A good book functions as an escape to another world. This world can be magical, exotic, emotional or just in your own backyard -- no matter the location, it takes you there, if only for just a moment.
Sometimes, a book pulls us so deeply into its world, that we're ready to check it out in the real world. For teachers who wish to inspire their students, for parents who want to inspire their children, or for the wanderluster who wants to inspire themselves -- here are the top ten books to get you packing your bags for an adventure.
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Adventure: Wilderness Survival
This 1990 novel is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, the 22-year-old who left school, his family and his wealth to hit the road. He spent two years living off the land and traveling the country, all while documenting his travels in a notebook. He was found dead in a school bus in Denali National Park but left behind an incredible tale of solitude with nature.
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams
Adventure: Intergalactic Exploration
Despite being a type of travel that most of us won't experience in our lifetime, Adams depicts a tale of an everyman who explores outer space after Earth has been destroyed while and the intergalactic highway is being constructed. Perhaps the next astronaut we send to the moon chose his career path based on this exciting journey.
"Candide" by Voltaire
This 16th Century travel allegory is anything but dated. Candide follows a sheltered optimist -- the novel's namesake -- as he travels the world through a series of misadventures that eventually expose him to the reality of hardships in countries other than his own. An important tale for anyone living with privilege, Candide is a good way to enlighten and inspire to be the change.
"The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Adventure: Epic Quest
For those who want their adventure to serve a purpose, such as saving a life, King's grand opus of parallel universes is a good fit. The story follows 12-year-old Jack as his travels throughout America, and uncovers "the Territories," the alternate universe to America, in order to find a talisman that will cure his mother's cancer. It is filled with defeat and success and will spike any reader's wish to be a hero.
"Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson
Adventure: The High Seas
The story is simple: good-hearted citizens versus scallywag pirates searching for hidden treasure. It may seem like the stereotypical pirate story, but that's because Stevenson more or less invented the pirate story with this 19th-century novel. If gold, parrots, seasickness and swashbuckling spikes your interest, this classic is for you.