• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Lists of the Best Books
  • Home
  • Awards
    • Best Books 2020
    • Best Books 2019
    • Best Books 2018
    • Best Baby Books
    • Best Pregnancy Books
    • Best MCAT Prep Books
    • Best Solid Wood Bookcases
    • Best Pillow for Reading in Bed
    • Best Magnifier for Reading Books
    • Best Folding Reading Glasses
  • Reviews
    • Fear: Trump in the White House
    • A Promised Land
    • Where the Crawdads Sing
    • The Wonderful Things You Will Be
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
    • Man’s Search for Meaning
    • Milk and Honey Book
    • The Lost Ways Book
    • Artemis
    • Microsun Lamps
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Best Kids Reading 🪑 Chairs
  • Best Bookcases for Home Library 📚

100+ Best Adventure Books That Everyone Must Read

Home / 🏆 Awards
$image_url = https://bookkooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/best-adventure-books-that-everyone-must-read.png
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading...

Last updated: June 19, 2020 by Emma Robinson

Best adventure books that everyone must read

Adventures are always an exciting experience for any person. They can be found in traditional outdoor activities like traveling or skydiving. Reading a thrilling adventure book is also a fantastic experience no matter if you are taken to the frozen hell of mountains, hunting for buried treasure, or exploring faraway jungles.

If you are seeking for this kind of adrenaline, BooKKooks offers a list of the best adventure books ever written. Expect to meet 100+ titles recommended and highly rated by literary critics and readers of all time. Let’s review the rank from more to less fascinating books.

Top 18 Famous Adventure Books from Best to Worst

RankReviewNameAuthorDatePageCoverRating
1Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

View Details
William Golding2013256Hardcover10.0
2Into the WildInto the Wild

View Details
Jon Krakauer1996224Hardcover9.9
3HatchetHatchet

View Details
Gary Paulsen2000208Hardcover9.7
4The RoadThe Road

View Details
Cormac McCarthy2006241Hardcover9.6
5The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea

View Details
Ernest Hemingway1995128Paperback9.5
6Watership DownWatership Down

View Details
Richard Adams2014496Hardcover9.4
7The Chronicles of NarniaThe Chronicles of Narnia

View Details
C. S. Lewis2007Set of 7 booksHardcover9.3
8The OdysseyThe Odyssey

View Details
Homer2017206Hardcover9.2
9Ready Player OneReady Player One

View Details
Ernest Cline2011384Hardcover9.0
10Life of PiLife of Pi

View Details
Yann Martel2003326Paperback8.9
11The Secret LakeThe Secret Lake

View Details
Karen Inglis2011122Paperback8.8
12The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern AmericaThe Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America

View Details
Albert Marrin2007256Hardcover8.7
13Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest TrailWild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

View Details
Cheryl Strayed2012336Hardcover8.5
14The Sign of the BeaverThe Sign of the Beaver

View Details
Elizabeth George Speare1983144Hardcover8.4
15The MartianThe Martian

View Details
Andy Weir2014384Hardcover8.3
16Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible VoyageEndurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

View Details
Alfred Lansing2001288Hardcover8.2
17A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian TrailA Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

View Details
Bill Bryson1999276Paperback8.1
18Journey to the Center of the EarthJourney to the Center of the Earth

View Details
Jules Verne2009260Hardcover8.0

Lord of the Flies: Best Adventure Book of All Time

Lord of the Flies

Check Price on Amazon

This book was written in 1954 by the British author and Nobel Prize winner William Golding. It focuses on a group of schoolboys who appear being stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash. Far from civilization and without adult supervision, the boys try to forge their own society but fail in the face of sin, terror, and evil.

The author touches the themes of morality and immorality, rationality and emotions, and group and individual thinking. This popular reading in schools is also ranked as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005.

The novel has 3 film adaptations and has inspired a lot of musicians and writers.

Pros

  • A must-read timeless classic
  • A captivating and easy-to-read narration

Cons

  • There are some episodes of racism in the book
  • It may be horrifying for some readers

Into the Wild: Awesome Story About Wilderness

Into the Wild

Check Price on Amazon

The book describes the adventures and mysterious death of the young man Christopher Johnson McCandless in search of transcendent experience encouraged by books of Henry David Thoreau and Jack London, who lived in the Victorian era.

The man gave his college fund to charity, abandoned his family and his possessions, and began traveling across the USA without maps and under a new name. He disappeared in the Alaskan wilderness and was found dead after 4 months. The author of the book Jon Krakauer suggests that death was caused by poisonous seeds of some edible plant.

The film adaptation based on the book was released in 2007 directed by Sean Penn.

Pros

  • Shows an eternal desire of people to freedom
  • You will never find yourself bored with the book

Cons

  • Some readers don’t consider the protagonist a hero because of his sanity and impulsiveness

Hatchet: Good Survival Adventure Book

Hatchet

Check Price on Amazon

With more than 100 books in his collection, Gary Paulsen is considered one of the most honored writers for young readers.

This novel portrays a 13-year-old boy, a son of divorced parents, who plans to visit his father. The trip ends in a plane crash, and the boy is the only survivor. He is alone in the Canadian wilderness without anything except a hatchet, a present from his mother. Throughout the summer, he learns how to survive and deal with various threats of nature like wild animals and even a tornado.

The author continued the story of the boy with 4 more novels.

Pros

  • An enjoyable and informative read for any child
  • Available in an awesome audio version
  • The story is not long

Cons

  • Has an abrupt ending

The Road: Top Post Apocalyptic Adventure

The Road

Check Price on Amazon

The book is written by the American novelist and screenwriter Cormac McCarthy known for his unique writing style, recognizable by a lack of punctuation.

This is a post-apocalyptic novel about a father and his son walking through burnt America to the sea to find a better place for living, but they don’t know what awaits them at this destination. The things they have are a pistol to fight against lawless bands, their clothes, and a cart with scavenged food.

This story is about a journey with no hope. The only thing that keeps these people alive in this ultimate destructiveness is their love for each other.

Pros

  • Shows strong bonds that unite the father and the son
  • A heart-wrenching and impressive story

Cons

  • May seem a dark and depressive read for some people
  • Some readers find it annoying to read the text without punctuation (the author’s style)

The Old Man and the Sea Book

The Old Man and the Sea

Check Price on Amazon

This short novel written by the American novelist Ernest Hemingway brought him the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and contributed to his Nobel Prize in the literature (1954) making the author a celebrity in one day.

The story tells about an aging and experienced fisherman who is unlucky for the last 80 days without catching a fish, but one day he struggles with a huge marlin far off the coast of Cuba.

This is a timeless classic for all ages, which has been adapted for the screen 3 times.

Pros

  • The book about bravery, endurance, and friendship
  • A happy and satisfying end
  • A short and easy read

Cons

  • Some readers find the plot trivial and boring

Watership Down: Stunning Animal Illustrations

Watership Down

Check Price on Amazon

Watership Down is a debut novel written by the English author Richard Adams. Initially, he told the story to his young daughters during a car journey and then decided to put it on paper.

The name of the book denotes a real place – a hill in Hampshire, close to the place where Adams was born.

The story revolves around a group of rabbits who escape the destruction of their home and seek a new place to establish their shelter. They face a lot of temptations and perils on their way to Watership Down.

The characters are anthropomorphized, possessing their own language, culture, mythology, and poetry.

Pros

  • A kind and heart-touching story for young readers
  • Awesome illustrations with some of them spreading across 2 pages

Cons

  • Rather long
  • There is a great number of characters that are impossible to remember

The Chronicles of Narnia: Nice Fantasy Adventure

The Chronicles of Narnia

Check Price on Amazon

This series of fantasy novels are written by the English author C. S. Lewis and is originally published between 1950 and 1956.

The action is set in the fantasy world of Narnia full of talking animals, mythical beasts, and magic. The protagonists are always children who are transported to this world by magic. The books narrate the whole history of Narnia from its creation to the eventual destruction.

In the post-WWII (World War II) era, those books had a great influence on fantasy literature. They are adapted for television, radio, and stage performance.

Pros

  • One of the most popular books for adults and kids with more than 100 million copies sold
  • Includes black-and-white art performed by the original illustrator Pauline Baynes

Cons

  • The binding is glued

The Odyssey by Homer: Epic Adventure Book

The Odyssey

Check Price on Amazon

The Odyssey is an epic tale written by Homer near the end of the 8th century B.C. It describes the Greek hero Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, and his journey home after the Trojan War. It takes him 10 years of sailing to reach Ithaca and meet his wife Penelope.

The book is written in a mixture of Ancient Greek dialects and comprises 12,110 lines. The image of the hero inspired numerous authors and composers to use it in their works. Most writers seek to imagine a new ending for the book.

Pros

  • One of the earliest and greatest works of literature
  • An unabridged edition with footnotes
  • A necessary read to learn the history and understand western civilization

Cons

  • The plot of the book is non-linear and not easy to understand

Ready Player One: Good Science Fiction with Adventures

Ready Player One

Check Price on Amazon

Ready Player One is a debut science fiction novel from the American writer Ernest Cline. The action is set in the dystopian world in 2045 with the protagonist Wade Watts. In the very near future, the world will turn in a bleak place where OASIS is the only place that people like to visit. By plugging to this virtual reality world, most of the humanity find whatever they want.

The man dreams to find 3 keys in this game because the victory will allow him to inherit the fortune left by the eccentric game creator. He finds the first clue, but there are a lot of rivals ready to kill to take the prize.

Pros

  • This thrilling narration has inspired Steven Spielberg to make a film adaptation
  • Has a fantastic audio version narrated by Wil Wheaton
  • Extremely interesting for people who are obsessed with the life and culture of the 1980s

Cons

  • Too many explanations and expositions that make readers skip a few paragraphs

Life of Pi: Outstanding Adventure Fiction Book

Life of Pi

Check Price on Amazon

The author of Life of Pi is Yann Martel, a Canadian writer born in Spain. This story is about the 16-year boy Piscine (Pi) Patel, a son of a zookeeper. When his family emigrates to North America, their ship sinks, and the boy leaves alone in a lifeboat with several animals, including a 450-lbs Bengal tiger.

He survives 227 days in the Pacific Ocean until rescued near the coast of Mexico. The tiger escapes to the jungle, and the local authorities don’t believe the boy’s fantastic deliverance.

The book was adapted for a film by the 4-Oscar winner, director Ang Lee.

Pros

  • A deep and spiritual narration
  • The chapters are short and easy to read
  • The story is an example of indomitable spirit and human endurance

Cons

  • The described facts are unrealistic

The Secret Lake: Great for Children

The Secret Lake

Check Price on Amazon

This story from Karen Inglis will be interesting for girls and boys aged 8-12. Trying to find a missing dog of their neighbor, two siblings Tom and Stella discover a time tunnel and a lake that takes them to this very place 100 years in the past.

In this world, they will have lots of mystery adventures, make friends (and enemies), and help a young boy who is in trouble.

Pros

  • Focuses on justice, courage, and friendship
  • Develops imagination
  • Has random unexpected plot twists

Cons

  • Seems ideal for younger kids than stated in the description
  • The plot is similar to Tom’s Midnight Garden written by Philippa Pearce

The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America

The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America

Check Price on Amazon

The author of the book is Albert Marrin, an American professor of history and an author of more than 40 non-fiction books for teenagers.

This time in the American Adventure series, he describes the life of a dominant political figure who has become a symbol of America. Teddy Roosevelt (as called by friends) is the first American who received a Nobel Prize. Highlighting his achievements that made Roosevelt an influential person and a hero of the country, the author shows his faults as well.

Pros

  • Informative and interesting narration full of humor
  • A very factual and detailed book for students’ projects

Cons

  • The vocabulary is difficult for middle schoolers
  • Includes a lot of facts and may seem a bit boring

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Check Price on Amazon

This story is a memoir of Cheryl Strayed who lost her mother died of cancer and had her marriage destroyed at the age of 22. She started a 1,100-mile hike on her own on the Pacific Crest Trail, which lasts from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State.

Having no experience in long-distance hiking, the woman managed that adventure, which strengthened and completely healed her. She was ill-equipped but succeeded to survive among bears and rattlesnakes.

Pros

  • A very honest memoir
  • May help some lonely women overcome life obstacles
  • The book is full of memorable characters

Cons

  • The memoir has received some negative reviews from readers
  • The life of the protagonist was quite immoral: spontaneous encounters with strange men, heroin, and others

The Sign of the Beaver: Cool for Young Adults

The Sign of the Beaver

Check Price on Amazon

The Sign of the Beaver is written by the U.S. writer Elizabeth George Speare known for children’s books, and her works have become mandatory for reading in schools.

The book describes a 13-year-old boy left alone in his cabin home in the Maine Wilderness while his father transports the rest of the family to a new house. He befriends with a grandson of the Indian chief of the Beaver tribe. The boy discovers new facts in the relationships between Native Americans and new settlers and is even invited to join the tribe.

Pros

  • Raises a lot of historical questions
  • Teaches kids to respect other humans
  • An easy read with a catching plot

Cons

  • The critics have found some vocabulary mistakes in the book (the white boy uses modern slang in the 1700s and others)

The Martian: Awesome Space Adventure Book

The Martian

Check Price on Amazon

This is the first novel of Andy Weir, a software engineer and an expert in relativistic physics and orbital mechanics, whose path to the world fame was unrepeatable. He self-published his book and earned millions on it.

In this novel, the author takes readers to Mars. One of the astronauts was presumed dead and left behind on this inhospitable planet. The man succeeds to survive on the Red Planet until the Earth sends a rescue mission. The smart protagonist improvises solutions and escapes danger.

Pros

  • Brings a passion for science to readers
  • Very entertaining and captivating
  • All the details are scientifically accurate and have explanations

Cons

  • Some critics say the book lacks humor
If you are interested in a new thrilling adventure from Andy Weir, read the review of Artemis book. This time, he sends readers to the moon. Do you think it can rival the success of The Martian?

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

Check Price on Amazon

This is the best-known book written by Alfred Lansing named after the ship used by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew in their expedition to the South Pole in 1914.

The expedition failed after the ship had been trapped and crushed in the ice. This was a very detailed account of the voyage since the author spoke with all crew members and was granted access to personal diaries and journals.

The members of the expedition spent several months of drifting on ice packs with no food and medicines attacked by Antarctic sea leopards.

Spoiler: all the men got home safely.

Pros

  • Thorough research of the expedition
  • The story gives plenty of adrenaline
  • Includes unique photographs, which the crew has miraculously protected from destruction

Cons

  • Some readers think the book is drawn out and repetitive

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Check Price on Amazon

The book is a modern classic of travel literature written by Bill Bryson. The author has spent 20 years in Britain, and when he is back in the States, he decides to walk the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail with a group of companions. He describes astonishing landscapes with awesome lakes and forests. Like a professional guide, he gives a lot of historical facts about these places. The author tells a lot of jokes and witty remarks.

Pros

  • A funny and humorous narration
  • It helps get a useful experience of how to identify plants, forage food, etc.
  • Awesome descriptions of picturesque surroundings

Cons

  • Some readers think the author sounds irritating, being smug, and superior, and constantly complains about his companions

Journey to the Center of the Earth: Top Book with Historical Review

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Check Price on Amazon

This science fiction novel was written by Jules Verne in 1864. It narrates about the eccentric professor Lidenbrock who acquires an ancient book and finds a piece of parchment between the pages. He deciphers the text that leads him and his nephew Alex to an adventure.

The men believe there are volcanic tubes that go toward the core of the Earth. They descend into an extinct Icelandic volcano and discover an astonishing subterranean world with prehistoric animals.

The book has numerous film adaptations, animated television and radio serials, video and board game adaptations.

Pros

  • The book is enormously influential in this genre
  • This is a 1,000-copy limited collectors edition with 53 full-page illustrations
  • The narration is fun, fast-paced, and interesting especially for boys

Cons

  • The illustrations are a little dark

Additional Books About Adventures for Readers

This list features a broader selection of adventure novels with a synopsis of each masterpiece. The collection is suitable for any type of reader since it includes fantasy, romance, history, and books of other genres.

ReviewNameAuthorDatePageCoverDescription
The HobbitThe Hobbit

View Details
J.R.R. Tolkien2012300PaperbackThe hobbit Bilbo Baggins enjoys his quiet and comfortable life until one day he starts an adventurous journey that will change his life.
The Great Railway Bazaar: by Train Through AsiaThe Great Railway Bazaar: by Train Through Asia

View Details
Paul Theroux1976342HardcoverThis is a railway odyssey that describes the author’s adventures in the most famous Asia’s trains.
The Land of StoriesThe Land of Stories

View Details
Chris Colfer20182896PaperbackThe story, which comes in 6 books, describes a journey of two brothers who find themselves in another setting – a foreign land full of magic and fairytale characters.
The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings

View Details
J.R.R. Tolkien20001504HardcoverThis epic high-fantasy novel (trilogy) is a sequel to The Hobbit that tells about adventures across Middle-earth.
Bridge to TerabithiaBridge to Terabithia

View Details
Katherine Paterson2017192HardcoverJess and Leslie are two inseparable friends who create a magical kingdom in the woods called Terabithia.
Into Thin AirInto Thin Air

View Details
Jon Krakauer1997293HardcoverThis bone-chilling narrative is a first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest.
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest JourneyThe River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

View Details
Candice Millard2005432HardcoverThis is a true story of Theodore Roosevelt’s exploration of one of the most dangerous Amazon rivers.
The High Adventure of Eric RybackThe High Adventure of Eric Ryback

View Details
Eric Ryback1973166PaperbackAt the age of 18, the author of the book accomplished a 25,000-mile journey on foot from Canada to Mexico.
The StandThe Stand

View Details
Stephen King19901152HardcoverThis is the author’s apocalyptic vision of the world blasted by plague and embroiled in a struggle between good and evil.
Captain BloodCaptain Blood

View Details
Rafael Sabatini2011250PaperbackThis novel is about an Irish physician and soldier who turned into the bravest Caribbean pirate.
The Mayflower AdventureThe Mayflower Adventure

View Details
Colleen L. Reece1998135PaperbackThis is a multi-generational story of a fictional family that spans 3 centuries of actual historical events.
The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

View Details
Mark Twain2006320HardcoverThe boy named Huck, introduced in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, with the runaway slave Jim sets his journey down the Mississippi.
The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild

View Details
Jack London201866PaperbackThe story set during the Klondike Gold Rush describes a domesticated dog that is forced to survive alone in a harsh climate.
The Big Book of Adventure StoriesThe Big Book of Adventure Stories

View Details
Otto Penzler (editor)2011896PaperbackThe book includes a collection of adventure stories from world-famous authors.
My Side of the MountainMy Side of the Mountain

View Details
Jean Craighead George1999192HardcoverThis is a story about a boy who runs away from his family to live in the mountains and survives on his own.
Travels with Charley in Search of AmericaTravels with Charley in Search of America

View Details
John Steinbeck1980277PaperbackWith his poodle, the author drives the country roads and describes people and places he sees.
Jurassic ParkJurassic Park

View Details
Michael Crichton2012448HardcoverAfter the technique for cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered, these creatures roam Jurassic Park.
The Books of Caledan TrilogyThe Books of Caledan Trilogy

View Details
Meg Cowley2018828PaperbackThis is an epic fantasy novel full of dragons, elves, and humans.
American GodsAmerican Gods

View Details
Neil Gaiman2017576PaperbackThe protagonist accepts a job from a stranger, which turns out to be both interesting and dangerous.
Conquistadors of the UselessConquistadors of the Useless

View Details
Lionel Terray1963352HardcoverThe book portrays the climbs of the famous French mountaineer Lionel Terray.
EnduranceEndurance

View Details
Scott Kelly2017400HardcoverThis is a memoir of the astronaut who spent a year aboard the International Space Station.
The Long WalkThe Long Walk

View Details
Slavomir Rawicz2010288HardcoverThis is a true tale about an escape of the author and other 6 prisoners from the Soviet labor camp in Yakutsk and their long surviving way to British India.
Pass the ButterwormsPass the Butterworms

View Details
Tim Cahill1997283HardcoverThe author takes readers on a journey to remote areas with the deepest jungle and immense grassland of Peru, Honduras, and Mongolia.
The Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers

View Details
Alexandre Dumas2014398PaperbackThis historical novel with the action set in the 17th century recounts the adventures of the young man D'Artagnan who comes to Paris to join the Musketeers of the Guard.
Moby-Dick: or, the WhaleMoby-Dick: or, the Whale

View Details
Herman Melville2018556PaperbackThe Captain Ahab leads his crew on a quest to kill the enormous sperm whale Moby-Dick responsible for his missing leg.
Desert SolitaireDesert Solitaire

View Details
Edward Abbey1988256HardcoverThe author spent 2 summers in Utah's canyonlands and described the beauty of contemporary American nature.
The Worst Journey in the WorldThe Worst Journey in the World

View Details
Apsley Cherry-Garrard2006640PaperbackAs a member of the team, the author recounts Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole.
Out of AfricaOut of Africa

View Details
Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen)2011336PaperbackThis story is a farewell to the time spent by the author in Kenya and her beloved coffee-farm.
The Snow LeopardThe Snow Leopard

View Details
Peter Matthiessen1996352PaperbackThe book portrays the author’s 5-week trek to Nepal to study the Himalayan blue sheep and to glimpse the rare snow leopard.
Dead Mountain: the Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass IncidentDead Mountain: the Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident

View Details
Donnie Eichar2013288HardcoverThis is an untold true story that describes a mysterious death of 9 experienced Russian hikers in the Ural Mountains.
Deep SurvivalDeep Survival

View Details
Laurence Gonzales2017336PaperbackThe book combines survival science, adventure narrative, and practical advice on how to assess risk and take control over stress.
Alone on the Ice: the Greatest Survival Story in the History of ExplorationAlone on the Ice: the Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration

View Details
David Roberts2013368HardcoverThe story tells about a self-rescue journey of a famous Australian explorer during the Antarctic Expedition.
Green Hills of AfricaGreen Hills of Africa

View Details
Ernest Hemingway2015304HardcoverHere is a vivid description of the author’s safari in Africa with his wife Pauline.
Down Under: Travels in a Sunburned CountryDown Under: Travels in a Sunburned Country

View Details
Bill Bryson2001427PaperbackThe author describes his journey to Australia, a unique and controversial continent.
Heart of DarknessHeart of Darkness

View Details
Joseph Conrad201878PaperbackFirst published in 1899, this story within a story portrays the adventures of an ivory transporter in Africa and exposes corrupt European colonialism.
The Right StuffThe Right Stuff

View Details
Tom Wolfe1983367PaperbackThe book focuses on the U.S. Mercury Space program and the personalities of the pilots who often lose their lives trying to beat the Russians in space.
One Second AfterOne Second After

View Details
William R. Forstchen2009352HardcoverAmerica loses a war based on electromagnetic pulse weapons and is sent back to the Dark Ages.
The Sea RunnersThe Sea Runners

View Details
Ivan Doig2006288PaperbackBased on a true story in 1853, the book describes an escape of 2 servants from the Alaska work camp and their trials on the way to freedom.
Wind, Sand and StarsWind, Sand and Stars

View Details
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry2010220HardcoverWritten with a spirit of a philosopher, the book describes air adventures with all the beauty, danger, and isolation of flights.
The Road to OxianaThe Road to Oxiana

View Details
Robert Byron2007291PaperbackIn 1933, the author set out on a trip through the Middle East and recorded his discoveries and misadventures.
Turn Right at Machu PicchuTurn Right at Machu Picchu

View Details
Mark Adams2011352HardcoverThe author takes readers to his own trip to Peru and describes the ancient Inca capital.
Skeletons on the ZaharaSkeletons on the Zahara

View Details
Dean King2004320HardcoverThe author refreshes a popular 19-century narrative about several people who shipwrecked and their subsequent ordeal in the Sahara desert.
DeliveranceDeliverance

View Details
James Dickey1994288HardcoverThe narration is set in the wilderness of Georgia and describes a canoe trip of 4 men, which turns into a struggle for survival.
In the Heart of the SeaIn the Heart of the Sea

View Details
Nathaniel Philbrick2000302HardcoverThe author restores a story that happened in 1820 about a whaling ship sunk by a huge sperm whale and incredible survival of the crew.
The Lost WorldThe Lost World

View Details
Arthur Conan Doyle2016102HardcoverThis is an unabridged version of enjoyable classic about Professor Challenger in the terrifying world of dinosaurs.
The HikeThe Hike

View Details
Drew Magary2017409HardcoverThis fantasy saga weaves the elements of video games and folk tales into a thrilling adventure that a man has to endure to return home.
The RevenantThe Revenant

View Details
Michael Punke2015272HardcoverThe book describes a true story of a 19-century frontier and expert tracker who tries to survive after his face-to-face attack with a grizzly bear.
Howl’s Moving CastleHowl’s Moving Castle

View Details
Diana Wynne Jones2001336PaperbackThis fantasy novel for kids describes a young girl transformed into an old lady by a witch and her adventures as she tries to break the spell.
In PatagoniaIn Patagonia

View Details
Bruce Chatwin2003240PaperbackThe book records the author’s trip to the southern tip of South America, a land of legends and bandits.
Empire of the SunEmpire of the Sun

View Details
J. G. Ballard1985375PaperbackFamous due to the Steven Spielberg's film, the book tells of a young British boy's struggle to survive during World War II in China.
WaldenWalden

View Details
Henry David Thoreau2018196PaperbackBeing a noted transcendentalist of the 19th century, the author describes his living in a cabin in woodland during 2 years to attract attention to his philosophy.
A Voyage for MadmenA Voyage for Madmen

View Details
Peter Nichols2002336PaperbackThe author chronicles a contest of 9 sailors who decided to circumnavigate the globe nonstop in 1968. Not all of them crossed the finish line.
The Mountain: My Time on EverestThe Mountain: My Time on Everest

View Details
Ed Viesturs2013352HardcoverThis world-class climber has reached Everest 7 times and makes a detailed account of his expeditions.
Travels in SiberiaTravels in Siberia

View Details
Ian Frazier2011560PaperbackSiberia has played an important role in Russian history nurturing great writers and giving shelter to political exiles.
Treasure IslandTreasure Island

View Details
Robert Louis Stevenson201724HardcoverDennis R. Shealy made an awesome summary of a world-known pirate story for preschoolers.
Uncharted: the Fourth LabyrinthUncharted: the Fourth Labyrinth

View Details
Christopher Golden2011322PaperbackThis is an official novel of an award-winning video game franchise where the treasure hunter Nathan Drake is in his eternal struggle with the evil.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the SeaTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

View Details
Jules Verne2017528HardcoverThe book describes an epic journey of 3 men under the sea with the mysterious Captain Nemo aboard his submarine, the Nautilus.
Tarzan of the ApesTarzan of the Apes

View Details
Edgar Rice Burroughs2012432HardcoverThis is a heartwarming story about a human boy raised by the she-ape Kala in the jungle.
No Picnic on Mount KenyaNo Picnic on Mount Kenya

View Details
Felice Benuzzi2017320HardcoverThe book describes a daring escape followed by a mountain climb of the author and his fellow Italian soldiers from a POW (Prisoner-of-War Camps) camp during WWII.
Indiana Jones and the Secret of the SphinxIndiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx

View Details
Max McCoy1999197PaperbackIn this book, the Princeton professor travels through the Orient in search of another ancient artifact, the Omega Book.
King Solomon's MinesKing Solomon's Mines

View Details
H. Rider Haggard2008232HardcoverThe famous safari hunter Allan Quartermain starts his journey in order to find King Solomon's legendary cache of diamonds.
Pirate LatitudesPirate Latitudes

View Details
Michael Crichton2016384PaperbackThis is an irresistible tale about treasure hunting and betrayal with pirates of the Caribbean involved.
The Sea-WolfThe Sea-Wolf

View Details
Jack London2019300HardcoverThe book narrates about a literary critic who was rescued after the shipwreck by a seal-hunting schooner with the demonic captain.
Gulliver's TravelsGulliver's Travels

View Details
Jonathan Swift2018178PaperbackThis classic of English literature describes the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver to 4 different parts of the world.
The TerrorThe Terror

View Details
Dan Simmons2007784HardcoverThe author describes a real-life expedition to the Arctic Circle in 1845 that turned out to be unsuccessful.
A Cook's TourA Cook's Tour

View Details
Anthony Bourdain2002288PaperbackThe author likes cooking as much as adventures and travels around the world on a quest for new extraordinary meals.
Robinson CrusoeRobinson Crusoe

View Details
Daniel Defoe2018158PaperbackFirst published in the 18th century, the book describes a castaway who spends years on a remote tropical island.
The Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the AmazonThe Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

View Details
David Grann2009352HardcoverThe book describes a true story that happened in 1925 about the mysterious disappearance of a famous explorer in his search of an ancient civilization in Amazon.
A Perfect StormA Perfect Storm

View Details
Sebastian Junger1997240HardcoverThe book is a real-time thriller that recreates the last moments of the crew on a swordfishing boat who fell victims of a storm.
The Time MachineThe Time Machine

View Details
H. G. Wells201959HardcoverNicholas Ruddick made a cool children’s adaptation of a famous novel about a time traveler who explores the future.
The Longest Way Home: One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle DownThe Longest Way Home: One Man's Quest for the Courage to Settle Down

View Details
Andrew McCarthy2013288PaperbackA famous travel writer and actor takes readers on another fascinating and dangerous journey.
Night Probe!Night Probe!

View Details
Clive Cussler1981344HardcoverThe American agent Dirk Pitt is sent on a deep-sea mission to recover a lost treaty in the watery depths of the Atlantic.
The Man-eaters of Tsavo and Other East African AdventuresThe Man-eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures

View Details
John Henry Patterson2007212HardcoverThe author recounts his move and adventures to East Africa and trials with the man-eating lions.
Kon-TikiKon-Tiki

View Details
Thor Heyerdahl1993272HardcoverThe author describes his astonishing journey of 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft in order to find a mystic hero.
Adrift: 76 Days Lost At SeaAdrift: 76 Days Lost At Sea

View Details
Steven Callahan1987352PaperbackThe author alone spends more than 2 months in the open sea fighting for his life in an inflatable raft.
West with the NightWest with the Night

View Details
Beryl Markham1994288HardcoverThe author describes the days of her growing up in Africa breeding and training racehorses who becomes the first woman to fly the Atlantic.
A Short Walk in the Hindu KushA Short Walk in the Hindu Kush

View Details
Eric Newby1999247HardcoverWith no experience in mountaineering, the author sets out a journey to explore the Nuristan Mountains in Afghanistan.
The Count of Monte CristoThe Count of Monte Cristo

View Details
Alexandre Dumas2004688PaperbackThe book describes thrilling adventures of a man's quest for freedom and revenge on people who betrayed him.
Touching the VoidTouching the Void

View Details
Joe Simpson2009HardcoverThis is a heart-stopping true account of the author’s terrifying adventure to the Peruvian Andes.
Last of the BreedLast of the Breed

View Details
Louis L'Amour1999367PaperbackThe aircraft of the U.S. Air Force Major is forced down in Russia, and he escapes the Soviet prison camp trying to survive in the vast Siberian wilderness.
Lost HorizonLost Horizon

View Details
James Hilton1965169PaperbackIn their attempts to escape a civil war, 4 people appear in the Tibetan mountains where they find a hidden monastery beyond the grasp of a doomed world.
Around the World in Eighty DaysAround the World in Eighty Days

View Details
Jules Verne2019228HardcoverThis is an immortal story about a wealthy Londoner who was challenged for 20,000 pounds to go around the world in 80 days.
K2. The Savage MountainK2. The Savage Mountain

View Details
Charles Houston, Robert H. Bates1954334HardcoverThis is a story of adventure on one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
On the RoadOn the Road

View Details
Jack Kerouac1999293PaperbackThe author tells the story of 2 friends whose cross-country road trips are a quest for true experience and meaning.
K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous MountainK2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain

View Details
Ed Viesturs2009352HardcoverThis is a thrilling chronicle of climbing K2, the most unpredictable and difficult mountain in the world.
Treasure HuntersTreasure Hunters

View Details
James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein2019384PaperbackThis is a captivating story about a group of kids who are searching for the secret treasure that will save America.

Interesting Facts

Here are unknown facts about some books offered above that will warm up your interest while choosing any to read.

  • The real name of the author of The Road is Charlie McCarthy. He changed it to Cormac to avoid association with a dummy of the same name.
  • Hemingway donated his Nobel Prize in the literature to the venerated Marian image of Our Lady of Charity in 1954. In 1986, the gold medal was stolen, but then returned upon the threat of the brother of Fidel Castro, Raul Castro.
  • Watership Down written by Richard Adams was rejected 7 times by publishers. The only publisher who took the novel was Rex Collings. The associate of Collings called it a mad risk to publish a novel about rabbits with extra-sensory perception, but the book turned out to be a success.
  • The name Narnia is actually the name of a little town in ancient Italy, Narni, located near Rome. On the map, it was written in Latin – Narnia. C.S. Lewis liked the sound of the word and used it in his fantasy series.
  • Theodore Roosevelt was a war hero, a cowboy, a brilliant politician, and an explorer. In 1913, he set off a journey to the River of Doubt (afterward renamed as the Roosevelt River) in the Amazonian jungle, in Brazil. The former president nearly died during the expedition. He never fully recovered after the trip.
If you prefer reading horror and thrilling books and like to feel goosebumps on your skin, you will be interested in this list of the great Stephen King books. The plot of any book from this selection will totally submerge you.

Conclusions

If you are a busy person with little free time, BooKKooks will save time on choosing a good adventure book and offer a selection of the best novels. To read a well-written novel and get lost in its marvelous world is a real pleasure that will remain in your memory for long. Today you are turning page after page, while someday you will find a true adventure in your life. Start with the top-selling books above and share your opinion about the favorites!

References

  • Adventure Fiction – https://en.wikipedia.org/
  • What Books Evoke the Greatest Sense of Adventure? – https://www.reddit.com/
  • What Adventure Books Should I Read? – https://www.quora.com/
Related Posts
  • Top 9 Books by Ayn Rand [2021]Top 9 Books by Ayn Rand [2021]
  • Top 5 Books by Jack London (2021)Top 5 Books by Jack London (2021)
  • Best Kids Reading Chairs (2021 Review)Best Kids Reading Chairs (2021 Review)
  • 7 Best Book Stand for Large Textbooks [Review 2021]7 Best Book Stand for Large Textbooks [Review 2021]
Emma Robinson

About Emma Robinson

Hi there, my name’s Emma - I’m a professional journalist and I adore reading books. Actually, they are my source of appeasement and daily energy. My personal achievement is my contribution to my friends’ willingness to develop through books. Thus, I have a huge list of the best books to be read and reviewed. Stay up-to-date with me and BooKKooks! You may also want to visit my page on Facebook - I would be glad to see new followers there, so I can share my recent reviews.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My post may contain affiliate links. When you order some products via these affiliate links, I get a commission just from Amazon Company. Thanks for interest to my site!

Recent Posts

  • Where to Start Reading Spiderman in 2021
  • Best New Books of 2020
  • Top 9 Books by Ayn Rand [2021]
  • A Promised Land Book Review (2021)
  • Good Chess Books for Intermediate Players [Review 2021]

Table of Contents

  • Top 18 Famous Adventure Books from Best to Worst
  • Additional Books About Adventures for Readers
  • Interesting Facts

Lists of the Best Books

DMCA
PROTECTED
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Cookie Policy
Sitemap
Contact Us
BooKKooks.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon(.com, .co.uk, .ca etc) and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright © 2023 · BooKKooks