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Quick answer: If you loved Travels with Charley, read Blue Highways, On the Road, A Walk in the Woods and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. All are road and journey books about America, solitude and what we find when we leave home.
John Steinbeck's 1962 memoir recounts his drive around the United States with his poodle, Charley, in a pickup camper called Rocinante. It is funny, wistful and observant, and has been debated for how much is strictly true. The books below offer similar road trips, landscapes and reflection.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Highways | William Least Heat-Moon | Adult | the modern classic |
| On the Road | Jack Kerouac | Adult | Beat road novel |
| Roughing It | Mark Twain | Adult | frontier travelogue |
| Life on the Mississippi | Mark Twain | Adult | river history |
| A Walk in the Woods | Bill Bryson | Adult | funny hiking memoir |
| The Lost Continent | Bill Bryson | Adult | small-town America |
| Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance | Robert M. Pirsig | Adult | journey and ideas |
| Nomadland | Jessica Bruder | Adult | modern road life |
| In Patagonia | Bruce Chatwin | Adult | travel classic |
| Desert Solitaire | Edward Abbey | Adult | desert memoir |
| The Great Railway Bazaar | Paul Theroux | Adult | train journey |
| Cannery Row | John Steinbeck | Adult | more Steinbeck |
| The Grapes of Wrath | John Steinbeck | Adult | the Great Depression |
| Wild | Cheryl Strayed | Adult | long-distance hike |
| The Places in Between | Rory Stewart | Adult | walking across Afghanistan |
1. Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon
Heat-Moon drives the back roads of America in a van. Reflective and full of people.
Best for: the modern classic.
2. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Friends cross America in a flurry of jazz and talk. Wild, restless and influential.
Best for: Beat road novel.
3. Roughing It by Mark Twain
Twain writes about his time in the American West. Funny and exaggerated.
Best for: frontier travelogue.
4. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
Twain recalls his days as a riverboat pilot and returns to the river. Warm and witty.
Best for: river history.
5. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Bryson attempts to hike the Appalachian Trail with an old friend. Hilarious and affectionate.
Best for: funny hiking memoir.
6. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
Bryson drives across small-town America. Funny and sharp.
Best for: small-town America.
7. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
A father and son travel by motorcycle while the narrator thinks about quality and sanity. Thoughtful and influential.
Best for: journey and ideas.
8. Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
Bruder follows older Americans who live in vans and travel for seasonal work. Humane and revealing.
Best for: modern road life.
9. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
Chatwin travels through Patagonia in search of stories. Lyrical and strange.
Best for: travel classic.
10. Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
Abbey recalls a season as a park ranger in Utah. Fierce and beautiful.
Best for: desert memoir.
11. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
Theroux travels by train across Asia. Sharp and funny.
Best for: train journey.
12. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
A group of misfits in Monterey try to throw a party. Warm, funny and tender.
Best for: more Steinbeck.
13. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Joad family leaves Oklahoma for California. A towering American novel.
Best for: the Great Depression.
14. Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Strayed hikes the Pacific Crest Trail to recover from grief. Honest, funny and moving.
Best for: long-distance hike.
15. The Places in Between by Rory Stewart
Stewart walks across Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. Gripping and humane.
Best for: walking across Afghanistan.
How to Choose
For American road trips choose Blue Highways, On the Road or The Lost Continent. For humour pick Bill Bryson. For reflective journeys read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or Desert Solitaire. For modern versions try Nomadland. For more Steinbeck read Cannery Row or The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck's book is quiet, so these picks suit readers who enjoy observation and the pace of travel. Several researchers have questioned whether every episode in Travels with Charley happened as written, so it is best read as a travel memoir with literary shaping rather than a strict record. Travel memoirs make good companions for actual trips. Read Blue Highways before a road trip, Wild before a hike and The Great Railway Bazaar before a train journey. Audiobooks suit long drives. If you like Steinbeck's voice, his other short books are quick and warm, and his letters and journals reveal more about how he wrote. Steinbeck's book is short enough for a weekend, which makes it a good choice for readers who want a classic without a big commitment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Travels with Charley about?
Steinbeck's drive around America with his poodle in 1960.
Who wrote it?
John Steinbeck.
When was it published?
1962.
Is it a true story?
It is a memoir, though some scholars question its accuracy.
Who is Charley?
Steinbeck's French poodle.
Is it a quick read?
Yes, around 250 pages.
What is Rocinante?
The pickup camper Steinbeck named after Don Quixote's horse.
What should I read next?
Try Blue Highways or Cannery Row.
Did Steinbeck really travel alone?
Mostly, though his wife joined him for parts of the trip.
Is it a good book for nature lovers?
Yes, it contains vivid passages about landscapes and weather.
Is Travels with Charley good for dog lovers?
Yes, Charley is a charming presence throughout.