Don’t be boring this Christmas. Don’t just buy whichever book happens to be top of the book charts this month – every unimaginative person will be giving the very same thing. Let me help you instead.
I think my dream job might well be a “professional book picker” where I would just spend all day reading good books and recommending the pick of the bunch. I don’t get paid for this [yet], but I do enjoy reading and can vouch for everything suggested here…
For the last couple of years I’mve put together a list of books to buy for the adventure loving / sports loving / entrepreneur in your life.
- Here was last year’s list.
- Here’s the year before, focused only on adventure books.
- Here is a list of compulsory adventure reading. If you haven’t read all of these and you are a fan of adventure and travel, then get reading!
- A bunch of business books perfect for any wannabe entrepreneur / blogger / full time bum
- I can’t vouch for all these (yet), but I asked Twitter for its collective wisdom on what short beautiful novel I should read.
This year I have also recommended a few good books on Instagram:
I also read loads of books that I don’t mention either on my website or on social media. My life is very compartmentalised: I have my ‘adventure life’ which I shout endlessly about online. Then I have my real life, ordinary stuff, family, friends, taekwondo, sport, treehouses, angst, and all sorts of books.
Here then is a broad spread of what I’mve read this year. These are only some of the books I have read in the past 12 months, books that I definitely endorse. Please note this is not necessarily “Adventure Alastair” endorsing them, so maybe check the description first to see if you will enjoy them or not.
Cracking list! Not had chance to look through the other lists yet but my personal favourites include Pirsig’s ‘Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance’, Wainwright’s ‘A Pennine Journey’ and Shepherd’s ‘The Living Mountain’. I recently bought Grand and Micro adventures too so they’re next on my to-do-list 😉 your ‘Lost lecture’ on YouTube inspired me to go on a 4-day backpacking trip recently… it’s safe to say I’ve got the bug. Stay safe, keep moving. ATB for the new year.
Michael
Only two books by women?
Yes – I don’t seem to have come across many brilliant adventure books by women. Can you offer me some suggestions?
Great list – thanks Al
Brilliant adventure books by women, suggestions;
* Anna McNuff – The Pants of Perspective: One Woman’s 3,000 Kilometre Running Adventure Through the Wilds of New Zealand
* Heather Hawkins – Adventurous Spirit
* Rosie Swale Pope – Just a Little Run Around the World: 5 Years, 3 Packs of Wolves and 53 Pairs of Shoes
* Juliana Buhring – This Road I Ride: Sometimes It Takes Losing Everything to Find Yourself
* Roz Savage – Stop Drifting, Start Rowing: One Woman’s Search for Happiness and Meaning Alone on the Pacific