Ben McNally Travellers Series

Pilgrim in the Palace of Words: A Journey Through the 6,000 Languages of Earth by Glenn Dixon

As one philosopher said, languages are the Houses of Being. After doing graduate work in linguistics, Glenn Dixon wanted to visit these houses or “palaces” himself. He wanted to strut up their sidewalks. He wanted to knock on their doors and peek in their windows. He wanted to see what they were hiding in their basements … even if it meant a little bit of trouble. A whole lot of trouble.

Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams by Deirdre Kelly

A poignant and often amusing reminiscence of growing to womanhood through eight visits to Paris.

For Deirdre Kelly, Paris is not only a dream city but also the place where she attains a deeper understanding of herself. Having always defined herself in opposition to her mother, Kelly finds in the city itself her “other mother,” the mother of her imagination.

To Hellholes and Back: Bribes, Lies, and the Art of Extreme Tourism by Chuck Thompson

The guru of extreme tourism sets out to face his worst fears in Africa, India, Mexico City, and—most terrifying of all—at Disney World.

Whether he’s traveling across the Congo with a former bodyguard from notorious dictator Joseph Mobutu’s retinue or diving into the heart of India’s monsoon season, To Hellholes and Back delivers Thompson’s trademark combination of hilarious stories and wildly provocative opinions, as well as some surprising observations about America’s evolving place in the world.