Book Review: Stay curious

In “On the Hippie Trail, Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer,” beloved travel guru Rick Steves trades in guidebooks for a personal pilgrimage through time.

The book is built from the journal entries Steves kept during his 1978 backpacking journey from Europe to Asia, offering a vivid, unfiltered account of youthful wanderlust set against a rapidly changing world.

With characteristic charm and curiosity, Steves recounts border crossings, desert nights and cultural awakenings, all captured through the lens of a 23-year-old idealist. Readers meet a younger, scruffier version of the travel expert we know today — wide-eyed, occasionally foolish but always open to connection.

I had the chance to see Rick Steves speak at Western Washington University in Bellingham back in 1996 or ’97 when I was a freshman or sophomore. I don’t recall if he was a household name yet or if his PBS show had launched, but I do remember his passion for travel — how he spoke about its power to open our eyes and hearts. That same spirit is alive in this memoir; it’s a thoughtful meditation on how travel shapes identity, empathy and global awareness.

More than just a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, “On the Hippie Trail” is a reminder that travel can be a teacher. Fans of Steves’ PBS series will appreciate the familiar voice, but even newcomers will find value in this story of exploration — both external and internal.

At less than 300 pages, it is a quick but resonant read that invites you to slow down, look around and stay curious.

Kolb, an adult services librarian at the Asotin County Library in Clarkston, can be reached at adultservices@aclib.org.