De Botton: Surprisingly Relatable

reflectionThroughout the first three chapters of the book “The Art of Travel”, Alain de Botton emphasizes themes that truly encapsulate what it means to travel, and more so what it means to be a good traveler and travel writer. De Botton writes in a manner that paints a vivid and detailed picture of his surroundings, using words that evoke visual imagery to transport the reader to the places of his past. However, what most intrigued me about his writing is that he also posed philosophical inquiries into the mind of the traveler, asking questions such as how we are often told advice on to “where to travel to, but we hear of little of why and how we should go”. He then goes on to emphasize that travel is essential to the Greek phenomenon known as eudaimonia, or “human flourishing”. I would have to say that I agree with this statement, because during my time abroad, I have experienced this so-called “flourishing” and have seen my way of thinking change as I get more exposed to global customs and traditions and gain these invaluable experiences. Through my travels, in addition to my time in Prague, I’ve gained more firsthand knowledge in this short period of time than I have in the last three years of college. I feel that my mind has been opened to try new things and be open to new experiences, and I can’t thank my travels enough. 

De Botton also emphasizes a theme that I think most travelers have experienced throughout their time traveling: the all-too common phenomenon known as disappointment. We, as travelers often spend much time researching a place we want to visit and end up hyping up our place of destination so much in our minds that it gets to the point where the expectations we set for ourselves are so high, that they are indeed impossible to match or compete with. I think its part of the all-too common “traveler syndrome”, which also expects an air of authenticity to wherever we go, and if we don’t find it, we are also supremely disappointed. As it stands now, we as travelers are a bit high maintenance, I believe, and De Botton does a very good job of capturing these things. He then also points out in a manner that is easily relatable, how many tourists (well, for the sake of this post, I will say travelers) insist upon only following things written on their well-researched itinerary, and not open themselves up to experiences a bit more outside the box. More humorous though, I think, is the reaction of travelers when things stray just ever so slightly from the planned course of action. I think we can all take a lesson out of de Botton’s book and realize that travels are for personal growth, not rigidity.

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