swap_horiz PrairyErth Alternatives

1

Desert Solitaire

Edward Abbey’s *Desert Solitaire* recounts his experiences as a seasonal park ranger in Arches National Park during 1968...

Nature Desert 20TH Century Americas

9.5 Brilliant

2

Arabian Sands

Arabian Sands documents Wilfred Thesiger’s remarkable journeys through the vast and unforgiving Rub' al Khali (the Empty...

Exploration Desert 20TH Century Middle East

9.4 Excellent

3

The Snow Leopard

Peter Matthiessen’s *The Snow Leopard* chronicles his arduous 1978 expedition into the remote Nepalese Himalayas alongsi...

Asia 20TH Century Spiritual Himalaya

9.4 Excellent

4

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez’s *Arctic Dreams* chronicles a 1986 expedition through Alaska's North Slope. The book details the stark beau...

Nature 20TH Century Polar Arctic

9.3 Excellent

5

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert M. Pirsig’s *Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance* chronicles a cross-country road trip undertaken with his...

Philosophical Motorcycle 20TH Century Americas

9.2 Excellent

6

My First Summer in the Sierra

John Muir’s “My First Summer in the Sierra” chronicles his transformative journey through California's wilderness during...

Nature 19TH Century California Americas

9.1 Excellent

7

Blue Highways

William Least Heat-Moon’s *Blue Highways* documents a transformative 1982 road trip through America. The book chronicles...

20TH Century Rural Road Trip Americas

9.0 Excellent

8

The Mountains of California

John Muir’s “Mountains of California,” published in 1894, details his extensive explorations of the Sierra Nevada range...

Nature 19TH Century Sierra Nevada Americas

8.8 Great

9

Down the River

Edward Abbey’s *Down the River* chronicles his adventurous journeys along rivers of the American West during the 20th ce...

Nature 20TH Century River Americas

8.8 Great

10

The Lawless Roads

Graham Greene’s “The Lawless Roads” documents his 1939 journey through southern Mexico to witness firsthand the escalati...

20TH Century Religious Mexico Americas

8.7 Great

11

Travels in Alaska

"Travels in Alaska" is a posthumously published 1915 travel book by naturalist John Muir that records his explorations o...

Nature Wilderness 20TH Century Americas

8.7 Great

12

The Lost Continent

Bill Bryson's 1989 debut travel book chronicling a road trip through small-town America in search of an idealized hometo...

20TH Century Small Town Road Trip Americas

8.6 Great

13

The Maine Woods

"The Maine Woods" is a posthumously published 1864 travelogue by Henry David Thoreau detailing his philosophical excursi...

Nature 19TH Century Wilderness Americas

8.5 Great

14

The American Scene

*The American Scene* is a 1907 travelogue by Henry James documenting his return to the United States after living abroad...

Cultural 20TH Century Literary Americas

8.5 Great

15

The Journey Home

*The Journey Home* is a 1991 collection of travel and nature essays by American author Edward Abbey exploring the Americ...

Nature 20TH Century Southwest Americas

8.5 Great

16

A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf

"A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf" is a 1916 publication by naturalist John Muir detailing his 1867 botanical journey fr...

Nature 19TH Century Americas On Foot

8.4 Great

17

The Old Patagonian Express

"The Old Patagonian Express" is a 1979 travel book by Paul Theroux documenting his iconic solo train journey from the Un...

20TH Century Overland Railway Americas

8.3 Great

18

A Turn in the South

Published in 1989, this travel book by V.S. Naipaul explores the distinct culture, economic changes, and lingering racia...

Cultural 20TH Century Literary Americas

7.8 Good

19

Roads to Quoz

"Roads to Quoz" is a 2008 travel book by William Least Heat-Moon that explores the obscure backroads, oddities, and ecce...

21ST Century Rural Road Trip Americas

7.6 Good

20

River-Horse

"River-Horse" is a 1999 travelogue by William Least Heat-Moon documenting his ambitious journey across the United States...

20TH Century Boat River Americas

7.5 Good