An adventure is an exciting or unusual experience. It can be risky, exhilarating, bold, and exuberant. It can include; sky diving, traveling or extreme sports. But that was just a list of some outdoorsy activities. However, adventure can include indulging in a thrilling movie, writing an exciting story, or reading an adventure book. For me, that’s the most significant venture of all, where I can let my imagination run wild and let the book lead me into a world of hazards, endangerment, and uncertainty. Therefore if you classify yourself as a bohemian, wanderer, and risk-taking adventurer, I dare you to go ahead and read these top ten adventure books of all time.
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
Moby-Dick, if you’re not a hermit or have been living under a rock your whole life, you must have at least come across hearing about Moby-Dick. Well, if not, here’s a summary; Moby-Dick is a novel written by the American author Herman Melville which was a turning point in his career as it turned out to be the masterpiece of all time. The story is narrated by the sailor, Ishmael, who is on board with the obsessive, slightly neurotic Captain Ahab on a quest to find the white whale, Moby-Dick, who has apparently ruined his whole life and now seeks revenge. The characters are brilliantly portrayed as well as the descriptions of the exotic locations with a tinge of dark humor. If you haven’t already read this book, I recommend you pick up your copy immediately. - The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The story revolves around the initially domesticated canine, Buck, before he gets kidnapped and moved around and about his adventures. The reader is anxiously on edge at all times as the novel takes uncertain turns with hazards around every corner. The book describes the indestructible nature of this courageous dog and how he endures unpleasant conditions and behavior without any fear. - Odyssey by Homer
The novel is set about three thousand years ago, although it would be wrong to call it a novel as it is instead an epic poem. Homer has excellent command over literature, poetry, metaphors, and symbolism. It’s based on the ancient Greek sea god Poseidon and the challenges he faces on his return home after twenty years. Ancient Greek history is unraveled, and myths and legends are retold in this poem. Therefore, if you enjoy poetry, literature compositions, and adventure, this should be on your list of reads. - Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
This is the first non-fiction documentation on the list. Fiction adventure books are an enjoyable read; however, we cannot leave out non-fiction because these are the ones that take you as close as possible to the real adventure that you can experience. Thus I have included one of my favorite tragic tales, into the wild. This inspirational story is about a young man who leaves all his possessions behind to live life on his terms and invents his own life after donating his valuables to charity. He hitchhikes his way to reach his final destination, Alaska, to become a wanderer. However, the world seems too harsh on him, and he only gets to live his dream for a short span of four months, after which he passes away. His body is found after these few months by a moose hunter. - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Had I been writing this blog post a few years ago, this novel would’ve appeared at the top of my list, and it is still the most ‘treasured’ book on my shelf, but I seemed to have grown out of it (only a little). This book was the turning point in adventure novels during my childhood, and I am sure many people would relate. As the title suggests, this adventure is about the venture of men seeking treasure. Stereo-typically, you would expect the one-legged pirate, the talking bird, and the treasure map; however, this doesn’t seem cliché. I would classify it as a classic. Indeed a delightful read for all ages. - The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
‘The lord of the rings’ fans would already know of this novel. The Hobbit is the same setup of the whimsical world created by the author. The plot revolves around the young Bilbo Baggins and his adventure into a world that his fellow hobbits will perhaps never see. The story intersects with fantasy, mystery, and adventure. I would highly recommend it to people who enjoy mystery books and experience. - Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Yet another outstanding read by Krakauer, an account of the 1996 disaster. It is an account of a great miscalculation of an upcoming devastating storm that was the cause of the death of five mountain climbers. The mountaineers enthusiastically made their way up the mount when suddenly they were stricken by the terrible weather after which every life moment and limbs were in peril. There was no peace, rest or a moment of safety through this read. - Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
The story of Phileas Fogg was also made into a great film with the main character portrayed by Steve Coogan. The uptight Phileas proves to the world his journey around the world in eighty days around the time when the world wasn’t such a global village. His exhilarating journey across the different countries and the different modes of transportation are excellently executed in the novel. - Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
A universal read all over the continent and for all ages. This book casually mocks different aspects of religion, science, and politics with the use of satire. The main character is taken through strange journeys, mishaps, islands, and philosophies that we have probably never read before. - King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard
An incredible quest of an undiscovered mine of King Solomon into unexplored parts of Africa. Three Englishmen, a lost man, an untold story, and an undiscovered kingdom; need I say more? Get deluded into imagination, legends, history, and adventure.
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