Wherever You Go: A Guide to Mindful, Sustainable, and Life-Changing Travel

From the former CEO of renowned travel guide publisher Lonely Planet, a look at how travel can transform not only the traveler, but also the world.

Imagine your job was to travel the world, then report back on how everyone else should do it. That’s what happened to Daniel Houghton when, fresh out of Western Kentucky University, he took the helm of legendary travel publisher Lonely Planet, then owned by a billionaire who had taken a shine to his work. Suddenly, he was not only jetting off to parts unknown, but closing business deals in foreign languages and scrambling to learn fifty different sets of table manners.

As the son of a Delta pilot and a flight attendant, Daniel had always loved to travel, but after Lonely Planet it morphed into a mission—to spread the word about travel’s unique power to change hearts and minds. In Wherever You Go, he speaks for, and to, a new generation, who want more out of travel than a list of experiences. They use it to develop empathy and cultural awareness, whether flying across the world or just heading to a different neighborhood for dinner.

Daniel shares his own tips, as well as drawing on interviews with travel legends like Richard Branson, pros like Delta’s longest-serving flight attendant ever, and everyday folks with fascinating stories. You’ll meet Kevan Chandler, a young man in a wheelchair who realized his dream of seeing Europe thanks to six friends who carried him around in a homemade backpack; Captain Lee Rosbach of Bravo’s Below Deck, who guides his young crew to all ends of the earth; and Laura Dekker, the youngest person ever to sail single-handedly around the world. They talk about everything—from their favorite places and their worst misadventures to the environmental and economic impacts of travel. And everyone attests to how their cross-cultural experiences have shaped their worldviews, their politics, their relationships, and even their careers.

Whether you’ve booked your next trip or you’re still Instagram-dreaming, let Wherever You Go inspire you to roam beyond your comfort zone.

Daniel Houghton is the former CEO of Lonely Planet and a regular public speaker. A lifelong traveler, he has visited more than 35 countries and logged 2 million miles over the course of his career. Houghton began working as a photojournalist for publications which include The Seattle Times, the US Army, and the Associated Press before joining Lonely Planet. He was named one of Forbes magazine’s 30 under 30 standouts that are changing the media industry in 2017. His speaking career includes keynote presentations for Booking, Grupo Vidanta, and the World Summit for Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and has regularly appeared on CNBC as a travel expert. He lives outside Nashville, TN, on a farm.