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Last month, World Hum posted its list of the Top 30 Travel Books of all time, to which I contributed a number of reviews. After the dust settled and readers weighed in with their own recommendations, it occurred to me that I correspond with a number of the authors who made the list. What, I thought, would Pico Iyer or Peter Hessler or Tony Horwitz or Tim Cahill or Jeffrey Tayler think of World Hum’s selections?
Curious, I queried these five writers, all of whom gave me thoughtful replies. I will share comments from each of these writers in coming days, starting today with Pico Iyer, whose Video Night in Kathmandu weighed in at #8 on the World Hum list. Pico replies:
It’s a highly, highly quirky list — Shiva Naipaul right up there and V.S. Naipaul for his most laughable book at the bottom! — but I’m flattered to be in such company, and anyone who loves The Golden Earth is automatically a hero in my book (also very strongly weighted towards the contemporary, though I’m very glad to see Peter Hessler so highly recommended).
I thought last night of a few of the travel-books that I would always keep close and put on any list of inspirations:
- Colossus of Maroussi , by Henry MIller
- The Rings of Saturn, by W.G. Sebald
- The Inland Sea, by Donald Richie
- The Gentleman in the Parlour: A Record of a Journey from Rangoon to Haiphong, by Somerset Maugham
All of those books would be in my Top 15 ot Top 20 list. Additionally, I highly recommend:
- Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard
- Seven Years in Tibet, by Heinrich Harrer
- Out of Africa, by Isak Dinesen
- Hindoo Holiday: An Indian Journal , by J.R. Ackerley
- Watermark, by Joseph Brodsky
- Istanbul: Memories and the City (a recent entry), by Orhan Pamuk
- Westward Ha!, by S.J. Perelman
- Sea and Sardinia, by D.H. Lawrence
…and, I think, lots of others that I’m not remembering right now.
Thanks again, so much, for sending me this fun and fascinating list.
June 22nd, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Dear Mr. Potts
I was stumbling around the internet when I came across an article about you. I know that this has nothing to do with your blog, but I’m sure you’ll understand that this was the easiest way for me to reach you (I am at work). I seen that you were from Kansas and I thought to myself, “Why not send this guy an invitation?” so here is my invite: The next time you come to Kansas I would love it if you stopped by Lawrence and joined me and my family for dinner. If you need any kind of accomadations I would be more than happy to provide you with them. We aren’t rich by any means, but I’m sure you’ve seen worse. You should have my email address from posting this comment, so please contact me if you’re ever aound here and need a place to stay for a day or two.
June 24th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
some of my recent favorites from the top of my head, just for kicks:
Neither Here Nor There - Bryson, Bill
I’m a Stranger here Myself - Bryson, Bill
The Lost Continent - Bryson, Bill
Round Ireland with a Fridge - Hawks, Tony
Blue Highways - Heat Moon, William Least
Life of Pi - Martel, Yann
Road Fever - Cahill, Tim
Seven Years in Tibet - Harrer, Heinrich
Paddle to the Amazon - Starkell, Don
A Walk in the Woods - Bryson, Bill
On The Road - Kerouac, Jack
Dharma Bums - Kerouac, Jack
A Walk Across America - Jenkins, Peter
Into Thin Air - Krakaeur, Jon
The Adventurist - Pelton, Robert Young
February 21st, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I’m an aspiring travel writer. Everything on this blog facilitates ‘flight’, so thank you! Do you have Pico Iyer’s contact details by any chance? (even an e-mail id). I’d be eternally grateful if you could help me get in touch with him.
nginwala@gmail.com
March 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Would like to have Mr. Iyer’s email - would appreceiate his comments on my new book: Views of Fuji.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Would like to contact Mr. Iyer and solicit his comments on my book: Views of Fuji