In his Prologue to Tears, Fear and Adventure, James Michael Dorsey writes “The world is a giant meal and every new corner we investigate is another ingredient adding to the flavor. While it is possible to learn about the world through books and television, nothing can take the place of the sounds, smells and adversity one finds on the actual road.” Although reading Dorsey’s essays spanning 30 years of travel in 14 different countries may come second to experiencing those places ourselves, his insights and words become an inspiration to the adventurous traveler itching to taste the flavors of the road.

Conveniently organized into five geographical sections — North, South, East, West and In Between — Dorsey’s essays can be sampled individually or as a whole, bringing the reader along for the thrill of each adventure. Whether it’s exploring a Peruvian burial site or looking into the mouth of a 10-ton male Orca whale from the seat of a kayak,  Dorsey’s distinct narrative pulls us from our comfortable armchairs and puts us directly into each of the rich journeys, along the way encouraging us to establish our own global observations. -AB

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