Books and beyond

Travelogues are one of the most popular genres of non-fiction, and within this group there are many stories of people who have used walking as their primary means of transport to reach their destination.  These titles all feature authors who made their own adventure on foot and relay the journey of discovery they ultimately found as a result.

A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins
In 1973, Peter Jenkins had recently graduated college and, disillusioned with American society, was contemplating leaving the U.S. permanently.  Instead, he and his dog embarked on a journey by foot across the country and learned some valuable lessons about his country and himself in the process.  

Walking Home : a traveler in the Alaskan wilderness, a journey into the human heart  by Lynn Schooler
Facing a crossroads in his life and seeking an escape in nature, this title relays the tale of the author’s journey around the Gulf of Alaska by foot and small boat.  Walking Home is a story of adventure, history, and finding one’s true self in the wild. 

A Walk in the Woods : rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail  by Bill Bryson
The 2100 mile Appalachian Trail brings thousands of people in along its route every year.  This humorous and critically acclaimed title is Bryson’s account of the journey he and a friend made through some of the most beautiful and impoverished back-woods areas in America.

3 mph : the adventures of one woman's walk around the world by Polly Letofsky
Colorado author Letofsky tells her tale of a 5-year trek to raise breast cancer awareness, and in doing so becoming the first American woman to walk around the globe.