I read Lawrence Osborne’s The Naked Tourist last year when it was released. I noticed that it’s now out in paperback — just in time for you to throw in the summer beach bag! And since we have not mentioned it yet here at Gadling…no better time than now: Subtitled, In Search of Adventure And Beauty in the Age of the Airport Mall, the book is a fascinating read, although dry at certain points. (Or maybe those were the parts that were just a tad bit over my head? It’s a smart read.)
During his six-month journey from Dubai to India, followed by visits to Bangkok, Bali and Papua New Guinea, Osbourne shares his personal insights about “the psychological underpinnings of the tourist trade.” He focuses on the why of travel — why the heck do we do it? He wanders while pondering “whereverness”. There is much to contemplate from his travel observations. If you’re in the mood for this kind of deep thought summer reading, than be sure to get your hands on a new softbound copy.