Best Traveler & Explorer Biographies Books of 2025

In Look for Me There, Luke Russert embarks on a journey of self-discovery and grieving after the unexpected death of his father. Chronicling his travels across six continents, Russert shares the lessons and historical understandings he discovers along the way. A poignant reflection on taking risks, examining our choices, and discovering our truest selves, Look for Me There is a beautifully written story of a young man finding his faith and understanding his purpose. This book offers encouragement to anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss.

Krakauer’s page-turning bestseller explores a famed missing person mystery while unraveling the larger riddles it holds: the profound pull of the American wilderness on our imagination; the allure of high-risk activities to young men of a certain cast of mind; the complex, charged bond between fathers and sons."Terrifying... Eloquent... A heart-rending drama of human yearning." —New York TimesIn April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. How Christopher Johnson McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of Into the Wild.Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild.Jon Krakauer constructs a clarifying prism through which he reassembles the disquieting facts of McCandless's short life. Admitting an interst that borders on obsession, he searches for the clues to the drives and desires that propelled McCandless. When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity, and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding--and not an ounce of sentimentality. Mesmerizing, heartbreaking, Into the Wild is a tour de force. The power and luminosity of Jon Krakauer's stoytelling blaze through every page.

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect is a national bestseller that offers essential lessons in hospitality for every business. Written by Will Guidara, former co-owner of legendary restaurant Eleven Madison Park, the book explores how to transform ordinary transactions into extraordinary experiences through over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Guidara’s insights on leadership and entrepreneurship are applicable to all industries, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their business. Overall, Unreasonable Hospitality is a refreshing and inspiring read that highlights the power of going above and beyond for your customers and team.

Endurance by Alfred Lansing is a gripping and intense story that recounts the harrowing journey of British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men during their 1914 expedition to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. Lansing's vivid narration of the crew's near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization is both suspenseful and inspiring. This New York Times bestseller is a must-read for anyone interested in adventure stories and the heroic age of exploration.

The Pasta Queen: A Just Gorgeous Cookbook is a delightful collection of over 100 authentic Italian pasta recipes, shared by the TikTok sensation and social media star, Nadia Caterina Munno, also known as The Pasta Queen. The book is a colorful tour of Italy, featuring stunning photographs and celebratory tales of the country’s rich culinary heritage. Nadia's passion for pasta is contagious, and her love for this iconic Italian dish is evident in every recipe. This cookbook is a must-have for pasta lovers and anyone who wants to explore the world of Italian cuisine. Overall, The Pasta Queen is a beautiful, inspiring, and just gorgeous cookbook that will make you fall in love with pasta all over again.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and a powerful memoir that tells the story of a young woman who embarks on an eleven-hundred-mile solo hike after losing everything. Driven only by blind will, she hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State, and she does it alone. The book captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts is a captivating biographical account of a 63-year-old woman named Annie Wilkins who sets out on a journey to see the Pacific Ocean before she dies. With little money and no family, Annie embarks on this impossible journey with her ex-racehorse Tarzan and her faithful dog Depeche Toi. The book is a testament to the human spirit and the kindness of strangers. The author's vivid portrayal of Annie's journey makes it an enjoyable read from start to finish.

From the #1 bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat and Facing the Mountain comes an unforgettable epic of family, tragedy, and survival on the American frontier“An ideal pairing of talent and material. … Engrossing. … A deft and ambitious storyteller.” — Mary Roach, New York Times Book ReviewIn April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of pioneers led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes, and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors.In this gripping narrative, New York Times bestselling author Daniel James Brown sheds new light on one of the most legendary events in American history. Following every painful footstep of Sarah’s journey with the Donner Party, Brown produces a tale both spellbinding and richly informative.

God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning by Meghan O’Gieblyn is a philosophical and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human in the age of artificial intelligence. The author draws from her personal experience as a former religious believer to navigate questions of faith, identity, knowledge, and the nature of life itself. The book is a refreshing and original synthesis of ideas that challenges readers to rethink their understanding of existence. Overall, it is a compelling read that offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, humanity, and religion.