After nearly two decades, readers and adventurers are still magnetized by Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer’s story of Christopher McCandless. Though he was inexperienced, McCandless traveled into the Alaskan wilderness. He lived and died by the majesty of nature, and…
Over the course of 26 novels and counting, Jack Reacher has become one of the most popular characters in the thriller world. Physically imposing, Reacher is a brilliant character. He’s a patriot who served his country honorably in the military…
Time travel is one of the most versatile plot devices in literary history. Do you want pure science fiction? Check. Perhaps some romance? Absolutely! Tragedy or comedy? Both work brilliantly. Time travel can fit practically any genre, from the most…
In Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, Brian survives alone in the Canadian bush with only a hatchet. No matter the obstacle–crash landing, tornado, dangerous encounters with bear, moose, and porcupine–Brian perseveres. If Hatchet inspired you, check out these 11 harrowing stories. 1.…
Jules Verne was one of the most influential popular writers in modern history. A forerunner of the science fiction genre, Verne took inspiration from the explosion of technological progress during the Industrial Revolution. He crafted adventure stories where daring, intelligent…
There was a time when Michael Crichton ruled pop culture like few authors before. Crichton, who held an M.D. from Harvard, leveraged his intense interest in science, history, and technology into page-turning stories. He wrote screenplays for films like Westworld…
The best-selling memoir Wild captivates readers with its heart-pounding adventure and emotional arc. When death, divorce, and addiction threaten to dismantle Cheryl Strayed’s life, she decides to journey 1,100 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail. Danger lurks behind every bend,…
Andy Weir’s 2014 novel The Martian didn’t seem destined for success at first. Weir originally self-published the story on his personal blog, then placed it for sale as an eBook for 99 cents. But sales were so strong—the book sold…
Jack London’s 1903 novel The Call of the Wild is a staple of American literature. It’s a novel many people encounter in their youth, and it leaves a lasting impression as London explores his favorite theme: The tension between man…
The dystopian genre poses the kind of haunting questions that make us pause and ask, “What if…?” Veronica Roth’s Divergent is gripping because it highlights our tendency to label one another according to our personality traits. What if we were…