Guide books are excellent as an orientation tool and source of ideas. As you become comfortable with travel, however, you will quickly learn that popular guidebooks offer a narrow corridor of experience you will surely tire of. I recommend you carry one as back-up and try not to rely on it too much. Look for new editions in used book stores. It's easiest to find cheap copies of your next destination in a neighboring country because used books tend to sell out quickly in the country they feature. Swap books and ideas with other travelers too. Note: English bookstores and signs are easy to find in Europe and S.E. Asia but not in China or Japan.

Lonely Planet This is the most popular series. Actually, everyone uses it so I'm looking for a good alternative. If you plan to cover a lot of Europe, go for the guides that break the continent into east and west rather than the all encompassing Europe on a Shoestring. The East / West editions are conveniently sized and relatively cheap. The added detail is just enough to help you find some interesting secondary sights.

The Rough Guides The Prague version really let us down. They seem to cater to a crowd that believes expensive = quality and unconventional is unappealing. I looked briefly at their Southeast Asia Guide but didn't use it. They do have some interesting history sections and side notes but I found them hard to navigate quickly as is necessary sometimes.
These are some books that either talk about traveling or make good travel companions.

The World Awaits by Paul Otteson - a travel tutorial

Hokkaido Highway Blues by Will Ferguson - hilarious travel log of a Canadian ex-pat in Japan

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - the funniest damn book I've ever read!

Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman - teaching English in China

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey - ramblings of a grumpy old hermit who lives in the desert for six months of the year and New York City for the other half.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden

Anything by John Steinbeck




Any good recommendations? Email mandy@daisho.us.