Here's an exercise to try before your next journey: Pretend as though you're leaving one week earlier than you are. Get packed, scour guidebooks, pore over maps. Then unplug the computer and read a book about your destination cover to cover—without checking a single online review or blog. Because your eyes need a break from screens. Because it will inspire you. And, mostly, because the right book will bring you far closer to the place than Google Earth. A few starters: Mexico: The Log from the Sea of Cortez, John Steinbeck; the Alps: Solo Faces, James Salter; Patagonia: In Patagonia, Bruce Chatwin; Alaska: Coming into the Country, John McPhee; the Caribbean: Swimming in the Volcano, Bob Shacochis.
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28. Read Right (24 of 50)
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28. Read Right
(Part 24 of 50)
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- You're Gonna Need a Bigger Bucket
- 50. Learn an Instrument
- 49. Climb the Grand Teton
- 48. Build a School in a Foreign Country
- 47. Volunteer After a Disaster
- 46. Go on a Walking Safari
- 45. Learn a Magic Trick
- 44. Give Something Up
- 43. Step on Antarctica
- 42. Follow Up
- 41. Ride l'Alpe d'Huez
- 40. Raise $2,500 for a Cause
- 39. Live Abroad for a Year
- 38. Travel the World on a Teacher's Salary
- 37. Sail Across an Ocean
- 36. Get Bent
- 35. Lasso a Steer
- 34. Wing It
- 33. Beat the Train
- 32. Ski-Bum for a winter
- 31. Go to New Zealand
- 30. Trek Torres del Paine
- 29. Get in the Best Shape of Your Life
- 28. Read Right
- 27. Become an Expert Hatchet Thrower
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- 26. Watch the World Cup
- 25. Learn to Kayak
- 24. Join the Circus
- 23. Coin a Phrase
- 22. Swim Naked
- 21. Master a Surprising Cocktail
- 20. Ski Powder
- 19. Win Your Age Group in a Race
- 18. See a Tornado
- 17. Trek in the Himalayas
- 16. Make a Man Cave
- 15. Build a Cabin in the Mountains
- 14. Take Two Weeks Off
- 12. Talk to a Wild Panda
- 11. Take a Risk
- 10. Catch a Steelhead on a Spey Rod
- 9. Overachieve
- 8. Master a Second Language
- 7. Get Tubed
- 6. Learn a Constellation
- 5. Become a Bush Pilot
- 4. Chase Down Your Hero
- 3. Start a Group Ride
- 2. Self-Guide the Grand Canyon
- 1. Get a passport
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28. Read Right
(Part 24 of 50)
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Wednesday, September 01, 2010
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28. Read Right
On our 2010 Life List: read a travel book.
By: The Editors
- <
-
28. Read Right (24 of 50)
-
28. Read Right
(Part 24 of 50)
-
- You're Gonna Need a Bigger Bucket
- 50. Learn an Instrument
- 49. Climb the Grand Teton
- 48. Build a School in a Foreign Country
- 47. Volunteer After a Disaster
- 46. Go on a Walking Safari
- 45. Learn a Magic Trick
- 44. Give Something Up
- 43. Step on Antarctica
- 42. Follow Up
- 41. Ride l'Alpe d'Huez
- 40. Raise $2,500 for a Cause
- 39. Live Abroad for a Year
- 38. Travel the World on a Teacher's Salary
- 37. Sail Across an Ocean
- 36. Get Bent
- 35. Lasso a Steer
- 34. Wing It
- 33. Beat the Train
- 32. Ski-Bum for a winter
- 31. Go to New Zealand
- 30. Trek Torres del Paine
- 29. Get in the Best Shape of Your Life
- 28. Read Right
- 27. Become an Expert Hatchet Thrower
-
- 26. Watch the World Cup
- 25. Learn to Kayak
- 24. Join the Circus
- 23. Coin a Phrase
- 22. Swim Naked
- 21. Master a Surprising Cocktail
- 20. Ski Powder
- 19. Win Your Age Group in a Race
- 18. See a Tornado
- 17. Trek in the Himalayas
- 16. Make a Man Cave
- 15. Build a Cabin in the Mountains
- 14. Take Two Weeks Off
- 12. Talk to a Wild Panda
- 11. Take a Risk
- 10. Catch a Steelhead on a Spey Rod
- 9. Overachieve
- 8. Master a Second Language
- 7. Get Tubed
- 6. Learn a Constellation
- 5. Become a Bush Pilot
- 4. Chase Down Your Hero
- 3. Start a Group Ride
- 2. Self-Guide the Grand Canyon
- 1. Get a passport
-
-
28. Read Right
(Part 24 of 50)
- >
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Comments
If you're headed for the Caribbean and want to get inside the mind of the Caribbean, or if you've been there and would care to return by way of an imaginary journey filled with all sorts and conditions of fully realized characters whose stories are woven into a complex and fascinating tapestry by a freakishly gifted writer, then you must⿿you must⿿read Bob Schacochis's Swimming in the Volcano.
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