Travels (Vintage Departures)

This book tells MC's early years. From his medical studies, when he wrote novels using pseudonyms to support himself to some of his adventures, some you wouldn't imagine.
If you like his books, you should read this one to get to know him a little bit more even though it is a pretty old book, he should write a newer Bio.

I love all of the Michael Crichton books and this is no exception. I'm a fan that can't wait for the release of his next book. I go back to the early books, such as this one, and re-read them for added pleasure.

A must read for anyone who wants to be inspired! I have more of a drive to read, write, enjoy life, take risks and explore. I have been recommending this to everyone I know since i finished Chapter 1!!

I have read a few of Michael Crichton's books over the years, beginning with the Andromeda Strain, and have always found them entertaining. But I never thought of him as a deep thinker. Travels makes it clear that I was wrong.

This book is an extremely intelligent and self-aware exploration of how Crichton personally interacts with his world, and what is actually going on in that world. Much of the book is about the reality (or not) of spiritual phenomena like psychics, auras, out of body experiences, etc. Particularly for those of us who are basically connected to reality but convinced that "more is going on", this is a really insightful book -- more open to unusual phenomena than typical books on meditation and similar activities, yet much more grounded than books like The Celestine Prophecy.

Crichton's descriptions of his travels and experiences at medical school are also interesting and well-written (and probably the best way to promote popular sales of the book), but this book is much more than just a travelogue -- and there are better books for those primarily interested in travel writing. The important part is about spirituality and psychology, and for that this is one of the best books I have ever read.

As a fan of the author this is an interesting read, but it left me feeling a little flat. I guess after reading so many of his page turning thrillers a few short stories of his life just seem rather boring! If you are a die-hard fan you probably want to read this, but otherwise you won't miss a whole lot by skipping this one.

Some interesting insights sprinkled throughout, but Crichton eventually turns into a prophet for New Age paranormal investigation by the end. The bits about medical school and the practice of medicine were engaging.

In this series of autobiographical essays, Crichton comes off as self-absorbed, selfish, emotionally immature and alarmingly credulous about paranormal phenomena. If you enjoy Crichton, give this book a wide berth; it will reveal your hero's feet of clay

I bought this book "used". It was delivered promptly and in quite good condition. I loved the book! If you would like to "know" Michael Crichton better, this is a must read. I have a Kindle, but suspected that I would want the hard copy of this one - I was right.

As I had some thrilling experiences reading this author, my expectations were high. I liked the part where the author shares his decision-making process to become a writer instead of a physician, but I found the rest of the book much less interesting.

Crichton is a pretty good fiction author, but this autobiography left me quite unimpressed. It starts out OK - his days in medical school - and there are some good sections when he is travelling the world, but the stuff at the end about auras and the possibility (or liklihood if you believe Crichton) that para-psychology is real made me lose a lot of respect for the guy. OK, I can buy into the fact that there are levels of subconsciousness, but I can't buy into the spoon bending, psychic readings, or the seeing of auras, etc. James Randi is a famous skeptic who has offered $1 million for anyone who can show that any aspect of telepathy, etc., is real, and he has had no one walk away with the money.

How much money do you think Crichton paid for his "conferences" in the desert? Or his readings with psychics? Please. This was a very wealthy guy who got hoodwinked by a lot of different people over the years. The problem with the book is that he claims to be of a very scientific mind, yet he never discovers the man behind the curtain. He wants all of his observations to be true, so of course, they are true.

I really think he spent too much time in L.A.

Also, he claims that most illnesses are brought on by the individual and that much of western medicine is a crock. However, he died of cancer at a fairly young age. Where were his crystals when he needed them?

This book sounded interesting since Crichton is such a fabulous author. But in this genre, he sucks. His story about browsing for child prostitutes in Asia shows serious lack of judgement in his personal life. He seemed more disappointed about the lack of selection than the fact that it existed at all. Read something from Paul Theroux instead.

I’m a memoir enthusiast. Nothing thrills me more than to read a book where the narrator gleans insight about life and him/herself through experiences. There was none of this to be found in Crichton’s stories. This is a “journey” of a self-absorbed, whiny, thoughtless individual who is so blind to life’s offerings that after finishing medical school and making a book into a movie, he falls into a major depression because he’s been everywhere and done everything that counts. Wow!

The few insights he throws out during the work are later contradicted by his future biased stories. For example, when he perceives tribal women who have flies landing on their faces as animal-like and then is later examined in a curious and somewhat disrespectful manner by some young boys, he “sees the light.” They find him just as mysterious and it would appear he plans to try to see people of all nationalities/races/cultures from a less biased and critical point-of-view. Pages later, he describes some Pakistani boys as mongrels – this is one of several examples of “insight” promptly forgotten…Perhaps these mongrels wouldn’t have tangled hair and sores if their homes had running water and they had access to all the comforts the author takes for granted.

I am delighted that to date none of my former lovers have written about our relationships gone wrong in published form, especially in the manner the author chose to do to his exes in this work. I would pity these women if it weren’t for the fact that I detest the narrator so much, I felt critical only of him post-read. I couldn’t help scanning over his critical portrayals of one of the woman’s foul moods during a vacation and thinking “I’d be tempted to blow my brains out if I had to spend more than 10 minutes in this man’s company.”

What shocks me more than anything is how this grown man pities himself when people ignore him or treat him in an insensitive manner. One woman even used him for sex. That part had me laughing out loud. What’s up with this? Crichton never treats any other humans in his world like they are worth an ounce of anything. Didn't he ever hear that cliché what goes around comes around? That’s a phrase he should have deliberated over for a minute or two…if he'd had time to squeeze a sound thought in between retreats to study auras, bend spoons and spectrally project.

The author of many famous science related thrillers and movies like Jurassic Park, Crichton pens a concise story behind his life. He  covers his time as a medicals student and why he quite after getting his degree.  It certainly seems that he  was a very efficient writer, publishing The Andromeda Strain while still in med school ! He  details his background  and physical and mental journeys through many different experiences.  I was surprised at his dedication to research, his eclectic interests and playful nature toward everything ( Ie a very open mind) .  A real bonus is the appended speech he was to give at Cal Tech on Science and Mysticism. It is a very coherent analysis which presents the material in an open fashion and is well worth the read. 

In "Travels," Michael Crighton writes from the heart....and he writes well, skillfully and succinctly. Reading his memoirs provides not only literary pleasure but emotional relief. It's like having a long, interesting conversation with a highly intelligent, totally honest, compassionate, and, therefore, trusted friend.

In Crighton's restless urge to squeeze life for everything it has to offer, he often takes himself to exotic places and finds himself in highly uncomfortable situations. His honesty in describing the gamut of his reactions -- from horror to fear -- elicits the satisfyingly expanded self-recognition that comes with reading emotionally honest authors.

What strikes one most about Crichton is his ability and desire to see the other person's point of view, his compassion, his recoiling from aggression. As one of his "patients" said about him during his medical student days, he is a "giant Cherub" (he was 6'9"). His gentleman's horror of confrontation often is his undoing. Crighton wants to get what he wants, but he wants to do so without eliciting others' hostility and opposition; so he waffles. He evades telling the truth; he lies even though deep-down, as his writing proves, he highly values truth. Finally, Crighton relates how, during his filming "The Great Train Robber," actor Sean Connery set him partially free by sharing his alternative approach to truth-telling. Connery told him, "You should always tell the truth, because if you tell the truth, you make it the other person's problem." Crighton thought the approach had merit...but...

Crighton regularly fled the city to the wilderness to gain a different perspective on his life shed of its mind-numbing routines. He also explored his mind and heart through meditation and trance states -- through the various psychological practices that flooded California in the 1970s and 80s. He filtered them through his experience and common sense. He accepted the existence of auras and states of expanded consciousness, because he had experience them. He was undogmatic; if his life's experiences contradicted a belief, he jettisoned the belief.

In the postscript of the book Crighton exposes the lies of science, in particular, the lies of medical science. Would that these pages formed the preface of his next book of memoirs! Michael Crighton died much too young at age 66. A later memoir undoubtedly would have yielded even more wisdom, truth, and companionship for the discriminating heart than his first.

It can often be interesting to encounter an author outside of his or her normal genre, as it can reveal things about the author that might not be apparent from his or her more conventional work. Based on the title and the cover description, this one appeared to be a travel narrative, which is a genre I typically enjoy, from an author better known for what might be best characterized as pulp thrillers. And while this book does include stories from Crichton's travels, it isn't really a conventional travel narrative, in that it doesn't really focus on the stories about the places Crichton visits, so much as on how visiting these places impacted Crichton. Perhaps this book is best approached as a memoir, starting as it does with the stories about the author's experiences in medical school, and including extensive stories about his exploration of a number of "new age" or "psychic" phenomena.

If there is a central theme to these stories, it is the author's exploration of himself. The lessons he draws from these stories are about how he reacted and changed in response to his experiences. To the extent that this self-examination can provide a guide for the reader's own such journey, this book can be useful. However, for me, the extensive navel-gazing was eventually the books undoing, because I simply ceased to care. Combine that with my deep skepticism about psychics and other paranormal experiences, and much of the second half of the book simply didn't appeal to me all that much. While I don't doubt the sincerity of his examination of these experiences, and I must give him credit for his efforts to bridge the gap between conventional rationalism and these intrinsically non-rational fields, it is just too big of a leap for me to make.

So, if you are a Crichton fan and are looking for some insight into the man behind the books, then this may well appeal to you. However, if you are looking for stories about the places he visited and the people he met along the way, this is going to be something of a disappointment.

I loved Rising Sun. I loved Sphere, both times I read it (after completely forgetting I'd read it before until 2/3 of the way in, it's that weird...). I loved Andromeda Strain. But I have always dug the sciency stuff, like "drama in real life" in Reader's Digest when I was a kid and medical books and all that.

So, Travels to me was like finding out that your husband actually likes to clean the house. You already like the guy for other reasons and then THIS present just appears out of nowhere.

The stories are written with his knack for portraying characters coupled with his stark depictions of reality, his clinical sense. And the final essay about what we can or can't know about things deemed "spooky" is enough to sway those that, like Scully, are logical but kind of want their inner "want to believe Mulder" side to come out.

That's not a very technical review of the book, but it's not a complicated book. Just a great read by an excellent writer.

Reading this once again after several years, and it's just as wonderful and fascinating as the first time! Michael had a style of writing that always flowed so beautifully, drew you in, and made it (and still makes it), difficult to put one of his books down, even though you might have to get up at a certain time, and need to go to sleep- now!

Somehow, even the most simplistic stuff is interesting! But this has to be one of the very best semi-autobiographcal books I've ever read! Aside from the amazing travels, (which come a little later in the book), Michael's experiences in medical school are recounted in the first section of the book, and are far more fascinating- as well as sometimes humorous and touching- than one might imagine!

It's certainy sad that Michael died so youg- with his talent and imagination, he probably had so much more to give us in the way of books and movies, etc.

This was a truly fascinating text -- Crichton has led a life
as rich and diverse as anyone could hope for -- travelling
to Nepal, attending psychic parties in California -- he's
done it all. Seeing what he's done and where he's gone really
gave me a new "confidence" in reading his ficiton novels -- this
man is basically an authority on anything and everything.

The most interesting part of this book
wasn't his travelogues (although they were quite interesting in their own right),
but rather his discussions of person-to-person relationships.
The discussions of his relationships with women were particularly
enlightening -- he's really had some unpleasant experiences with
members of the opposite sex, and after reading them, you'll
understand the real-life roots of some of the female characters
in his fiction works (read Disclosure again after reading Travels...)
After reading his personal philosophy on what men and women
are both REALLY after in a relationship, I had to put
the book down and think for a while -- he, more so than
any self-help book I've ever seen, hits the nail right on
the head in just a ten-page vignette.

Another striking thing about this book is that (unlike some
of his later works -- Lost World, for example...) Crichtion seems to be writing for himself,
without any thought toward any movies that might be made from
this book, and he reveals some VERY personal things in this
book, much more personal that what might be revealed in
some 20/20 interview (it is one of his earlier works,
and he may not have beem so audience-conscious when he wrote it).
Overall, this is a fascinating book -- it's really compelling
to see Crichton turn his analytic mind away from current events
and focus it on himself instead.

It's always fun to randomly pick something off of the shelf and discover, after about 20 pages, that it is quite good. I've never been a fan of Crichton's other books - pseudo-science thrillers that most seem to be - so it was just luck that for some reason I picked this off the shelf in a used bookstore. Again, I usually don't find much pleasure in reading paranoia-inducing pseudo-science thrillers and the authors of such novels usually seem to me to be after money and nothing more.
However, Crichton appears to have quite an interesting story. The book starts out with some of his experiences as a pre-med and medical student that helped form some of his opinions about science. The tales culminate in his decision to leave the medical profession due to so many conflicts with the methodology of treating humans, well, basically products. Interwoven into the 'early days' is some information on early travels in addition to some background on his rather spotty relationships and family problems.
After moving to California to try to make a new career writing and working on movies Crichton begins to dabble in, shall we say, somewhat 'new age' spiritualism including psychics. It is only after a several years of such dabbling, in addition to some other large events that occur during his travels, that Crichton gradually comes to accept that there is much much more to the universe than all that we are taught in science textbooks.
This is the major theme that gradually is revealed over the course of the book: what we experience is relative to our state of mind and that state can range from all-encompassing to completely self-centered. I believe the final pages, where Crichton presents some quite apt commentary on our new religion of science, have so much impact simply due to Crichton's unflinching presentation of his personal growth. For that really is what makes the book such a great read: Crichton never backs away from showing the reader his frailties and foibles.
Great fun and much more relevant today than when it was first published.

Michael Crichton's deeply autobiographical work, Travels is as an exploration into a person's quest for understanding the world around him and within him. The reader is entertained with snippets of stories that begin in Mr. Crichton's days in medical school and end with a treatise on understanding reality that was to be delivered to a debunking society. Between these bookmarks, Crichton has visited many exotic locals (including northern Pakistan) in addition to quasi summer camps for spiritual growth, charkas, and other New Age topics.
Crichton succeeds in writing about these inner travels as clinically as possible. He is not trying to "sell" you on his experience but rather just trying to get the reader to listen to him. He allows you to make up your mind and even towards the end of the book, he outright states, "Don't take my word for it. Go out and see for yourself."
Travels is my favorite Crichton work because it covers most of his life as he transforms from a purely scientific individual to one who learns to accept that maybe science doesn't have all of the answers. We see how he challenges himself to look at things in a different way or have a new experience which he claims ultimately makes him a more well-rounded person.
While Crichton is supporting the non-scientific world (i.e. psychics, metaphysicists etc.), he is quick to point out that that realm doesn't have all the answers either but that world cannot be discounted. You may not agree with some of the ideas presented in the book but Crichton doesn't necessarily want you to change your thinking. Rather he wants to get you thinking about ideas in a different way and that is the book's greatest value.

This is a consistently intriguing collection of autobiographical sketches. Mr. Crichton has done some serious travelling in his time, around our planet, and also inward, metaphorical travels. His journeys are either to rarely visited geographical locales (such as various obscure Himalayan kingdoms, pre-massacre Rwanda, Hong Kong...) or to even more rarely visited, X-Files-ish states of mind, where spoons are bent with sheer concentration, the human aura is visible, and the future can be seen.
I wasn't sure what I thought about some of the more mystical explorations he undertakes here, but the older I get, the more open-minded I am to things like that. He really comes across as being honest, and quite psychologically perceptive. If you liked his novel "Sphere", this will give you a sense of the kind of thought processes that gave rise to the interesting ending of that story. Also, I should say, if you liked "Congo", be on the lookout for various scenes here that clearly influenced the writing of that book. I won't give them away here...
In general, I have to say that many of the more spiritual components of this book are some of the most accessible, interesting, and provocative passages on the nature of consciousness I've ever had the pleasure of reading. He makes you really think about the mind, and how we use it, or fail to use it. He uses plain, unacademic language to describe experiences that are too often shrouded in mumbo-jumbo words like "epistemelogical" or "phenomenological". Anyone can read this book, and anyone who thinks about it can profit from it. Two thumbs up.

First non-fiction book I've read by Crichton. Of course this guy can write, almost everything he has put out has been entertaining so it's interesting to see how he does writing about his own life. This book consists of Crichton's anecdotes over his life, what he likes to do in his free time basically. Lately I've felt depressed and was looking for something to cheer me up. If you are searching for something in life this is will be interesting because so is he.

Some of the stories are straight up travel adventures intertwined with his personal life. I especially enjoyed reading about his hike up Mount Kilimanjaro. It's quite a detailed account of his ascent and made me want to try it on my next holiday. Also notable were visits with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, scuba diving on wrecks and with sharks, fighting with his girlfriend while on holiday in Jamaica. The woman inadvertently invites a convicted murderer and would-be mugger into their daytrip. He also explores the spiritual world and visits psychics, which is not my cup of tea, but quite interesting at times to explore through his eyes.

The capstone of this book is actually the postscript where the author argues with a group of leading scientists that they should not discount the paranormal and spiritual. If nothing else it provides an excellent basis for how one should go about in a serious debate. Personally I have never believed in mysticism, spiritualism, any of these non-scientific views of the world. I was interested to see the outcome after having read the book because Crichton really enjoys exploring these ideas. You could say he's a believer.

He writes, "science offers a picture of the world, but its picture is not to be confused with the underlying reality itself". For example a map of the world provides a detailed image of the geography, but it in fact it's not really a true reproduction of the underlying land. Science is able to express some of nature's unknowns in mathematical theory but it can only show a fraction of what is truly occurring. Crichton's argument is that there is much more to the world than science can explain and that we should be open-minded about where we might fight it. For some reason I found myself agreeing with him.

First of all, I hate this new cover. Unlike the previous edition, it speaks not one bit to traveling.

Anyhow, this ugly, boring cover aside (does someone at the publishing house dislike Michael Crichton enough to hurt this book's sales by putting this kind of cover on it?), this is my favorite work by Crichton. I love this book so much I've used scenes of it in acting classes I've taken, and people love how those scenes.

Why hasn't this been made into a movie yet? Properly done, and properly cast, it would be the most interesting film rendition of all Crichton's books.

In the Preface of this highly informative and entertaining collection of musings, experiences and travels of the body, mind and spirit, Crichton explains the reasons that prompted him to write this book:

"If you are a writer, the assimilation of important experiences almost obliges you to write about them. Writing is how you make the experience your own, how you explore what it means to you, how you come to possess it, and ultimately release it."

Crichton explores our need for direct experience. His premise is that modern man has lost his innate sense of himself and existence, relying on opinions, concepts and information structures, second hand knowledge, in order to make sense of the world, which, in the end, is a false perception. He proposes that the modern city-dweller, for example, cannot even see the stars at night due to the false light around him, causing a serious alienation from himself and reality. We've become so reliant on the media, hyper -realty, that simulation has become the real, thus we have generally lost our bearings, we have lost track of ourselves in relation to the greater scheme of things. Travel for Crichton, then, helped him to have "direct experience", thus achieving a greater sense of himself and his place on the planet. This book is about these direct experiences.

In Travels there are twenty- eight essays covering the author's early life in medical school and his bout with psychiatry, moving on to his first years in Hollywood as an aspiring writer and filmmaker, to his experiences in exotic lands and his musings on his experiences with the esoteric and the unexplained. These last essays are extremely interesting because Crichton attempts to rationally explain those phenomenon that dwell in the irrational - entities, other dimensional realms and the underrated "sixth" sense, that we've come to know as intuition. His proposition is that, fundamentally, just because certain phenomena cannot be explained "rationally", doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And to dismiss such phenomenon because it cannot hold up under the rigors of scientific analysis, is a mistake.

Crichton's Travels is a writer's exploration of himself and the world. It is an entertaining chronicle, at times hilarious and sad, and ultimately a strong argument for the need for all of us to have "direct experience", reinforcing his view that we also need greater insight into the mystical as well as the scientific, in order to truly understand ourselves and existence.

As usual, similar to all his books, Crichton has given us something informative, as well as tremendously entertaining.

I picked up Travels when I was on the Greek island of Mikonos. I had just heard some terrible news that a childhood freind was killed in a plane he was flying after taking up a new career to deliver air mail. I had never heard of this author before as I had narrowed myself to other favourite authors.
Now Michael Crichton has joined that list.
The book is extremely insightfull and I appreciated the way he was not frightened to tell the truth no matter haw personal it had to get.
I have had an interest in different forms of energy for some time he has made me realise that this is only the begining, I have not yet found my " cactus " yet, I have not heard the voice but I am being patient.
I have since purchased Airfram and now suffer from lack of sleep whenever a Michael Crichton novel is bed side, ( I must limit myself to 1 book every 6 weeks or so )
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it helped me through a very tough time being overseas hearing this grim news.

Usually I adopt a rather snobbish tone when discussing books by Michael Crichton. "He is a great author," I say with disdain, "When he isn't writing Hollywood scripts and passing them off as novels." I tell you this so you can somehow transcend your own Crichtophobia. Because this, ladies and gentlemen, is something different. This isn't Crichton's genre fiction. This non-fiction account of his travels, both geographic and metaphysical, will change the way you view the world. Absolutely a gem of a novel, full of a truly candid tone and eye-opening revelations. It makes you wonder what he's doing writing The Lost World. My well-thumbed copy has certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty, having been loaned out to great acclaim from everyone from my stage manager to my socialite sister to my staunchly skeptical neighbor. Incidentally, an earlier Crichton novel called Case of Need (originally published under a pseudonym, which is how I read it...didn't know it was actually Crichton until I read Travels)is worth the time, too.

Cleverly named book... It doesn't just cover Crichton's geographical journeys, it covers his internal journeys as well... The book starts off with Crichton in university and describes not only his experience as a medical student, but also how he blossumed into the successful author that he is! It was fate (and a bit of heritage...).
But apart from his travels all over the world, it is fascinating to start reading about his experimentation with the pychic world and all. True, there is a bit of a "I tried and tried and nothing seemed to happen, then suddenly it did" air about his experiences, a vague cynical suspicion (on my behalf) that is sounded terribly like a 'growing up in California' experience, and one had to wonder, would Crichton have done what he did if he hadn't been so successful so young in life... But, the fact is he did, and as long as you are an open minded individual this book will be a very interesting read!
If on the other hand, you are looking for a straightforward autobiographical account of rags to riches and writers angst of an amazingly successful and thoroughly readable author, you will be disappointed. This book REALLY gives an insight into the Michael Crichton one wouldn't suspect from his fantastic and diverse novels and its actually, quite interesting...

Surprisingly great autobiography from the master of fiction.

On the surface, this is an interesting background biography of popular author Michael Crichton. It covers his academic background at Harvard Medical School, follows his decision to drop out of modern medicine (interesting given that he produces TV series ER) and then follows him around the world.

Get past the biography and find a tale about exploring the world. I read the book several years ago just as my eyes were starting to open to the world. His adventures were a roadmap for expanding the mind through travel.

It's a very interesting travel log. Are his experiences more clouded by a medical background, a writer's imagination or a desire to live as the locals? In the end it's a remarkable tale of discovery, not so oversimplified as to ignore the pains of the road. Think a medically trained Paul Theroux.

I highly recommend this book on both levels - to understand the author, and to encourage a broader worldview.

Sorry to disagree with everyone so far, but I regretted how much of a glimpse into his personality Crichton gave me with this book. He comes across as insufferable and arrogant; a person with whom I certainly would not enjoy travelling. He has visited some interesting places, but his ego was paramount to most of them. There are other books about personal experiences with travel that have much less "I" in them (including "Into Thin Air," which certainly is personal, but is not egocentric), and are more enjoyable because of it. The beauty of a good selection of travel essays is that one can imagine oneself participating in the experience. Not "Travels." Crichton is omnipresent.
That being said, I enjoyed reading about climbing Kilimanjaro for the realistic descriptions of the experience. Still, I would have preferred to climb it without Crichton, who should stick with gripping, well-researched fiction.

I've always loved Michael Crichton's style of writing; he's so eloquent and engaging when he writes his fictional accounts. Well, he's equally as eloquent and engaging as he reports about his own travels, both physical and metaphysical.
In the first part of the book, he writes about his days as a medical student and trips to exotic locales. His description of scuba diving is incredible; it had me on the edge of my seat and I felt as if I were diving alongside him! The second part of the book takes us on a spiritual/metaphysical journey. Whether or not you approach it with an open mind, it's very well written and worth your time.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to everyone, whether you travel alot or not. This book quickly became one of my favorites, and I often find myself rereading various parts of it depending on my mood and circumstances.

I have been an avid fan of Crichton for years and a fellow travel enthusiast so I figured this book would be perfect, right? He starts by describing his medical days. Ok, interesting enough with some good and humorous stories. On to some of his early travels. Sweet, now we're into what i was really interested in! Then all of a sudden we take an odd departure into a very spiritual journey Crichton took for many years (and many pages!)... huh?

This spiritual journey he describes I was not exactly expecting. I've got nothing against it, but didn't necessarily want to spend chapter after chapter reading about him talking to cacti and going through exorcisms. In the end he ties it together with his scientific background justifying what we do not necessarily understand. Ok, I get it... not really a soapbox, but be ready for some interesting experiences Crichton conveys as he basically go in search of himself. Not what i was personally looking for in this book.

I've been a fan of Crichton's fiction since I first read Jurassic Park years ago. I love how he mixes reality with the potential science of the future. The events in his novels may not be possible, but when Crichton tells the story you believe that they are plausible. Perhaps it is Crichton's attention to detail that makes the stories both so interesting as well as believable. It is this same attention to detail that makes Travels such an interesting book.
Travels is a series of essays broken up into two sections. The first section deals with Crichton's time in medical school. These stories are very interesting as we get to see some of the inner working of hospitals, and some of the stuff that we wouldn't see on TV (and might not believe if we did). This was a fascinating section. The second section of the book was most of the book and it dealt with Crichton's travels. I'm not a huge fan of travel writing (normally), but I was blown away by the depth (or length) of Crichton's travels. He truly is a world traveler and we are told of his experiences climbing mountains, exploring remote corners of the world. Not only has Michael Crichton had several lifetimes of experience, but he tells the stories very well. Most are very short, but very interesting.
I don't think that Travels will be a book that I have any interest in re-reading, but it was a good book to read once and I'm glad I did. Crichton has a lot of stories to tell and he tells them well.

"Travels" is a collection of essays forming an autobiography of this amazing man's adult life. Michael Crichton is a modern renaissance man--a disillusioned doctor, a fantastically successful writer, a world traveler, an amateur practitioner of paranormal phenomena. Everyone knows his books, but you don't have to be a fan (I'm not particularly) to enjoy "Travels."

But what kind of guy is he really? Obviously extremely intelligent, tall and good-looking (just glance at the cover), at ease in all kinds of situations. Self-absorbed, over-confident, a bit arrogant? I thought so by the end of the book. I originally read this for the chapter on Kilimanjaro--he made it to the top, despite being foolishly unprepared and having ill-fitting boots. Only a supremely confident person would try something like this. Diving in Bonaire, he attempts several increasingly dangerous dives, ignoring warnings, pushing the edge of the envelope to near disaster.

I was also uneasy about how he described the one personal relationship he mentions--after what seemed to be many years of faithfully participating in his adventures, Loren and he simply discovered their hopes for the future lay in different directions. Or so he says. Maybe he was just being discreet, maybe just cold--I really wondered what was going on in her mind, though.

Overall, this is quite an interesting book--not too heavy, very well-written. You don't have to like Crichton's books--or him personally--to enjoy this collection.

Michael Crichton has been through a lot, and in this book he shows that he doesn't need to make stuff up to be interesting.
The early sections of _Travels_ cover his days at Harvard and in medical school and offer an interesting perspective on experiences there. Later he describes travels to various exotic locations. Some of the accounts are illuminating; others are no deeper than a travel guide. The last sections are devoted to Crichton's supposed experimentation with the paranormal, i.e., bending spoons and seeing auras and the like.
Crichton strains credibility with his descriptions of these hokey ESP things, but in general his writing is engaging. Even the hokey sections have a spookiness to them that I must admit I enjoyed quite a lot. Better travel writing can be found elsewhere, but it is interesting to hear the familiar Crichton narrative voice focusing his lens inward in these pages.

At the time that I picked up my copy of Travels I had read just about all of Crichton's novels with the exception of The Terminal Man and Eaters of the Dead (I'll read them someday). So, I had formed quite a liking for Dr. MC and his writings and thought Travels would be a perfect way to get to see more about the real life of my favorite author.

Travels takes you as the reader back in time during his med school years at Harvard and the troubles he experienced throughout the way. Many of his stories dramatically shock you, or make you laugh...they're all so readable. After his med school years, we are taken to the years of his being a writer, and his amazing journeys he took around the globe.

The best thing about this book is just reading the raw text of MC. Many people may not know how witty, clever, and sarcastic he really is. I see some comparisons to the No Reservations star Anthony Bourdain...as they are both very tall, lanky, and witty people. Anthony is far more bitter and sarcastic than MC however.

His detailed descriptions of his travels really pull you in...like one of his adventure novels. Some of the highlights are the diving adventure with his sister where they nearly run out of air and die, or the climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.

I couldn't put this book down - it was that enjoyable. It was amazing to see how such a great writer had such amazing adventures. I know now that he has first handedly been to most of the settings of each of his novels.

I was so pleased with Travels and will probably read it again someday soon. Getting to look inside the life and times of one of the best novelists of our time really is a special opportunity that no one should pass up. It shows how detailed and how much time he puts into his work.

Read this book and you won't be let down.

This is book was incredible! Crichton's days as a medical student are humorous and thought-provoking, his globe-trotting is exotic and awe-inspiring, and his psychic adventures left me with a whole new vocabulary of chakras, auras, etc.
The amazing med school stories are great, which is no surprise since he's written Five Patients and is the creator of ER. The travelling stories were interesting because they seemed believable. Tourbook, camera, sore feet ... I can relate to this guy a lot better than a Hemingway-type figure.
I don't know if I'm going to go out and talk to cacti or fluff my aura anytime soon, but I thought Crichton's journies of the world and the soul were amazing. This is probably among the least-known of his books, but definitely a must read.

Authors are always trying to craft the ultimate opening sentence. In "Travels," Michael Crichton outdoes himself: "It is not easy to cut through a human head with a hacksaw." Crichton is off and running, and the first nine chapters, all dealing with his medical studies, simply fly by. It's absolutely engrossing material. The book takes a sharp turn into accounts of Crichton's world travels, and by the time he segues into the paranormal, the pace slows considerably.

Crichton discusses his experiences with psychic phenomena such as seeing auras, talking (and listening) to plants, palmistry, being possessed, and on and on. He is a skeptic with a medical and scientific background, so his perspective is an interesting one. He makes a good case for there being areas of consciousness that we have barely begun to explore.

I have read all of Michael Crichton's fiction, but this was the first nonfiction of his that I have read. One thing is clear: the guy can flat-out write. When I can read page after page and not even think about the mechanics of the text, I know the author is a good one. "Travels" is a fascinating book, particularly if you have an interest in exotic locales and the world of the paranormal.

The book is a series of episodes from Crichton's life. The various short episodes include, experiences as an medical student, visiting psychics in England, travelling in remote villages in Asia, climbing Mount Kilminajaro, working with Sean Connery on THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, and new age explorations. But the episodes all tie together to make a point. The most surprising thing in the book is that Crichton makes a very strong case for "psychic phenomena". From his work and education, I'd always assumed he would be a hard-science materialist, but he is not. He makes an interesting case for his viewpoint, and I'm sure he's sincere (he has little to gain from making such claims). But I can't say he convinced me. Even so, I've reread the book once, and will probably do so again. Very interesting and well-written.

Have you ever wondered how Michael Crichton came up with such diverse stories as "Jurassic Park", "Sphere", "The Andromeda Strain" and "Congo"? Maybe because he draws on real life experiences...as his curiosity urges him to find out first hand. I mean, what better way to do research for his novels?
I have read many of Micheal Crichton's books in the past and found this one to be just as enjoyable as any of his fictional stories. I highly recommend this book as it gives you an insight into how he chose the subjects for many of his stories. I guess that's why you always feel a certain amount of realism when reading his work.
Follow his journeys which range from the spiritual to the dangerous, his experiences as a doctor and feeling embarrassed to use his own name when he sold his first few short stories.

Right off the bat, you know that this will be a "different" kind of autobiography than the kind we are used to. After all, not many authors would choose to begin an essay on their own life with the words "It is not easy to cut through a human head with a hacksaw", but Crichton does.
The first part of the book is a short but interesting section detailing Michael's adventures during his 4 year tenure at Harvard Medical School. It is an interesting story told from the "other side" of the medical profession. I reccommend one of MC's other non-fiction books Five Patients, to anyone who likes this section.
The bulk of the book, of course, is the latter section focusing on Crichton's travels. Told are many fascinating (and true) stories of experiences in such out-of-the-way places as Hunza, New Guinea, Mount Kilimanjaro, not to mention Hong Kong and various underwater expeditions. Also included in the "Travels" section are some of Michael's many inner journeys. He talks of psychic phenomenon, future-reading, spoon bending, and the like. I found his insight on psychics extremely interesting.
I reccommend this book to anyone who wants a "different" kind of autobiography, and who wants to know about people's "innter journeys", not just outer ones.

This is without a doubt one of the best books that I have ever read. If you want to get some insight in Crichton's psyche and his background, this is a good book to read. Not only that, but it is writing of anecdotes from his travels from all over the world. Be it hiking Mount Kilamanjaro, the Congo in Africa, swimming with sharks, staying with tribes in New Guinea, misadventures with an elephant in Africa-- Crichton's insight is always genuine and curious.

I enjoyed Crichton's travel advice at the end of the book:

1) Be cautious around anyone who even implies he has the answer. The real gunslingers always tried to avoid pulling their guns. Same with the real gurus. Anyways, nobody has the answer except for you.
2) Be cautious around anyone who creates proselytizing followers. In most cases, personal development is only temporarily associated with any particular group.
3) Be cautious around anyone who seems interested in your money.
4) Except results. Nobody gets enlightened overnight, but if you don't get results, change your methods. Don't be afraid to experiment-- nobody has the answer except for you.
5) Trust your instincts. If it feels good, don't let other discourage you. If you smell a rat, bail out.

This book fascinated me. I've read most of Crichton's fiction, and I've been particularly interested in the way his characterizations of men and women have changed over time. Now I understand the background for those changes in his work, after reading this chronicle of decades of this author's personal development.

"New Age" experiences do nothing for me, but I nevertheless found it interesting to read about Crichton's perception of such experiences - and, especially, about his need to have them. The medical school chapters and the straight travel chapters engaged me best, though, because I could relate to them in a way I couldn't hope to relate to his accounts of channeling, exorcism, and so on.

Worth reading for Crichton fans, although I'm not sure how much interest this book might hold for someone unfamiliar with his fiction.

I enjoy Crichton's fiction and this example
of his non-fiction is not a disappointment.
I have always found his books and movies to be based
on fascinating ideas. Jurassic Park- Dinosaur DNA from mosquitos trapped in amber?? What a concept! Now reading about his personal experiences and travels I get a glimpse at the man behind
his books.
This book is wonderful: it's honest, rude, interesting, self-depreciating. And the range of topics is vast: spoon bending, seeing auras, swimming with sharks, to climbing Kilimanjaro.
At times I caught myself laughing out loud. When he talks
to his cactus you almost can't believe that he shares this with you.
I am a big Paul Theroux fan, but I find Michael's insights on travelling a bit more interesting. Crichton has a gift for storytelling and it
certainly shows here. I would love to go to lunch with him
to hear the tales he can tell.
Don't miss this book, it's not as flashy as his others, but
I think that is what makes it the most interesting.

Among his many excellent books, Travels is one of best and most gripping. As the autobiography of one of the most celebrated writers of our time, this book does not disappoint. The fascinating life of Michael Crichton is painted by this master story teller as a gripping tale of adventure, mental angst, and spiritual development. Everything from attending medical school to almost drowning while scuba diving is covered in this thoroughly engrossing book. Crichton describes his life's journeys in a very, almost brutally, honest way. This book, apart from being a great read, lets you get inside Crichton's mind and discover where all of his amazing tales originated.

I would not expect a travel dialogue to be any different from an author like Michael Crichton.
I think it should be expected that his experiences will be interpreted differently, his voice unique to the traveling readers. It may be that his experiences do not relate to the typical reader of traveler guides, but this is not a usual interpretation of the same.
He has a voice and mind that causes reflection. That is obvious with his work. I found this piece as a reflection of his experiences, and as unique as you or I, should we choose to reflect on them. All in all, they are gripping accounts, and ones that keep the pages turning. I do not know about you, but, that is why I buy a book.

I was a little skeptical about this book before I read it, but it turned out to be very entertaining, thought provoking, and satisfying. Every Crichton fan should probably read it just to get the inside scoop on the man himself, perhaps to see what has driven him to write so many fascinating books, and also to see what fuels some of his philosophy that comes through in his writing. "Travels" certainly isn't all about philosophy, as much of it consists of some very entertaining anecdotes, though there's a philosophical vein that runs through it. It's not preachy, though Crichton seems to be trying to stimulate thinking in the reader. I found myself wishing at times that there wasn't a metaphysical bent to this book, though in the end I suppose it's for the better. Overall, a very engaging read. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

I like Crichton. An unusually interesting way of thinking, but always using facts to support his conclusions. Highly intelligent with some quirky interests. His politics are unclear, which is probably what he intended. Go to his website and listen to some of his speeches, especially on medical and environmental issues.

This is primarily biographical (did you know he was 6'9"?), only slightly a travelogue (don't go to Pakistan or New Guinea). In the most honest way he describes his personal mistakes and philosophical evolution, with modest references to his successes as an author, screenwriter and director. His views on corruption in science are startling. I planned to skip the phenomenon part, but his typically analytical approach drew me in and I now agree there's a lot we don't know.

I enjoyed sailing through these breezy pages.

This is The third time I've read this book. It's still a rather good for the book with this thick for me. This is the book telling us about the experience of Michael Crichton. This guy have done a lot of thing in his life and reflect to the way he think and write the books. I found many parts of this book is interesting, even touching and inspiring. The exceptional part is about his search & participate in spiritual stuff. This book fill with various activities he has done and to be honest, it's not boring at all. In conclusion, if you want to find a book that tell the various stories of life with a wonderful thought (in some parts), this is the book for you. The only problem for me is that the end chapter of this book dealing purely just with his thought about the Science & Spiritual with proven to be too much.

This is an excellent book about a man that has lived an exciting and experiencial life. Some times I had to remind myself that I was reading a true story and not just another fictional story by Michael Crichton. The middle section of his book is the most interesting and entertaining. The first section about his years as a medical student is interesting at times but too long and detailed. His last chapter "speech" I believe really didn't need to be included. He should have let the readers judge his experiences for themselves rather than preach to them. What I really enjoyed was his travels whether to far off lands or to the exploration of his mind. His writing is such that you really get to know him and you feel almost that you are in Michael's home listening him tell you about his life. The best part of this story though was his willingness to expose himself showing that he was like everyone else in making bad judgements, mistakes, and sometimes even acting like a jerk. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to open their mind to all the possibilities out there.

Not many people can take an outrageous idea and run with it, so convincingly that there are people walking around in the world right now that actually believe dinosaurs have been brought back from extinction to act in big-budget movies! But Crichton is THAT good. In this non-fiction "Travels" you actually get the chance to ride around on Michael Crichton's 6-foot-above-the-ground shoulders (and STILL not see over his gigantic head!), peer out the windows of his eyes, and along the journey(s) discover the author to be a very authentic, introspective, one-part cowardly and six parts courageous, confused, flawed, highly intelligent, sometimes silly, sometimes blundering and yet always a tragically deep HUMAN every bit as fascinating as his best characters, kind of a Quantum Theory mentality in tour de force action. His early days as a doctor supporting himself as a fiction writer (fainting at the sight of his own blood) are just as engrossing as his soul-seeking travels about the globe, whether he's being swept unstoppably through a cloud of sharks, dealing with the frustrating anger of his father's untimely death, nearly fainting at a 300-pound gorilla's charge, or riding on the top of a train with Sean Connery, it's very difficult to put this book down. I strongly like most of Crichton's novels, but I strongly loved this non-fiction memoir.

As a long time fan of Michael Crichton, I must say that reading this book had a profound effect on my opinion of the man, if not his fiction. I always assumed him to be a serious man of science with a medical degree, who obviously took liberties when writing science fiction, but overall, did good research and wrote plausible stories, if you just suspended a little disbelief. After reading this book, I realized that Crichton spent way too much time suspending disbelief in his own life experiences. This autobiographical book of Michael Crichton's travels is the classic example of Chesterton's old saw that those who refuse to believe in God don't end up believing in nothing, they believe in anything. Crichton spent his entire life trying to apply the scientific method to new age experiences like auras and mind readers and managed to convince himself that virtually all of these things exist, but, like so many people, he could never seem to find room in all his travels for any authentic, religious experience. He seemed able to accept the most outrageous things like a talking cactus, or seeing and feeling auras, and psychic readings that foretold his future and past, but it was fairly clear that he drew the line at the possibility of any monotheistic religion being even remotely possible. It was sad, really, how he used tortured logic and was so accepting of things he wanted to be true, but refused to take the next step to a possible source of the quasi-spiritual events he was encountering. For example, while summarily dismissing any truth to Christianity, he manages to conjure up a "rational" explanation for all those halos depicted in art around saints and Christ. Apparently they were the auras of these mystical people being seen by the artists. Many other mystical experiences like visions and voices and out of body experiences are all explained with some pseudo-scientific, new age mumbo jumbo instead of admitting the possibility of a higher power. The man was clearly searching for some meaning beyond the scientific, but instead of accepting, or even investigating any of the western religions in which he was raised, he chose to embrace charlatans and snake oil salesmen. Apparently his childhood or personal prejudices simply wouldn't allow him to take that final step. Overall, the book should be used as a case study of how even the most intelligent people can rationalize some of the most outrageous claims when they want them to be true, but, ignore the unpleasant explanations that might possibly fit the facts better, especially if that unpleasant possibility is God.

Travels consists of a series of short stories, autobiographical in nature, relating various of Michael Crichton's experiences. Many of the stories have an element of spirituality, as the Author seems to constantly be looking for greater meaning, or greater understanding of himself and life in general. From tarot, auras, and past lives, to spoon bending, and chakras, Crichton has experienced it. It was interesting to see how a Harvard educated MD approached these different fringe phenomena, and was able to relate them as well as his own sense of curiosity in each of the different stories.

The book has sparked some curiosity in me, and has made me consider that there may very well be phenomena that we don't fully understand. While I still am not a believer in psychic powers, or fortune tellers, I will go so far as to say that there are many mysteries in life that I have not yet experienced.

Overall I found the stories interesting, but short. Considering they are short stories, this is not a bad thing, but there were definitely times when I was craving more information, more detail, more writing. This isn't really a complaint so much as me whining. It was a very interesting collection of stories, and I think some of you will enjoy reading about them. I generally enjoy anything that gives me more information about the author so that I can get a feel for where their writing is coming from.

I like Crichton. An unusually interesting way of thinking, but always using facts to support his conclusions. Highly intelligent with some quirky interests. His politics are unclear, which is probably what he intended. Go to his website and listen to some of his speeches, especially on medical and environmental issues.

This is primarily biographical (did you know he was 6'9"?), only slightly a travelogue (don't go to Pakistan or New Guinea). In the most honest way he describes his personal mistakes and philosophical evolution, with modest references to his successes as an author, screenwriter and director. His views on corruption in science are startling. I planned to skip the phenomenon part, but his typically analytical approach drew me in and I now agree there's a lot we don't know.

I enjoyed sailing through these breezy pages.

This is The third time I've read this book. It's still a rather good for the book with this thick for me. This is the book telling us about the experience of Michael Crichton. This guy have done a lot of thing in his life and reflect to the way he think and write the books. I found many parts of this book is interesting, even touching and inspiring. The exceptional part is about his search & participate in spiritual stuff. This book fill with various activities he has done and to be honest, it's not boring at all. In conclusion, if you want to find a book that tell the various stories of life with a wonderful thought (in some parts), this is the book for you. The only problem for me is that the end chapter of this book dealing purely just with his thought about the Science & Spiritual with proven to be too much.

This is an excellent book about a man that has lived an exciting and experiencial life. Some times I had to remind myself that I was reading a true story and not just another fictional story by Michael Crichton. The middle section of his book is the most interesting and entertaining. The first section about his years as a medical student is interesting at times but too long and detailed. His last chapter "speech" I believe really didn't need to be included. He should have let the readers judge his experiences for themselves rather than preach to them. What I really enjoyed was his travels whether to far off lands or to the exploration of his mind. His writing is such that you really get to know him and you feel almost that you are in Michael's home listening him tell you about his life. The best part of this story though was his willingness to expose himself showing that he was like everyone else in making bad judgements, mistakes, and sometimes even acting like a jerk. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to open their mind to all the possibilities out there.

Not many people can take an outrageous idea and run with it, so convincingly that there are people walking around in the world right now that actually believe dinosaurs have been brought back from extinction to act in big-budget movies! But Crichton is THAT good. In this non-fiction "Travels" you actually get the chance to ride around on Michael Crichton's 6-foot-above-the-ground shoulders (and STILL not see over his gigantic head!), peer out the windows of his eyes, and along the journey(s) discover the author to be a very authentic, introspective, one-part cowardly and six parts courageous, confused, flawed, highly intelligent, sometimes silly, sometimes blundering and yet always a tragically deep HUMAN every bit as fascinating as his best characters, kind of a Quantum Theory mentality in tour de force action. His early days as a doctor supporting himself as a fiction writer (fainting at the sight of his own blood) are just as engrossing as his soul-seeking travels about the globe, whether he's being swept unstoppably through a cloud of sharks, dealing with the frustrating anger of his father's untimely death, nearly fainting at a 300-pound gorilla's charge, or riding on the top of a train with Sean Connery, it's very difficult to put this book down. I strongly like most of Crichton's novels, but I strongly loved this non-fiction memoir.

As a long time fan of Michael Crichton, I must say that reading this book had a profound effect on my opinion of the man, if not his fiction. I always assumed him to be a serious man of science with a medical degree, who obviously took liberties when writing science fiction, but overall, did good research and wrote plausible stories, if you just suspended a little disbelief. After reading this book, I realized that Crichton spent way too much time suspending disbelief in his own life experiences. This autobiographical book of Michael Crichton's travels is the classic example of Chesterton's old saw that those who refuse to believe in God don't end up believing in nothing, they believe in anything. Crichton spent his entire life trying to apply the scientific method to new age experiences like auras and mind readers and managed to convince himself that virtually all of these things exist, but, like so many people, he could never seem to find room in all his travels for any authentic, religious experience. He seemed able to accept the most outrageous things like a talking cactus, or seeing and feeling auras, and psychic readings that foretold his future and past, but it was fairly clear that he drew the line at the possibility of any monotheistic religion being even remotely possible. It was sad, really, how he used tortured logic and was so accepting of things he wanted to be true, but refused to take the next step to a possible source of the quasi-spiritual events he was encountering. For example, while summarily dismissing any truth to Christianity, he manages to conjure up a "rational" explanation for all those halos depicted in art around saints and Christ. Apparently they were the auras of these mystical people being seen by the artists. Many other mystical experiences like visions and voices and out of body experiences are all explained with some pseudo-scientific, new age mumbo jumbo instead of admitting the possibility of a higher power. The man was clearly searching for some meaning beyond the scientific, but instead of accepting, or even investigating any of the western religions in which he was raised, he chose to embrace charlatans and snake oil salesmen. Apparently his childhood or personal prejudices simply wouldn't allow him to take that final step. Overall, the book should be used as a case study of how even the most intelligent people can rationalize some of the most outrageous claims when they want them to be true, but, ignore the unpleasant explanations that might possibly fit the facts better, especially if that unpleasant possibility is God.

Travels consists of a series of short stories, autobiographical in nature, relating various of Michael Crichton's experiences. Many of the stories have an element of spirituality, as the Author seems to constantly be looking for greater meaning, or greater understanding of himself and life in general. From tarot, auras, and past lives, to spoon bending, and chakras, Crichton has experienced it. It was interesting to see how a Harvard educated MD approached these different fringe phenomena, and was able to relate them as well as his own sense of curiosity in each of the different stories.

The book has sparked some curiosity in me, and has made me consider that there may very well be phenomena that we don't fully understand. While I still am not a believer in psychic powers, or fortune tellers, I will go so far as to say that there are many mysteries in life that I have not yet experienced.

Overall I found the stories interesting, but short. Considering they are short stories, this is not a bad thing, but there were definitely times when I was craving more information, more detail, more writing. This isn't really a complaint so much as me whining. It was a very interesting collection of stories, and I think some of you will enjoy reading about them. I generally enjoy anything that gives me more information about the author so that I can get a feel for where their writing is coming from.

I wouldn't exactly say that I'm a fan of Michael Crichton's, though I have read several of his books. For the most part I find his fiction to be shallow and formulaic, even if it is a formula that succeeds in building dramatic tension and holding it for the duration. (I must confess that I have actually missed my train stop several times while reading a Crichton thriller, which is ample testimony to his ability to 'grip'.) I never thought of reading him for any deep insight into the human psyche or the world around us, though. That is why I was so pleasantly surprised by Travels, the autobiographical tale of his journey through life. Crichton has an open, inquiring, and supple mind, coupled with the honesty to portray himself in not always the most favorable light. The emotional and intellectual growth he undergoes in the course of the book far surpasses that of any of his fictional characters, and his accounts of forays into such scientifically suspect realms as psychic readings, auras, spoon bending, and so on display a certain courage for someone with his educational background. The last chapter, his (imagined) address to the American Skeptics' Society (or whatever they call themselves), was in itself worth the price of the book. I just wish he could break free of his success as a formula fiction writer and incorporate some of his life experiences and insights into his novels. Then I think he would really come into his own as a writer!

I admit I did not buy this book. I found it in the lost-and-found bin at work; thumbed through some passages during lunch breaks; waited 30 days until no one claimed it, and took it.
Only when I read it through did I realize this is one of the most important books I own.
I am not well-traveled, but enjoy Crichton's fictional work, from "Andromeda Strain" to "Jurassic Park." He is obviously intelligent, imaginative, and writes well. His adventures abroad are fascinating. But what changed my life and the lives of several people I know are the recountings of inner experiences: the things no rational person acknowledges day-to-day.
In this book, Michael Crichton- a medical student- admits to finding Ram Dass's New Age viewpoint puzzling and strange at first. In subsequent chapters, he quits his promising medical career to pursue writing. From there his exploits become stuff of fantasy; shooting a film with Sean Connery, traveling to countries he had previously never heard of, becoming rationally convinced that auras are real and can be seen.
This is a book I read that transformed me from a skeptic to an open-minded pragmatist. That may seem like schlock at first, but think about it. Do you have the opportunity and means to travel to Thailand, or Hunza? Have you consulted intuitive psychics from around the world, or sliced open a cadaver?
Buy this book. It may inspire you to explore inner realities like me, or reassure your agnostic point of view. In any case, you will read wondrous descriptions of Crichton's personal journeys. You will be compelled.

If you've read any of Michael Crichton's SF books like Jurassic Park or the Andromeda Strain, you ought to give this book a go. If you don't like SF, you'll probably STILL love this book. An account of many of the true stories of the author's interesting life, the book is divided into chapters which mostly stand on their own - so if you aren't a big reader, this book is perfect because you can read one chapter and then put it down for a time before going back to it. I gave this book to my Dad (in his early 50s) as a birthday present. The beginning section of the book tells stories of Crichton's time in med school, and the remainder describes the many amazing things that he encountered while travelling throughout the world. From cadaver-sawing to spoon-bending, this book is a spellbinding ride from start to finish.

Travels is a fascinating, truthful, revealing compilation of adventerous essays. It's humorous, silly, terrifying at times, and enlightening. Crichton takes his readers with him in all of his journeys - to places where most people have never been. It reveals what makes Crichton Crichton. The best part of this book is that he doesn't expect you to believe everything. If you think that the paranormal is hokey stuff, then fine, you can believe it is hokey stuff. You can be skeptical about it. I am. But he encourages his readers to experience things for themselves.

This book chronicles Michael Crichton's travels in the most remote regions of the world and of the mind. He swims with sharks, climbs a mountain, and spends time with psychics. In his book, he is constantly exploring his limitations, searching for evidence of the spiritual world and greater understanding of the physical world. Travels motivates us to always look beyond our visible boundaries; to explore things we don't understand; to seek out things that are unfamiliar, strange, and challenging in order to get a better idea of ourselves. Crichton believes that we should explore every little corner of the world before we come to a conclusion about the world as a whole. I think it's a great book.

I started this book on Saturday night and finished it by Sunday morning. It's well written and interesting to a certain extent. The intent of the book doesn't appear to be in any way related to external/physical travel, but rather Michael's own intellectual (and certainly emotional) travels. Not bad content if you like that sort of aimless (self-serving?) prattle. I'm still not sure what the point of the book is. He's put the Asian, European, Caribbean, etc. travels into the book as a kind of garnish...the main course is his own emotional and intellectual wanderings.
I much prefer Jurassic Crichton.

It's the 3rd time I've read this book and bought two more for friends. Written as a series of non-fiction short stories, Crichton tells of his adventures around the world. However, there are lessons learned through serendipity that are life-affirming and challenging. I will probably read this a few more times. I have it on my Kindle and can access it anytime.

Some of the people already writing the reviews here have described Mr. Crichton's autobiographical account as self absorbed and whiny and I have to say that I didn't find any whining in his book. If anything he has been remarkably honest about his strengths and weaknesses and also his mistakes. Take for instance, when he decided to hike Mount Kilimanjaro and he wore the wrong shoes and almost had to turn back because the blisters on his feet were so bad. Or, when he went to Thailand and he was made fun of because he was tall and he made fun of himself stooping self consciously around the Buddha and making the cultural mistakes of pointing the soles of his feet at someone and waving with his left hand. I find him very open minded, not only about himself but about the world, which could also be why he has gotten as far as he has today. As for him being a lost, confused soul, who isn't? For those of you who want easy answers go read the "Left Behind" series. Michael Crichton is simply sharing his experience with you.

Probably my favorite Crichton book. It's a compilation of true, autobiographical stories from Crichton's life, from his days in med school to vacations to foreign lands to experimenting with psychic phenomenon.
This book gives you a good understanding of Crichton's thinking processes. The problems with medicine (albeit in the 1960's). The openness with which he visits and tries to understand foreign cultures (and his mis-adventures in doing so). Some of his closed-minded tendencies, which we can all understand.
What is particularly interesting to me is how he, as a man of medicine and a scientist, opened his mind on psychic phenomenon. I don't claim to understand any of this aura-reading, meditation, seances, etc., but it's really fascinating that Crichton spent some time experimenting with these phenomenon.
Great reading!

I was in London at the time that I read this book. I've always enjoyed Michael's books, especially this one. I really got a sense of where he got a lot of his story ideas. From the scuba adventures (Sphere) to the medical schooling (ER, Five Patients, many others), you can really see why he knows so much about the topics. When I was in London, I actually when to the London Psychics organization and had a reading myself. I can't say that it changed my life, but it was damn fun!! Enjoy the book!

At first glance, this book could appear to be a lavish tale of an intelligent and wealthy person who has travelled more than most and wants to share it with an already existant audience. At some points, this is true. However, this book is more often than not, an incredible exploration into the depths inside and outside of yourself. Crichton has the ability to take you along his journey without talking down to you and by sharing his stories with you as if you were sitting next to him having coffee. He is very honest about his experiences and does not try to "sell" them to you. In fact, in the end, he even suggests you can do what he did and come to your own conclusions. It is a humbling compliment that this well educated and practical author can share his experiences without building a wall between himself and his audience. The book lags when it begins to feel like the reader is traversing through a list of where he has been and what he did there. But when he opens up and shares his spiritual journey, the book really progresses and is a fantastic read. Skeptics will enjoy his no nonsense accounts of visiting psychics and other assorted characters from the non-scientific realm. It makes his many esoteric statements easier to swallow. Highly recommended if you enjoy travelling inside and outside of your reality.

I've read almost all of Crichton's amazing books but this one stands on top for me. He was a remarkable person and documented his life well. He writes his own adventures just as exciting as the ones in his fiction books. A must read for anyone who has an interest in traveling.

This was a great book for anyone who wants to read a book about extroadinary travels to places throughout the world. The book also tells about Chrichton's lovelife, experiences in Harvard Medical School and his amazing experiences with pyschics, channeling, and auras. Did you know that Chricton averaged a "C" in Harvard when he was studying to be a writer? If you want to find out more about all of Crichtons exciting experiences, you should definetly read Travels

"If you're a writer, the assimilation of important experiences almost obliges you to write about them. Writing is how you make the experience your own, how you explore what it means to you, how you come to possess it and ultimately release it."

So states Michael Crichton in the preface to this brilliant and captivating book. Known the world over as a hugely intelligent and entertaining writer of imaginative fiction, he brings all his talents to bear as he sets out to describe his own extraordinary travel adventures. Whilst seeking to explore what these experiences mean to him, he invites us to share his thoughts and feelings and some very personal insights too.

Early chapters describe medical school and the beginnings of his career as a writer and film director, and anyone with even the most perfunctory knowledge of his work will recognise much of the background to it here. Despite achieving considerable success however, he finds his values beginning to change and in an effort to fend off depression he hits the road. At this point the book really takes off as he launches into a series of chapters covering trips made all over the world over a period of 15 years.

Michael Crichton does not always emerge as an attractive or sympathetic character. However, through his willingness to expose his limitations and vulnerabilities, he is revealed as a fallible and human person who seeks to grow and learn whatever he can from life.

Highlights for me included a wonderful description of ascending Kilimanjaro, and the internal dialogue which sustained him during it, and two conference retreats in the mojave desert, where he experiences some weird and wonderful revelations whilst in a state of heightened awareness.

As someone who also felt a compulsive desire to travel, only to realise much later this was actually the reflection of an inner journey, I could really relate to this book. I would say it is one of the finest I have read, without a doubt his best. Whilst his fiction can be an intellectual treat, this book is a much more emotional and involving experience. I found it highly enjoyable and influential, hugely resonant and powerful, thought provoking and helpful, and have returned to it many times. Not everyone will enjoy it, but to those of thoughtful and inquiring mind in search of some of life's answers, I cannot recommend it highly enough. We can but hope that one day he will write, if not perhaps a sequel, then more in similar vein sharing the sort of insights which make this book so enlightening and rewarding.

My first reading by Michael Crighton, but first of many for sure. I could not put this book down. I read it on vacation in Hawaii, and it was the most fascinating journey, very funny, so self-deprecating, full of adventures, startling adventures, scary adventures, and bizarre adventures. Michael has lived such a full life and I envy how he has traveled to so many places, and yet how nearly he has escaped death so many times. I highly recommend it. It is a great read, especially on vacation.

I first read Travels as a teenager at the suggestion of a boy I was trying to impress. I ended up loving the book and hating the boy, who never read the whole thing to begin with! & years later, I picked it up in a used bookstore.

I am of the school of thought that there are too many good books I haven't yet read, so why re-read something I already have? This is only the second book I have re-read in my whole life and I plan on doing it over and over again.

For all of those readers who feel that Crichton comes across as arrogant and self-absorbed, well, you got it about half right. Crichton points out over and over his mistakes, his shortcomings, his arrogance. He sees admits to his flaws, puts them out there for everyone to see, and tries to learn from them. I feel it would be much more arrogant for him to gloss over his flaws and have us all think him perfect.

This is an intimate book and, even though it reads much like a journal, I have gotten so much out of it by example. I do not aspire to BE Michael Crichton, but he is one insightful guy and has had an interesting life. AS he says about tarot cards at one point- the value of the cards is not in their ability to show you aspects of yourself, but in serving as something for you to project on. This book is not a guide or a success story or an adventure; treat it like a lovely conversation with an interesting dinner guest: informative, impressive, sometimes funny, and, above all, HUMAN.

This is simply a wonderful book to read. It is personal, insightful, and in my view will please most readers. This is an autobiography that gives a snapshot view of certain events of MC's life: medical school, exotic holiday locations, making movies, near death experiences. It's not so much a detailed chronology of his life, but more like highlights of important events and turning points in his life. For fans it is a delight to see a personal side of MC. For others it is an easy, intelligent, and inspirational read into the life of a famous (and my personal favourite) author.

I found "Travels" to be an excellent page turner. Michael Crichton has accomplished quite a few feats in his life, and shares a few with us in this book. I did not care much for the "supernatural" sections he has written about, but that is just my opinion. All in all, if you are a Crichton fan, or a fan of traveling throughout the world, I highly recommend reading this book.

Fantastic book by a remarkable writer. However, don't get ripped off paying 50-60 dollars for it. You can get the 1st edition original, brand new, from a bunch of reputable sellers on ebay for 15-25 dollars. The book is not as rare and desirable (from a collector's perspective) as some of these sellers would like for you to believe. Of course, if you are not interested in buying the first edition, you can get a new copy of the latest edition for 15 bucks as well.

Published in 1988, this autobiographical hodge-podge of medical training, travel and dabbling in the occult is at times fascinating but ultimately ends with a 22 page pretend speech to a group of skeptics about why Crichton believes in various occult practices like channeling and talking to cactus plants (I'm not making this up).

The title, "Travels", and even the jacket blurb leave you thinking this might be about travel - you know like taking a trip to Australia. And though there are interesting short accounts of travel to Asia and Africa, these accounts get fewer and shorter as you are unwittingly led into Crichton's real purpose in writing this book - noting his personal beliefs and experiences in the occult and trying to convince the reader that there is something to them.

The first 1/3 or so of the book includes Crichton's experiences in Medical School in New England. I found this fascinating mostly because Crichton seemed to always feel so superior to not just the other students struggling to learn the art of medicine, but also his teachers, the other doctors and pretty much anyone else he came in contact with. What a colossal ego the author had! Many accomplished people have these over-sized egos, and you can even argue that you need an over-size ego to accomplish great things, but it is hard to accept the views of someone with seemingly so little perception regarding others. And while there are strangely anti-social and uncompassionate doctors out there, they are few and far between in my 20 year experience as a physician.

In case you think that Crichton only treats doctors with disdain, wait until you read about other people with whom Crichton had contact. After medical school, Crichton makes a ton of money and becomes famous via his fiction and movies and then seemingly spends much of the rest of his life wondering why he feels so empty. I really felt sorry for this guy by the end of the book. I also wondered what kind of venereal diseases he caught in this life of frequent marriages, promiscuous sex and libertine travels. I admit I was rather disgusted when Crichton and his buddies visit a child brothel in Thailand.

But most of the book, and clearly the theme of the book, is Crichton's dabbling in the occult. Crichton tells us of out-of-body experiences where he floats up in the room and looks down at his body, hearing a cactus talk to him, pulling three entities (a bug, a devil, and a little man with a hat who sat behind one shoulder) out of him, paying various fortune-tellers to tell his fortune, noticing auras, playing with energy fields and re-living his life as a gladiator. (I'm not making this up.) I have to admit, I was intrigued with why a shadow entity needs a hat - but that's neither here nor there. When Crichton tries to convince the reader that there really are energy fields that surround bodies and you have passed your hands over tens of thousands of patients as I have and never felt a thing - well, it's hard to respect anything else this guy says. So, call me a skeptic. (Wait, I know, I wasn't holding a crystal. That must be it.)

Crichton is a decent writer and quite imaginative in his novels and I frankly don't know and don't care if some of this "autobiography" is made up or not. But the obsession with self wore thin after a while and when an author spends much more time discussing how other people thought his feet looked funny after his blisters healed than on the experience of being atop Kilamanjaro - well, just know what you are getting in to before you read.

Due to the occult subject matter, generally whiny tone, and the author's disdain for most others and certainly any mundane person or belief, I can only give this book 2 stars. But it was interesting, in a voyeuristic way.

I picked up the book at an outlet store, since I recognized the author from movies based on his novels. I read the short stories in random order.
The book's a journal in the truest form.
It captures the essence of the author's experience.
But, don't just take my word for it.
It was M. Crichton's favorite book to write.
For a personal life perspective (a.k.a. travels/autobiography),
This is as good as it gets!!!!
I'll cut myself short, before this sounds like a shameless promotion. . . .
Please (save a tree) and check it out from the local library. ((See I'm not in sales.))

Now that Michael Crichton has passed, and even while he was still writing, this non-fiction work, one of his rare types of writings, is so outstanding - I recommend it to anyone with medical challenges, personal challenges, or a thirst for "safari,"" which is the Swahili word for 'journey."

Thirty-seven stories of one writers accounts. Be it somewhere without or somewhere within, this book is the best auto-biographical adventure I have ever read. Crichton narrates his stories with comical candor and psychological accuity. He blends the exotic and phenomenal into a perfect creation until it transcends the wonderous and becomes human. Not a single story is without it's own life lesson for the author. His ability to relate each episode to the reader and make the reader understand the lesson's he learned is unmistakable. His interactions with women, (there are a quite a few) animals and spirits are humorously expelled as he entwines the audience with his wit and candor. Crichton's massive accomplishments are towered only by his impressive feats of earth and soul. All in all this book will be one your favorites, for every reason I can think of.

I find Michael Crichton's books extremely fascinating because they are some of the very few massmarket books written for intelligent people. This book is a different twist from his usual works, it in many ways reminds me of Eric Segal-- must be the Harvard Med connection. It opened my eyes to a "new age" way of looking at things--he has written the first book I have ever read on the subject without a "fruitcakey" approach to it.

I like how he is willing to investigate things for himself and not dismiss anything without trying it first. He draws no conclusions but tells the reader that to "know thyself" is true spirituality. Good read.
Thank you Mr. Crichton for sharing your experiences.

This book is an excellent combination of "regular guy" adventures, humor, and the curiosities of a Harvard-trained skeptic. I have read many of the stories twice and come out with something new each time, especially when Crichton learns something about himself-I find myself enlightened. Also, I lately have been curious about certain psychic phenomenon but am somewhat of a skeptic. Crichton shows its okay to explore these areas, whether you choose to embrace their existence or not depends on your experience.

If I could give this book a 10 I would. He has a powerful hunger for life. It also changed my perspective of him. He is also almost a mirror to Hemmingways writting. He writes about things that he has experianced in some way. If you think about it you can almost see where he comes up with the ideas for his books through out his life.

I am a fan of Michael Crichton's fiction books. They are compelling, suspenseful, and generally based on good science. Travels is the first non-fiction book of his that I have read. It has some good sections about the many intriguing people and places he has come across in his many travels. However I feel it breaks down when he discusses his "inner travels". How a Harvard trained physician can be taken in by seers, aura viewers, and spoon benders is beyond me. I will continue to read his fiction, but probably enjoy it a little less after reading this book.

Travelling is one significant thing that make Michael become successful. Since I had read this book, I no longer wonder in his achievement. Michael frankly wrote a lot of his useful opinions in the book. I consider them as readers' lucky.
It is another worth reading!

Didn't think I would like a non-fiction book. This novel was just as gripping (maybe more) as his fictional works, for me. A life lived as an adventurer into areas of the earth usually unexplored, was just indescribable. Yet he described these places, people and his insights, both personal and and his perceptions of those people around him, in such vivid detail that I felt as though I was there. How can one live such a life, bravely and uniquely following personal curiousities and challenges? Most of us (including me) have lived a "safe" life. I believe most truly talented artists in all fields have followed "the road less taken." For me, this is "food for deep thought" which enables examination of one's life. Maybe it will have a profound affect on you, too. The only other book which has affected my life so deeply is "The Drifters" by James A. Michener.

This book is an exhilirating account of travels, inside and out. A very influential book in lifestyle, excitement and open mindness. This book has forced me to strive for more in my young life in hopes of achieving such journeys and fulfillment as Mr. Crichton has.

I like the idea of searching for meaning in one's life. I am impressed by the number of remote, obscure locales that Crichton visited. I am intrigued - if not entirely convinced - by Crichton's experiments with the paranormal. So I found "Travels" interesting, if not what I expected. Crichton has a nice way of putting a mostly humorous, ironic spin on his tales while considering their roles in his life. But I think he tried to accomplish too much with "Travels" - in the end it feels as though it is stretched rather thin in places and really accomplished nothing.

this book just didn't cut it to me. It started out good, but then just kind of lost me. I'm not a big fan of meta-physical stuff, and the last 1/3 of this book is full of it. (In more ways then one...)
Stick to his fiction and you wont be sorry. This book may leave to hanging.

This book changed my life. The "science is not absolute" argument has been around for a long time, but Crichton adds force this with Travels. The reader begins to see that there are other spheres of knowledge that we simply are not familiar with. The most profound running line in this book is the necessity to detach ourselves from our material belongings. Well worth the read, it will make make you hunger to travel to these distant lands Crichton writes about.

This book, put simply is one of the best I have ever read. Crichton definitely has had some interesting experiences and I enjoyed his perceptions. Some trips I found myself saying better him than me. The only complaint I had was that he didn't describe the enviornments in much detail. I guess I'm spoiled by authors such as Robert Jordan who can immerse you.

This book leaves me wishing I was Michael Crichton. Even before he made his true fortune with Jurassic Park, he was a great man. I loved the mystical chapters here and there, and also the trips around the world. A sequal in the future?

This is one book that has really left an impression on me. I find it a rather philosophical book. Especially the later chapters on psychic adventures. I will also tell you that I was so convinced about seeing auras that I tried to see my own halo. But I failed, as you might well have guessed. But then, I have decided to seriously try meditation. I am sure it will be a good experience for me to attend a camp like Michael did. Vipassana is one place I am seriously considering. Everyone MUST read this.

Michael Crichton has written an honest, disturbing, and insightful portrait of himself. This is one of the best Crichton books I've read. It is entertaining, silly, funny, dramatic and odd. Even a non-fan of Crichton should like this book.

I doubt this would have been published if Crichton weren't Crichton. Just a hodge-podge of stuff - medical school, a few good travel essays, a lot of paranormal stuff - energy balancing, auras, channeling, etc. etc. I see a lot of readers loved it, but I thought it was a waste of time.

I'm not going to rehash what has already been said. I just want to say that I thought he was a little hard on Richard Feynman (Nobel prize-winning physicist). When he says that Feynman had not interest in philosophy or art I felt he was off base. If you read about Feynman you will get his view on life even if it is not presented as a philsophy per se. As for the lack of interest in art, the man drummed to ballet. Not my cup of tea, but it is art.

I found the first part of this book very interesting. His autobiographical accounts resonated to my own experiences. However, he seems lost as to life's purposes, and the second half of the book seems more about his searches of the occult, and for meanings of life, than of storytelling. I found this portion quite disappointing. He finalizes the book with a "sales talk" about reconciling science and the occult. I think he is still lost about life's purposes.

I have read this book three times and find that each time something different applies to where I am right now. Michael Crichton is astonishingly open, honest and self-deprecating in relating his travels all over the world and within himself. By reading this book I have become more open to trying new adventures. Crichton comes across as though he is sitting right with you telling you these stories. Highly recommended.

We were very disappointed as the book arrived very wet. It was December during the time that we had a month of heavy rain. It was packaged in a paper envelope and it was soaked when we opened the packaging so when it finally dried after several days, it was in terrible shape. The pages were wrinkly, some of the ink ran and it had a smell to it! And it was a Christmas gift so it was very disappointing!

A suggestion would be that in the winter when weather conditions are wet that the book be put into a plastic bag before wrapped in the paper packaging.

It is one of my favorite book. The whole deal of searching for anwsers in this book is present. The author does not gives us an insigt of his book the only thing that he does is express the things that happened in his travels and search the meaning of it. It is a great book speacially for a person who is searching for meaning in this messed up life.

Crichton's pseudo-biography is one of the most powerful novels i've ever had the pleasure of reading.I picked it up at a 'cross-roads' in my life, and I believe it's helped me make the right decisions time and again. Without being preachy or condescending, it not only tells Crichton's tale, but also assesses his choices in life(some good, some bad). HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!

I thought the Travel parts of this book were extremely entertaining to read. I was enjoying it up until Crichton got into the stuff about entities attached to his body and his obsession with cosmic stuff. Also the severe lack of Dinosaurs has been noted.

I will admit immediately that my biggest complaint about the book is that it was not what I expected. I have come to like Michael Crichton's writings with their intelligent plots, vivid characters and unexpected devlopments. "Travels" had some unexpected developments that I did not like.

The book started off as a documentary of his life of, logically traveling. He explained how he was attracted to exploration and why it was important to him by giving several chapters of background. He retold his adventures into jungles, deserts and cities with the precision and detail you would expect with a philosophical perspective that gave the book greater depth.

However, just as the book started developing well, he transitions into solely mystical travel and tells the story of his transition from something of an agnostic to a mysticist, complete with talking with the dead, visualizing auras and bending spoons. It became very dull and overly introspective and I had great difficulty reading through the last few chapters.

It was well written and interesting for most of the book, but don't expect you be amazed as you would with any other Crichton book.

I loved this book. It was great to read about the private side of this amazing author. His spiritual insights give us a wonderful background to appreciate his works of fiction. All Crichton fans will enjoy this book!

This book is truly brilliant. It is inspirational and life changing! I'm more than impressed by Crichton's ability to relate his life experiences to me in a way that scream at me to live my life more fully. Thank you for an amazing book. I'm forever grateful to this incredible author.

Crighton's stories cover his medical training, world travels, and various supernatural experiences. His autobiography is diverse, intriguing, and personal. Gain insight into a great mind and a fascinating life. One of the best books I've ever read.

For me it is Chrichton's best book although I was disturbed by its last few chapters. It is an acconut of Chrichton's experiences as a med student, as a writer, as a director and even as a fanatic (telepathy, out of the body experiences, auras etc). The tales are funny yet irreverent.

I am a great fan of Michael Crichton. I enjoyed the parts in this book about his travels around the world and about quitting medicine. But, the parts about "inner travel" I did not care for so much. A lot of it is true however, such as our mind causing some of our medical problems, etc.

This is not just a travel book. It is a collection of experiences as well that will appeal to travelers of the spiritual realms as well the physical world. Michael has led a truly remarkable life and it is well worth the read!

This book is difficult to find in a regular bookstore, I looked for it for many years. The narrative makes it very interesting and exciting and brings you to the actual places. It is ideal for people who like to travel.

This book is fascinating. I couldn't expect anything more from Crichton, his vivid and detailed description of his travels is very absorbing. Anyone interested in travels, whether in yourself or on the map should read.

A great book for reading for pure pleasure! He starts off with his experiences with medical school and things progress from there; from BonAire scuba diving to the supernatural. I highly recommend this...

I am truly surprised so many people loved this book. I bought it as soon as I saw it because I was a huge Michael Crichton fan. Big mistake. He shows himself as selfish, whiny, immature, and self-absorbed. I will have a hard time reading another one of his books with such a horrible image of him.

Read this book about his time in med school, the movie industry, foreign travel and scuba dives. Those chapters are brilliant and insightful. This man was a fearless explorer, who went to exotic places in the 70's and 80's, before they were overrun with tourists. He left the medical field for very good reasons. His analysis of those life experiences are illuminating!
Strong warning:
Sadly, Michael Crichton uses up approximately one quarter of this autobiography to promote psychics, mediums and other bogus practices. This subject material should have been a separate book entirely. Frankly, I am so disappointed that this brilliant man was fooled by those charlatans. Read those chapters only as an exercise in skepticism.

If I had read this book by Chrichton first, I never would have read any of his other works. The book itself is not too bad, the writing is jerky at times, however, my main problem with it is his overall attitude and personality. Chrichton reveals himself to be a very arrogant and snotty person through this book. He doesn't travel to these exotic locations because he has any interest in them, he only goes there because it's not easily accessible to other people. If the "average" person can't go there, he does just because he can. Another way he shows that he thinks he is better than everyone is at one point in the book he describes meeting some African women and while he is sitting there talking to them he mentions that he had a hard time seeing them as people. To him they were no different than animals. Then he just moved on to his next adventure. He cared nothing for the places or people; he came, he saw, on to the next place. He also shows his arrogance by ignoring the recommendations of people experienced in activities he does or places he's visiting. Someone would say to him "You can't do that and this is why." and he would just either ignore them or argue with them believing he could do anything only to find out he was wrong and it was always a shock to him.

After a while, I just got tired of his vague, negative descriptions of the places he's been (he seemd to have all these high hopes for each place and was never satisfied when reality hit) and the way something truly terrifying happened to him everytime he went some where new. This book is far from his best and has actually turned me off reading him ever again.

A good friend of mine insisted I'd read this book, because she knows I love exploring the spiritual aspects of life.

In the end I was very disappointed. Not in the writing or the exploration aspects of the book, but Michael Crichton's whole attitude. He would spend a chapter sharing his learnings and his eye opening experiences, only to revert back to his arrogant, narrow-minded attitude once again for the next chapter. How can anyone claim they've learned anything in life when nothing they learn from it seems to sink in?

Sadly, this book left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. I have no desire to read any more of his books.

I have read a lot of Michael Crichton and thought it intelligent and interesting. After just finishing "Travels" this afternoon, I have to admit that I hated it. I know that this book was about his inner and outer travels in life in which he reaches self discovery, but in reality it is one of the most self obsessed books I have ever read. He whines and complains and tries to find excuses for his bad behavior and his inability to have a meaningful relationship. Instead of looking at the international travel (as little as he actually talks about it) as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures for who they are, he is continually belittling and condescending. His only real self discovery is when he turns to self help and psychics so he can talk about how wonderful he is and how misunderstood he is. For all his money and experiences he could have had the same attitude anywhere, one of ego centered self indulgences. Nice try but highly frustrating and diary-ish. He should have kept this one to himself.

I am truly surprised so many people loved this book. I bought it as soon as I saw it because I was a huge Michael Crichton fan. Big mistake. He shows himself as selfish, whiny, immature, and self-absorbed. I will have a hard time reading another one of his books with such a horrible image of him.

Read this book about his time in med school, the movie industry, foreign travel and scuba dives. Those chapters are brilliant and insightful. This man was a fearless explorer, who went to exotic places in the 70's and 80's, before they were overrun with tourists. He left the medical field for very good reasons. His analysis of those life experiences are illuminating!
Strong warning:
Sadly, Michael Crichton uses up approximately one quarter of this autobiography to promote psychics, mediums and other bogus practices. This subject material should have been a separate book entirely. Frankly, I am so disappointed that this brilliant man was fooled by those charlatans. Read those chapters only as an exercise in skepticism.

If I had read this book by Chrichton first, I never would have read any of his other works. The book itself is not too bad, the writing is jerky at times, however, my main problem with it is his overall attitude and personality. Chrichton reveals himself to be a very arrogant and snotty person through this book. He doesn't travel to these exotic locations because he has any interest in them, he only goes there because it's not easily accessible to other people. If the "average" person can't go there, he does just because he can. Another way he shows that he thinks he is better than everyone is at one point in the book he describes meeting some African women and while he is sitting there talking to them he mentions that he had a hard time seeing them as people. To him they were no different than animals. Then he just moved on to his next adventure. He cared nothing for the places or people; he came, he saw, on to the next place. He also shows his arrogance by ignoring the recommendations of people experienced in activities he does or places he's visiting. Someone would say to him "You can't do that and this is why." and he would just either ignore them or argue with them believing he could do anything only to find out he was wrong and it was always a shock to him.

After a while, I just got tired of his vague, negative descriptions of the places he's been (he seemd to have all these high hopes for each place and was never satisfied when reality hit) and the way something truly terrifying happened to him everytime he went some where new. This book is far from his best and has actually turned me off reading him ever again.

A good friend of mine insisted I'd read this book, because she knows I love exploring the spiritual aspects of life.

In the end I was very disappointed. Not in the writing or the exploration aspects of the book, but Michael Crichton's whole attitude. He would spend a chapter sharing his learnings and his eye opening experiences, only to revert back to his arrogant, narrow-minded attitude once again for the next chapter. How can anyone claim they've learned anything in life when nothing they learn from it seems to sink in?

Sadly, this book left me with a very bad taste in my mouth. I have no desire to read any more of his books.

I have read a lot of Michael Crichton and thought it intelligent and interesting. After just finishing "Travels" this afternoon, I have to admit that I hated it. I know that this book was about his inner and outer travels in life in which he reaches self discovery, but in reality it is one of the most self obsessed books I have ever read. He whines and complains and tries to find excuses for his bad behavior and his inability to have a meaningful relationship. Instead of looking at the international travel (as little as he actually talks about it) as a great opportunity to learn about other cultures for who they are, he is continually belittling and condescending. His only real self discovery is when he turns to self help and psychics so he can talk about how wonderful he is and how misunderstood he is. For all his money and experiences he could have had the same attitude anywhere, one of ego centered self indulgences. Nice try but highly frustrating and diary-ish. He should have kept this one to himself.

This book is as good or better than any fiction Mr. Crichton has written. I only wish he would do a sequel or two to bring us up to date from where this book ends. One of the things I liked best was his honesty - he did not attempt to paint himself as a white knight or the good guy. He tells his story and lets the chips fall where they may. read it!

The book starts off strong with interesting accounts of his medical school experiences, but after a while, the story becomes more of a sales pitch for meditation and other new age mumbo jumbo. By the end, Crichton looks like a total kook rather than the "Harvard trained physcian" that he uses to advertise himself. If you really want to read about "Travels," pick up a copy of Tony Horwitz, Bill Bryson, or writers who actually know how tell a story.

I love international travel and thought that I was buying a travel memoir that would inspire new ideas for my travels. Instead, I found this book to be frustrating, annoying, irritating, and almost unbearable to finish. I have lost all respect for Michael Crichton. During the 10% of this book that actually covered international travel expeditions, I found him to be a whiney, cry-baby. He had no backbone, complained about EVERYTHING, and found no joy in the simple things in life. He certainly didn't find the "growth" that he claimed. Beyond that, the other 90% of the book covered his strange fascination with auras, spoonbending, etc. It was just weird. Not a travel memoir by ANY means. If you seek to read this book because you've got the travel bug and are looking for inspiration...look elsewhere. This book should NOT be in the travel memoir section of the bookstore. I want my money back!!!