Reading is an adventure, and books can be your guide, expanding your knowledge and broadening your horizons. Enjoy these recommendations from Smyrna Librarian Mary Wallace Moore to inspire and guide exploration!
Explorers and Explorations
1. The Plant Hunter: A Scientist’s Quest for Nature’s Next Medicines by Cassandra Leah Quave
Traveling by canoe, ATV, mule, airboat, and on foot, Dr. Cassandra Quave has conducted field research from the flooded forests of the remote Amazon to isolated mountaintops in Albania and Kosovo—all in search of natural compounds, long-known to traditional healers, that could help save us all from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. Dr. Quave holds a joint appointment as Associate Professor of Dermatology in the Emory University School of Medicine and Emory Center for the Study of Human Health.
2. Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201-mile Journey Following the Monarch Migration by Sara Dykman
Sara Dykman made history when she became the first person to bicycle alongside monarch butterflies on their storied annual migration--a round-trip adventure that included three countries and over 10,000 miles. Equally remarkable, she did it solo, on a bike cobbled together from used parts. Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award, this incredible travelogue details her remarkable journey.
3. Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, An Epic Journey, a Lost Age by Reid Mitenbuler
Peter Freuchen's life seemed ripped from the pages of an adventure novel! A wildly eccentric Dane, his insatiable curiosity drove him from the twilight years of Arctic exploration to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and from the burgeoning field of climate research to the Danish underground during World War II. Through it all, he was guided by ideals remarkably ahead of his time, championing Indigenous communities, environmental stewardship, and starting conversations that continue today.
Go Exploring
1. Moon USA RV Adventures: 25 Epic Routes by Bonnie & Grant Sinclair
Gear up for any adventure with road trip loops, ideas for side trips, and strategies for linking routes together. Seasoned RV-ers Bonnie and Grant Sinclair provide routes for national parks, historic sites, natural wonders, beaches, and pet-friendly destinations.
2. Always Ireland: An Insider's Tour of the Emerald Isle by Jack Kavanagh
Organized by region, Always Ireland details the country’s well-known places and hidden treasures, featuring must-do experiences, scenic destinations, and expert advice on where to stay, what to eat, and what to do. Also included are favorites from Irish luminaries and recipes to bring the tastes of Ireland to your home.
3. Native American Archaeology in the Parks: A Guide to Heritage Sites in our National Parks and Monuments by Kenneth L. Feder
This guide is a celebration of 30 national parks, historical parks, and monuments, including Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon, Georgia. The parks reveal the histories and cultures of America’s first inhabitants, the Native Americans.
4. Lighthouses of the Georgia Coast by William Rawlings
Once an essential part of nautical navigation and commerce, lighthouses have become historical relics, their primary function replaced by modern technology. Georgia's barrier islands are the site of five existing lighthouses, each with its own unique style and history. This historical guidebook by Georgia native William Rawlings contains rich illustrations with both contemporary and historical photos.
5. A Diver's Guide to the World: Remarkable Dive Travel Destinations Above and Beneath the Surface by Carrie Miller and Chris Taylor
Dive travel experts Carrie Miller and Chris Taylor traveled to 50 inspirational locations around the world. Travel stories and practical tips for adventurers include diving with sharks in Australia; discovering shipwrecks and sand dunes in North Carolina’s Outer Banks; and lingering in the land and sea gardens of Bormes-les-Mimosas, France.
These and other great books are available for check out at Smyrna Public Library, in downtown Smyrna. Mary Wallace Moore is the director of Smyrna Public Library, and the author of Smyrna, Georgia: "The Jonquil City,” Celebrating 150 Years (2022).