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Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust
Since leaving home for Europe alone at age seventeen, Karen Gershowitz has traveled to more than ninety countries.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2021
8 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Karen Gershowitz
3 books9 followersSince leaving home for Europe alone at age seventeen, Karen Gershowitz has traveled to more than ninety countries.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk-taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
In pursuit of her passion for travel, she lost and gained friends and lovers and made a radical career change. She learned courage and risk-taking and succeeded at things she didn’t think she could do: She climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She visited remote areas of Indonesia on her own and became a translator, though only fluent in English. She conquered her fear of falling while on an elephant trek in Thailand. And she made friends across the globe, including a Japanese family who taught her to make sushi and a West Berliner who gave her an insider’s look at the city shortly after the wall came down.
An example that will inspire armchair travelers to become explorers and embolden everyone to be more courageous, Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power, and passion.
Travel is Karen’s addiction―and she doesn’t want treatment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 19, 2021
Karen Gershowitz is the Pied Piper of Travel! In her new memoir, she shares compelling stories and lessons learned from visiting 90+ countries since age 17.
Her descriptions are glorious, her adventures mesmerizing, making armchair travelers like me want to set out to see the world too.
From Asia to Africa, Europe to the Middle East to South America, Karen guides us with such verve and wit that we hate to see her tour end. Highly, highly recommended for inveterate travelers, wannabes, and lovers of fine memoirs. Out July 13.
Thanks to the author and She Writes Press for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#karengershowitz #travelmania #shewritespress #travelmemoirs #adventurememoirs #travelersofinstagram #booknerdigans #bookstagramcommunity
Her descriptions are glorious, her adventures mesmerizing, making armchair travelers like me want to set out to see the world too.
From Asia to Africa, Europe to the Middle East to South America, Karen guides us with such verve and wit that we hate to see her tour end. Highly, highly recommended for inveterate travelers, wannabes, and lovers of fine memoirs. Out July 13.
Thanks to the author and She Writes Press for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#karengershowitz #travelmania #shewritespress #travelmemoirs #adventurememoirs #travelersofinstagram #booknerdigans #bookstagramcommunity
April 19, 2021
I jam one of the lucky people to have gotten an advanced reader copy and I j ust finished Karen's book- wow- it was a page turner and brought me back to my pre-pandemic passion, traveling. Karen's stories are rich and rewarding to read, and make me yearn for the days when we are not worrying about new variants. A great writer and a great read
July 19, 2021
“Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust” by Karen Gershowitz is a journal of travels that begins when the author was a very young child. The enjoyment of discovering new places became a treasured thing when she was small, and instead of fighting it, she began to travel, learn, and discover countries around the world. This book takes the reader on those travels in a way that keeps one turning the pages.
One of my favorite things about this author is her way with words. There were times I was smiling, and then I would read a sentence, then stop and re-read it, this time with my eyebrows raised. I don’t think I’ve smiled at a book more than I have this one.
For armchair travelers, this book is a keeper. It takes a reader around the world and describes fantastic destinations and the most amazing characters. What I loved most about the book is how each character shared in the tales is so well-developed and colorful. I felt like I knew them all.
I loved the personal touches shared in this novel. The worries and fears of travel make themselves felt, even in people who love to travel. This admission through the storyline by the author shows an openness to communicate with the reader that is unique and genuine. The fact that she found ways to overcome obstacles and travel to so many destinations will resonate with many readers.
From her early vacations as a small child with her family in New York and Canada, to her trips as a college student to places such as Japan, this author takes readers on a worldwide tour of cultures of every kind. I loved reading about the gardens and Japanese baths. The foods that are a distinct part of each culture’s identity around the world were incredibly interesting.
Although not a new and original type of subject matter, this book is a fun and entertaining read that will delight armchair travelers. It’s also an excellent choice for those who plan trips but know little about the countries they intend to visit. The insights into the details of many countries would prove helpful and make this a handy guide to carry on a long trip.
The book is exceptionally edited and without error. The cover depicts the many-faceted icons of travel and has a fun vibe, although I felt that, considering the types of places featured in this journal, the cover should have had more to offer than icons that seemed like cut and paste clip art strewn across a bland background.
All in all, I found this an enjoyable and entertaining journey. Despite the many wondrous and desirable places covered in this novel, there are also some less desirous elements. In one section, the author describes having sampled opium while in Thailand. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book to any but a mature audience. For these reasons, I am rating this book with 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to any adult who loves to read about new places nearby and far away.
One of my favorite things about this author is her way with words. There were times I was smiling, and then I would read a sentence, then stop and re-read it, this time with my eyebrows raised. I don’t think I’ve smiled at a book more than I have this one.
For armchair travelers, this book is a keeper. It takes a reader around the world and describes fantastic destinations and the most amazing characters. What I loved most about the book is how each character shared in the tales is so well-developed and colorful. I felt like I knew them all.
I loved the personal touches shared in this novel. The worries and fears of travel make themselves felt, even in people who love to travel. This admission through the storyline by the author shows an openness to communicate with the reader that is unique and genuine. The fact that she found ways to overcome obstacles and travel to so many destinations will resonate with many readers.
From her early vacations as a small child with her family in New York and Canada, to her trips as a college student to places such as Japan, this author takes readers on a worldwide tour of cultures of every kind. I loved reading about the gardens and Japanese baths. The foods that are a distinct part of each culture’s identity around the world were incredibly interesting.
Although not a new and original type of subject matter, this book is a fun and entertaining read that will delight armchair travelers. It’s also an excellent choice for those who plan trips but know little about the countries they intend to visit. The insights into the details of many countries would prove helpful and make this a handy guide to carry on a long trip.
The book is exceptionally edited and without error. The cover depicts the many-faceted icons of travel and has a fun vibe, although I felt that, considering the types of places featured in this journal, the cover should have had more to offer than icons that seemed like cut and paste clip art strewn across a bland background.
All in all, I found this an enjoyable and entertaining journey. Despite the many wondrous and desirable places covered in this novel, there are also some less desirous elements. In one section, the author describes having sampled opium while in Thailand. Therefore, I cannot recommend this book to any but a mature audience. For these reasons, I am rating this book with 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to any adult who loves to read about new places nearby and far away.
July 26, 2021
This book was just the inspiration I needed while we still haven't been able to travel out of the country yet. I aspire to one day visit as many places as the author did independently over the course of her lifetime! The author's writing style is easy to read, unpretentious and down to earth, and I felt like we were just sitting over a cup of tea chatting about her adventures. Especially as she has traveled for several decades, it was fascinating to see what kinds of things have changed over time and what has stayed the same, throughout the globe. I chuckled to myself at many parts, especially one memorable trip where she felt compelled to invent a husband and children after being pitied for not being married one time too many overseas, and I waited with bated breath as her white lie was nearly found out by fellow travelers asking to come visit her at home! I loved this book and think it's well worth reading if you want to get a fresh look at some distant travel destinations through the eyes of a spirited, seasoned traveler. Until you can make it to those places (or others) yourself one day!
July 1, 2021
Breathtaking
Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power and passion through venturing out into the world.
A great read. What an incredible exploration of the places and their hidden secrets, the author setting off on her own, meeting new people, sharing her travel reflections and immersing herself in cultures unlike her own. But no matter what mind-numbing events she has experienced, her passion for travelling has remained undiminished.
An absolute page-turner and an honest memoir that takes the readers on a journey from the author's childhood memories until travelling in the pandemic. Amazingly written with a detailed description of the places travelled.
I loved reading these stories: Wanderlust adventure of her grandmother Belle at age 65, the elephant trek in Thailand, Devils Tower in Wyoming which was captivating.
A simple yet thoroughly entertaining read that I'd recommend to all who love travelling.
Travel Mania is a vivid story of how one woman found her strength, power and passion through venturing out into the world.
A great read. What an incredible exploration of the places and their hidden secrets, the author setting off on her own, meeting new people, sharing her travel reflections and immersing herself in cultures unlike her own. But no matter what mind-numbing events she has experienced, her passion for travelling has remained undiminished.
An absolute page-turner and an honest memoir that takes the readers on a journey from the author's childhood memories until travelling in the pandemic. Amazingly written with a detailed description of the places travelled.
I loved reading these stories: Wanderlust adventure of her grandmother Belle at age 65, the elephant trek in Thailand, Devils Tower in Wyoming which was captivating.
A simple yet thoroughly entertaining read that I'd recommend to all who love travelling.
January 25, 2023
More a collection of stories, I really enjoyed the author's perspective on travel and how she organized her life to allow for as much travel as possible. I also really appreciated that she shared the not-so-great things when she encountered them, along with the beautiful, amazing sights and tasty foods.
After reading her tales, this is one author I'd really like to meet for a beer. She usually mentions it in passing, but I'd also like to hear more about her work — besides the need to travel, it sounds like she's done some interesting things in the line of duty.
Be prepared to start making lists of destinations and itineraries once you start reading!
After reading her tales, this is one author I'd really like to meet for a beer. She usually mentions it in passing, but I'd also like to hear more about her work — besides the need to travel, it sounds like she's done some interesting things in the line of duty.
Be prepared to start making lists of destinations and itineraries once you start reading!
July 31, 2021
In her memoir, Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust, Gershowitz chronicles her 5 decades of travel and brings to life many of the world’s undiscovered corners—which she finds thanks to her adventurous spirit and willingness to go far off the beaten path. Travel, she writes, can change a life. Indeed, transformation is a common theme in this compilation of independent stories. So is the wisdom travel sparks. As Gershowitz wisely reminds us, “even when you get lost, you don’t get lost forever.” For all of us travel lovers, this is a must-read!
August 1, 2021
Oh the places you can go, oh the things that you can see. Well that is what I found wonderful about Travel Mania and Karen’s explorations. Reading Travel Mania was a wonderful experience for me. I have nothing but admiration for Karen’s travels and sense of adventure. So daring in some ways and yet very liberating to see parts of a world through her travels. Understanding her interest in travel, that niggling itch and need to get out there is something I won’t experience but certainly have enjoyed reading it in the comfort of my own space. Travel Mania is a magic carpet ride for sure.
February 20, 2023
Near the beginning of Travel Mania – Stories of Wanderlust, Karen Gershowitz says, “I’ve even compiled a list of places that will be easy to negotiate as I grow old and frail.” You get a sense, though, as you follow Gershowitz on fifty years of journeys, for work and for pleasure, sometimes with friends and sometimes alone, that the frailty is still some distance off. This is a book about an intrepid traveler, an obsessive traveler, even, and for anybody who wonders if they could be one, too.
Read
August 1, 2021This is an addiction I want! Karen takes her reader on worldly trip with a dash of history, humor, memoir and geography. The chronological/ thematic structure is reader friendly, each chapter a story unto itself. I especially love her depiction of the characters she encounters on her journeys. She laces each story with just the right amount of tension, and always levity. An addicting read from a courageous, ever curious and talented writer.
November 15, 2021
Can a book titled Wanderlust instill that feeling in a reader. YES ! ! I've been in the travel business for more than 35 years but was amazed to learn about all of the wonderful places I missed. Karen transported me around the world, from my armchair, in a delightful and and exciting way. I can't wait to check out, in person, some of the destination she wrote about. Using Travel Mania as my "guide" I'm sure I'll experience some wonderful adventure of my own.
March 11, 2026
Zahra Hosseini – United States USA
I discovered this book through discussions in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it turned out to be such a rewarding read. The author’s storytelling is engaging and thoughtful, and it sparked some wonderful conversations among our readers
I discovered this book through discussions in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it turned out to be such a rewarding read. The author’s storytelling is engaging and thoughtful, and it sparked some wonderful conversations among our readers
March 11, 2026
Sofia Martinez – Spain
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. The themes are meaningful and sparked some wonderful discussion in our group
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. The themes are meaningful and sparked some wonderful discussion in our group
March 11, 2026
Lucas Moreau – France
This book came up in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it turned out to be a rewarding read. The author writes with clarity and depth, making it perfect for thoughtful conversation
This book came up in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it turned out to be a rewarding read. The author writes with clarity and depth, making it perfect for thoughtful conversation
March 11, 2026
Isabella Rossi – Italy
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was a lovely reading experience. The writing is engaging and perfect for thoughtful group discussion.
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was a lovely reading experience. The writing is engaging and perfect for thoughtful group discussion.
March 11, 2026
Liam Anderson – Australia
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz, and I really enjoyed the journey the author takes readers on. It’s engaging, thoughtful, and perfect for readers who love travel stories.
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz, and I really enjoyed the journey the author takes readers on. It’s engaging, thoughtful, and perfect for readers who love travel stories.
March 11, 2026
Camille Laurent – France
This book came up in our Belletrist Book Club community, and I’m glad I picked up Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz. It’s a charming and reflective collection of travel experiences
This book came up in our Belletrist Book Club community, and I’m glad I picked up Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz. It’s a charming and reflective collection of travel experiences
March 11, 2026
Daniel Tan – Malaysia
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was a rewarding read. The writing is engaging and it generated some great conversations among readers.
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was a rewarding read. The writing is engaging and it generated some great conversations among readers.
November 3, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Karen Gershowitz’s travel adventures, especially some of the more obscure places that I will now be adding to my own bucket list. Five stars!
April 16, 2023
Great book!! Karen takes you on her journeys to places you've always wanted to go and some you didn't know you wanted to!
August 9, 2025
Fun little read of travel experiences on different continents and over the course of different decades. Through the eyes of an American woman often travelling in organized groups.
August 10, 2025
Fun read. I agree with author that crowds, heat and humidity can make even the most exciting places less enjoyable.
March 11, 2026
Daniel Müller – Germany
I read this book after it was recommended within our Belletrist Book Club community. It’s well written and sparked some meaningful dialogue among members
I read this book after it was recommended within our Belletrist Book Club community. It’s well written and sparked some meaningful dialogue among members
March 11, 2026
Kenji Tanaka – Japan
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and I’m glad I did. The storytelling is engaging and leaves plenty to reflect on
I discovered this title through our Belletrist Book Club community, and I’m glad I did. The storytelling is engaging and leaves plenty to reflect on
March 11, 2026
Maria Santos – Brazil
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted Travel Mania, and I really enjoyed the author’s thoughtful travel reflections
Our Belletrist Book Club community recently highlighted Travel Mania, and I really enjoyed the author’s thoughtful travel reflections
March 12, 2026
Yuki Nakamura – Japan
An inspiring collection of travel stories that our Belletrist Book Club community loved discussing
An inspiring collection of travel stories that our Belletrist Book Club community loved discussing
March 12, 2026
Valentina Romano – Italy
A great read for travel lovers—Travel Mania sparked some meaningful discussion in our Belletrist Book Club community.
A great read for travel lovers—Travel Mania sparked some meaningful discussion in our Belletrist Book Club community.
March 12, 2026
Hannah Cooper – UK
A delightful travel memoir that inspired great discussion within our Belletrist Book Club community.
A delightful travel memoir that inspired great discussion within our Belletrist Book Club community.
March 12, 2026
Ahmed Hassan – Egypt
Karen Gershowitz shares travel experiences in a way that sparked thoughtful conversation in our Belletrist Book Club community.
Karen Gershowitz shares travel experiences in a way that sparked thoughtful conversation in our Belletrist Book Club community.
March 12, 2026
Jack Wilson – Australia
I picked up Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz after seeing it in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was an enjoyable read.
I picked up Travel Mania by Karen Gershowitz after seeing it in our Belletrist Book Club community, and it was an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews