Hey r/books,
I’ve been on a big reading kick lately and I’m almost done with the third Dune book as well as The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
This past weekend I found myself thinking about how much I’d like to learn more about different countries and cultures through reading. It got me wondering if there is a fun book, fiction or nonfiction, that follows someone traveling across the world and, through the story, helps you learn about different places. Perhaps some sort of series that tries to cover a country every chapter?
I’m less interested in guidebooks and more interested in narrative driven books, something character or story focused that naturally exposes you to different cultures.
Any recommendations?
by ShaggyDePlaya
3 Comments
Blue Latitudes or Into The Blue by Tony Horowitz follows the voyages of Captain Cook and is a fun and interesting read.
Since you’re already deep into Dune, it’s worth saying that Frank Herbert’s universe actually does a lot of what you’re describing. The series isn’t just sci-fi—it’s a long, layered exploration of different cultures, belief systems, political structures, and ways of life, all presented through story rather than exposition.
If you haven’t already, I’d strongly recommend reading all six original Frank Herbert Dune novels. Each book expands the universe and introduces new societies, philosophies, and power dynamics, so you really feel like you’re moving through different “worlds,” even when the setting stays within the same galaxy.
I put together a curated list of the complete Dune collection, starting with Herbert’s original six, in case you want to explore the universe more fully:
https://bookshop.org/lists/the-complete-dune-saga-explore-the-epic-universe-of-frank-herbert-and-beyond
If you enjoy learning about cultures through narrative rather than guidebooks, Dune is honestly one of the best long-form examples of that—especially if you like ideas unfolding gradually through character and conflict.
Not fiction, but Steinbeck’s Travels With Charlie covers a road trip he took back to California and then back (roughly) in a loop during the 60s. You learn a lot about that time in America just from his observations and writing and not like it’s a history book.
On the Road by Kerouac is a fictional road trip through a similar era of America, but my recollection is the locations are a bit more focused to a few places (California mostly).