There are so many good books, essays, poems, and, hell, even songs about walking. I’m preparing tonight to go on a long walk with an author who wrote an entire book about hiking and trails (and a whole slew of other things), which you’ll be able to read about in the coming weeks. But as I pack my bags and double check my gear, I’m wondering: what are some of your favorite books about walking?
Rebecca Solnit--both Wanderlust and A Field Guide to Getting Lost. I also really enjoyed Carrot Quinn's Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, not necessarily for the language of it but for how well it captured the rhythm and zone of walking long distances.
Edmund White's The Flaneur--beautifully aimless walks around Paris. Curveball would be The Collected Poems of Mary Oliver--lots of walking and being in the moment.
On Trails by Robert Moor was amazing! Everything from the Appalachian Trail to fossil trails to ant trails to ancient Cherokee trails. Fascinating and he is a wonderful writer.
On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes by Alexandra Horowitz is an excellent book which teaches you to look at your own neighbourhood with new eyes.
One of my all-time favorite authors, Kathryn Davis, wrote a gorgeous novel, THE WALKING TOUR, that I think you'd love. Here's an excellent Salon review by Virginia Heffernan:
Love this thread! I discovered a lot of writers and artists who made a long daily walk part of their lives in the book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Curry.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I laughed out loud many times while reading that, read it twice over a period of a few years, and have recommended it to a number of people. (The movie was not half as good as the book.) Some of the other books mentioned here are now on my explore it list. Thanks for all the suggestions. Fun question.
Rebecca Solnit--both Wanderlust and A Field Guide to Getting Lost. I also really enjoyed Carrot Quinn's Thru-Hiking Will Break Your Heart, not necessarily for the language of it but for how well it captured the rhythm and zone of walking long distances.
Ditto on A FIELD GUIDE TO GETTING LOST!
Wild by Cheryl Strayed, A walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Tracks by Robyn Davidson are all oldies but goodies!
I second Bill Bryson!
The Old Ways and Underland, both by Robert MacFarlane.
I *love* this kind of post, as it generates an entire reading list for me!
Exactly!
Edmund White's The Flaneur--beautifully aimless walks around Paris. Curveball would be The Collected Poems of Mary Oliver--lots of walking and being in the moment.
Paris to the Pyrenees by David Downie
On Trails by Robert Moor was amazing! Everything from the Appalachian Trail to fossil trails to ant trails to ancient Cherokee trails. Fascinating and he is a wonderful writer.
Ooh yes, On Trails is so good!
*whispers* there might be an upcoming walk with Robert Moor just saying. 😇
On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes by Alexandra Horowitz is an excellent book which teaches you to look at your own neighbourhood with new eyes.
On Looking is one of my recent faves too. It gave me a new appreciation of NYC.
Lauren Elkin's FLÂNEUSE: Women Walk the City in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Venice, and London
One of my all-time favorite authors, Kathryn Davis, wrote a gorgeous novel, THE WALKING TOUR, that I think you'd love. Here's an excellent Salon review by Virginia Heffernan:
https://www.salon.com/1999/12/02/davis_3/
Love this thread! I discovered a lot of writers and artists who made a long daily walk part of their lives in the book Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Curry.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. I laughed out loud many times while reading that, read it twice over a period of a few years, and have recommended it to a number of people. (The movie was not half as good as the book.) Some of the other books mentioned here are now on my explore it list. Thanks for all the suggestions. Fun question.
Wayne Curtis’s The Last Great Walk.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd for those who cannot explore the British Isles at present!
Rings of Saturn
Teju Cole's Open City
The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
Can't yet claim it as a favorite, but my sister in law just recommended On Looking: a Walker's Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz.
Sidewalking by David Ulin.
Hell yes.
Thank you so much, Lou! And you're absolutely right, there are so many good recs in here!