For most of us, we're entering the longest part of winter. The holidays are over, it's freezing outside, and the mountains we love to hang out in are covered in snow.
But being stuck inside doesn't have to be all bad, and I've been using it as an excuse to read some books that have been on my list for a while. In this post I’ve put together some of my favorite outdoor adventure books to keep you occupied for the long days ahead, and inspired for the days when we can get back out there.
Looking for something a little easier? Check out our list of the Best Outdoor Adventure Movies.
This is a wide ranging list, from thru-hiking, to arctic adventures, to caving, to ultrarunning and more. Regardless of what you’re into, I’m sure you’ll find something here you can dig into and enjoy. So, in no particular order, here are my top picks.
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1. Born to Run
A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen
By Christopher McDougall
Born to Run is the book about ultra-running, a story of one man's journey through intense races, history, and culture. It centers around the Tarahumara, an indigneous group in Mexico who for centuries have accomplished insane ultra-running feats; in the desert, wearing nothing but rubber sandals. It keeps you hooked like you wouldn’t expect a running book to do (you don’t even have to be a runner to love it), and it’ll make you want to jump off the couch right now and see how far you can run.
2. An Island to Oneself
By Tom Neale
An Island To Oneself is one of my all time favorite books. Not because it’s particularly thrilling, but because the idea of living on my own desert island in the tropical Pacific has always seemed especially romantic to me. Kind of goofy, I know. But I find Tom Neales stories from his 16 years living alone on an uninhabited island to be exciting and interesting, and I’d recommend it to anyone.
3. Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home
By Heather "Anish" Anderson
Through a Backpacker.com article titled 'A Ghost Among Us', author and thru-hiker extraordinaire Heather “Anish” Anderson is more or less the reason I became interested in thru-hiking. The article is about her attempt to set the fastest-known-time on the Pacific Crest Trail, and her new book is a fantastic memoir and in-depth chronicle of that attempt (I won’t spoil the ending). It’s a hell of an adventure story and I consider it an absolute must-read for anyone interested in thru-hiking and/or ultra endurance.
4. The Stranger In The Woods
The Extraordinary Story of The Last True Hermit
By Michael Finkel
This is a weird one. The main character, Christopher Knight, isn’t a typical adventure athlete or outdoorsman. But his story of living in the woods of Maine for 27 years, completely unknown to society, is fascinating and well-worth the read. It was National Geographic's Best Book of the Year, and I read it almost entirely in one sitting, if that says anything about how interesting it is.
5. My First Summer in the Sierra
By John Muir
An all time classic, this book is the story of Sierra Club legend John Muir’s first forays into the Sierra Nevada. It’s written in the form of journals, and truly captures the beauty of that range as well as the kind of awe you experience while you’re in it. I read it leading up to hiking the John Muir Trail and man did it get me stoked to go.
6. The Kon-Tiki Expedition
By Raft Across The South Seas
By Thor Heyerdahl
Ever wondered how the first people got to the islands of the South Pacific? Me neither, but in this story you’ll be fascinated by the concept. To test his theory that the Polynesian people migrated from Peru, Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl set sail on a DIY balsa raft, attempting to travel 4300 miles across the Pacific Ocean. What results is an awesome adventure story.
7. Travels in Siberia
By Ian Frazier
Ian Frazier is an amazing writer, and Travels in Siberia is one of his best. It’s a funny yet insightful travelogue/history of one of the wildest places on the planet, from both a natural and cultural perspective. For a really unique adventure story, this is your book.
8. Coming Into The Country
By John McPhee
Books about Alaska get my immediate attention, and Coming Into The Country is one of the best ever. It’s a journalist's firsthand experience of traveling through the young state, complete with grizzly bear stories (yes, multiple), bush plane flights, and interviews with gold miners, politicans and Native American Chiefs alike. Do I need to say more?
9. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
By Mark Twain
You’ve got to be living under a rock if you haven’t heard of this book, but you’re totally forgiven if you haven’t read it. I can’t say much about that hasn’t been said; it’s the classic adventure story of classic adventure stories. A young boy escapes his unhappy life for a trip on a raft down the river, and adventure awaits at every turn. It’s a quick and exciting read so if you haven’t read it, get on it.
10. A Cook's Tour
In Search of the Perfect Meal
By Anthony Bourdain
This one barely fits into the “outdoor adventure” category (there’s an account of jumping into a frozen lake, so it’s close enough), but it’s such a great book I had to throw it in. It’s a collection of food and culture stories from world renowned chef and writer Anthony Bourdain, and what I love about it is the raw authenticity of his experience. Dark, funny, and captivating, this book is a must-read for just about anyone.
11. Early Days in The Range of Light
Encounters With Legendary Mountaineers
By Daniel Arnold
This book might be the least known on this list, but why that is I have no idea. It’s a close look at the very early history (1873 early) of mountain climbing in the Sierras, following in the footsteps of some of the mountaineering legends who paved the way (and all without modern equipment). Daniel Arnold, a mountaineer himself, expertly chronicles their stories and personalities, and his account of their insane feats is extremely engaging.
12. Travels With Charley
In Search of America
By John Steinbeck
My favorite book of all time is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. That’s not exactly an adventure book, but Travels with Charley is. While Steinbeck’s novels are about the heart of American culture, this one is a (semi)autobiographical travelogue of his roughly 10,000 mile road trip through it with his dog, Charley. But he brings with him his classic writing style and his always-insightful perspective on the essence of America, and it’s vividness and perceptiveness make it a great read.
13. A River Runs Through It
And Other Stories
By Norman Maclean
Hard to say exactly whether this is an outdoor “adventure” story or not, but there's no question it belongs on this list. It’s a depiction of one man’s upbringing in a household where there was “no clear line between religion and fly fishing,” and it’s a phenomenal book. It’s about the grace of truly engaging with nature (and other struggles outside of it) and it deserves a place on everyone's bookshelf.
14. Blind Descent
The Quest to Discover the Deepest Cave On Earth
By James M. Tabor
Blind descent is a book about something I have next to no knowledge of, but consider one of the most adventurous activities out there: caving. In this true story, two teams (one American, one Soviet) race to find the bottom of the deepest cave on earth. It’s gripping, and it’ll have you on the edge of your seat as you read through the harrowing accounts of what it takes to survive and travel in a cave 7,000 feet deep.
15. The Emerald Mile
The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through The Heart of the Grand Canyon
By Kevin Fedarko
The subtitle says it all. This book is a stunning adventure epic of a record setting speed run of a boat through the Grand Canyon. But more than that, it’s a portrait of the Colorado River and the people and things that have shaped it. It’s a profound story of man versus nature.
16. To Shake the Sleeping Self
A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret
By Jedidiah Jenkins
This is a relatively new book but absolutely deserves a top spot on this list. It’s the story of a bicycle trip from Oregon to Patagonia, which is enough for anyone to get interested. But you’ll keep reading for the honesty, insight, and accounts of what it takes and what it’s like to leave the “safe” path in life for the adventurous one.
17. Desert Solitaire
By Edward Abbey
Desert Solitaire is one of the great outdoor non-fiction works, and it deserves every ounce of it’s reputation. A collection of stories about the raw beauty of the American Southwest, it’s a beautiful picture of wilderness adventure. But it’s also a critique of modern technological development, and an emotional plea to value our natural world. That plea is more relevant than ever, and the remarkable tales of Southern Utah will make you yearn for the desert.
18. Let My People Go Surfing
The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
By Yvon Chouinard
The memoir of legendary climber and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, this book is equal parts adventure story, entrepreneurial advice, and environmentalism. I love Patagonia gear, so it's pretty cool to be able to relate to it's founder on this level.
19. The Adventurer's Son
A Memoir
By Roman Dial
Reader beware: this book will rip your heart out. It's the heartbreaking true story of legendary adventurer and Ph.D professor Roman Dial's (The Roaming Dials) search through the Costa Rican Jungle for his missing son Cody. It's an adventure story of the most difficult kind, but it's an instant classic and does what it sets out to: teach us a few things about love and our most important relationships.
Did I miss anything? Enlighten me with your favorite adventure books in the comments, or check out our top outdoor adventure movies.
Great list! ‘An Island to Oneself’ was a fun read. It makes you want to try that life, at least for a while. Social distancing at its finest, right?
Tom Neale is the king of social distancing; an unlikely role model in today’s world.
Thanks for sharing this list. It makes me want to embrace this quiet time of solitude, rather than resist it (at least part of the time). I’m inspired.
That’s the idea! Gotta find some ways to make staying inside a good thing or I’ll end up going crazy.
Thanks for the great list ❤️
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading, I agree!