and 2 dogs across Asia. Although it's sad they didn't make it to Australia, I'm sure at one point they'll make it there (somewhere along the way). I hope there's another book to follow on the next adventures as this was a fun listen/read.

I thought some of the anecdotes were quite insightful and interesting. Especially how the views of a country such as Afghanistan change through the lens of a woman/man.

[Miss H C Clarke]

The highlight of this book was the dog 'Red'.

The book is an acceptable narration of a round the world tour by van.

The author's own narration came across as a little ingratiating and annoying. In the audiobook version, he tries to laugh as he is narrating at times and it comes across as very unnatural. His book would have come across better being read by a voice actor.

He also tries to project himself as a 'Jack the lad but ultimately nice guy next door' persona and it doesn't quite work. Additionally, i found some of his reflections condescending.

In all fairness, I am a fan of Ted Simon's 'Jupiter Travels' travel books and comparing Bobby Bolton's reflections of world travel to Ted Simon is akin to comparing chalk and cheese. Ultimately the content was acceptable but I would not recommend.

[Melissa Therese]

Really fun read and crazy adventures. Bobby has a great way with words and wrapping you into the story. I enjoyed the rollercoaster of frustrations, joy, anger, and everything else. It makes you want to try the journey yourself (although I might skip Afghanistan). A really great read and I highly recommend it if you’re thinking of getting an expedition vehicle. I’m looking forward to his other adventures and books.

[J M Miles]

I really enjoyed this book.

It tells of the adventure of Bobby Bolton who sets of in his truck to travel from Wigan, England to Australia.

The hospitality that is shown along the way is wonderful as are the fearful moments in some countries.

I would recommend this book

[Enda Hackett]

Firstly, the author did not drive around the world. Secondly, how did it save his life? This is a metamorpically speaking title to try hook armchair travellers/ instagram followers. The Book lacks any real depth.

[Maarten Denolf]

If you like a book about life on the road, adventure and reinventing yourself then this could be for you. Kinda cool if you followed the YouTube channel. Read it whilst on the road yourself for an extra dimension ;)

[Gayle Taylor]

Nicely done! A great listen. It speaks to me as a fellow overlander. Its such a big world to explore and so much good, bad and weird in it!

I love this story, and only wish you all so much success and freedom in the future

[Grace Poulter]

Loved it! Inspiring!

[Jade-lee Hawthorne]

Absolutely loved this book from beginning to end I didn’t want it to stop, very well written, the ups and downs and everything inbetween has you hooked

[Stephen C.]

When in doubt, take the trip! “billions of people all thinking the way they did things was normal. And how there was no such thing as normal.”

[Jo Cox-Brown]

I really loved this adventure.

[Dirk E.]

Truck It! by Bobby Bolten is a high-energy road trip through America’s food truck scene. Blending personal travel stories with practical insights, the book captures the grit, creativity, and community behind life on four wheels. From late nights and long drives to unforgettable meals served curbside, Truck It! reads like a culinary travel diary—perfect for readers who love food culture, independent spirit, and the idea that some of the best journeys begin in a parking lot.

[EineMami]

„Wenn du dich fragst, ob du diese oder jene Reise antreten sollst oder nicht: Fahr los!“

Bobby Bolton verliert alles, was er sich aufgebaut hat: Seine Beziehung, seine Firma, sein Geld. Doch am Boden angekommen, steckt er nicht etwa den Kopf in den Sand, er beginnt von einer Reise zu träumen. Der Reise seines Lebens. Mit einem umgebauten Truck von England nach Australien. Und was mit einem Traum beginnt, wird nach und nach Wirklichkeit …

Ich liebe Geschichten von echten Menschen, echten Erfahrungen, echten Abenteuern. Von Menschen, die eben nicht nur träumen und denken „eines Tages“. Von Menschen, die losgehen, egal, ob Geld da ist oder der Zeitpunkt stimmt. Bobby Bolton gehört definitiv zu ihnen! Er stürzt sich in das Abenteuer seines Lebens, samt Hund und schließlich sogar mit einer ganz neuen Liebe. Kopfüber und mutig. Und was das für Abenteuer sind! Berge, Meer, Expeditionen, ganz neue Wege. Das Fahrzeug macht schlapp, Soldaten mit Maschinengewehren fuchteln vor seiner Nase mit ihren Waffen herum, das Geld wird knapp, Lebensmittelvergiftung. Ich konnte gar nicht aufhören zu lesen!

Das Leben schreibt die besten Geschichten, ein Satz, der hier perfekt passt. Und dabei behält Bobby stets seinen Humor, schreibt in lockerem, unterhaltsamem Stil und lässt die unglaublich mutige und lustige Frau an seiner Seite lebendig werden für den Leser. Ich bin zutiefst beeindruckt und ja, was soll ich sagen, das Fernweh ist auf jeden Fall geweckt!