Emotional adventure memoirs for fans of Cheryl Strayed's Wild
These stories will ignite your wanderlust and touch your heart.
Wild, the true story of Cheryl Strayed’s emotional and vulnerable journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, inspired millions of readers with its message of new beginnings and self-discovery. Strayed’s memoir of her fearless trek—navigating the wilderness while also confronting the grief of her mother’s death and the deterioration of her marriage—was an instant bestseller that drew on traditions of writing on travel, nature, and grief, while creating a hunger in its readers for more books exploring themes like rebirth and self-discovery through adversity. If you’re looking for more books like this stunning and beautifully introspective memoir, here are some you will love.
Girl in the Woods
An inspiring memoir about the author's journey toward healing while hiking the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Aspen had just started college when she was raped by a fellow student. Unable to find help from her family or from anyone at her school, Aspen decided to take her mental health into her own hands, seeking respite in the great outdoors by hiking from Mexico to Canada. Aspen's five-month journey was often dangerous and definitely life-changing. On the trail, she found her strength and her true self.
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A Walk in the Woods
In Bill Bryson's travel memoir, A Walk in the Woods, Bryson explores the Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia all the way to Maine. While we follow Bryson on his journey, readers are also given the fascinating history of the trail. This exciting book will inspire you to go out and find your own wilderness adventure.
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The Outrun
When Amy was thirty, she found herself at a breaking point in her life. Struggling with the addiction that has consumed her for the past decade, the author returns to her home in Orkney, where she reconnects with the great outdoors. As she swims, explores wildlife, and studies the night sky, Liptrot also uncovers new truths about herself and hopes for her future.
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Crying in H Mart
For another unforgettable memoir about grief and mourning the death of a mother, you won't want to miss Michelle Zauner's Crying in H Mart. Zauner, frontwoman of the indie pop band Japanese Breakfast, confronts the devastating loss of her mother and the complicated relationship they had. Through her relationship with her mother, with being Korean American, and with food, Zauner gets to the heart of her grief and her own identity.
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The How
The How is a personal development book in which Daley-Ward encourages readers to familiarize themselves with their most authentic selves. It's time to remove the filters, forget about how we want to be perceived by others, and just be us. If you want to make the kind of change that we see in memoirs like Cheryl Strayed's, this inspiring book is a great first step.
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Eat Pray Love
It would be difficult to do a list like this without including Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love, one of the most iconic memoirs about adventure and self-discovery. Feeling stuck in her life, Elizabeth Gilbert made the difficult decision to leave her career and marriage behind to explore the world. Her goal? To spend a year exploring three different cultures in Italy, India, and Bali, and find her true calling.
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