Travel Listicle Love

Who doesn't love a list? I was raised on them. My über-organized teacher mother taught me the immense satisfaction of adding chores to my To Do list so I could simply cross them off, as well as the practice of dreaming on the page, with lists of countries to visit and books to read.

I now teach the List Essay and List Poem to my travel writing and memoir students as strategies for capturing the essence of culture and for doing quick emotional maneuvers.

So how thrilling in this Era of the Listicle to see my old memoir making some new lists, all having to do with travel. Let's give the Listicle some love!

100 MUST-READ NONFICTION ADVENTURE BOOKS (Book Riot, March 2017)

This international list by Jessi Lewis has the Classic Travel Boys (A Walk in the Woods, Jaguars Ripped My Flesh, In Patagonia, The Perfect Storm, Into Thin Air), the Blockbuster Babes (Tracks, Eat Pray Love, Wild), extreme food writing (A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisine, Heat, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle), and pioneering personal heroes (South of Haunted Dreams: A Ride Through Slavery’s Old Back Yard, Shonda Rhimes' Year of Yes). Meeting Faith is at #49, 2 spots above The Motorcycle Diaries.

MY HEROES: ON TRAVEL MEMOIRS BY BLACK WOMEN WRITERS (Lit Hub, October 2016)

When Nneka Okona needed healing, she "turned to books. The words of other black women, the traveling, wanderlusting ones who had gone before me, experienced the same things I had or other things I hadn’t, were ministry to my soul. Before travel memoirs became a phenomenon, before the Elizabeth Gilberts and Cheryl Strayeds of bestselling contemporary travel writing, there were Black women writers trailblazing in this ever-shifting genre." What an honor to be included on this list of MY heroes Zora, Maya and Noo Sara-Wiwa.

5 WOMEN WRITERS WHO WANT YOU TO GO EXPLORING (Book Riot, July 2015)

This list is "about exploration, and the seamless way in which love and curiosity can compel us all to be brave explorers, whether that means hopping on a plane to another country or stepping out into the backyard." Like author Lynn Crothers, "When I need to be reminded of the discoveries that can come from simply keeping my eyes open and staying curious, I turn to ... these other adventurous women writers."

10 TRAVEL BOOKS BY PEOPLE OF COLOR (Paste Magazine, January 2015)

This inspiring list by the tireless travel writer and blogger Bani Amor feels like coming home. Amor runs an online POC travel writing book club and is a leader in decolonizing travel media and culture. Check out their expert recommendations.