Concordia University Wisconsin's Rincker Memorial Library has a number of e-book suggestions for people looking to experience new places without leaving home or planning future vacations.


‘I chose these eight titles because they focus on adventure and solo travel which often appeals to college students,” said Rincker Memorial Library Instruction, Research, and Reference Librarian Elaine Gustafson, MLIS, MS. “I also included a few titles about traveling ethically, and how technology and GPS have changed how we travel.”

Travel Stories and Memoirs:

Lines on a Map: Unparalleled Adventures in Modern Exploration by Frank Wolf & John Vaillant (2018)

Description: A compilation of short stories by travel writer Frank Wolf from the last 20 years.

Places visited: Alaska, Canada, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and Scandinavia.

Inner Ranges: An Anthology of Mountain Thoughts and Mountain People by Geoff Powter

Description: A compilation of essays and profiles of different mountaineers and their adventures.

Places visited: Famous mountains in China, Canada, and the United States.

En Route by Juliana Engberg

Description: A travel memoir about discoveries on the unexpected route.

Places visited: Not applicable.

From Source to Sea: Notes From a 215-Mile Walk Along the River Thames by Tom Chesshyre

Description: A travel story about solo backpacking.

Place Visited: England.

Coves of Departure: Field Notes From the Sea of Cortez by John Seibert Farnsworth

Description: A professor tells the story of an undergraduate sea kayak expedition field study.

Places visited: California and Mexico.

The Soul of a Great Traveler: 10 Years of Solas Award-Winning Travel Stories by James O’Reilly, Larry Habegger, and Sean O’Reilly

Description: A compilation of the best essays on solo travel.

Places visited: Bolivia, Ireland, Cameroon, Russia, Arizona, Mexico, Alaska, Thailand, Spain, and France.

The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Volume 11: True Stories From Around the World by Lavinia Spalding

Description: A compilation of the best essays on women travelers.

Places Visited: 31 different countries, including Iceland, Japan, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Uganda, Greece, and Singapore.

The Blind Masseuse: A Traveler’s Memoir From Costa Rica to Cambodia by Alden Jones

Description: A travel memoir which asks the question: Is there a right way to travel?

Places Visited: Costa Rica, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Burma, Cambodia, and Egypt.

Concordia’s library staff is available to help students, faculty, staff and alumni. The library has resources for freshmen year assignments and doctoral projects alike. Anyone with a question about virtual library offerings or other services can utilize the Ask A Librarian or the Getting Started Guide.

The entire library e-book database of 150,000 books can be found here.

Still have a question? Visit CUW’s library page to learn how you can connect with a librarian.

If this story has inspired you, why not explore how you can help further Concordia's mission through giving.