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Why We Travel
A Journey Into Human Motivation by Ash Bhardwaj
Andrew Levine
February 13, 2025
The urge to travel is the desire to become someone new—someone shaped by the places, people, and stories waiting just beyond the horizon.
Travel isn’t just about new places—it’s about new perspectives.
In Why We Travel, Bhardwaj weaves together stories of explorers, philosophers, and everyday travelers, showing that every journey is an opportunity to break free from who we were and step into who we can become.
SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
How Travel Changes You
1️⃣ Discomfort Creates Growth: The best trips challenge you. When you navigate a new city, embrace a foreign language, or find yourself lost but unafraid, you learn to trust yourself in ways you never imagined.
2️⃣ Strangers Teach You Who You Are: Some of life’s most powerful lessons come from people you never expected to meet. Travel strips away labels, leaving only shared humanity.
3️⃣ Movement Sparks Meaning: Sometimes, you don’t travel to escape—you travel to return to yourself. The most valuable souvenirs aren’t things; they’re insights, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Ash is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author, who explores the world with curiosity, excitement, and a sense of adventure.
INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
From Routine to Revelation
Jamie’s life was a cycle of meetings, deadlines, and routines—until she booked a solo trip to an ancient city. At first, the unfamiliar streets felt overwhelming, but as she wandered through bustling markets and shared meals with strangers, she began to shed the weight of her old habits.
Embracing the unknown unlocked something within her—courage, curiosity, and a sense of wonder she hadn’t felt in years. She didn’t just return with memories; she returned transformed. Travel didn’t help her escape life—it helped her step fully into it.
BOOK FACTS
Why We Travel
First Published: April 11, 2024
Print length: 276 pages
Listening length: NA
Ratings: 4.5 Amazon, 4.3 Goodreads
VIKING TV WITH ANNE DIAMOND
The Profound Human Experience of Exploring the World
EDITOR’S NOTE
Seeing the World Through New Eyes
For about six years, I led an international team at WWE—a role that took me across continents and into cultures far different from my own. Each trip was more than just business meetings—it was an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of my colleagues, to understand their perspectives, traditions, and ways of life.
— Andrew
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