As a follow-up to my post a while ago on the best books about entire countries, here’s a list of great books about regions and continents that I’ve read. I really enjoy these kinds of books for their epic scale and the variety of countries and places they cover. If any of you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux
Traversing the entire continent of Africa from South Africa to Egypt, Paul Theroux provides his trademark cantankerous but insightful takes on a memorable voyage that goes through countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganada. Theroux is quite critical of the level of development in Africa, especially the continent’s cities, and of foreign aid, which he thinks is useless and exploitative.
Island People by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro
As the region where I grew up in, you’d think the Caribbean is a place I’m very familiar with. Actually, while I know a bit about most of the islands, I haven’t been to any of them other than Trinidad and Tobago, where I grew up.
Island People is a fascinating book which highlights the Caribbean’s complexity, diversity and tragedy contained in the mix of island countries. Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad are certainly covered, as well as the smaller islands like Barbados, Dominica and Antigua. Taking a more sociological and anthropological approach as opposed to traveling, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro produces a superb book that takes you on a memorable journey across the Caribbean.
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
You might be able to tell I’m a Paul Theroux fan, but even if I wasn’t, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star would still make the list. The book covers Theroux’s epic journey in the mid-2000s by train and boat across Europe and all of Asia. At least a dozen countries are featured, including India, Japan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. For the latter, a savage decade-long civil war was raging while Theroux was there. Theroux met with several famous writers during this journey, including Orhan Pamuk in Turkey, Arthur Clarke in Sri Lanka, and Haruki Murakami in Japan. Astonishingly, this was actually the second time he had taken such a trip, with the first having been done in 1973, for which he wrote The Great Railway Bazaar.
Ottoman Odyssey by Alev Scott
Journeying across the former lands of the Ottoman Empire, Alev Scott aimed to explore the empire’s lingering presence. As she traveled through the Balkans, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, and Armenia as well as Turkey itself, she discovers a mixed heritage in which tensions against Turkey (which succeeded the Ottoman Empire) still linger in some places while language and customs ensure some common bond. This is a book with a somber tone that covers a lot of places that usually don’t get much attention.
Blood and Silk by Michael Vatikiotis
Southeast Asia is famous for travel, but this book is about anything but that. Blood and Silk is a look at the region’s conflicts, tensions, and politics, especially on how its elites manage to retain power. Rather than beaches and backpacking, this book provides a fascinating look into dynasties, feudalism, and conflicts.
