A Passion-For-Life Memoir
Backpacking Around the World
I was expected home today.
But instead . . . I stood on the entrance ramp of the A1 heading out of Paris with thumb out. After eight days in London and Paris a graduation present from my parents I had gotten a taste of travel. Around my waist I carried my life savings, $914. I knew not where I was headed, but only I had to travel . . .
532 hitched rides later . . . over two years traveling . . . 34 countries explored
I had traveled around the world . . . on less than $2 a day.
INSATIABLE is my compelling deeply personal memoir containing thirty-five real "stories" from my world journey. These riveting stories embrace a broad spectrum of raw life experiences; from the death-defying; to the romantic and sensual; to outrageously funny; and the other-worldly. Some of the representative titles include:
. Morocco: Bat Cave at Knife Point
. Hunger's Drive to Desperate Deed: I was Shameless
. Austria: Snow Shoveling Czar
. Munich Trolley Stalker
. Titian Art Treasures Leads to Botticelli Beauty
. Burma: My Buddhist Savior Hero
. Afghanistan: Romance and Rapture in the Hindu Kush
. Singapore Sling: Brothel Gets Nasty
. Sumatra: Palambang - Bukittingi Agony Express
. India: Hindu Pilgrimage on Being Deified
The year was 1976. My travels included: Europe, North Africa, overland Asia to India; Southeast Asia, and on to the Orient. I left just a kid out of college. I would return a RICH MAN with a "WEALTH OF LIVING."
And $11 in my pocket.
Paris. Day 1, I have my life savings of $914 who knows how long this will take me. I am about to get on the entrance ramp of the A1 out of Paris to hitchhike. I feel anxious about this as have never done before . . . 532 hitched rides later I would circle the globe.
Recent Reviews of . . . INSATIABLE
INSATIABLE by Scott Stone is a wonderful book, full of humor, insight, danger, and fabulous (mis) adventures, in which Stone chronicles his two years spent traveling around the world, surviving on less than $2 a day. Palaces and caves, paradises and hellholes, gods, demons, crooks and whore houses - it's all here. If you enjoyed WILD or SHANTARAM, you will love this book.
- Douglas Preston, The New York Times bestselling author of The Monster of Florence and Cities of Gold.
THIS IS A STUNNING BOOK. Memorable in vivid ways. It's almost as if all this happened to many people, because there are so many countries and adventures covered. Incredibly, all the events occurred to one immensely curious brave man. Scott Stone. As a very young man, Stone spends a little over two years as a TRAVELER, roughing it around the world on very little money. Some of the stories have to be read to be believed, they are so crazy. The beautiful essence of the book is RISK! RISK! RISK! Try different things. See new places. Meet new people. It's a book about exploring what's one's comfort zone is, and then leaving it behind and experience what lies ahead. - Martin Riofrio
This is the most delightful travel memoir I've ever read. Stone recounts in Europe, North Africa and Asia with an energetic verve and youthful wit. What's more, he dares to get off the beaten track to discover unspoiled places of astounding beauty and meet kindly local people who often invite him in to share a family meal. His humor, grace, charm, and yes, "insatiable" curiosity is evident on every page. If he ever comes my way, "I'll invite him for dinner, too." - Dick Kagan
I highly recommend this "jewel" of a book INSATIABLE by Scott Stone to anyone that has a passion for life and wants to experience other cultures upfront not from the view of a vacationer that is led from country to country on a group tour . . . but through a backpacker's hands on experiences. Scott has the courage to discover the the world on his own and set aside any fear of where the long road may lead him and the experiences were nothing short of amazing. Anyone who reads his book will feel Scott's deep passion to connect with the people of the world. - Douglas Henry
I am a fiction lover, but fell in love with Stone's travel memoir. It brought me to far-away lands that I dare to fancy to go. His written words are beautiful, stories are awe-inspiring. One powerful thing of the book is to watch how TRAVEL turns a small shy boy from his comfortable shell into a brave, fun and worldly man. You can do it too . . . I recommend this book whole-heartedly. - Emily Young
