Why read books from every country on earth? Won’t that take you forever? How will you choose what to read?
Yes, there are many questions that I face when taking on this ambitious challenge, to read one book from every country in the world. Let’s just say, thank GOODNESS that I don’t have to apply for any visas or book flights in order to glimpse the world this way. This challenge is a personal feat that I have taken on for two significant reasons: I love to read (and always have) and love travelling to new places. I consider these two things to be the greatest tools that I have to learn about the world around me—more so than in any classroom, I am taught simultaneously that people at their core really aren’t so different, and that our differences are what create such the beautiful, diverse, and colourful tapestry that we call life. Through this blog, I hope to keep myself accountable, share my experiences, and maybe inspire others to expand their minds as well.
The Inspiration for “Beyond Page One”
I chose this name after reading this quote, credited to St. Augustine, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” When I am unable to travel, I consider books to instead be my world, and the more I read the more perspectives I gain on the world. I am going “beyond one page” to see and experience as much as I can, learning about the lives of others in the process.
How it works
I don’t know how long exactly this challenge will take, but I am in this for the long haul. I’m hoping to read approximately 50 books this upcoming year, one per week. I will constantly be choosing new books, and creating an ongoing list of what I’ve read within this site, as well as alternatives that I find for each country. Books that qualify are set in the country, written by an author of the country, or all in all encapture the spirit of the country, from the point of view of locals or travellers, tales both fictional and those based on real experiences. I will choose books based on popularity, personal interest, and a mix of new and old literature. If you have a favourite book based in your country, please feel free to send suggestions to me through Instagram @BeyondPageOne
Feature and background image by lil artsy from Pexels.