An Anthropology of Wandering: How Adventure Can Alleviate a Fearful Culture

Winner of the 2026 National Indie Excellence Award for Best Midwest NonfictionIn An Anthropology of Wandering: How Adventure Can Alleviate a Fearful Culture, anthropologist Justin S. Bailey takes readers on his journey along the Appalachian Trail to better understand why humans seek travel and adventure and what ancient and modern forces prevent more of us from incorporating these instances of wandering into our lives. What role do our brains, media-saturated culture, and a fast-paced society play in shaping our behaviors and inhibiting our innate wanderlust?The book dives into anthropology, travel, the nature of fear, and the meaning of adventure in society. Bailey entwines an adventurous narrative with compelling research to provide a rich, deeply reflective, and intellectually engaging work that blends memoir, anthropology, philosophy, and cultural critique. If you love social science, adventure, and travel, this book will be for you.