Escape Clauses: Getting away with a travel-writing life

by Bob Payne

When people ask Bob Payne how to get started at travel writing, he often tells them that running away from home at fifteen and hitchhiking alone around America is what worked for him. In his 142-country memoir, Escape Getting Away With a Travel Writing Life, Payne chronicles how he parlays that first solo adventure into decades of world travel by seeking out strangers in far places and making their stories a part of his own.

Genres: Travel

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2022

Reviews

[Judy Bloomberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! As a life-long world traveler myself, I love a good adventure travel story and Bob Payne's marvelous memoir certainly provides many of them. From running away briefly at age 15, in order to see all the states he had not yet visited, to visiting the most remote places in the world, often at the behest of Conde Nast or Islands magazine, Payne has had his share of close calls and amazing life experiences, which he shares with the reader in a humorous and easy-to-read style.

[Irene Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: this is not an objective review. I was one of Bob's editors, and I kept him busy for the same reason people should read this anthology of his travel articles: his vigorous, amusing writing mirrors his vigorous attitude toward travel. He was willing to go anywhere-- and still is, with the Moon on his shortlist. This is the best of Bob Payne's writing, and that is high praise indeed.

[Karen Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend

I laughed a lot, learned a lot and was thoroughly entertained while traveling the world with Bob! More stories, please?

[Cristina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Escape Clauses: Getting Away With a Travel Writing Life" by Bob Payne is an engaging and insightful memoir by an accomplished travel writer. The author, through a series of vivid and captivating stories, takes readers on a literary journey around the world while offering a behind-the-scenes look at the intriguing and often challenging life of a travel writer.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to transport readers to exotic destinations and immerse them in the rich tapestry of cultures and experiences. The author's descriptive prose paints a vivid picture of each location, making readers feel like they're right there alongside the writer, whether it's navigating the bustling markets of Marrakech or savoring the serene landscapes of the Himalayas.

Beyond the travel anecdotes, "Escape Clauses" also delves into the personal and professional challenges faced by the author, providing valuable insights into the craft of travel writing. The candid exploration of the highs and lows of this career path adds depth and relatability to the narrative.

Overall, "Escape Clauses" is a compelling and enlightening read for both travel enthusiasts and aspiring writers. It offers a glimpse into the world of travel writing while delivering a dose of wanderlust that will leave readers yearning for their own adventures. This book is a must-read for anyone who dreams of combining their love of travel with the written word.

[Kellie McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Payne has managed to accomplish what I've dreamed of...traveling the world on someone else's nickel. His part of the deal? Bringing back remarkable stories—not just of the places, but of the people and experiences. This travel gem is packed with interesting stories that are peppered with his dry wit, which is my favorite type of humor.

Unlike many travel memoirs that are a series of stories cobbled together that don't flow from chapter to chapter, Payne is a true travel writer, and his memoir reads like it. Although the stories take place across decades, the transitions from one chapter to the next are seamless.

The only thing I would've liked a little more of was his personal life. Full-time travel writing and marriage/parenting aren't always compatible lifestyles, and we get a glimpse of that. And as a person who also has a burning desire to see as much of the world as I can during my brief stint on this planet, I appreciated the internal struggle to have both: a family life and a traveler's life.

All in all, a great read from a talented writer!

[Joseph Logue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Escape Clauses" for the reasons that many have -- because it has long been a dream to be a lifelong traveler to exotic locales, always open to the chance of meeting those who can help me expand my horizons and better understand the complexity of the world around us. What drew me to the book is its premise: being open to the possibilities of other cultures can bring unpredictably felicitous results. (Disclosure: I have met the author.) I enjoy travel myself and have many wonderful and crazy experiences, but nothing like Payne's, unfortunately. Bora Bora, Egypt, or one of the other 140-odd countries he's been to have offered many joys. The main thing I took away from the book, however, is the lesson that all travelers must learn: you must be open to experience new things and be ready to understand what you've experienced. People needn't stay in huts to experience the "real" locality and even a fancy hotel stay can provide enriching experiences. Payne's memoir is a wonderful testament to living in the moment and being thankful for it at the same time.

[Alison Cubitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape Clauses is a witty career memoir by a journalist who worked his way up from copytaker to correspondent for Condé Nast Traveler.

There’s a lovely line at the beginning of the book that sums up why the author wanted to be a travel writer: ‘I delighted in listening to the stories of strangers in far places.’ And to get those stories, Bob did everything it took—from riding rickety local buses, eating everything put in front of him and dossing down in the most inhospitable places.

Bob’s curiosity and his pithy humour kept me fully engaged, and I wanted to find out more about places I may never visit. The story about Bikini Atoll felt timely as I read this book in the same week the film Oppenheimer was released.

Escape Clauses recalls an era when the craft of writing was celebrated and travel was about people, not places.

I received a free copy.

[Ann Göth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed visiting so many different destinations in this book. The lively and detailed descriptions made me feel like I was really there, and I often smiled at the dry sense of humor that Payne's writing is spiked with. Every new place was so interesting and Payne’s writing was both entertaining and informative at the same time. He doesn’t idealize any of his destinations and paints a realistic picture, for example of the poverty he encountered in Egypt, or the many times his travels did not go as planned. In fact, he claims that for the travel writer, the best trips are those that do go wrong. I especially enjoyed his accounts of a sailing expedition, where he got ‘as close to the elements as you can get it’. This is a must-read book for every traveler – real ones and those who prefer to travel from their armchair at home

[Stephen Malins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty account of former Conde Nast writer Bob Payne's adventures set around the world, mostly on tropical islands, the High Seas (oceans?) and rivers. His experiences were quite literally, poles apart - we find him aboard a super-warm ship carving its way through the Arctic icepack.

He writes engagingly with a dry humour, and provides insights into humanity. (I'd expect nothing less.)

The lesson is that we are quite different in small ways - what we eat and wear for example - yet humanity is remarkably the same the world over. I wholeheartedly agree with this nugget of wisdom as all I ever want to do is lounge in a town square with a coffee and gawp.

Thanks Bob. Filed next to "The Old Patagonian Express" for reference.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

When someone says they're a world traveler, it's usually an exaggeration: but Bob has literally traveled from the North Pole to Antarctica, and most of the places in between. From a Russian icebreaker to the north pole, clearing trash at an Antarctic base, visiting headhunters in Indonesia, and even more scarily, taking a group of teenage girls to the Virgin Islands during Spring break, Bob's writing is amusing and insightful. Fascinated by water, there are some incredible descriptions of dives - Bikini Island where the atomic bomb tests were done is an excellent example of Bob's insightful writing - and sailing adventures. A thoroughly enjoyable book, and I'm hoping Bob is going to treat us to more of his travels.

[S. Bavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escape Clauses is a travel memoir written by experienced career travel writer, Bob Payne and as such its style is very smooth and entertaining. According to the blurb on the back cover it includes stories gathered from 142 countries during the author’s writing career. These are peppered with the usual historical tidbits and facts about the places visited, meals particularly enjoyed or in some cases, not and all are delivered with dry humour and an obvious joy of being able to experience exotic travel at the expense of an employer. Many interesting characters are met along the way and the descriptions of locations visited made me eager to dust off my backpack and get back out into the world!! Highly recommended for fans of armchair travel.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a travel photographer and occasional writer who has traveled to nearly as many countries as Bob Payne, I seldom find a book on travel that fully engages my interest and maintains my attention. Nevertheless I found Escape Clauses thoroughly entertaining. Payne's sense of wonder about his next destination and slightly off-kilter view of the world kept me engrossed in his narrative and anticipating what adventure might come next. An exceptional story-teller who obviously delights in meeting people, his insightful and frequently humorous anecdotal accounts of his encounters broaden the reader's understanding of places Payne visits, a task most travel articles fail to accomplish.

[Jane E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much better than I had anticipated. Light hearted entertainment that is perfect for some travel downtime that would otherwise be wasted watching cat videos or trawling through trashy social media. The author is the seamless sort writer who pulls you in to read just one more chapter and then just one more again. I learned a few things including the realization that he must actually be a very good sailor in spite of relating the water stories with no conceit and a lot of humour. I also developed a deep envy for his being talented enough to have someone (many someones) pay for journeys to exotic places. Recommended for your next flight delay.

[Karen Gershowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a travel junkie, I read a lot of travel books. This has become one of my favorites. It's a fun read about Bob's experiences and observations of places I've been to and to see how we saw and experienced different aspects of the same place. I also got ideas for destinations I'd like to travel to that hadn't even been on my radar. If, like me, you love to explore cultures and get beyond the usual tourist sites, this is the book for you.

[Sverrir Sigurdsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know armchair travel can be so exciting. Reading this book is like a dream come true: you get to visit all the most fantastic islands written up in travel magazines. Payne lands you there, no matter how remote it is. With good humor he introduces you to the locals. Then he takes you on a dangerous adventure, hair-raising sometimes, and I have to remind myself I’m still sitting comfortably at home. Entertaining, informative, and full of hilarious punchlines.

[Jill Robbertze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a speedy trip around the world; Bob Payne tells dozens of really interesting short stories about his travels as a journalist to so many different countries in every corner of the earth, including the arctic, antarctic and wonderful experiences on tropical islands and more, all this and told with both humour and loads of really interesting facts. I just wish my memory was better though as there was just so much to absorb. Most enjoyable !!!

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Payne has travelled the world from North (the North Pole) to South…Antarctica, and almost everywhere in-between & from East to West. He knows he’s travelled there when he has a good story to tell. Bob has written them down so that they are interesting, informative & entertaining. Many of his stories he wrote for Islands magazine, & Condé Nast Traveler, who paid his way. What a wonderful life lived!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess to being an avid armchair traveller while managing some exciting trips of my own. Bob Payne's book is a joy to read for its humour and the wonderfully clear pictures he produces of the places he visits. It must be many people's dream to travel the world at somebody else's expense but Bob proves he earned that. The book is funny, insightful and full of great description. Now I dream of visiting all those small places in the Pacific.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every story was entertaining. Escape Clauses is the best travel book I’ve read in a long time. Each story will leave you wanting more. I long to see so many places in this book and hope Bob Payne writes another book because he has so much more to share.

[Margaret Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun to read this delightful book written by a friend. Bob's sense of deprecating humor is entirely intact and there are parts that are laugh out loud funny. Some personal growth, too! But it did not make me want to be a travel writer.

[Robert Tellier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Outstanding Travel Book From Award Winning Travel Journalist Bob Payne. Follow Along On His Exciting World Adventures As A Professional Travel Writer, Before The Days Of The Internet And When Travel Magazines Were Most Popular.

A Great Read For Those Who Love Travel & Adventure!

[Susan Ludlow-Abramson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Bob is a prolific writer who’s detailed descriptions brings every destination to life. Informative, entertaining and engaging this book was pure joy to read.

[W S · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit jumpy for me

Really a collection of short stories and not really a memoir with any profound character development or humour but I made it to the end.