Top Eleven Jet Setter Must-Reads

Reading can be a great escape, expand your knowledge or life altering. The right book can inspire your imagination to be come your reality or help you solve a nagging problem in your life. Jet Setters have lots of time to read while in flight, on a train and especially lounging on the beach or by the pool. So, here are my favorite eleven jet setter must-read books to pack in your Tumi carry-on. There is a nice mix of travel, enjoyment and personal growth. These are in no particular order (except maybe putting Bill Mahr after the Playboy bunny, that seemed appropriate).

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The Reluctant Tuscan: How I Discovered My Inner Italian

by Phil Doran

Culturally Entertaining

This is a very well written book about the experiences of a couple from L.A. that transplant themselves into the Italian culture. Similar to “Under the Tuscan Sun”, this is based on the real life of an expat in Italy. You’ll be laughing (probably out loud) as one thing leads to another and they find themselves renovating a 300 year old farmhouse in the middle of Tuscany. If you’ve ever experienced the red-tape and quirky cultural norms of the Italians, then you will especially appreciate this book. Having been married in Italy, I can tell you that it is all true! Sometimes, you just have to laugh when bad gets worse.

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The Last Lecture

by Randy Pausch

A Life Changing Book

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” –Randy Pausch

If you haven’t seen the video of Randy Pausch last lecture then you must be living under a rock. This is the single most tear jerking, yet inspiring story of how delicate life truly is and a reminder to live your life NOW!

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Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures: Funny Women Write from the Road (Travelers’ Tales)

by Various Funny Women

A Collection of Humorous Travel Stories

With story authors like Ellen DeGeneres, it’s not hard to see why this book is hard to put down. It’ll make you rethink about all of your own travel mishaps and how when you look back, they are really very funny. This is the perfect book to read on the beach because each story is only a couple pages long, so you can take a refreshing dip in the water in between the travel tales.

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Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

by Elizabeth Gilbert

When Happily Ever After Comes to an End

This book took the world by storm. Women can relate to the emotions, hardships and excitement of Elizabeth’s journey to truly finding herself through travel. She shows you that there is life after divorce, but you have to find it because it’s not going to find you. It’s about finding your inner strength, finding yourself and ultimately finding true happiness. Definitely a chick book.

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Skinny Bitch

by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin

The Tough Truth About Food

This is an in your face, shut up and sit down book about finally learning the truth about the foods you eat. It swings vegan for sure, but if you’re not ready to give up on your meat, it’s okay. There’s plenty of other information on food that you can apply to your diet. It’s a fun, easy read. When is the last time you heard of a vegan book topping the NY Times Best Sellers list? My point exactly.

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La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind

by Beppe Severgnini

A Comical Look at Italia

Everything in Italy is dramatic and emotional. I love it. Once Rob and I found ourselves at a four-way stop sign in Naples, Italy. However, no one was stopping. I was sure my life would end in that moment. If only I had read this book prior. This book gives you a look into the mind of the Italian. Be warned that once you get into their mind, you may never return:)

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The Way Of The Superior Man:

by David Deida

Man’s Guide to Actually Becoming a Real Man

Ask a woman to name male celebrities she’s most attracted to and all the usual suspects show up: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Sean Connery etc… Why? It’s not their looks, it’s not their bank accounts, it’s their masculinity. Masculine men are confident, driven and live from their deepest core. It’s time to take off those superman underoos and man-up. BTW, being masculine doesn’t mean being a jerk, that’s a common misconception. For men only.

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Vagabonding:

by Rolf Potts

Choosing The Road Less Chosen

If vagabonding was an Olympic sport then Rolf Potts would be it’s Michael Phelps. In this book, Rolf gives you advice on how to find your independence and live each day on it’s own merit. Even for the Jet Setter there is a lot to be learned. The style of travel is different, but the desire, passion and core is the same. We all want an experience to remember regardless if it’s on a shoestring or with a private yacht.

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The 4-Hour Workweek:

by Tim Ferriss

Flips Your World Upside Down

It’s no shocker that Tim’s book makes my list. Tim inspires you to stop living 9-5 with one weeks vacation and find out what you REALLY want to do with your life. He gives you great tips on how to outsource the crap you don’t want to do and earn an income that will support you lifestyle as you live your passion. Stop procrastinating and complaining about your bank account or your cubical, and do something about it.

* Read Rob’s interview with Tim here.

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Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion

by Izabella St. James

Voyeuristic Mindless Entertainment

Hugh’s platinum blond, almost-a-lawyer, ex-girlfriend lets you inside the gates of the Playboy mansion. Discover the ins and outs of the life of a “girlfriend”. It’s not as glamorous as you may think (or maybe it is). Beware, there are some parts of the book that will give you mental pictures you probably didn’t want and that you will never be able to erase.You won’t become enlightened, but you will be entertained!

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New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer

by Bill Mahr

The Things You Wish You Had the Balls to Say

Bill Mahr tackles every topic that your Mom told you never to discuss over dinner, and makes New Rules for the things that bother him the most. Whether you agree or disagree you can’t deny that he is hysterical. I personally love this book on audio, Bill reads it himself, so it’s more like a stand-up comedy routine.

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Hopefully you’ll hit the closest Barnes & Noble or log onto Amazon to find my picks!

Ciao!

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