2 minute read
Shelf Esteem
Additions to your reading list as you dream up your next journey!
Author and acclaimed historian Gretchen Sorin looks at how the car was a symbol of independence and possibility for African Americans. The heart of the book is Victor and Alma Green’s famous Green Book, (remember the movie by the same name?) a travel guide which helped black Americans enjoy a family vacation. But despite the freedoms it offered, cars also translated to new obstacles such as segregated ambulance services, traffic stops, and racist violence. Interwoven with Sorin’s own family history, the book looks at how the automobile reshaped African American life. Sorin is a museum curator and has selected more than 70 never-before-seen images that accompany the text in the book, which is tied to a major PBS documentary of the same name to air this year.
A beautifully packaged book that is both a practical and aspirational guide, it takes readers off the beaten track. Author Penny Watson is an experienced traveler who has written for a number of guidebooks. Slow travel is one of the top trends in travel currently and the book takes you on a journey to escape the fast pace of life and connect to your inner self. The book urges you to travel in your own time and on your own terms, toward more of a leisurely time away, which is what a vacation is meant to be. There are ideas galore on not just destination ideas and resorts but also how-to’s and resources, tips to unplug and slow food experiences as well as experiential activities, all accompanied by stunning imagery. If wellness and travel are on your mind, then this is the inspiration.
A somewhat timely read given the coronavirus chaos that is here and now. Author Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth shares information on immunizations, common diseases, protecting yourself from insects, and more. Putting her medical background to good use, she writes often on travel and health for global outlets. If you are looking for in-depth advice from someone with experience, then this is the resource you need. She has traveled extensively and worked in health scenarios aplenty to provide hands-on, practical and scientific insight. She has three travel health guides in print (‘How to Shit Around the World’ is an Amazon bestseller in two categories) as well as two memoirs, one set in Madagascar, the other in Nepal.
