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.

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.

Lofty

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

Hopped for More

I a was disappointed with this book I’m familiar with Alain de Bottom’s School of Life YouTube channel, which is filled with videos on various educational and self-improvement topics. I was hoping this book would contain ideas on the philosophy of travel with practical advice for enjoying travel. Sadly, I was unsatisfied.

Hard to read

I m glad I read it because it opened my eyes to traveling with intention, but I can’t say I liked it. I would not have read this except for school. Wouldn’t recommend it either.

Doesn't sync with Audible book

Thus not useful for us. Giving it all one star so someone fixes it. If don't hear back, will need to return.

Dull, suggestions for better alternatives

I listened to about forty-five minutes of this book (almost a fifth of it) only to hear several long lists of what various characters ordered in restaurants and a long description of the basis of the opinion that imagination is better than travel. After that I gave up.

If you were drawn in by the title, like I was, I would recommend skipping this actual book and instead going for The Art of Pilgrimage or Vagabonding, either of which delivers much better what this one's title promised than it does.

a terrible book

if you want to waste your money and time, buy this book. i like alan de botton's speaks and already had seen a lot on youtube. so instead of buying this book and wasting your money and time, go to youtube and see his speaks for free. this book is about everything, but the art of travel.