1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Walking

Top 10 Walking Memoirs and Tales of Long Walks

By , About.com Guide

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Walkers who undertake long distance walks share with us their experiences, pains and joys in these books about their walks. These books can inspire your or prepare you for your own dream walk.

1. A Walk in the Woods

Bill Bryson is one of my favorite writers. Laugh out loud funny, very insightful, always a fantastic read. Here he returns to America from years in Britain and sets out to walk the length of the Appalachian Trail. We can all learn much from his mistakes.
Compare Prices

2. A Walk Across America

Peter Jenkins was fed up with his life and struck out to walk across America, over 25 years ago now. His journey taught him a lot about walking, a lot about people, and a lot about himself. A classic walking tale.
Compare Prices

3. Walking the World

Alan Cook's book, Walking the World, takes us along with him on his travels, which include walking throughout the US as well as walks in Europe and Asia. Alan has shared with us his End-to-End through the United Kingdom. He infects us with his joy of walking.
Compare Prices

4. The Thousand Mile Summer

Colin Fletcher is the man who taught a generation to be "The Complete Walker." His trek the length of California is a great walking tale.
Compare Prices

5. Sole Mates

Jerry and Cindy Shultz, early retired in their 50's, headed out in Birkenstock sandals to walk the diagonal length of the USA, 3000 miles, for Habitat for Humanity.
Compare Prices

6. The Man Who Walked Through Time

Colin Fletcher walks the length of the Grand Canyon in one of my husband's favorite books. It may be because of Fletcher's "first rule of aerobic walking."
Compare Prices

7. A Walker's Journal

Robert Sweetgall walked across the USA with a tiny fanny pack, relying on the kindness of strangers, talking in schools to inspire kids to get more physically active. Sweetgall's story is dynamic in person, if you ever get a chance to hear him, do it!
Compare Prices

8. The Walk West: A Walk Across America 2

Peter Jenkins once again walks across America, this time with his wife.
Compare Prices

9. Granny D: Walking Across America in my Ninetieth Year

Granny D had a cause - campaign finance reform. She set out to walk from LA to DC at age 89, averaging 10 miles a day. She kept "on message," but we can also be inspired by her endurance.
Compare Prices

10. The Complete Walker IV

If you are dreaming of or planning a long distance walk, or even a day of hiking, you need to own this book. Colin Fletcher details everything you should know about walking and hiking, exactly what to take with you and what not to take. How to walk and hike and enjoy the experience. Don't even think of leaving home without reading this book!
Compare Prices
Have you read a good walking book lately? Come post your review and read reviews from other walkers.
Explore Walking
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Walking
  4. Walking Clothing & Gear
  5. Books and Magazines
  6. Top Picks for Books of Walking Memoirs and Tales of Long Walks>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.