Travels, by Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton, the master of science fiction thrillers, takes us on a different kind of adventure in his memoir Travels. But don't expect just another celebrity travelogue - this book is as unpredictable and exciting as Crichton's novels. Before he became a household name, Crichton was a Harvard-trained doctor with an insatiable curiosity about the world. In Travels, he shares how he traded his stethoscope for a pen and a passport, embarking on a lifelong journey of exploration and self-discovery.
Picture this: Crichton narrowly escaping an elephant in Kenya, diving into the crystal-clear waters of Tahiti, and attempting to crash a Sultan's birthday party in Malaysia. But it's not all globetrotting adventures. He also shares his wild experiences with fortune tellers, aura readers, and out-of-body events that'll make you question reality.
Between his Harvard med school days and directing Sean Connery in The Great Train Robbery, Crichton's life is anything but ordinary. He uses travel as a way to rediscover himself, a theme that runs throughout the book.
Travels wraps up with Crichton's surprisingly open-minded take on paranormal phenomena - it's an eye-opener, even if you're skeptical. This book deserves way more credit in the travel literature world. Whether you're a long-time Crichton fan or new to his work, Travels is a must-read that'll spark your inspiration to travel and challenge your perceptions.
“In my everyday life, I often felt a stifling awareness of the purpose behind everything I did. Every book I read, every movie I saw, every lunch and dinner I attended seemed to have a reason behind it. From time to time, I felt the urge to do something for no reason at all. I conceived these trips as vacations - as respite from my ongoing life - but that wasn’t how they turned out. Eventually, I realized that many of the most importance changes of my life had come about because of my travel experiences. For, however tame when compared with the excursions of real adventurers, these trips were genuine adventures for me: I struggled with my fears and limitations, and I learned whatever I needed to learn.”
Interesting Facts & Links:
Michael Crichton isn't known as a travel writer, but he was an amazingly popular author with sales of over 200 million books worldwide. His work takes reaches every corner of the universe, expanding minds and entertaining readers with thrilling journeys and books that just can't be put down. His career expands well beyond writing; his books have been made into thirteen movies, and he was the producer of the hit television series ER. Crichton's best known novels include Jurassic Park, The Great Train Robbery, Prey, Sphere, Congo, Timeline, Rising Sun and The Andromeda Strain.
Read Patricia Bosworth's review on Travels called "Touring the Altered States", written in 1988 for The New York Times.
Or, read some interesting Q&A with the author on the official Michael Crichton website.
Travels is actually one of our favorite recommendations for those who love travel books. Click here to see the Travelreads complete list of the absolute best in travel writing.
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