The Art of Travel

By: Alain de Botton

Narrated by: Nicholas Bell

Aside from love, few actvities seem to promise us as much happiness as going traveling: taking off for somewhere else, somewhere far from home, a place with more interesting weather, customs, and landscapes. But although we are inundated with advice on where to travel, few people seem to talk about why we should go and how we can become more fulfilled by doing so.

©2002 Alain de Botton. (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing

not bad, artsy theory of travel.

a few good lines but fairly drab. I did like the part about everyone should draw or tell a story even if not talented.

Beautiful

The book was deep and insightful on travel and humanity. Many quotes I wrote down just to reflect on in the future!

An antidote to travel bloggers

Alain de Botton takes us through his theory on travel using the words and works of the some of the best artists of all time. It’s so refreshing to have his reminder that travel is what Instagram makes it looking to be. It’s often hot, sweaty and uncomfortable. The white sand beaches tend to have garbage littered about. The hike up to Macchu Picchu is a traffic jam of bodies. However, Botton then reminds us why we still love it so much. The idea of voyaging to different places excites us endlessly, especially 2 years into a pandemic.

He gives great ideas about appreciating a place, or a feeling to a view. Don’t simply glance and remark on its prettiness, but stop and tell yourself what exactly you find pretty about it.

The best moments are often those when you’re most uncomfortable, or totally lost or out of money, not the picture perfect viewpoints or glasses of wine.

After years of too-good-to-be-true images filling up my feed, I’m really glad to have come across this book and a fresh way of looking about traveling.

Brought back memories

Reminded me of childhood road trips and was relaxing to read. I enjoyed it very much.

Lofty

It was extremely repetitive and left me struggling to pay attention. There were points that were true but then overall unnecessary and obvious.