The Best American Travel Writing 2010

The Best American Travel Writing 2010, edited by Bill Buford, brings together an exceptional collection of the year's finest travel narratives from American periodicals. This annual anthology features diverse voices exploring destinations ranging from exotic locales to unexpectedly fascinating corners of the familiar, each piece selected for its literary merit, insight, and ability to transport readers beyond mere travelogue into deeper human experience. The collection showcases what makes contemporary travel writing compelling: intimate cultural observations, moments of self-discovery, humorous misadventures, and encounters that illuminate both place and perspective. Bill Buford, celebrated author and editor, curates pieces that go beyond standard tourist experiences to reveal how travel becomes a lens for understanding ourselves and the world. Whether writers are navigating foreign landscapes or rediscovering home with fresh eyes, these essays demonstrate that the best travel writing isn't just about where we go, but how the journey transforms us. What makes this anthology particularly appealing is its variety—readers can sample different styles, voices, and destinations in one volume, making it perfect for both armchair travelers and those seeking inspiration for their own adventures. Each piece stands alone as a polished work of literary nonfiction, offering the pleasure of exceptional storytelling combined with the wanderlust that only great travel writing can inspire.