Rain, rain go away. For those of us in the New York metropolitan area, Hurricane Sandy will likely be keeping us inside today (and possibly the next few days).  With the chance of power outages likely, our normal electronic companions will be of little use for traditional entertainment purposes as charges run out. The change of normal routine is a chance to get away from it all, to get back in touch with a more traditional way of life. Turning to old school means of amusement, I look forward to reading and rereading some of my new and most favorite travel related books. The four gems below will keep you preoccupied as Sandy wreaks her havoc outside, and possibly inspire you to get away from it all for real.

1. 800 Views of Airports by Peter Fischli and David Weiss 
   

   Documenting airport encounters over 25 years, Fischi and Weiss remind us that the transportation mega structures are often destinations in themselves- hubs of life and work, created between the balance of manmade and natural landscapes and the communities which have come to define our temporal life in transit.

2. Work the World in Photographs a National Geographic Collectors Series by Ferdinand Protzman
   

   This book of photography highlighting work around the world showcases the most universal and basic of human past times, illustrating the common thread that unites the global world while underscoring the various means and needs undertaken around the world which are necessary to survive.

3. Food Lovers Guide to the World: Experience the Great Global Cuisines by Lonely Planet
   

   I often travel to eat and when the world is your oyster, there is no reason it can’t also be your pizza, pho or kubbeh either. The latest addition of Lonely Planet books lets your tastebuds be the guide on this journey on this culinary adventure. Must have bites, the best local haunts, tips on proper etiquette and recipes to try on your own fill this book which is the foodie travelers ultimate dream.

4. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
   

   The pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a fictional one but nonetheless is a story of an improbable journey and the life lessons that occur along the way. An emphasis on the journey reminds us all that our adventures are what make us, from the memories they create to the people we meet, the travels of our lives represent the sum of our being. This novel by Rachel Joyce reminds one not to be afraid of the journey, to embrace the experience and to continually realize the greatness in the individuals we are.

Happy reading. Hopefully these books will inspire a publication worthy journey of your own.