Alain de Botton
In this book, philosopher Alain de Botton draws on his own experiences to write about travel. He writes about how to make the most of traveling, and how to really appreciate your surroundings when embarking on a new adventure.
Overall, we can consider this a deeply personal book, in which Botton is heavily informed by his own travels and experiences. For example, the first essay in this book, titled "On Anticipation," is inspired by Botton's travels to Barbados.
Charles Baudelaire
In this text, Botton alludes to literary figures, including poet Charles Baudelaire. Botton's second essay is inspired by Charles Baudelaire's account of his trip to India. On this trip, Baudelaire realized that even a great adventure couldn't help him escape his own mind and depression.
Edward Hopper
Botton also alludes to the American painter Edward Hopper. He analyzes Hopper's paintings and compares them to Baudelaire's poems.
