NF Reads is a nonfiction book club that engages with contemporary thought while exploring how history and past events continue to shape our present. Through insightful and welcoming discussions, we examine the connections between past and present, uncovering ideas that influence the world we live in today. 

Upcoming Meetings: 

• October 30 -- “On the Hippie Trail” by Rick Steves 
• December 10 – “The Ideological Brain” by Leor Zmigrod *Date Updated - Originally 12/18*
• January 26 -- “Empire of AI” by Karen Hao 
• March 16 -- “Nightwalking” by Matthew Beaumont 

October’s NF Read 

On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer — Rick Steves

(Published February 4, 2025) 

Stow away with a 23‑year‑old Rick Steves on his transformative 1978 backpacking journey along the famed “Hippie Trail,” traversing Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Based on his youthful travel journal—complete with handwritten entries, vibrant photos, and maps—the book recounts the unexpected mishaps and magical moments that reshaped his worldview: from jumping off moving trains and making friends in Tehran, to getting lost in Lahore, getting high in Herat, and battling leeches in Pokhara. Featuring a reflective preface and postscript written 45 years later, this memoir reveals the origin story of the travel writer and cultural bridge‑builder Rick Steves would become. 

The above book is available for request through the TLN Network and our eServices platforms. Stop by one of our reference desks for assistance in reserving your copy today.