stories based on journey

Summaries, Analysis & Lists

Stories About Journeys: Short Stories About Quests or Journeys

In these stories about journeys, characters make some sort of physical trip or quest and sometimes have a psychological journey as well. See also:

• Time Travel

Stories About Journeys

The Outcasts of Poker Flat | Bret Harte

In an effort to improve their town, the citizens of Poker Flat expel a group of undesirables from their midst. They set out for the next settlement, making a difficult mountain journey. On the way, they meet up with a couple headed for Poker Flat, who share some provisions and direct them to a cabin to rest.

This is the first story in the preview of  Big Book of Best Short Stories: Western .

“The Story of a Letter” by Carlos Bulosan

A man receive a letter from his son Berto who left home eight years prior. It’s in English, so neither he nor his younger son, the narrator, can read it. He has some ideas on how to get it translated. ( Summary )

Read “The Story of a Letter”

“At the Fall” by Alec Nevala-Lee

Eunice, a robotic hexapod, is deep under water along with her toroid companion, Wagner. They discover a fallen gray whale. They use it to recharge. Eunice was part of a five member crew that were mapping, analyzing and observing the underwater ecosystem and bringing their data to the surface. Now they’re on a dangerous journey.

This story can be read in the preview of  The Year’s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories 4 .  (46% into preview)

“The Golden Apples of the Sun” by Ray Bradbury

A rocket ship is nearing the sun and the temperature outside reaches a thousand degrees. Inside, the temperature is a thousand degrees below zero, maintained by many refrigeration units. The crew wears protective suits. They plan to fly right up to the sun. ( Summary )

“Precious Cargo” by C. H. Hung

The  USS Marilyn Barton  is a bioship, carrying a large human delegation. One of Marilyn’s rooms is sagging and has turned a sickly yellow. Doctor Thrasher is working to fix the problem. The life of the ship and the passengers are at risk. Normally, a bioship knows what is wrong with it, but the deterioration happened too quickly in this case. Marilyn needs to be healthy enough to get everyone to Aurigae Prime.

This story can be read in the preview of  Beyond the Stars: Infinite Expanse . (23% into preview)

“20/20” by Linda Brewer

Bill and Ruthie are on a road trip. Bill finds her conversation simplistic; she refuses to argue anything. She says what she sees along the way. ( Summary & Analysis )

Blue Winds Dancing | Tom Whitecloud

A young American Indian man, lonely and disillusioned with school, leaves for home to be with his own people again. ( Summary )

A Forward Movement | Louisa May Alcott

Miss Tribulation’s quest to become an army nurse continues as she boards a night-train in New York. Afterward, she reaches a boat in New London. She relates her interactions with other passengers and the difficulties of the trip.

This story can be read in the preview of  100 Great American Short Stories .  (25% into preview)

“Man and Woman” by Erskine Caldwell

A dejected and exhausted man and woman are walking at dawn. When they see a farmhouse in the distance, Ruth believes they’ll be able to get something to eat there.

This story can be read in the preview of The Stories of Erskine Caldwell .  (29% into preview)

“A Little Journey” by Ray Bradbury

Mrs. Bellowes is on Mars staying at Mr. Thirkell’s Restorium in preparation for a rocket trip to heaven which will bring her closer to God. She’s been there a week now, and it’s almost time for take off. ( Summary )

“A Journey” by Edith Wharton

A married couple are taking a train back home to New York. They have been away for the husband’s health, but he hasn’t improved. His wife still loves him, but she feels constrained by the situation. She wants her old life back. ( Summary )

Read “A Journey”

“The Walk Up Nameless Ridge” by Hugh Howey

Over sixty thousand feet up Mount Mallory on the planet Eno, one of the three climbing teams rests. The narrator is ashamed to admit he doesn’t want either of the other teams to make it. He wants the glory of being the first to summit this mountain. Governments and alpine clubs gave up conquering it long ago. Now, individuals who have climbed the highest peaks on their own worlds try to immortalize themselves on Mount Mallory.

This story can be read in the preview of  Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories .  (30% in)

“Tower of Babylon” by Ted Chiang

The Babylonians are building a tower to heaven. Hillalum arrives from Elam as part of the mining crew who will dig through at the top into the vault of heaven. On the ascent, Hillalum learns how the construction of the tower takes place, and what the plans are when the top is reached. There are many workers as well as people who live at various points on the tower.

A lot of this story can be read in the preview of  Stories of Your Life and Others . 

“A Newspaper Story” by O. Henry

The movement of a daily newspaper is tracked, along with the uses it’s put to. ( Summary ) It’s the newspaper that goes on a “journey” in this story.

Read “A Newspaper Story”

“Wild Honey” by Horacio Quiroga

Gabriel Benincasa, an accountant, feels a need to leave city life for a while to test himself in the jungle. His godfather warns him that he won’t last in the jungle and tries to discourage him from going off himself. ( Summary )

Read “Wild Honey”

“That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is In French” by Stephen King

Carol and Bill, married twenty-five years, are on their second honeymoon, driving to their destination. Carol experiences déjà vu; voices and images keep coming to her mind. Their drive comes to an end and she finds herself at an earlier point in their trip.

“Che Ti Dice La Patria?” by Ernest Hemingway

Two men travel near Savona. They let a man ride on the outside of their car with them into Spezia. They stop to eat at a restaurant where the waitresses are very friendly. They continue through the suburbs of Genoa.

Paul’s Case | Willa Cather

Paul gets suspended from his Pittsburgh High School. His father wants him to be a responsible wage-earning family man when he grows up, but Paul is drawn to a life of wealth and glamour, so he decides to go to New York.

Read “Paul’s Case”

Journey Stories, Cont’d

Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry | Elizabeth McCracken

Aunt Helen Beck, a woman in her eighties, outspoken and eccentric, travels around to all her relative’s homes to stay for a while.

The Train | Flannery O’Connor

Haze, nineteen, is travelling by train to Taulkinham. The porter reminds him strongly of a man he used to know; he might even be the man’s son. He tries to find a way to talk to him.

Read “The Train”

Falling in Love | Sandra Birdsell

Lureen’s boyfriend leaves her as he’s done several times before. She tries to go back to her family by bus, but misses her connection, and has to walk thirty miles in the heat.

A Worn Path | Eudora Welty

An elderly African-American woman, Phoenix Jackson, walks through the Mississippi forest to get into town. She encounters many obstacles along the way.

The Swimmer | John Cheever

While relaxing at a friend’s pool, an affluent man decides to make his way home by swimming the length of the pools in his neighborhood.

The Furnished Room | O. Henry

A young man searches boarding houses looking for the woman he loves, a small-town girl trying to break in to show business.

Read “The Furnished Room”

Greyhound People | Alice Adams

The narrator boards a greyhound express bus to San Francisco with the feeling that she’s in the wrong place. On the way, a man angrily demands her seat, a woman tells a boy to be quiet and the boy’s mother confronts her, she listens to conversations, and has other interactions.

The Ultimate Safari | Nadine Gordimer

The narrator, a young girl, tells us that her mother and father left one day and never came back. Her village has been targeted by bandits who have taken everything. Fearing for their lives, the girl and her extended family set out on a long and difficult trek through South Africa to a refugee camp.

What I Have Been Doing Lately | Jamaica Kincaid

An unidentified and unnamed narrator answers the door but doesn’t find anyone there. After having a look around, the narrator goes on a dreamlike walk.

Stalking | Joyce Carol Oates

A thirteen-year-old girl, Gretchen, is pursuing her Invisible Adversary through the suburbs. She follows it through fields and across roads, and eventually into a shopping center.

Tears of Autumn | Yoshiko Uchida

Hana Omiya is on a ship going from Japan to the United States. She is seasick and nervous; she has some regret about the trip. She’s going to America to marry a man she has never met.

The Ugliest Pilgrim | Doris Betts

Violet Karl is traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma to get healed by a televangelist—she was struck by an axe head as a child which disfigured her face. As she travels by bus, she meets several people who react to her in different ways.

The Facts of Life | Somerset Maugham

Nicky Garnet is a well liked young man who’s never given his parents any trouble. An opportunity arises for him to play in a tennis tournament in Monte Carlo. Nicky’s father doesn’t want him to go unsupervised.

The Hiltons’ Holiday | Sarah Orne Jewett

After a long day of hard work, John Hilton talks to his wife about their lives and daughters. He has the idea of taking his daughters on a small trip so they can see the world off the farm.

The Blue Jar | Isak Dinesen

A rich Englishman who only cares about collecting rare China is sailing with his daughter when the ship catches fire. His daughter is left behind in the confusion. She is rescued by a young sailor, and they float in the lifeboat for nine days before being picked up.

“The Blue Jar”

By the Waters of Babylon | Stephen Vincent Benet

The narrator, a young man, is the son of a priest, and will one day be a priest himself. The people are forbidden to go east to the Dead Places, or to cross the river to the Place of the Gods, except for a priest. There is another more primitive group called the Forest People. He sets out to the east on a journey.

Read “By the Waters of Babylon”

The Sun-Dog Trail | Jack London

Sitka Charley is relaxing after a day on the Alaskan trail. He and the narrator start talking about a painting, which reminds Sitka of an arduous journey he once made. When he was a letter carrier on Lake Linderman, a young woman hired him to take her to Dawson. Then she hires him to travel with her. She is desperately looking for something but doesn’t tell him what.

Read “The Sun-Dog Trail”

The Other Side of the Hedge | E. M. Forster

A man stops to rest on the side of the road. He is passed by some people, and also thinks of his brother whom he left behind. He notices a small opening in the hedge that lines the road. He pushes his way through it.

The Town of Cats | Hagiwara Sakutaro

The narrator used to take many drug-induced voyages. They had a bad effect on his health. He starts taking long walks, ending up in an unfamiliar, charming town. He relates one such walk he took while staying at a resort.

Identities | W. D. Valgardson

Moved by childhood memories, a man leaves his own affluent neighborhood and goes exploring. He ends up in a seedy area. He can’t blend in because he’s driving a Mercedes.

The Greatest Thing in the World | Norman Mailer

Al Groot, a young adult, enters a lunch wagon and tries to get a deal on a doughnut and coffee. He has been walking and hitch-hiking, trying to get to Chicago. When three men come in for a meal, Al tries to get a ride with them.

The Wisdom of the Trail | Jack London

Sitka Charley is an Indian who has left his own people to learn the white man’s sense of honor and the law. He’s a member of a traveling party led by Captain Effingwell. Only Sitka and the Captain are armed. Sitka warns two other Indians with their crew to carry out their duties properly.

Read “The Wisdom of the Trail”

Bitter Grounds | Neil Gaiman

The narrator is dead in every way that counts. He starts driving. He throws away his cell phone and withdraws all the money he can. After staying over at a motel, he meets a man in the lobby who’s waiting for a cab. He offers the man a ride.

Read “Bitter Grounds”

The White Silence | Jack London

Mason, Ruth (his wife), and the Malamute Kid are on the Yukon trail, low on food, with a long trip in front of them. They know they will have to eat some of the dogs. They reach a high bank that proves difficult for the weakened dogs to climb.

Read “The White Silence”

The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains | Neil Gaiman

The narrator, an unusually small man, is looking for a cave on the Misty Isle. He wants to hire Calum MacInnes as a guide. MacInnes is reluctant to go because of the legends about those who take gold from the cave. It is a long journey.

Read “The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains”

Passage | Kevin Jared Hosein

The narrator was drinking at a pub, The Tricky Jester. One of the regulars, Stew, told a story of when he hiked El Tucuche. He claims to have come across a house in the middle of the mountain, and to have seen a young woman there. The narrator works for the Forestry Division, and knows the wilderness well. He has doubts about Stew’s story. He decides to check for himself.

The Road from Colonus | E. M. Forster

Mr. Lucas is getting old—slowing down and losing interest in things. A forty year dream of his has been to go to Greece, and now he’s there. While traveling with his party on muleback, he pulls ahead of them and arrives at a small inn. It’s surrounded by plane trees, including one that is hollowed out and hanging over it, with water flowing from it. Mr. Lucas is struck by the scene.

Read “The Road from Colonus”

Rock Springs | Richard Ford

Earl is getting out of Montana—he’s had trouble with the law and with women. He leaves in a stolen car with his girlfriend, Edna, and his daughter, Cheryl. He hopes for a new start, but he seems to attract trouble.

Read “Rock Springs” (Pg. 48)

I’ll keep adding short stories about journeys or quests as I find more.

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Short Stories: Journeys

The protagonists in these short stories by Asako Serizawa, Nanjil Nadan, Goli Taraghi, Stephen King, and John Cheever are unsettled, vulnerable, and unmoored during their journeys.

There’s an old saw about how there are only two kinds of plots in fiction: a person goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town. Over the past few decades, this declaration has been attributed to literary legends like Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, et al., without proper citation. The one substantiated reference to it comes from the writer and educator, John Gardner, who suggested the following in a writing exercise in his landmark book The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers (Alfred A Knopf, 1984):

Write the opening of a novel using the authorial-omniscient voice, making the authorial omniscience clear by going into the thoughts of one or more characters after establishing the voice. As subject, use either a trip or the arrival of a stranger (some disruption of order — the usual novel beginning).

Clearly, he hadn’t said there were only two plot choices. Also, he was discussing the beginning of a story rather than its entire plot. But his point about a trip or journey being a disruption of order in a story holds eternally true. Whether a journey’s intent is a voyage, a quest, a pilgrimage, an exploration, a passage, a tour, or an adventure, the state of limbo between the place we leave and the place we are going to is often filled with many unknowns. Even if we may have covered the same physical distance many times, we are different individuals each time we travel. The latter also applies to those around us, whether headed to the same destination or observing or interacting with us as we pass them by. Given all of this, both real-life and fictional journeys provide plenty of anecdotes, vignettes, and stories.

A lot of our earliest fiction in both the Western and the non-Western traditions has involved journeys. From The Odyssey and The Mahabharata to Don Quixote and Twelve Years a Slave , writers through the ages have used the long physical journey as a literary device to weave together many individual stories and wide-sweeping character arcs.

The most striking aspect of the best travel or journey narratives is that the landscapes described along the way are as important to the stories as the main characters. Key plot points, narrative tension and suspense, and the characters’ internal and external conflicts are all derived from their encounters and interactions with the elements, mode(s) of travel, and the people around them during a journey. The protagonists of such stories always undergo significant metamorphoses because of their new experiences and/or perspectives. Typically, the physical journey is also a metaphor for an inner journey. And, as is often the case in the real world, what matters is the actual act of travel versus the arrival at some destination.

This month’s five short stories — by Asako Serizawa, Nanjil Nadan, Goli Taraghi, Stephen King, and John Cheever — involve journeys through all kinds of places by train, bus, airplane, car, and even foot. The protagonists are unsettled, vulnerable, and unmoored during their journeys. As we readers are transported along, our senses become heightened too.

“Train to Harbin”, by Asako Serizawa ( Literary Hub )

Trains have featured in many short stories throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Given how cars and airplanes are more common modes of travel these days, we don’t get train stories quite as much anymore. In her famous essay-length response (titled ‘ Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown ‘) to Arnold Bennett’s complaints about poor character-building in the novels of their time, Virginia Woolf shared her experience of a woman encountered on the train from Richmond to Waterloo and wrote, “I believe that all novels begin with an old lady in the corner opposite.” She then wrote a brilliant short story about just such an old lady in the corner of a train and not only proved many of the points in her essay but set a new benchmark for train stories in general.

Serizawa’s train story first appeared in The Hudson Review in 2014 and was reprinted in the Pushcart Prize XL (2016 Edition). It was shortlisted for the 2016 O. Henry Prize and was the favorite of one of the jurors, Molly Antopol, who wrote about it here on RandomHouse.com .

There’s a lot happening in “Train to Harbin”, both story-wise and technique-wise. The narrator is an old Japanese doctor. During World War II, when Japan and China were also at war, this doctor had been involved in some secret research involving prisoners of war. In the present time, he’s still trying to make sense of it and cope with the regret and pain of it all. Serizawa paints such word pictures as the doctor goes back and forth through his memories that we cannot help but take the journey with him — both physically and emotionally.

I once met a man on the train to Harbin. He was my age, just past his prime, hair starting to grease and thin in a way one might have thought passably distinguished in another context, in another era, when he might have settled down, reconciled to finishing out his long career predictably. But it was 1939. War had officially broken out between China and Japan, and like all of us on that train, he too had chosen to take the bait, that one last bite before acquiescing to life’s steady decline. You see, for us university doctors, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We all knew it. Especially back then.

“Forest”, by Nanjil Nadan ; translated by Gita Subramanian ( The Indian Quarterly )

While the story above involves a planned train excursion to a city, this one is a spur-of-the-moment bus trip through a forest. Nanjil Nadan is the pseudonym of the Tamil writer, G. Subramaniam.

The narrator is having a bit of an existential crisis and takes an aimless walk, then boards a bus going from the state of Tamil Nadu, India into the neighboring state of Kerala. As the vehicle loads up with more people and things, he makes pithy and somewhat caustic observations about the hurrying passengers, the angry driver, the good-looking conductor, the ethnically diverse men working the drink/food stalls at various stops, and the dense forest they pass through.

There isn’t much of a plot here but it’s a well-drawn sketch of a typical everyday scene in rural southern India with all its chaotic and teeming energy. The writer’s main intent is to enable readers to experience the narrator’s world, as it passes him by — spatially, visually, and temporally.

Half the bus got off at Attapadi. Half the goods on the bus were also unloaded. This was the hill country of Kerala. There seemed to be Tamils everywhere—the coolies, the little wayside shopkeepers, in the bakeries, in the supermarkets, all the workers seemed to be Tamilian. Worry lines due to poverty and humiliation were evident on those faces. Just as all South Indians are called “Madrasis” in the north, and all UPites and Biharis (including politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav) are referred to as “Bhayyas” in Mumbai, all over Kerala, Tamilians are hailed as “Annachi” or “Pandi”. There was no way out; one had to accept the mocking epithet with a grin—even in “God’s own country.”

“The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons”, by Goli Taraghi ; translated by Karim Emami and Sara Khalili ( Words Without Borders )

Goli Taraghi’s short story collection, The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons , was one of the Best Books of 2013 at NPR . Arun Rath recommended it as follows:

I have met the pomegranate lady, and you may have as well. If you’ve ever made a disarmingly intimate connection with a stranger while traveling, you’ve had the experience. Connections and dislocations drive the characters in these stories: dislocations of place — exiles who end up in Paris, but never really leave Iran behind, and dislocations of time — elites who preserve a bubble of the “old,” secular, drinking, partying Iran — upon which modern, revolutionary Iran intrudes, with tragic-comedic results. Constantly moving between cultures is not easy on these individuals — but perhaps because of that, it reveals so much raw humanity — both cruelty and compassion.

Words Without Borders has published a handful of stories from this collection, including this title story.

In this excellent 2007 interview at Bookslut , Taraghi talked about publishing and censorship in Iran, living as an expat in France, and her own writing.

In her story, “The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons”, an educated, worldly woman is traveling from Tehran to Paris and has to help an older, illiterate woman who has never been on a plane before and is going to Sweden to see her fugitive sons. There are all kinds of tragicomic exchanges between the two women, of course. But it’s also a beautiful story within a story of the life of the older woman and we can see why the younger one is drawn, against all her common sense, to try to help her. The ending has a little wrenching twist.

I hate this life of constant wandering, these eternal comings and goings, these middle of the night flights, dragging along my suitcase, going through Customs and the final torture, the humiliating body search. “Take off your shoes, open your handbag, let’s see inside of your pockets, your mouth, your ears, your nostrils, your heart and mind and soul.” I am exhausted. I feel homesick—can you believe it? Already homesick. And yet I want to get away, run, flee. “I will leave and never come back,” I tell myself. “I will stay right here, in my beloved Tehran, with all its good and bad, and I will never leave. Nonsense. I am confused. All I want is to close my eyes and sleep, to slip into that magic land of oblivion and disappear.

“Herman Wouk Is Still Alive”, by Stephen King ( The Atlantic )

This one is a car journey and won the 2011 Bram Stoker Award . True to his form, Stephen King gives us moments of bone-chilling shock and fear here. It’s not a ghost story, but possibly more terrifying. Eleven lives crash together, literally. And the tension ratchets up as only King can ratchet it up. The language is cinematic, immediate, and pulls us in even when we’re cringing about what’s being shown and told. Also, this is one of those stories to read again and again as a masterclass in writing craft. Hard to say more without spoiling all the fun, so we’ll leave it there.

Brenda should be happy. The kids are quiet, the road stretches ahead of her like an airport runway, she’s behind the wheel of a brand-new van. The speedometer reads 70. Nonetheless, that grayness has begun to creep over her again. The van isn’t hers, after all. She’ll have to give it back. A foolish expense, really, because what’s at the far end of this trip, up in Mars Hill? She looks at her old friend. Jasmine is looking back at her. The van, now doing almost a hundred miles an hour, begins to drift. Jasmine gives a small nod. Brenda nods back. Then she pushes down harder with her foot, trying to find the van’s carpeted floor.

“ The Swimmer “, by John Cheever

John Cheever is called the Chekhov of the American suburbs. Known more for his short stories than his novels, he wrote about the duality of things: the conflicts between wealth and happiness, inner persona and outer appearance, cultural/community traditions and modernism, and much more.

“The Swimmer” is frequently anthologized for teaching purposes. It’s about a walk through a familiar neighborhood seen afresh as if for the first time. The main character is a typical Cheever fella: socially active, upper middle class, and with a Mad Men -esque sense of entitlement and privilege that makes him blind to much of what his life is all about.

Neddy Merrill decides to swim through all the pools of his neighborhood on a summer day. Things begin well enough but take a rather dark, surreal turn. The storytelling skill is seen in how various characters interact with Ned in surprising ways and what he realizes about himself and his life as he continues his quest. In many ways, this is Homer’s Odyssey set in 1960s suburbia.

Cheever began this as a novel and, after 150 pages of notes, cut it down to a short story. There’s a movie version with a rather well-toned Burt Lancaster in a pair of swimming trunks through most of it. Picture him this way:

Neddy Merrill sat by the green water, one hand in it, one around a glass of gin. He was a slender man—he seemed to have the especial slenderness of youth—and while he was far from young he had slid down his banister that morning and given the bronze backside of Aphrodite on the hall table a smack, as he jogged toward the smell of coffee in his dining room. He might have been compared to a summer’s day, particularly the last hours of one, and while he lacked a tennis racket or a sail bag the impression was definitely one of youth, sport, and clement weather. He had been swimming and now he was breathing deeply, stertorously as if he could gulp into his lungs the components of that moment, the heat of the sun, the intenseness of his pleasure. It all seemed to flow into his chest.

In the essay “ A Reader’s Guide to Planes, Trains, & Automobiles ” ( The New York Review of Books , 10 Apr 2019) Tim Parks posits that a book is a means of transport (like a train, bus, car, ship, or plane) and a story is a journey.

Both go somewhere. Both offer us a way out of our routine and a chance to make unexpected encounters, see new places, experience new states of mind. […] Then, by mixing with strangers of every class and clime, the traveler is bound to become more aware of himself and of the fragility of identity. How different we are when we speak to different people! How different our lives would be if we opened up to them.

Both physical journeys and book journeys are only satisfying and meaningful when we approach them as more purposeful, mindful endeavors — beyond a change of scenery or relaxation or entertainment or checking off a to-do hotspot/bestseller. Beyond mere tourism, really.

John O’Donohoe’s poem, ‘ For the Traveler ‘, sums it up well, especially, this part:

May you travel in an awakened way, Gathered wisely into your inner ground; That you may not waste the invitations Which wait along the way to transform you

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8 Epic Journeys in Literature

Reading Lists

Micheline aharonian marcom, author of "the new american," recommends quest stories.

The journey story, where the hero must venture out into the world for reasons not necessarily entirely of his/her own devising, is likely as old as recorded literature.

Of course the journey story can also be understood as an allegory of the self, or soul, and its evolution in a lifetime, for storytelling is always an act, as Ann Carson says, “of symbolization.” In this sense, the journey story not only narrates the material events of a life, but also the interior transformations an individual undergoes.

As I wrote my seventh novel, The New American —which takes up the story of a young Guatemalan American college student at UC Berkeley, a DREAMer who is deported to Guatemala and his journey back home to California—I thought a lot about these kinds of archetypal stories in imaginative literature. Here are a few of my favorites. 

The Epic of Gilgamesh, or He Who Saw Deep translated by Andrew George

The epic poem, one of oldest works of world literature, was composed in its earliest versions over 4,000 years ago in Mesopotamia and written in Babylonian cuneiform on clay tablets. Much of the reason it is lesser known than the younger works of Homer is because the epic itself was not rediscovered until 1853, cuneiform was not deciphered until 1857, and it wasn’t well translated until 1912. Fragments of the story on stone tablets continue to be found in modern-day Turkey, Iraq and Syria.

The basic story follows the King Gilgamesh of Uruk (modern-day Warka, Iraq) and his friendship with the wild man Enkidu. They undergo various battles including fighting and defeating the bull of heaven. Later, upon Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh journeys to the edge of the earth where he goes in search of the secret of eternal life and, not finding it, returns home to Uruk having in some manner, in spite of life’s sorrows and travails, made peace with his own mortality.

“Ever do we build our households, ever do we make our nests, ever do brothers divide their inheritance, ever do feuds arise in the land. Ever the river has risen and brought us the flood, the mayfly floating on the water. On the face of the sun its countenance gazes, then all of sudden nothing is there!”

The Odyssey by Homer

Written down, along with the Iliad , soon after the invention of the Greek alphabet around the 8 th -century BCE, the epic poem sings of Odysseus’ return home after the Trojan War and his encounters with monsters, the Sirens, shipwrecks, and captivity by Calypso on her island until he finally makes it back to Ithaca. Because the poem survived more or less continuously until modern times and has had influence in so many cultures for millennia (unlike the more recently rediscovered and older Gilgamesh ), there’s no need to reiterate a narrative which so many of us already know, either directly or through the many stories the poem has inspired and influenced. One of my favorite moments comes in Book 14 when Odysseus finally makes it to Ithaca after ten years of traveling and, disguised as a beggar, seeks out Eumaeus the swineherd, who, not recognizing Odysseus, asks “But come…tell me of thine own sorrows, and declare me this truly, that I may know full well. Who art thou among men, and from whence?” These lines have seemed to me to in some way encapsulate some of storytelling’s most basic questions across the ages. 

The Divine Comedy by Dante

Written after Dante had been sent into exile from his beloved city of Florence, the Commedia tells of the pilgrim’s descent into hell, his travel through purgatory, and eventually his ascent to paradise, with the Roman poet Virgil as his first guide, and later his beloved, Beatrice. The Commedia —the adjective “divine” in the title wasn’t added for several hundred years—begins with “Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita/mi ritrovai per una selva oscura” which can be translated from the Italian to “Midway through the road of our life I found myself in a dark wood.” This is another line from literature that has haunted me for years, not only for the allegorical  “dark wood” many of us might at times find ourselves lost in, but at Dante’s strange use of the word “our” even though the Commedia will tell of one pilgrim’s journey and search for the right way. The first person plural points, I think, to the common story of seeking meaning, understanding, and wisdom, and how in the case of this beautiful work, the company of literature with its manner of encoding in the song of language (even if you don’t speak Italian, read a few lines out loud and you can hear the poem’s rhythms) is a blessing in any reader’s life’s journey. 

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, translated by John Rutherford

Alfonso Quixano has read too many chivalric romances (popular in 15 th and 16 th -century Europe), has gone mad from his reading, and now confuses reality with fantasy: he imagines himself the knight-errant Don Quixote and he determines to set off in search of adventure. From that premise, we journey through the countryside with our knight errant and his squire, Sancho Panza, as they slay giants (windmills) and defend the honor of his lady-love, Dulcinea del Toboso (a neighboring farm girl), who doesn’t actually ever appear in the story. In addition to being an amusing, laugh-out-loud tour de force of strange encounters as the pair travel across La Mancha, the reality of the violence, ignorance, and venality—not of Don Quixote, but of the society in which he lives in 17 th -century Spain—of corrupted clergy, greedy merchants, deluded scholars, and the like, is on full display. To this day, Don Quixote continues to reveal the joyous role of reading in our lives, how fictions make for all kinds of realities, and how very often it is the fool who sees the truth.

“When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams—this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness—and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”

Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih

Tayeb Salih’s mid 20th-century masterpiece is narrated by an unnamed young scholar who returns from England to his village on the Nile after seven years of study abroad and encounters a mysterious newcomer, Mustafa Sa’eed, who also lived for many years in the north. The novel takes up the many complexities and legacies of colonialism in post 1960s Sudan, the difficulties of encroaching modernity, the tragedy of Sa’eed’s life in England, and the intricate web of communal relationships in a traditional village. It is some of the women characters, especially the irreverent and bawdy storyteller, Bint Majzoub, very much like a storyteller out of the Nights , who regales the elder male listeners with bawdy tales, that has stayed in my imagination since I first read the book a decade ago. But it is the style of the book, its formal narrative complexity and interplay, the beauty of its prose, its deep and complex interrogation of the self in the world, that have made it a book I continue to return to. “How strange! How ironic! Just because a man has been created on the Equator some mad people regard him as a slave, others as a god. Where lies the mean?”

The Bear by William Faulkner

The journey here is into the woods to hunt Old Ben, the last remaining brown bear of his kind and stature in the quickly diminishing woods of Mississippi at the turn of the 19 th -century. As with so much of Faulkner’s work, the writing is sublime, the form strange, the land is a character, and we witness the maw of industrial capitalism as it reduces everything—animals, the land, people—to a ledger of profits and loss. The last scene of the illiterate woodsman, Boon, in a clearing—the land by then has been sold, Old Ben is dead, and loggers will imminently cut the remainder of the old woods down—sitting beneath a lone tree with squirrels running up and down its trunk screaming “They’re mine!” has long haunted me.  

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Italian writer Italo Calvino’s fantastical novel is about the imagined conversations between the 13th-century Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, and the Tartar Emperor Kublai Khan of the cities Polo has seen during his travels. The book, however, is mostly made up of descriptions of cities—fantastical forays not into any visible or historical cities, but imaginary invented ones: both ones that might have been and could be, and ones which perhaps did or do exist but are now transformed by the lens of story and distilled to their strange often wondrous essences. Calvino reminds us in this glorious book how the stories we tell greatly shape our thinking, our cultural formations, our views. “You take delight not in a city’s seven or seventy wonders, but in the answer it gives to a question of yours.”

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

When I think of Hurston I recall her description in her essay “ How It Feels to Be Colored Me ” of the “cosmic Zora” who would emerge at times as she walked down Seventh Avenue, her hat set at a certain angle, who belonged “to no race nor time. I am the eternal feminine with its string of beads.” In Hurston’s extraordinary novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God , the eternal and timeless qualities of imaginative literature are on full display in the very specific groundings of place and time, spoken language and culture. The book opens with Janie Crawford recounting her life story to her friend Pheoby upon her return to the all-Black town of Eatonville, Florida. The book, set in the 1930s, follows Janie’s narration of her early life, her three marriages (the last for love), and the many trials she undergoes including the death of her beloved during her travels, before she finally returns changed, wiser, independent. “You got tuh go there tuh know there…Two things everybody’s got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin’ fuh theyselves.”

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“ lost and found ” by jonathan page.

🏆 Winner of Contest #240

On my last shift as a lighthouse keeper, I climbed the seventy-six spiral iron stairs and two ladders to the watch room, the number of steps the same as my age. The thwomp and snare of each step laid an ominous background score. Something wasn’t right. At that very moment, Richie Tedesco was pointing a fire extinguisher at the burning electrical panel in the engine room of his boat a few miles offshore.The placard in the watch room read “Marge Mabrity, Lightkeeper—First lighted the depths on March 2nd, 1985, and hasn’t missed a night.” Alrea...

“ The Lantern of Kaamos ” by Jonathan Page

🏆 Winner of Contest #232

The melting Arctic is a crime scene, and I am like CSI Ny-Ålesund. Trond is the anonymous perpetrator leaving evidence and clues for me to discover, like breadcrumbs leading back to him. “Jonna,” he had said, the day we first met at the research institute, “If you are going to make it up here, don’t lock your doors.” It seemed like a life philosophy, rather than a survival tip.It is ironic. Out on Kings Bay, the coal miners came first, then the science outposts. Trond was already out here mining the Arctic when I was sti...

“ Cell 3.47 ” by Kate Hughes

🏆 Winner of Contest #219

Cell 3.47 was situated on the third floor of B wing in Stocken Gate prison, slap bang in the heart of London’s east end. Known as The Gate, the prison had a reputation for being a tough place to do time. The inmates behind the doors at The Gate endured long cold winters in the Victorian slammer that had been condemned many times but had always escaped closure. It was harsh, it was hard, and it was overrun by rats.Paula Pritchard was the sole resident of cell 3.47, but due to the rodent crisis she ...

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“ match point ” by d.j. bogner.

Submitted to Contest #246

It was set point. I lost the first one—I can’t lose this one, too. I laser-focused onto Alex across the net at the baseline, took a deep breath, went into my Zen-mode, and sent him into slow-motion. I could read his serve like it was a kid’s picture book. High ball toss about a foot out into the court, deep knee dip into a low crouch, body swiveled under it, trunk and shoulders coiled. He’s going for the slice—I leaped right and straddled the alley. Slo-mo ended—WHAM! No! He pronated the racket at the last second—blasted it down the T! He ac...

“ Dancers of the Sea on the Mystical Coast ” by Kristi Gott

The flow of the watery world on the Mystical Coast brought a sense of wonder to those who lived there. It was a sunny day in June of 1898 along the rainforest wilderness coast.Near the river bar at the ocean the black and white whales leaped and splashed, joyfully singing and dancing in the waves with squeals, whistles and hums in their fun ocean playground. The games stopped when short, sharp, quick distress calls came from the six month old whale calf. In the dialect of whale language the calf cried for her mama.Nuzzling the calf...

“ Protector of the Stars ” by Serynsatina Song

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #245

Low clouds swelled over splashes of gold-flecked vermilion sky on the sunset eve of my sister’s death anniversary. The air tasted of winter-chilled pine, piercing tiny needles into my lungs as I inhaled. The pain was electric, filling my head with a low buzzing. It was better than feeling nothing at all, and for that I was grateful. I trudged towards my apartment, nano-rifle swinging awkwardly against my hip, taking in the sights of my city awash in crepuscular glow. The sharp, clean lines of pewter architecture cutting austere shadows over ...

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“ the slide between worlds ” by noted moments.

The playground was deserted, a silent witness to the fading day. Curtis and Jane sat on a creaky swing set, their hands intertwined yet their hearts worlds apart. The conversation took an unexpected turn. Both spouses were hovering over the prospect of bringing a new life into a world that seemed to be crumbling. Jane was unable to look Curtis in the eyes; she was hurt and misunderstood. "I just don't know, Curtis." Jane's voice was low and meek, lost in the evening breeze. "The news, the chaos, so much death... it feels selfish to even con...

“ The Stones ” by Jeffrey McDonald

Submitted to Contest #245

The cross-shaped standing stones of Callanish in the isles off the west coast of northern Britain have become the focal point of Saint Augustine’s mission to spread Christianity throughout Britain. Tradesmen, immigrants, and legionaries traveling from Rome had brought the religion to Britain by the late third century, but it never took root. Then Rome fell, their presence dissipated from the remote lands, but it was not gone. The mighty Roman empire crumbled under weak leadership and misguided ambition, but like the Phoenix from the ashes, a...

“ Fright ” by Irene Cornwell

The trip to Hot Springs was an annual joy. Being with my grandparents balanced the fact both of my parents were very preoccupied people.T To my Grandmother Daisy, I was a special child. She had one child in an era when women might have a dozen. Her sister Maud had nine children. She knew loss during pregnancy and even death of a babe upon birth. I was her second chance victory over fate. What I liked best was she was always glad to see me walk into a room. Joining her and Grandpa Yeisley staying in a cozy cabin in the State of Monta...

“ Eclipse Escape ” by Eric Smith

The rust-colored Mustang sped down the road. Although it didn't look like much from the outside, its small block V8 purred along smoothly. The stereo blared loudly, providing melodies that went along with the rhythm of the engine.   "Hand in hand in a violent life. Making love on the edge of a knife. And the world comes tumbling down…"  With the top down, the Mustang sped along. The driver and his passenger's black hoodies and cargo pants stood out against the duct tape and off-white cracked vinyl interior. Behind the wheel, C...

“ The Colour of Stars ” by Noel Morrison

The night sky unfolded above the calm waters, a canvas dotted with twinkling stars. Among the crew of the merchant vessel Seapearl, flowed an air of ease as they sailed, their destination the bustling ports of the southern continent. Amidst the chatter and laughter of the sailors, one figure sat quietly on the deck, his gaze fixated upon the celestial display above.The man of curly mess for hair, took out a wooden box, and just like the ship smoothly glided over the ocean, so had his hands gracefully flipped this box open, revealing a set of...

“ You are going the wrong way ” by George Wallace

The ship is sailing in the North Atlantic, it is getting close to Greenland on its way across the Atlantic to Canada to go into the Great Lakes. Our captain is an old sea dog, Marshall Blake, who has been around for donkey’s years, and thinks he knows everything. But this is not always the case, some of these up-and-coming young pups as he likes to call them know more that he does already. But he will never admit it. Who am I? I am the ship’s head cook; I have served under Captain Blake for fourteen years. Even although he has made very...

“ The Lady of the Last Star ” by Paweł Ciarka

It was considered a fact, that there are more stars in the universe, than human souls that ever lived in it. This statement is no longer true. Most of them died, or rather, were killed, leaving entire galaxies in darkness. But some said, „some” meaning the very last of humanity before even they met their end, that some stars still spark like diamonds in dessert sands. Across uninhabited planets and carcases of nebuli, their light guides a certain, troubled soul. And the darkness, right on its tail.       &n...

“ Battle Blue ” by Laura Thompson

Laura Thompson Approx. 1,050 words237 Ogden CynOgden, UT  84401(801) [email protected] BATTLE BLUEbyLaura Thompson  The ship pulled slightly to the right as a gentle wind caught her sails and nudged the Ulfich closer to the shoreline. The wolf’s head on her bow bobbed with the waves, its open mouth appearing to howl with the wind. Thorsten shouted over the sound of the sloshing waves, “Men, ready the ship for landing!”   This prompted a flurry of activity as sailors ran to the bow and the ...

“ The helmsman and the astrologer ” by Edoardo Garavaglia

The gentle crackling of the sand was the only audible sound keeping company to the helmsman after all the crewmembers went searching for shelter in the lower deck.Only a lone dwarf, hand on the helm and mind lost somewhere on the horizon, would have been held responsible for any issue arisen over the night, apart from a man and a woman whispering pleasant words to the dice in a pathetic attempt of stealing the salary of the others.Their muffled voices were nothing but a mutter for the stoic veteran, fully absorbed by the act of handle the bo...

“ The Great Hunter ” by Christine Hamilton

The great hunter, Orion rose in the Southern sky as night fell; Winter was coming. The mountain peaks tipped with snow earlier than usual; wind-chilled nights chased away the warmth of the day in camp. Falling amber leaves drifted to the ground and the berry crop had ended.   It was time to move to the Great Plains in the warmer South away from the winter shadows cast by the mountains.As night fell the tribe gathered around the roaring fire to prepare for the migration ahead. The last of the food had been dried ...

“ Night Song of the Wild Things ” by Lydia Rilea

I am an old woman, I can ride still, but I cross Bridges on power bikes just as the young do. It’s safest to travel them between blocks. When I was young, before the world bent against itself, and our land was left in desolation, the Bridges were called Highways. I remember that. I even have a few dim and scattered memories of when things were easy, but life has been hard since the desolation came. If you dare to travel between the blocks by the lower trails, you run the risk of attacks. There aren’t monsters like there always seemed to be ...

“ The Darkness of IT ” by Hannah Broering

The sky became filled with the dark shadows of the moon, covering the happiness that once sat throughout this small town. Everyone tried to warn them, but they wouldn't listen. Now we have to suffer the consequences of their actions. We have to live through this nightmare, while they watch in astonishment. The blasting sound of everyone's screams filled my ears as I ran along with the crowd. I need to find her. My legs filled with achiness as I ran faster than I ever had. The sky seemed to lean over us, mocking our horror. The scientists did...

The Best New Adventure Short Stories

Adventure stories are a staple in literature — pretty much everyone grows up having followed a courageous character on an exciting and unexpected journey somewhere far away. Whether it’s a fight for survival or a search for a treasure, whether it features mythical creatures or real-life monsters, adventure stories provide a spark for your imagination, transporting you to exhilarating landscapes from the comforts of your home. 

Adventure short stories aren’t exactly the same as novels — they don’t get the space to tell a complete journey, from start to finish. What they do give you is a healthy dose of adrenaline by plunging you and the characters into a wild, awe-inspiring, and yet dangerous place, even for the briefest moment. A lot of world-building goes into an adventure short story, yet not so much that it seems overwhelming — in other words, just enough to leave you wanting more. 

Looking for more adventure short stories?

We’ve collected a list of adventure shorts right here for you to peruse. Hop from one expedition to another with a diverse cast of characters created by our promising writers in their submissions to our weekly contests . At the top of the list are adventure short stories that stand out against hundreds of pieces in other genres submitted on the same weeks. They’re the ones that show impressive creativity and storytelling — and definitely not ones to miss. 

And if you want to try your hand at crafting an action-packed short story, join our contest. You might even walk away with next week’s prize — plus a shot at publication in Prompted , our new literary magazine!

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The Journey is the Plot: A Reading List for Traveling Beyond the Home

Mary morris on thomas mann, willa cather, and more.

Many years ago, I heard a teacher of mine, the late John Gardener, once say that there are only two plots in all of literature: you go on a journey or a stranger comes to town. Or, as Stanley Elkin put it even more succinctly (in reference to science fiction), you go there or they come here.

In 2009 I began a blog called “The Writer and the Wanderer” in which I reflected on my travels, which is where many of my own stories came from. At some point, I began making a list of novels and stories that happened during journeys. It included such stories as “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton and “A Distant Episode” by Paul Bowles as well as many novels, from Don Quixote to such contemporary novels as The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux and Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood.

The previous year, in 2008 I had a sabbatical and I’d intended to use my time traveling and writing. But on the first day of that sabbatical, I fell while ice skating and spent three months at home, unable to walk. It was during that time that I read Death in Venice and came upon the sentence on Easter Sunday when I was home alone, quite miserable, and feeling sorry for myself: “He would go on a journey. Not far. Not all the way to the tigers.” That passage made me decide that when I was able to walk again, I would try and go “all the way to the tigers.”

Given that we are in a time of lockdown and pandemic, I’ve picked five books that each embrace the journey as its main plot point. After all, we can still travel through stories, can’t we?

Elizabeth Von Arnim, The Enchanted April (Penguin Books)

Elizabeth Von Arnim was already a literary sensation long before she published the novel that would become a classic, The Enchanted April . In 1891 she married a German widower, Count von Arnim, a man many years her senior, and moved to a remote and beautiful house—a 17th century schloss, where she grew a garden and authored Elizabeth and Her German Garden . No one actually knew her real identity—though many guessed at it—but she wrote “The garden is the place I go to for refuge and shelter. Not the house.” In The Enchanted April , an enchanted novel that is in many ways a retelling of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream four women—all strangers to one another—set out to get away and rent for a month’s vacation a castle in Portofino. Each woman has her own reasons for embarking upon this journey. “Lady Caroline came to the club and appeared to be wholly taken up by one great longing, a longing to get away from everybody she had ever known.” Each of these is recovering from the loss of love, the neglect of a husband, a lover’s lack of commitment. This journey enables four strangers to become friends and to learn not only about one another, but about long dormant parts of themselves.

Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Dover Publications)

On a spring morning, as Gustave Aschenbach, a very successful writer, sets out on his morning stroll in Munich, he feels a tug. He wants something more from his life—“a youthfully ardent thirst for distant scenes.” When he finds himself overwhelmed with some portentous signs, he decides to go on a journey. “Not far—not all the way to the tigers.” Just far enough to enjoy some warm weather and, again as Mann writes, “three or four weeks of lotus-eating at some one of the gay world’s playgrounds in the lovely south.” It all sounds like a good idea, but a different fate awaits Aschenbach in this haunting tale of destiny. In Venice Aschenbach encounters a family with a 14-year old boy who becomes the object of an obsession, a mad passion. At the same time there are indications that there is some real sickness in Venice, which soon turns into a cholera epidemic. Perhaps the journey here was ill considered, or perhaps the outcome is inevitable. In the Sufi tale, “Appointment at Samara,” a servant tries to escape death by fleeing to another city—only to find death waiting for him there. Thomas Mann has captured this same theme in this novel of destiny and doom.

E. M. Forster, A Passage to India (Mariner Books)

E. M. Forster understood the power that place can have in a life. Several of his finest novels evoke that theme, whether it’s Florence in Room with a View , in which a young woman learns the value of leaving your guidebook at home, or Howard’s End , in which a house impacts on the lives of its visitors or here in A Passage to India. Forster’s belief that places have power and journeys can transform us—both for good and at times ill—is never so strongly asserted as in A Passage to India . The novel opens with the auspicious lines, “Except for the Marabar Caves—and they are twenty miles off—the city of Chandrapore presents nothing extraordinary.” It soon becomes obvious to the reader that nothing ordinary happens in this novel or in the lives of these characters especially that of poor Dr. Aziz, a Moslem doctor who seeks to befriend and impress some English tourists with disastrous results. This is a novel in which the adage “no good deed goes unpunished” is proven true. It is a powerful story of what it means to confront the other and what it means when, in doing so, we forfeit a part of ourselves. Forster’s most famous aphorism is “Only connect,” but he also understands what happens when we fail to connect.

Willa Cather, Lucy Gayheart (Vintage)

When Willa Cather was nine years old, her parents moved from their home in Virginia to Nebraska, where Willa would live for the next 12 years until she graduated from the University of Nebraska. At which point she moved back East, determined to become a writer. But her formative years were spent in Nebraska. When Cather arrived in the Midwest, she was struck, as her character Jim Burden would later be struck in her masterpiece, My Antonia , by the land and the sky. She saw the Nebraska prairie as “a place where there was nothing but land…between that earth and that sky I felt erased, blotted out.” There is something in Cather’s sentences that seem to breathe, that feel open and expansive. Nothing is cluttered. Two of Cather’s best known works— My Antonia and Death Comes for the Archbishop— happen during journeys and the writing is gorgeous. But in some ways it is in her extraordinary novellas that her storytelling powers excel. Lucy Gayheart, the character for whom this novella is named (such a perfect name for her character) is just that—a gay hearted young woman who also has ambition to become a musician. She leaves behind the Nebraska town where she was raised and the young man who loves her to seek her fame and fortune in the big city of Chicago. As the train carries her away, Lucy gets into her berth, where she “could give herself up to the vibration of the train—a rhythm that had to do with escape, change, chance, with life hurrying forward.” Cather understands the tension between the rural and the urban, the innocent and the depraved, and as she launches dear Lucy into the big city, the tragic events are set in exquisite, lyrical motion on that takes us inevitably to one of the most poignant conclusions ever written.

Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky (Ecco)

In 1947 Paul Bowles and his wife, Jane, left New York and moved to Tangiers. Bowles would live there for the next 52 years until his death. Bowles understood the dangers of travel—of what it means when you move naively past your comfort zone—and he mines this theme of innocents abroad in an unfamiliar land in his harrowing short story, “A Distant Episode,” (not for the faint hearted), and in his best-selling novel. Set in post-WWII North Africa, the novel focuses on three American travelers: Port and Kit Moresby and their traveling companion, George Tunner. Port and Kit have a troubled marriage, fraught with discord and infidelity, and they think that traveling deeper into the heart of North Africa will improve things. Their journey takes them farther into the heart of darkness than any of them could have imagined. Bowles writes, “Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times…And yet it all seems limitless.” But for neither Port nor Kit will it be limitless, nor end well for these tourists who fancy themselves real travelers.

__________________________________

All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris is available via Doubleday.

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11 Books That Will Make You Crave An Adventure

Books provide windows into other places, times, and lifestyles, taking us on a journey through the author’s words and our imaginations. You know the feeling: Your body is sitting on your couch, wrapped up in a cozy blanket, but your mind is trekking through the snow-covered Sierra Nevada mountain range or rafting down the humid Mississippi River. Some authors bring their tales to life so vividly that the vicarious voyage just isn’t enough; they make you want to embark on an actual adventure .

For me, the earliest example of this was reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series. Forget the realities of prairie life (aka the risk of scarlet fever, locusts, months-long blizzards, and more — eesh!); I could imagine nothing more exciting than slowly traversing the country by covered wagon. ( The Oregon Trail game may be in part to blame for this.)

While people travel for a variety of reasons, from self-discovery to relaxation, we all know the feeling of becoming so entranced by a writer’s tale that we feel inspired to follow suit — whether that be trying to find ourselves in India or bonding with loved ones on the open road.

Here are 11 stories about amazing journeys that may inspire you to go on an adventure of your own:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed’s Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is actually the book that inspired this list. The story follows Strayed’s real-life hike along over 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a grueling trip, to say the least, but she makes it sound amazingly beautiful and rewarding. There’s something deeply alluring about the idea of going back to the basics and accomplishing one feat at a time, even if it comes at the cost of severely blistered feet.

The Taliban Shuffle by Kim Barker

The book that inspired the film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot , starring Tina Fey, The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Kim Barker is an often hilarious account of a newbie reporter chronicling a “forgotten war.” As you’d expect, Barker’s experiences abroad are anything but ordinary, but she gains new perspective. While the region’s level of risk obviously doesn’t make it an ideal tourist location, the book may inspire you to travel outside of your comfort zone.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

An American classic, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn centers on the unlikely duo of Huck, a teenage boy trying to get away from his drunken father, and Jim, an escaped slave. The two end up rafting down the Mississippi River together, forcing Huck to reexamine his beliefs as he builds a close relationship with Jim. While I’ve always been disappointed by the turn their adventure takes (Tom Sawyer is the worst), the journey leading up to it is enough to make you want to strike out on a raft with a friend, if only for a day trip.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles what is basically the dream divorce recovery. No one wants their life to feel like it has fallen apart, but what better way to put it back together than by exploring the world? Whatever your situation in life, it’s easy to understand the appeal of reevaluating your path while taking the trip of a lifetime.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig is enough to make you crave the open road and time to just think . The book follows a father-son duo, joined part of the time by a pair of friends, as they journey from Minnesota to Northern California by motorcycle. It’s full of philosophical discussions and will make you want to get away from it all to assess your life.

Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It by Geoff Dyer

A collection of 11 short stories, Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It is inspired by author Geoff Dyer’s travels around the world in search of his place in the world. What’s especially compelling is that his story has plenty of disappointment and misadventures, just like real life. Travel isn’t always full of movie-perfect moments, which Dyer embraces with humor and honesty.

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman

Rachel Friedman ends up on an unplanned yearlong voyage in The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure . After buying a ticket to Ireland on a whim, she befriends an Australian girl who motivates her to extend her travels. The book will make you want to forget about focusing on the future and instead live in the moment.

Midnight in Siberia by David Greene

Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia follows author David Greene as he travels across 6,000 miles of the country on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Along the way, he meets fascinating people and talks to them about how their lives have changed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It’s a fascinating cultural examination and reminder of how much we can learn from others.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof

In An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude , author Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, Steve, fulfill the fantasy of many: They quit their jobs, rent out their house, and sail off to the Caribbean on a 42-foot sailboat. Over the course of two years, they explore numerous countries, adjust to “island time,” fish their dinner out of the sea, and meet interesting locals. Reading about their travels, especially the food, is enough to make you wonder why you haven’t found a subletter yet.

I’m Off Then by Hape Kerkeling

I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself of the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling recounts the time the author spent on a pilgrimage across the French Alps and the top of Spain. Walking the 1,200-year-old route, known in English as the St. James’ Way, ends up being an eye-opening experience. As Kerkeling overcomes the physical struggle, he documents his daily lessons and gains a sense of peace.

The Cruise of the Rolling Junk by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Not even the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald were immune to the appeal of a road trip. Within months of getting married, the duo set off from New England in a decrepit car and headed south to Alabama. The trip inspired F. Scott to pen a series of pieces for Motor magazine, and their tales from the road will make you want to map out a route as well.

Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Incredibly Epic Fantasy Journeys for Every Reader

Mya Nunnally

Having loved books since the age of four, Mya is a writer and poet who looks to explore the complexities of life through language. They attend Barnard College of Columbia University with their kitten, Ramen. Their reviews of independent literature can be found at Foreword Reviews. When they aren't writing or reading, they're playing video games with strong female characters. Twitter:  @literallymya Blog:  messmiah.wordpress.com

View All posts by Mya Nunnally

Listen, there are certain things that we, as fantasy lovers, have come to expect from the genre. I know I get a rush when I open the first page and a giant map is there, complete with names of rivers and towns and mountain ranges that I’ve never heard of. Ah, the thrill. Or when the cast of characters — all with their own tragic backstories and lore — finally come together in the final third of the book, perhaps to conquer some great evil.

Another one of these genre staples is the journey. You rarely see as much walking and questing in the romance genre, for example. It’s a specifically fantasy thing, a trope where along the way our beloved characters evolve and complete side quests (and sometimes fall in love). This list collects a bunch of epic fantasy journeys, though it purposefully leaves out many obvious choices (yes, I know Frodo and friends did indeed embark on a long trek). After all, discovering a new fantasy book is the start to a journey in and of itself. So, put on your walking cloak and grab your childhood friend who you may or may not harbor feelings for, and let’s step outside the Shire.

Epic Fantasy Journeys for Readers Who Want a Long Series

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

I truly cannot tell you how quickly my jaw dropped to the floor when I found out that this series is supposed to be ten entries long. Not only that, but in hardcover, this one clocks in at more than 1,000 pages. Rest assured, in Sanderson’s saga the journeys are a plenty. The first book follows a charismatic cast of characters: enslaved but persistent Kaladin, slightly unstable Brightlord Dalinar, and aspiring scholar Shallan, among others. And let me tell you, each of them embarks on a life-changing quest that brings them across the reaches of Roshar, Sanderson’s meticulously planned world.

Her Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik

Almost as long as Sanderson’s series, the Temeraire series includes nine novels, all of which are already out and published. Get ready to clear off a few months from your calendar to finish these enchanting, dragon-filled entries. This series revolves around Captain Laurence and his dragon best bud, Temeraire. Action-packed and at the same time astoundingly sweet, these books are full of epic fantasy journeys. Come for the sweet dragons, stay for the long rides as Temeraire carries Laurence across oceans and through world wars.

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For Readers Who Want to Delve into A Unique New World

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse is so deft at creating fantasy worlds, and Black Sun is no exception. Inspired by the cultures of Pre-Columbian America, this first start to a series not only introduces us to a mythical new society but a cast of characters you’ll immediately love. My favorite is Serapio, a young blind man with a haunting past and a prophecy that points to a troubling future. He joins a mystical captain, Xiala, in his journey to the holy city of Tova, where a celestial event threatens to unbalance the world as we know it.

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Another expertly crafted universe belongs to Suyi Davies Okungbowa, who wrote a novel that, at least for me, felt pretty close to flawless. Another fantasy influenced by pre-colonial times, this one draws inspiration from the kingdoms of West Africa. In the ancient city of Bassa, we find Danso, a disillusioned scholar seeking forbidden knowledge. Eventually, he is forced to leave the city in order to find what truly lies beyond its borders. But does his knowledge come with too high of a price?

For Readers Who Want Something Dark

Star Eater by Kerstin Hall

I can safely say I’ve never read about a magic system like the one Hall creates in this standalone novel. I won’t spoil everything, but basically it involves some forms of cannibalism, generational magic, and a religious order of nuns. Protagonist Elfreda is deep in the sisterhood’s organization, but eagerly takes an offer to spy on them in order to one day escape her gloomy fate. Not only are there physical journeys across the tantalizingly strange world Hall has invented, but there are many inner ones too, especially for our main character.

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke

This dark YA fantasy revolves around a central journey: one to kill a monster people are already spinning myths about. The Boneless Mercies are a group of girls called upon to kill with, well, mercy, when needed. It’s a dreary existence. But leader Frey thinks if they stop the monster that’s terrorizing people far and wide, they can make a new life for themselves. This is also a feminist retelling of Beowulf, but you definitely don’t need to read that to enjoy this. It had me glued to the page for every moment of the Mercies’ journey across this riveting high fantasy land.

For Readers Who Want Their Epic Fantasy Journeys on Earth

First, Become Ashes by K.M. Szpara

Main character Lark has been in a cult for nearly 25 years. Except, of course, he didn’t know that. He thought he was being trained to fight monsters, developing his own magic through intense rituals. Until, one day, his former partner brings the FBI to the compound’s door and Lark doesn’t know what to believe. Though everyone tells him magic isn’t real, Lark doesn’t want to give up yet. He has a quest to complete, after all, and some new friends to help him. This is a fantastic in-between fantasy that constantly keeps you guessing about what is and isn’t real.

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

It took me quite a while to realize this book actually takes place on Earth, but it’s true! This truly epic fantasy takes place in post-apocalyptic Sudan, where magic and remnants of technology thrive. The unforgettable main character is Onyesonwu, whose name means “Who Fears Death?” in Igbo. Conceived from a violent act, people shun her, but it doesn’t stop her from trying everything to reach her full potential. She might be the one to end the genocide of her people, after all.

Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This one is kind of cheating because it also takes place in the underworld at one point, but alas! Gods of Jade and Shadow begins in a small town in Southern Mexico, where Casiopea Tun aches to get away. It’s just her luck, then, when she accidentally sets free the spirit of the Mayan god of death. Hun-Kamé has been imprisoned for some time, and now it’s time for him to get revenge. He must take back his seat on the throne of the underworld, and Casiopea must help him or face dire consequences. This journey is fascinating, filled with Mayan mythology and the growth of a bond between a god and a mortal.

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100 Epic Journey Story Prompts

The epic journey—a story involving a hero or protagonist tasked with venturing into different lands, worlds, times, and universes—is as old as time itself. From Homer’s epic journey in  The Odyssey  to Luke Skywalker’s venture into the stars in  Star Wars , the epic journey has always served as one of our greatest forms of storytelling. 

An epic journey is a metaphor for the journeys of conflict we face in life, both physical (external) and emotional (internal). Stories like these act as escapism, where we can live adventures vicariously through the eyes and experiences of the characters. And they also manage to challenge characters the most, which offers an even more cathartic and enticing experience for the reader or audience. 

The more epic the journey, the more conflict that the characters need to face. And conflict is the driving force of any story—big or small.

With that said, here we offer 100 epic journey prompts to get your creative juices flowing! 

Note: Because we’re all connected to the same pop culture, news headlines, and inspirations, any similarity to any past, present, or future screenplays, novels, short stories, television pilots, television series, plays, or any other creative works is purely coincidence.

Read More: Exploring the 12 Stages of the Hero’s Journey

'Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back' (1980)

• A time traveler must venture through time to find a villain.
• A forgotten map leads characters through magical doorways, each transporting them to a different fantastical realm.
• A Steampunk airship captain embarks on a daring expedition to find the mythical floating city hidden among the clouds.
• The last astronaut on Earth must save all of mankind in the last spaceship.
• A lone warrior searches the world for a long-lost magical sword.
• An archaeologist uncovers a portal in an ancient ruin that transports them to the time of the dinosaurs.
• An archaeologist uncovers a portal in an ancient ruin that transports them to the time of the Egyptians. 
• An archaeologist uncovers a portal in an ancient ruin that transports them to the Medieval Ages. 
• An archaeologist uncovers a portal in an ancient ruin that transports them into the future.
• In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a group of survivors stumbles upon a hidden gateway leading to an untouched, flourishing oasis.
• A scientist creates a time loop that forces them to relive the same epic journey across parallel dimensions until they can set things right.
• A spacefaring nomad encounters a sentient nebula leading to parallel universes.
• A hero must navigate the surreal landscapes of the dreams to restore balance to the waking realm.
• A librarian discovers that books in a magical library can open portals to fantasy worlds. 
• A librarian discovers that books in a magical library can open portals to historical events.
• A librarian discovers that books within a magical library can open portals to futuristic landscapes. 
• A librarian discovers that books within a magical library can open portals to alien worlds.
• A group of astronauts crash-lands on an alien planet.
• A mission sends a time-traveling assassin to manipulate key events in different historical periods to alter the course of history.
• Middle school friends discover a magical book that can open portals to a different world.
• Middle school friends discover a magical book that can open portals to a parallel universe within their school. 
• An underwater explorer stumbles upon an aquatic realm.
• A time-traveling detective chases a criminal through different eras.
• An astronaut goes through a wormhole and discovers a planet with floating islands.
• A pair of siblings discover a hidden doorway in their basement that transports them to an alternative universe.
• An Old West wagon train strives to survive the open range.
• A gamer must seek the way out of the virtual world where they are trapped.
• A ship, its crew, and its captain decide to take the same route as Columbus. 
• A ship, its crew, and its captain decide to cover every point of the Bermuda Triangle. 
• An astronaut on a routine space mission is plunged into a parallel universe.
• A group of survivors in a post-nuclear world try to make it to an island.
• A sled dog team tries to keep their master alive as they journey through a winter storm.
• A pirate ship, its crew, and its captain try to track down a royal ship full of gold.
• A baseball team in a post-nuclear world travels the country to provide entertainment and hope for survivors. 
• A terminally ill father and his son embark on a road trip across the country. 
• A presidential candidate in a post-apocalyptic world travels the country to earn votes.
• A dog is reincarnated as a puppy, remembering their past life, and tries to get back home.
• A group of spelunkers finds a long-lost world. 
• A group of spelunkers finds proof of a very different past. 
• A group of friends tubing on a river gets lost in the Everglades.
• A group of friends tubing on a river are transported to the world of dinosaurs.
• An artist attains the ability to venture into their paintings of surreal landscapes. 
• A museum employee discovers they can enter into the world of iconic paintings.
• A time-traveling botanist explores different epochs to collect samples of extinct plants, hoping to revive a lost ecosystem in a world ravaged by environmental disasters.
• A young dinosaur is transported to the future through a strange portal. 
• An interdimensional bounty hunter tracks down dimension-traveling fugitives.
• A time-traveling bounty hunter tracks down time-traveling fugitives.
• A spaceship pilot discovers a wormhole that leads to an alien galaxy.
• The discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. 
• The first space flight to Mars.
• The first expedition to the dark side of the moon.
• A young character can explore the world of their dreams.
• Young friends discover they can meet up and explore the worlds of their dreams. 
• A detective must travel through different time periods to solve a case.
• A group of explorers discovers a forgotten jungle where dinosaurs never went extinct.
• Young siblings find a series of caves behind their grandparents’ old mansion. 
• A spacefaring cartographer maps out uncharted territories in space.
• Two young siblings walk the burnt landscapes of a post-nuclear world. 
• A widow decides to travel to all the places she and her husband never were able to visit.
• A stranded astronaut on the moon, thought to be dead, must try to find a way to tell Earth that they are alive.
• A young baseball player joins a traveling baseball team and comes of age.
• Young lovers meet on a backpacking trip across Asia. 
• A plane crashes, and the crew must find their way home.
• An ant gets a glimpse of the larger world around their habitat and wants to go explore.
• A knight must travel across the land to find the princess he’s tasked with rescuing.
• A character dies, and their ghost must find their way through purgatory.
• An alien receives a message from Earth and strives to find a way to get there.
• Disneyland’s rides are portals into the real worlds they depict.
• Characters must find their way out of a seemingly endless haunted mansion.
• An expedition through the Rocky Mountains. 
• An explorer sails along the coast of the Americas to create the first map of the continent.
• Mark Twain’s adventures down the Mississippi. 
• A group of kayakers decide to kayak down the Mississippi. 
• A group of tubers decide to tube down the Mississippi. 
• A journey to the Earth’s core.
• A journey to the bottom of the ocean.
• Grade school friends decide to climb to the top of a local bluff. 
• A man loses his dog and tries to track it through the GPS chip.
• A boy and his dog are separated when their canoe tips over in a raging river, and they struggle to find each other.
• A time traveler from the future is stuck in the past and must find a way back home. 
• Characters struggle to find a military bunker before nuclear missiles hit their country. 
• A Navy ship is lost in time and must find the portal back home. 
• Characters find a real-life bean stock leading up to a world of giants.
• The first Westerner expedition of the Amazon. 
• A plane crash-lands in the Amazon Jungle, and the survivors struggle to find their way out. 
• A man is given the chance to save his family from death by finding them in the afterlife. 
• Technology allows people to explore the minds of people to save them from dementia.
• A veteran NFL quarterback is traded from team to team until they find a team they can win the Superbowl with.
• Old West cowboys must move their herd across the frontier while they face the elements and other threats. 
• A contemporary retelling of  The Odyssey .
• A character discovers their adoption and now must travel to another country to find their birth parents.
• During a hiking trip in the mountains, the family accidentally leaves a child behind, and the child must survive the elements until they find them.
• A child runs away from their Midwestern home to find Santa.
• A character takes the ashes of their deceased parent across the country. 
• A character vows to run from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States of America. 
• A character vows to sail to every continent of the world.
• A character vows to fly to every continent of the world.
• Old retired astronauts enlist the help of a billionaire to fly them to the moon.
• A father does everything to return home from a WWII war zone for Christmas.
• The first ascent of Everest.

Read More:  101 Epic Sci-Fi Story Prompts

'Dune: Part Two' (2024)

Have fun, and travel well within your stories these prompts may have inspired. 

WANT MORE IDEAS? TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OTHER  STORY PROMPTS !

Check out our preparation notes so you start your story off on the right track.

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thriller Hunter’s Creed, and many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenMovies and Instagram @KenMovies76

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10 children’s books that will take kids on a journey

They may be stuck at home, but children can escape to the Amazon, Himalayas or New York via these magical tales

Asha and the Spirit Bird Jasbinder Bilan

There can be few people who find their lives more shaped by geography than those who live in the shadow of the mighty Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. Prize-winning author Jasbinder Bilan was born there, on a farm in northern Punjab, and her first-hand experience of the sensational landscape and wildlife in this book will spirit away the UK’s February greyness.

Asha and Jeevan must make the journey of a lifetime, crossing the Himalayas, “the land of amber-eyed tigers and snow leopards” in search of her missing father, guided by the majestic spirit bird of the title. From the endless array of mouth-watering food, such as sizzling golden pakoras and spicy dal, to the visions of snaking banyan trees and multicoloured Himalayan poppies, this radiant adventure is as good as a holiday.

The Missing Barbegazi HS Norup

For young winter sports fans missing out on a chance to speed down snow-covered slopes, this quest offers the chance to do just that in the mountains of their mind. Join heroine Tessa on her skis in search of the fabled barbegazi , mysterious, secretive, gnome-like creatures reputed to live in the Alps.

Norup, a Danish-born writer who now lives in Switzerland, set the story in a favourite family skiing destination, St Anton am Arlberg in the Austrian Alps.

She effortlessly conjures up a “white wilderness”, as well as the twinkling lights of a small Alpine community. With avalanches, blizzards and magical snow beings, this heartwarming story offers perhaps even more adventure than the average skiing trip, but with minimal chance of returning home with a broken leg.

My Family and Other Animals Gerald Durrell

For children craving a shot of sun, sea and sand, Gerald Durrell’s recently televised My Family and Other Animals will have them gathering geckoes in the olive groves of Corfu quicker than you can say Dr Theodore Stephanides (his naturalist mentor). Durrell’s writing casts a spell that will magic even the most stubborn reader to his enchanted island: “The magnolia tree loomed vast over the house, its branches full of white blooms, like a hundred miniature reflections of the moon, and their thick, sweet scent hung over the veranda languorously, the scent that was an enchantment luring you out into the mysterious, moonlit countryside.”

Even better, particularly for younger readers, there are new animals to be discovered under every rock, from praying mantids to water snakes. Describing Corfu as it was in the 1930s, the book not only offers mind travel, but also time travel to when this was still an undeveloped coastline.

The Explorer Katherine Rundell

Ski trips and Greek island jaunts may seem a little tame for more fearless mind wanderers, who should acquire some insect repellent and a sensible sun hat and join Fred, hero of Katherine Rundell’s Costa prize-winning tropical adventure , who is a passenger on a plane that crashes in the Amazon rainforest.

It’s not too much of a spoiler to mention that he may end up leading some fellow survivors to safety, but not before escaping fires, trapping deadly tarantulas and rafting down the mighty river as they trek through greenery that comes in “a thousand different colours – lime, emerald and moss, and jade and a deep dark black green that made him think of sunken ships”.

Rundell travelled to the Amazon to research the book, and the sense of the place is as cinematic and as microscopically precise as any David Attenborough documentary.

From the Mixed-Up Case Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler EL Konigsburg

For young sophisticates missing their cultural fix, perhaps it is time to dig out this award-winning 1967 staple of many American childhoods that is not as widely read or known in this country as it ought to be.

Unhappy Claudia – “tired of the monotony of everything” (who isn’t, right now?) – and her brother Jamie run away from home, not to join the circus, but to hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, for “the greatest adventure of their mutual lives”. Their child’s eye view of all the wonders in that collection as they explore museum cabinets, corners and corridors is joyous, especially when the pair uncover the true story behind a newly acquired Renaissance statuette. It should inspire a lifetime love of gallery wandering.

The Eagle of the Ninth Rosemary Sutcliff

There are, to the best of my knowledge, no wild tarantulas on Hadrian’s Wall. Yet other challenges lurk behind its ancient stones.

The weather that sweeps over its headlands and ridges is some of the most unforgiving in Britain, yet in a normal February half-term the scattered ruins and their brooding moorland setting would still be full of anoraked young visitors – because there are few places in this country where the drama of ancient history hangs so powerfully in the air.

Rosemary Sutcliff brought that history and the Borderlands to gripping, visceral life in her 1950s series of Roman Britain novels, classics that remain immensely readable, feeding the hunger of all – not just rebellious legionaries – who have felt the lure of “the pale and changeful northern skies and the green plover calling”.

Murder on the Safari Star MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman

Sometimes, the journey can be as exciting as the holiday itself, especially if it goes wrong. Leonard (Beetle Boy ) and Sam Sedgman have created the perfect series for junior transport geeks, called Adventures on Trains.

From California to the Scottish Highlands and, most recently, southern Africa, the books are a rattling good tour through classic landscapes, complete with a gripping mystery to tackle on the way – because which long journey has never been made more enjoyable by a clever puzzle?

Their latest, Murder on the Safari Star, books readers on to a gleaming luxury train alongside Harrison Beck and his Uncle Nat as they spot galloping impala and get a closeup view of Victoria Falls – and solve a murder case too, of course. First-class entertainment without leaving your seat.

Monkey King: Journey to the West Wu Ch’eng-en

China’s borders are closed to non-Chinese nationals at the time of writing, and the Beijing authorities are asking people living there to forgo the traditional trip to visit relatives for Chinese New Year next week. But children can instead visit one of the greatest countries in the world through the pages of this Chinese epic. It tells the story of the cloud-somersaulting trickster Monkey King, and his quest to redeem himself by protecting a Buddhist monk on a holy quest.

Parents may remember the cult Japanese-made 1980s TV series Monkey; now their children can brave the mysteries of the Fire-Cloud Cave, the River of Flowing Sand and the Water-Crystal Palace via Julia Lovell’s new contemporary translation, with exquisite maps of “somewhat mythical lands” by Laura Hartman Maestro.

Prisoners of Geography: Our World Explained in 12 Simple Maps Tim Marshall

Maps are endlessly fascinating to children, and losing themselves in the pages of an atlas is a great way to chart future travels and understand other countries.

There are several luxuriously packaged map collections on the market, but I prefer this children’s version of the bestseller by former Sky News diplomatic editor Tim Marshall, with maps and illustrations by Grace Easton and Jessica Smith. The book explores the link between the physical realities of our planet and the competing desires of different civilisations. From the Americas to Russia, the Middle East to Tibet, this is a lucid and accessible introduction to how geography shapes our world.

Strangeworlds Travel Agency LD Lapinski

A child who wants to really get away from it all can find adventure aplenty in the world of fantasy literature. For the trip of a lifetime – beating any existing holiday on planet Earth – drop into the Strangeworlds Travel Agency.

Flick Hudson accidentally learns that there are hundreds of uncharted worlds other than our own – and the one at the centre of them all is in terrible danger. She embarks on a thrilling and frequently hilarious race to save them, with her acerbic travel guide Jonathan.

This is an ideal escape for fans of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Lapinski’s dizzying feats of world building will – transport even the most stuck-at-home reader beyond their wildest dreams.

• Literary trips
• Family holidays
• Children and teenagers
• School holidays

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Patricia Grace

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Best Short Stories for Teaching the Hero’s Journey

Looking to shake up your approach to teaching the Hero’s Journey? Whether you’re looking to replace a novel with a range of short stories or to use them as additional texts, this post reveals 8 short stories that will get the job done.

Gearing up to teach the Hero’s Journey? Before you grab your go-to book from the shelf, I urge you to consider an alternative approach—using short stories.

While there are plenty of great novels out there to emphasize the Hero’s Journey, it was always a challenge to choose just one. Did I want to go with a popular classic, like The Odyssey ? Or an engaging modern text, like The Hunger Games ? That very challenge is what first got me thinking—What if my students could dive into multiple examples of the Hero’s Journey? Besides, heroes come in all shapes and sizes, right? So, in an attempt to expose my students to a classic narrative archetype and a variety of texts, I turned to short stories. And, honestly, I haven’t turned back since.

Whether you’re looking for short stories to take center stage or serve as a stepping stone before jumping into a full-length novel, they make the perfect addition to a Hero’s Journey unit. Keep reading to learn the advantages of teaching the Hero’s Journey using short stories and 8 short story titles that are sure to enhance your lessons.

What Is the Hero’s Journey?

Whether this is your first time teaching the Hero’s Journey or you need a quick review, let’s go over the basics. The Hero’s Journey is a narrative framework coined by Joseph Campbell in his book called The Hero With A Thousand Faces , published in 1949. However, the concept and pattern of the journey have been around since the earliest days of storytelling. It outlines the transformative journey of a protagonist who overcomes obstacles, faces inner and outer challenges, and emerges with newfound strength and wisdom. 

While variations certainly exist across different narratives, cultures, and uses, the classic phases of the Hero’s Journey include the following:

• The Ordinary World: An introduction to the protagonist’s everyday life, relationships, and any challenges or limitations they face are first introduced.
• The Call to Adventure: The protagonist receives a compelling invitation or challenge that initiates the on the heroic journey.
• Refusal of the Call: The protagonist resists the call to adventure due to fear, doubt, or a sense of inadequacy.
• Meeting the Mentor: The protagonist encounters a mentor figure who provides guidance, advice, and assistance needed for the journey.
• Crossing the Threshold: The protagonist leaves the familiar and ordinary world behind and enters the unknown.
• Tests, Allies, and Enemies: The protagonist encounters various obstacles,enemies, and allies that test their will, determination and character.
• Approach to the Inmost Cave: The protagonist prepares for a significant challenge or confrontation, symbolizing their innermost fears, doubts, or weaknesses.
• Ordeal: The protagonist is pushed to their limits when faced with their greatest challenge, undergoing a transformative experience.
• Reward: After overcoming the ordeal, the protagonist is rewarded with something, often knowledge, that empowers them to continue their journey.
• The Road Back: The protagonist begins a journey back to the ordinary world.
• Resurrection: They face a final challenge, where they must apply everything they have learned and experienced.
• Return with the Elixir: The protagonist returns and is reunited with the ordinary world, having been transformed by “the elixir”—an object, knowledge, or insight—for the greater good.

Why Teach the Hero’s Journey with Short Stories?

You can apply the Hero’s Journey to a wide variety of literary texts, including myths, fairy tales, novels, short stories, and plays. Heck, you can even track the Hero’s Journey in movies, too. No matter which avenue you use, the Hero’s Journey encourages students to analyze plot structure, character motivation and development, and universal themes.

It gets them shrinking about essential questions like, are heroes born or are they made? What defines a hero? How can an individual change through taking heroic action? What can we learn about ourselves through studying a protagonist’s Hero’s Journey?

While many teachers opt for teaching the Hero’s Journey through a novel, here’s why I love using short stories to do so:

• Concise Storytelling: Short stories allow students to explore the Hero’s Journey in a concise format. This brevity allows for you to utilize short stories in various ways. Have students explore multiple examples of the Hero’s Journey, comparing and contrasting the variations. Alternatively, you can use a short story as Hero’s Journey review or as an introductory experience before diving into a full-length novel.
• Engaging Narratives: Given the waning attention spans of today’s students, it can be challenging to keep them engaged and on track with a longer text. On the other hand, short stories captivate students with their fast-paced narratives and intriguing characters. Short stories can make it through a 12-phase Hero’s Journey in a matter of pages. They often pack a punch with their themes and conflicts, giving students plenty to work with.
• Diverse Perspectives: Heroes come from different places and backgrounds, and possess various strengths and skills. It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing. Therefore, short stories allow you to expose your students to a range of protagonists and the different journeys they take. In fact, students can analyze multiple heroes in the same amount of time it would take to read an entire novel. In turn, you expose students to different voices, perspectives, and cultural experiences, fostering empathy and understanding in addition to highlighting the Hero’s Journey. Talk about two birds with one stone!
• Accessibility and Differentiation: Short stories are a great way to make literature accessible for students of varying abilities and interests. Teaching the Hero’s Journey through these shorter narratives is a great way to set students up for success by assigning a text based on their reading and comprehension level. And, if you ask me, it’s far easier for teachers to manage various short stories than multiple novels.

8 Short Stories for Teaching the Hero’s Journey

If you’ve made it this far down in the post, I’ve convinced you to at least consider using short stories when teaching the Hero’s Journey. (You won’t regret it.) But, let’s take it one step further, shall we? Instead of starting from the drawing board, here are 8 short stories that are perfect for teaching the Hero’s Journey in secondary ELA.

1. “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury

Would it be a great short story list without at least one Bradbury title? “A Sound of Thunder” may not follow every stage of the Hero’s Journey in a traditional sense, but the protagonist, Eckels, certainly experiences his own form of the journey. Bradbury’s story incorporates elements of the hero’s transformation, the challenges faced, and the revelation of the consequences of their actions as Eckles ultimately learns the hard truth that even the smallest actions can have big consequences.

2. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber

This is another short story that doesn’t completely follow the journey in the most traditional sense. However, students will enjoy tracking protagonist Walter Mitty’s own form of his Hero’s Journey. Walter Mitty’s journey involves vivid daydreams that serve as an escape from his mundane reality. Students can track the stages of the Hero’s Journey as Mr. Mitty sets out on a quest for self-expression, courage, and embracing the extraordinary within.

3. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This is not your average Hero’s Journey, making it the perfect challenge text for advanced students. Students can track how the unnamed narrator turns to the titular yellow wallpaper as her supernatural aid, becoming the catalyst for her journey of self-discovery.

4. “Thank you, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes

Students will appreciate the simple realness of Roger’s Hero’s Journey. What begins as an attempted purse robbery, Roger is faced with a different kind of call to “adventure.” Ironically, the woman he tried to steal from, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, serves as his mentor during this journey, ultimately leading him to gain a newfound understanding of the importance of kindness and compassion.

5. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

The story’s protagonist and skilled hunter, Sanger Rainsford, goes on a harrowing Hero’s Journey when he falls off his yacht and winds up stranded on a mysterious island. Suddenly, he finds himself caught in a deadly game of survival. (Dun, dun, dun.) However, by the end of his journey, Rainsford returns to civilization with a newfound perspective and appreciation for life.

6. “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara

Squeaky, the story’s young protagonist, is a talented runner who unexpectedly embarks on her own Hero’s Journey. While she is initially focused on her own ambitions, Squeaky’s perspective shifts as she heads down a path of self-discovery and compassion. By the end of her journey, Squeaky transforms from a self-centered competitor to a caring sister who is able to support her brother.

7. “Marigolds” by by Eugenia Collier

The story’s protagonist, Lizabeth, finds herself on a transformative journey initiated by frustrations with the poverty and hopelessness in her community. By the end, despite the struggles around her, she is able to find moments of beauty and to approach others with kindness and understanding. Ultimately, Lizabeth’s Hero’s Journey is one of learning empathy and self-realization in the face of adversity.

8.  “To Build a Fire” by Jack London Does this story follow the traditional Hero’s Journey? Nope. But that’s what makes it the perfect companion text to a storyline that follows the traditional journey structure and stages. In London’s story, the protagonist, simply known as “the man,” sets out on a journey through the frozen Yukon wilderness. The man’s survival skills and overall resilience are tested again and again as he faces numerous challenges and tests throughout his journey. Rather than ending with a traditional elixir or triumphant return, the man learns the power of nature and the consequences of overestimating one’s abilities. (Yikes!)

There you have it, my teacher friend! If you’re looking to shake up your approach to the Hero’s Journey, short stories may just be what you need. The stories above offer diverse examples of the Hero’s Journey, showcasing different characters, settings, and themes. As a result, your students can explore variations of this classic narrative structure, laying the groundwork for engaging discussions, a cumulative compare and contrast activity, or analytical essay.

Have any other titles to add to the list? Don’t forget to share your favorite short stories for teaching the Hero’s Journey in the comments below!

1 thought on “Best Short Stories for Teaching the Hero’s Journey”

I was searching for short stories that fit the monomyth and came across “Through the Tunnel” by Dorris Lessing. It’s fantastic and fits beautifully. Thanks for your list!

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Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids

Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids . Wonderful picture books featuring different types of journeys that kids will love teachers and parents reading with them.

Some links on this site are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you!  Learn more .

What You'll Find on This Page

Journeys are a common theme in picture books, and these three titles that I recently received to review reflect that theme beautifully. I’ve included one of my all-time favorite journey-themed picture books as a bonus.

Steppin Out: Everyday Journeys for Kids

In Steppin’ Out , poetry follows children through everyday journeys. Children visit grandparents, ride elevators, go to the beach, dance class, and more in this sweet collection of nineteen poems. Written by Lin Oliver and illustrated by Tomie dePaola.

Adventures in Asian Art: A Family Outing Journey for Kids

Adventures in Asian Art follows a mother and her three children as they journey through the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. My preschooler especially LOVED the illustrations in this book. We live pretty close to this museum, and we clearly need to journey there ourselves soon!

The Road Home: Animal Journeys

The Road Home features different animal journeys to their homes. This book is unique in its empathy for the hungry wolves while featuring bunnies fleeing from their jaws. I love author Katie Cotton’s final line in this picture book: “This road is hard, this road is long, but we are not alone. For you are here, and I’m with you… and so this road is home.” Sarah Jacoby’s illustrations are beautiful.

A Wordless Picture Book About a Journey

Journey was published back in 2013, but I couldn’t publish a post on picture books about journeys without including this exquisite wordless picture book. Children will pore over Aaron Becker’s vibrant illustrations in this award-winning book.

Do you have any favorite picture books about journeys that we should read? Please share your suggestions on my Facebook page , or tag me on Instagram .

MaryAnne Kochenderfer

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

4 thoughts on “Great Picture Books About Journeys for Kids”

I love wordless books for the stories they inspire in your head. I should have the kids do a writing assignment for one.

The art museum book sounds like it’d be fun to read.

We loved Journey. It actually has sequels – Quest and Return

What a fun list! Your family has taken some wonderful trips so I’m glad these picture books foster travel! Where are you going next?

Middle of nowhere, Idaho for a family reunion this summer. You have to get pretty remote to find a place that fits our entire family that is within our budget!

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Live Life Happy

7 Beautiful and Inspiring Short Stories About Life

We’ve collected 7 of the best inspirational and beautiful short stories to help you get through life’s challenges. Enjoy!

The Story of Life

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, longlost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger) but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience help to create who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count!!! Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

An 87 Year Old College Student Named Rose

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know.

I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, “Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.

“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked.

She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…”

“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium.

As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.”

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day.

You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.

If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.”

She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.”

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be .When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

The Starfish Story

An old man walked across the beach until he came across a young boy throwing something into the breaking waves. Upon closer inspection, the old man could see that the boy was tossing stranded starfish from the sandy beach, back into the ocean.

“What are you doing, young man?” He asked. “If the starfish are still on the beach when the sun rises, they will die,” the boy answered. “That is ridiculous. There are thousands of miles of beach and millions of starfish. It doesn’t matter how many you throw in; you can’t make a difference.”

“It matters to this one,” the boy said as he threw another starfish into the waves. “And it matters to this one.”

The Seasons of Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no – it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfilment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season in the tree’s life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are – and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life – can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfilment of your fall.

Don’t judge a life by one difficult season. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, “Who still wants it?”

Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special – Don’t ever forget it!

Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, “This is your house… my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.” Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the “house” you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

Find Happiness

Once a group of 50 people were attending a seminar. Suddenly the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each attendee one balloon. Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker pen. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates were let into that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos.

At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon. Now each one was asked to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

The speaker then began, “This is happening in our lives. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is.

Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. Give them their happiness; you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of human life…the pursuit of happiness.”

Well done, my friend! You’ve made it to the end… so what do you think? Did any of these inspirational life stories help you shift your thinking? I know they did for me. Actually, the one about the carpenter made had me crying like a baby! Anyhooo, if there’s a short inspirational story that you’d like to share with our community, please do not hesitate to post it below in the comment section. I may add it to this list if enough people comment on it.

Again, thanks for taking the time to read these stories. It means the world to me 🙂

P.S. Looking for more stories? Check out the ones below 🙂

30 Days of Carrying My Wife

Ubuntu Story

Every Successful Story Has a Painful Beginning

Reader Interactions

February 3, 2012 at 5:29 pm

March 27, 2012 at 11:41 pm

live life happy

March 31, 2012 at 2:51 am

Awsm stories

April 6, 2012 at 9:31 pm

Itz jz awwwesoomee n encouraging stories! Amen.

April 6, 2012 at 9:33 pm

Its just awesome and encouraging stories! Amen.

April 8, 2012 at 8:02 pm

Nice and Touching stories

April 12, 2012 at 11:57 pm

dis is extremely good stories, soo encouragin nd extra-odinary!

April 21, 2012 at 7:45 am

Extremely nice stories……………….

April 22, 2012 at 9:22 am

the wise, will achieve from the story, but the fool will ll see it as a lagh & joke story….The story somuch make sence

April 24, 2012 at 11:57 pm

Nice and encouraging stories

April 30, 2012 at 4:19 pm

May 1, 2012 at 5:06 am

Infact, dis story is educative , phycological it is great,

May 1, 2012 at 2:00 pm

Very inspiring stories

May 8, 2012 at 6:53 pm

nice stories pls i need more.

May 30, 2012 at 7:21 pm

These Stories r inspiring.

June 2, 2012 at 8:04 am

Inspiring stories! It’s as if the stories are actually meant 4 me.

June 3, 2012 at 5:01 am

l love this stories

June 15, 2012 at 7:05 am

Life changing stories ..thumbs up!!

June 16, 2012 at 7:04 pm

luv ur writing.

June 24, 2012 at 12:27 am

love it please mention the writer

June 25, 2012 at 8:18 pm

Dis is great

June 28, 2012 at 12:49 pm

I think dis great or real life stories

June 28, 2012 at 4:33 pm

Awesome n motivational.

July 1, 2012 at 2:52 pm

Excellent stories!

July 5, 2012 at 11:49 am

They ar nice and encouraging

July 11, 2012 at 9:09 pm

Nice and educative story

July 12, 2012 at 4:46 pm

I got new things to learn…….

July 14, 2012 at 9:33 am

i am 14 years of age and i have lost my father 5 days ago in a fatal car crash and was taken too soon. he is still here with me in my memories and in my heart. Although i have been kicked around by life in this never ending night mare that unfortunately cant wake up out of. these story’s have inspired me. i just needed some inspiration and motivation to keep me going in these rough times. it has helped so much! thankyou livelifehappy!

love you dad. miss you! your son Mitchell.

July 20, 2012 at 4:22 am

stories are really ,,,,,,,adorable

July 20, 2012 at 4:23 am

i wish u will come acroos this phase really soon……………

July 21, 2012 at 9:21 am

live changing stories- so good.

July 27, 2012 at 6:30 pm

May our gud Lord grant u happiness in ur heart so as to live pleasant life.we are with u in prayers and i send my sincere gratitudes to livelife happy 4 inspirational and life encouraging stories.thnx.

August 2, 2012 at 6:25 pm

Great stories, great lessons. I love them like the Bible

August 5, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Inspiring story,its amazing & encouraging. Tnx 2 u livelifehappy

August 19, 2012 at 11:40 am

i liked and loved these stories very very very very very very very very much because these are the real stories which are passing in our life

August 21, 2012 at 2:07 pm

Tough time won’t last but tough people do. God bless you

August 25, 2012 at 8:19 am

exactly it gv me hope n courages….

August 27, 2012 at 7:35 pm

This are actuly nice mind blowing stories. The hv the leasons every life nid to tak, ma adoration as i nid more

August 29, 2012 at 12:23 pm

diz storiez r de best

August 29, 2012 at 12:26 pm

nice stories

August 30, 2012 at 7:18 am

I got you jst in time, your stories are such encouraging. keep it up!

September 3, 2012 at 5:54 am

Really was awesome stories thanks live life happy

September 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm

This stories make me to re-adjust my movement in life,it makes me to understand that my life and what am going to become in life is in my hand.thank very much livelifehappy for this wonderful stories.

September 10, 2012 at 7:29 am

Awesome Stories ; I will implement with immediate effect.

September 12, 2012 at 11:13 am

encouraging stories.thanks live happy life

September 13, 2012 at 2:48 am

September 19, 2012 at 6:49 pm

So makin my life so bright nd clear. Thank u so much 4 ur stories of encouragement. God bless u livelifehappy.

September 27, 2012 at 4:13 am

its one the best site ,i visit everyday… awsome word’s and stores ..keep on !!!

September 28, 2012 at 11:58 pm

Nothing has ever in my life touches me, but this story is very important to the strong heart, I appreciate you so much, the story has just change my way of reasoning.

October 4, 2012 at 10:17 am

This stories help us know that thing always Work out for the best and that we should never lose hope or judge for one day we will need someone to see our beauty.

October 9, 2012 at 2:48 pm

Hey livelifehappy, is there a way I can join the crew? I’m a 12 year old girl dreamer, and I’m turning 13 pretty soon. I made my own website for those who want to live life the way they want, but are drawn back by fear, aka-stargazers. Maybe visit it sometime? I feel like this website really helped me a lot, and whoever wrote these quotes, and the owner of the site, has a lot in common with me. Please send me an email, I really want to be able to work with those who understand and can relate. I feel like people like us are one in a million, and it would be a honor to help/contribute, since I think we feel/think in a similar way. I feel like other people will be able to understand, but I felt like I can relate. I know I’m young, but I’ve been through a tough life of bullying and the death of my brother, and three best friends. Faith was what saved me. So now, I feel like I would do anything, ANYTHING, to find somewhere I belong and somebody to write with. Please consider me! ~ Victoria Lee

October 24, 2012 at 11:42 am

these are some of the wonderfull stories by reading them one can bring positive feeeling in his or her life… really such a great inspireing stories…..

October 25, 2012 at 4:43 pm

November 1, 2012 at 9:40 pm

This stories are very encouraging because i learnt a lot from it these past few days.They are inspirational stories.

November 8, 2012 at 5:09 pm

Inspirational Stories.! Very 9ce Work On The Site..LiveLifeHappy Always : )

November 11, 2012 at 7:26 pm

Better To Be a Failure I honestly think, as put by George Burns, it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate. It is not a failure if you enjoyed the process. Even if you fall down, don’t worry. Have a fresh view. The world looks different from the ground. You can take from every experience what it has to offer you. Do better the second time. You never know when you success is at threshold. It’s very difficult to come up with new, creative, and novel ideas unless you are passionate about your work. Leave your reputation and invest in character. Cheers to a new year; another chance for us to get it right with a new resolution.

November 28, 2012 at 12:16 am

I’m at a pretty low point right now and these stories and site in general has stirred some hope for me. Thank you for these!

December 3, 2012 at 9:22 am

i luv ur quotes,ur quotes nd stories are elements dat touches d heart..keep it up

December 9, 2012 at 5:15 pm

These stories are like magic words. They have spark something within me to help me live wisely.

December 18, 2012 at 2:39 pm

these are so good stories and so touching and filled with messages……….

December 18, 2012 at 8:33 pm

LOVE THIS GOOD TO SEE REFRESHING IN THIS NEGATIVE WORLD SOMETIMES THANKYOU AND GOD BLESS

December 21, 2012 at 6:01 am

hi its good to read these type of stories who are weak in their life or career like me. after reading it brings a positive attitude thankyou one & all who upload it please upload more

December 26, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Thank you so much for these stories…and thank you to all those who made it possible…

January 8, 2013 at 2:29 am

i want to thank you for these wonderful stories they help in planning for my future!

January 14, 2013 at 9:00 pm

a well life enchantin quotes nd stories wish i kud b getin lots of life on my email daily ….KUDOOS TO SITE OWNER u’ve inspired lives unknwd

January 23, 2013 at 3:34 am

hmmm…. Very touchn story

February 1, 2013 at 10:27 am

Thank you I love it I need this story in my e mail every day one story per day or whatever thank you.

February 1, 2013 at 12:50 pm

i too lked you bt ore important s i want to be ur friend.will u be my….

February 1, 2013 at 12:52 pm

This site is just awesome .!!!

February 5, 2013 at 5:02 am

these story are most eventful if u want something do to urself ……………

February 7, 2013 at 4:20 pm

Very inspiring stories. Very motivational! will keep them at heart!

February 9, 2013 at 12:14 pm

i loved these stories and please tell me how can i get more of them

February 12, 2013 at 1:25 pm

The stories are so nice n encouraging.i felt stronger after reading them.nice!

February 25, 2013 at 5:56 am

good stories

February 28, 2013 at 11:19 am

very much inspiring…

February 28, 2013 at 8:20 pm

This is awesome live life happy.

March 9, 2013 at 5:05 am

Genesis, I feel the same. Instead, lets make our own.

March 14, 2013 at 6:25 pm

Live life to the fullest:)

March 19, 2013 at 3:24 pm

Lovely website. Very inspiring and refreshing.

March 22, 2013 at 5:54 am

This is awesome

March 24, 2013 at 7:14 pm

Hi Mitchell, Thank you so much for sharing that story, u didn’t have to but u didid. I am going through so much right now, and literally feel like the world is on top of me and I cannot get out from underneath. I don’t know why, but something made me read your comment, I was scrolling down to see if there aren’t more stories, but could only see comments, somehow something told me to read your story and I am so sorry for the pain you have to go through without having your dad in your life. I just want you to know that your story just made me look at life differently, made me think “hey, u still have your mom and dad, why are u complaining” I guess everyone has a different kind of pain, guess that’s what life does. But what I do know for a fact is that nothing stays the same for too long. There might be lighting storms but the sun always comes out eventually. As much as It hurts to live in this world, there are amazing things about this hurtful world too. We will get through it all, we are made to make it through. We are created in the image and likliness of God, so we can do anything and have so much strenght in us, it is in our darkest hours that we discover who we are. Ur dad is with you always and will continue to be. God bless Mitchell and thank you once again…

April 1, 2013 at 7:12 pm

I love this story very ancorageing and very very impirational

April 11, 2013 at 11:54 am

Very encouraging, I needed to read this.I came accross it at a very relevant time. Thank u guys for sharing.

April 12, 2013 at 4:52 pm

Thank You for these beautiful stories 🙂

April 14, 2013 at 7:05 am

YAA sometimes life takes our test of trust ,that situtaion very hard for us to decide whether we did mistake so that we r faceing problem,that time we should convince our self thae gods dos every thing for our careing.

April 15, 2013 at 11:35 am

awesome stories….Thanks a lot

April 26, 2013 at 11:27 pm

So very interesting…I love these story

April 27, 2013 at 4:14 pm

Your story raises my spirit.

April 30, 2013 at 1:52 pm

Excellent justification given by you, felt really nice to read your comments it really inspires us. thanks

May 5, 2013 at 3:28 pm

that was lovly is great

May 19, 2013 at 4:59 am

Awesome Life story 1st blog

May 23, 2013 at 2:31 pm

Hi, very nice, thought provoking, above par … list goes on… May I know the intervals for new stories.

May 25, 2013 at 8:21 pm

Really impressive stories…..I get a new view of life. Thanks

May 29, 2013 at 8:40 pm

great indeed

June 3, 2013 at 8:29 am

wow great story

June 10, 2013 at 11:43 am

Nice, luv dis page

June 22, 2013 at 11:06 am

I want to be receiving your posters, pictures, stories, and quotes. They are very interesting. Thank you

July 7, 2013 at 3:52 pm

These stories are very inspiring. It made me feel better when I read them. Thank you livelifehappy!

July 12, 2013 at 7:29 am

I’m so very inspired from this story.. especially “your value” and “seasons of life”… make more inspiring quotes… 🙂

July 12, 2013 at 7:31 am

may God bless you more.. the person who wrote this stories …..

July 15, 2013 at 10:46 pm

Thank yo very much for your great words!!

July 16, 2013 at 9:01 am

Very Nice stories

July 19, 2013 at 5:42 am

so nice to read and it is very much useful for the yong generations

July 20, 2013 at 11:12 am

Thank You so much for sharing all above stories … I was feeling so depressed and wanted to end my life at any cost…. after reading all above stories for an hour i forget all my problems and pain… I just enjoyed and learned alot…. thanks again …..

July 21, 2013 at 7:19 am

Truly inspiring and transforming. The principles encountered from the stories will not only inspire us but will lead us on a journey of life that will bring about potential change.

July 21, 2013 at 8:56 am

i give thanks to the person who wrote these stories. I was really inspired. And I learned a lot. thank you.

July 24, 2013 at 6:00 am

I am inspired to live my life as what God has planned for me..:)

July 25, 2013 at 9:45 am

Very inspiring stories. It gives me more pleasure. Some times we forgot to love ourselves because of the things happening around us and we feels that we doesn’t have any value at all. But instead of suffering with these regrets, if we feel that as odd season and if we take a step with belief and prove ourselves, then obviously we can get back the value in the society. By following these kind stories, we can achieve a better life i feel.

July 25, 2013 at 11:59 am

Thank you for all these wonderful life lessons stories, I am really touched & have learn lots from it. Life is a process, Its Beautiful & meant to live it no matter what we face in the journey.

July 26, 2013 at 3:15 pm

These stories have helped me re-evalate my self worth and appreciate things differently, hopefully we get to see some more up here soon 🙂

July 29, 2013 at 11:37 am

I m just Speechless..!! This Is Really Worth..<3 Even Couldn't Explain with my words

July 29, 2013 at 3:49 pm

I am Speechless and i couldn’t explain from my words..:) Really Inspirational

July 30, 2013 at 6:43 am

yaaaaa ful agree wid u. “leave your reputation and invest in character” is bst line in al ds.

July 30, 2013 at 9:22 am

July 30, 2013 at 7:43 pm

Hi Mitchell,

Just read your comment now..this is my first time readinglivelifehappy.com, and your comment above really got my attention and i cant explain how’s my feeling right now. I wanna say after a year that you posted it, prioritize your education and aim to finish it whatever happens..you can do more if you’ll be graduated from your chosen course..in this modern world your weapon is education..you can learn more ideas, knowledge and etc.. to understand more deeper what is life are all about and how can we handle things when we encounter such trials,difficulties, losing happiness and etc.. Be a good girl always huh? dont forget to pray god..avoid making friends of bad influence people..just focus to your goal..and I’m sure you can definitely make it..Wish you to have a happy life and succesful career.

July 30, 2013 at 7:58 pm

I am so inspired on your stories, reading of these made me realize that there are so many ways to be a better person, just find ways and do it.

August 1, 2013 at 12:03 pm

I’ve learned to believe in myself or else no one believe in me. Thank u live life hapy.

August 2, 2013 at 8:30 pm

Nice stories, Your stories are really inspring. Thnx 2 live Life 4 leting me knw that it is never too late to be all i can possibly be. Keep the good work.

August 5, 2013 at 9:58 am

August 5, 2013 at 3:22 pm

frankly am inspired,thank you for sharing with us…..!

August 6, 2013 at 2:01 am

thanx for posting these stories..i believe these small stories will bring big difference in life….

August 6, 2013 at 7:42 pm

So inspiring am touched positively

August 6, 2013 at 11:03 pm

I really want to thank the person to teach me what decisions i should take i am 19 years old people around me always told me what to do and what not to but i guess never ever forget these stories

August 8, 2013 at 6:23 pm

August 10, 2013 at 5:16 pm

Dis stories are really, inspirational, Motivational and Adorable. I love it

August 12, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Really positive thinking is must, it gives positive results by default.

August 12, 2013 at 12:26 pm

Good inspirational quotes/stories are life experience.

August 12, 2013 at 5:06 pm

I WILL IMPLEMENT THE WONDERFUL THOUGHTS FROM THE STORIES IN MY LIFE………

August 13, 2013 at 10:04 am

im so inspire by this site full of encouragement.. happiness and i feel blessed while reading those stories/..thank you lord..!

August 13, 2013 at 4:50 pm

’twas so wonderful to have read all these.i CAN’T afford to be unhappy!

August 14, 2013 at 9:44 am

Wow! Fascinating…..Am highly blessed with these stories.

August 14, 2013 at 2:31 pm

wonderful storis woooooow juana dast xosh

August 15, 2013 at 5:39 am

Realy touching story….

August 15, 2013 at 7:55 am

so many things in a few simple words… brief and precise! I loved it!

August 15, 2013 at 8:12 am

i was a man who lost my hope and dream but this remind me once again the my failar is nothing but its a lesson of achievement in our life.

August 15, 2013 at 9:29 am

Wooow !!! I can’t believe such inspirational stories are documented… I love these stories… What a great way to start my Morning…

August 16, 2013 at 11:22 am

Nice stories. I learnt so much. so much inspired me

August 17, 2013 at 12:44 pm

REALLY, WORTH THOUSANDS APPLAUDS. I AM ABLE TO LEARN LITTLE MORE THAN I USE TO HAD BEFORE READING THEM. THANKS A LOT.

August 17, 2013 at 1:12 pm

What a great story.. I’m so inspired with this ur blog….u deserve d best bcuz u ar already the best….long live u for us….one love

August 17, 2013 at 5:58 pm

nice & inspiring stories………

August 18, 2013 at 6:32 am

iliked and loved these stories very very nice storeis realy

August 18, 2013 at 6:40 am

August 19, 2013 at 1:17 am

these stories are really inspirational

August 20, 2013 at 12:54 pm

Great inspiring stories. By reading one gets a lot of strength and lessons to learn about life. These stories are filled with a lot of encouragement. Thanks for sharing.

August 21, 2013 at 5:08 pm

There were that were lost on our way far from our families and friends hiding something because we dont want to be critisized or to be judge and were looking for someone, something that could help out us speak tell the truth these inspirational stories shed me a light thank you very much!

August 21, 2013 at 10:03 pm

August 22, 2013 at 9:22 am

Inspirational and life transforming stories. great work.

August 22, 2013 at 11:37 am

the dollar note has not lost its value.we are also into many difficult situations,threw ourselves away feeling sorry to our selves..but we are still what we are..we also dont lose our value..i told about it to my friend she was in depression..once she realised..she is doing very well now.it is motivating

August 23, 2013 at 8:01 am

Excellent stories. They are helping to reshape my life.. Thanks a lot for sharing.

August 23, 2013 at 2:56 pm

THANKS FOR ALL THIS STORIES ..

August 24, 2013 at 12:06 pm

I am touched and encouraged by these life changing stories. It has really helped me to reshape and refocus my priorities in life.

August 24, 2013 at 12:25 pm

Amazing stories! Real life lessons

August 25, 2013 at 7:21 am

Thank you! I appreciate all your stories. Pls keep on writing, keep inspiring.

August 26, 2013 at 5:36 am

This is really very nice and the important thing is that, these type of stories give us courage, strength and make people strong and give a feeling to do something in your life. Helping out to make our dreams come true and gives a lots of experiences. Thanks “live life happy” for posting some inspirational stories.l

August 27, 2013 at 6:18 pm

The stories were truly heart mending,we needed to be constantly aware of d fact that wat ever a man speakth he becometh . Thanks a lot 4building courage true media,i think dis is of d incomparable benefits of media. Keep it up.

August 29, 2013 at 6:00 pm

oh i’m touch with these stories God bless u all.

August 29, 2013 at 9:47 pm

They stories are really cool!!! It av really been an inspiration 2 mi @ also to many others… More power to your elbow.

September 2, 2013 at 10:04 am

-excellent, w0nderful, amazing, magnificent, enthusiasm, perfectly, and flamb0yantly pr0ud t0 salute this kind 0f irresistable st0ries, it shares deeper th0ughts, deeper meanings and pr0ductive analysis . . . t0 me, n0t 0nly in me but even th0se m0tivati0nal pe0ple and admiring people to transf0rm, change 0r ev0lve- 🙂 c0ngratulati0ns!

September 14, 2013 at 12:22 pm

Thatz xo inspiring,thanx alot.

September 17, 2013 at 1:02 am

Wow! Al the stories are amazin and wonderful, am realy touched

October 3, 2013 at 3:45 pm

you enlighten my life thank you for this wonderful and encouraging story..

October 10, 2013 at 9:59 pm

Simply Amazing

October 13, 2013 at 4:30 pm

Wow thanks fot the great stories am blessed i used to devalue my self due to my past but thank God that i have known i have known. May he bless you mightly.

October 14, 2013 at 11:22 am

what an interesting story?it is real inspiring me.amen

November 22, 2013 at 1:40 pm

very nice and touching stories

December 1, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Thank u livelifehappy,im in a foreign land and this is my story….this year 2013 my work permit expired and my salary was cut in july.early november i got involved in a near fatal accident,i cant have my car fixed because of the salary issue.After submitting my permit to my employer i was told that i would only be paid for two months i.e. November and December only.As if that was not enough,they told me that i have been terminated due to the late submission of documents…..i just wanted 2 say thank you livelifehappy for your inspiring quotes.

December 14, 2013 at 3:17 am

This is so true

December 16, 2013 at 2:58 pm

This massages are inspiring and incouraging us dat we hav to work hard for ourlives

January 11, 2014 at 2:57 am

Our true character is revealed through adversity. Our mistakes, hardships, difficult times etc do not define who we are and ppl shouldn’t judge on that basis. It is how we react to adversity…whether or not we can shoulder our mistakes and be able to look into the mirror. It takes incredible courage to accept and own our faults in order to become better, wiser people. I admire those who have gone thru unthinkable times in their lives and are able to stand back up. If the adversity was self-inflicted, can they accept it openly rathen than make excuses? If they were betrayed, do they allow the hurt to destroy them or use it to gain perspective and grow. To me, these type of examples will show the true character of a person

January 24, 2014 at 4:35 pm

These short stories are great reading. I find them to be inspirational and motivating, Thanks.

February 19, 2014 at 3:33 am

Great stories and very inspiring!

March 14, 2014 at 9:48 pm

wow what the inspiring stoies im greatful.im back on my feet again,keep up the good work by motivating us.

March 25, 2014 at 1:45 pm

life is really the hardest exam ever..,everyone ought to tackle his or her own life differently since we all have varying abilities…these stories have given me ago ahead in life despite the many challenges that i have undergone.I sure have a future as everyone else depending on how i handle life and every situation that comes my way.Lets all remember that everything always has a purpose in this world….LETS ALL BE HAPPY AND JOVIAL ALWAYS FOR LIFE IS SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the stories.

March 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm

I’d almost everything… Thank you so much for such a lovely sharing. It’s all .. Rest all have already praised about your website and I’m sure my word won’t be best describe it.. except “Thank you!”

April 24, 2014 at 4:57 pm

Just amazing stories its really motivating n truely inspiring thank u for sharing it n making us realize the worth value n correct meaning of life

May 22, 2014 at 7:22 am

It is highly inspired;keep the good work going!

June 27, 2014 at 9:07 am

Mind blowing and stories on recontsructing a shattered shabbed life in every ramifications and aspect of life….thumbs up..

July 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm

All the stories are motivating,inspirative.I will tell to my students at period of moral education…Thank u for such stories!After hearing or reading these stories everyone will get inspiration.

January 20, 2015 at 9:32 pm

Your writing shows deep reflection and insight. Additionally, your writing is clear and concise. Your English teachers would be proud (even with intentional spelling adjustments) and smiling. Continue to write—you have a gift!

February 21, 2015 at 6:52 pm

Wow, what a great site this is – love your images – thanks 😉

March 2, 2015 at 9:16 pm

life has been came so wonderful with this stories I read Here everyday I love this site,its the best place I like to spend my time reading and it makes me wiser and changes me as a person to do better, I thank you very much

March 16, 2016 at 5:23 am

Worth reading! Thank you very much. 🙂

December 8, 2017 at 10:29 am

Wow, what a great site this is – love your images – thanks ?

March 9, 2018 at 12:07 am

This really keep me going . Anytime I feel like giving up and go through this amazing motivational quotes ,it make me strong ? hard times are there to lead us to great places ?

March 9, 2018 at 11:19 pm

I’m glad this could help you…

April 5, 2018 at 12:59 pm

After reading these stories, i realized i missed a lot of things in life. These stories will absolutely change my life.

April 19, 2018 at 8:16 pm

story about old lady is awesome.

April 22, 2018 at 4:47 pm

So much ave missed…anyway am blessed..thumps up..i need more stories..2018• guyz more comments

April 29, 2018 at 7:58 pm

Rose story was awsome

May 2, 2018 at 2:17 pm

these stories are very inspiring and I really felt enthusiastic after reading them. I learned that life is beautiful and whatever happens, happens for the best.thanks for sharing such motivational stories. Hope we will get some more stories to read. Good Luck!

May 6, 2018 at 3:09 pm

Well I’m so inexperienced to articulate what I m feeling right now. This is the first time that I have read livelifehappy.com but I would definitely say this is the best utilization and happy hours for me. I wish I could find lot more of the story. I kept on scrolling down but I could comments section. This has given me different way of looking into things and people as well. Hey Rob that really really wonderful to read this. Waiting for the upcomings. Thankyou so much for making me smile and motivated.

May 9, 2018 at 8:48 am

Thanks for such an inspirational stories… In today’s world people are so busy in making money and they have no time for their family and friends due to which people are facing lots of struggle.. … I am sure that by seeing this inspirational stories everyone will feel better and calm…. Anyone who are facing problems I just want to say that help one people who are in need of your help than I am sure by seeing smile on others face your problem will becomes less…. By helping others you will really feel solace….. When I read this short stories I really feel calm…. So thanks a lot……. Smile……

May 10, 2018 at 7:44 am

nice work and good stories i like it

May 16, 2018 at 5:59 am

Talking in between lectures and get thrown out of the class. This are the best classroom stories to remember. Just like when my crush got thrown out of the class. Even I went out just to talk with her and spend time with her, Some chapters of love stories are best learned outside the classroom love story

May 18, 2018 at 6:23 am

Encouraging stories.actually we need more.

May 22, 2018 at 10:40 am

This is really awesome, obviously these are all inspiration stories and we can share it to friends or family members not to be miserable.

Thanks for this kind of stories, please share more this kind of stories.

May 22, 2018 at 5:38 pm

Glad you enjoyed them my friend

May 25, 2018 at 1:39 am

you have a good article, i want to share this artukel, i hope it will be useful for others .. thanks

May 27, 2018 at 11:37 pm

very touching and so relevant..loved it!

June 8, 2018 at 1:01 pm

Such a great and an awesome story! Thanks for Sharing

June 18, 2018 at 6:47 pm

In the fast pace stressful life, inspirational stories works as energy boosters and pill with no side effects. Thanks for sharing the stories. I write inspirational stuff to inspire and motivate myself and others too. It gives another level of happiness. You may want to check these http://innovativheart.com/thomas-edison-life-lessons-success-story/ http://innovativheart.com/inspirational-story-butterfly/

June 22, 2018 at 6:55 am

at the first ,i was bored to read this long type stories but when i start to read i was really shocked ,it was amazing and power to inspire human.thank you

June 22, 2018 at 2:54 pm

Today I am lucky. I came out of my routine, finding out solutions for mysilly problems. At this age, I am wasting my time, a large part of it, into finding solutions for unnecessary issues. Today I made my first positive step and came to this wonderful and resourful blog post. The post is humarous, real, motivational and touching. I will keep coming to this blogs daily and spend a couple of hours on similar blogs.

June 22, 2018 at 5:29 pm

Everything happens for a reason and I’m so thankful that I happen to find these stories. Truly inspirational

June 28, 2018 at 2:04 pm

What A Wonderfull Stories I Like Them Please Add More

June 29, 2018 at 6:17 am

very nice stories …inspiring and motivating

July 2, 2018 at 9:50 pm

Hi guys, thanks for these inspiring story, indeed they do lift up a dead soul like mine, where by I thought I was worthless, and no longer have value. Thank you so much ?

July 4, 2018 at 2:38 am

i love these stories

July 4, 2018 at 2:40 am

These stories are so inspiring and so much fun to read. I enjoyed them.

July 8, 2018 at 1:58 pm

wow,such a great and inspirational stories

July 10, 2018 at 4:14 am

nice story ..

July 14, 2018 at 8:33 am

this is LOVEEE !…Its so beautiful to see the world with these eyes. A huge thanks for introducing me to these life visions. Pure happiness…

May 7, 2019 at 6:25 am

thank you so much i really loved and inspired with these stories . that’s how your morning should start thank you again.

March 24, 2020 at 10:19 am

May 13, 2020 at 11:09 am

Refreshing and makes you think about them. Thank you soooo much. Love

May 13, 2020 at 11:10 am

Refreshing and makes you think about them. Thank you so much. much love. Keep up the good work

May 13, 2020 at 10:53 pm

wonderful stories and good lessons for life. wish there more people in the world could read these stories.

May 31, 2020 at 9:11 pm

i love your work it has really bless me

June 7, 2020 at 1:53 pm

I ENJOYED THE STORIES I READ FROM YOUR BLOG. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

July 11, 2020 at 12:50 pm

August 19, 2020 at 9:52 am

inspiring stories

August 30, 2020 at 5:28 pm

thanks sir your site is good and i will share it my personal blog

September 23, 2020 at 2:16 pm

one day in 2020, I am finding myself

November 3, 2020 at 9:08 am

Hi, Can I know who is the writer of this stories?

March 16, 2021 at 11:18 am

As a rule, pride is at the bottom of all problems and mistakes. The truth will always be hard to swallow when we are choking on our noble.

April 8, 2021 at 5:16 am

Very encouraging stories. Thanks for sharing.

April 19, 2021 at 5:55 pm

Was looking for some takes regarding this topic and I found your article quite informative. It has given me a fresh perspective on the topic tackled. Thanks!

June 11, 2021 at 6:38 am

Thank you for tis stories. I would like more many. Please upload this type of things with in reality reach n teach us. 👍

July 22, 2021 at 5:20 am

October 11, 2021 at 12:48 pm

Good day A bit of my brain tumors Story….. I was about 21 when I was in a major train accident and had major head injuries and it left me paralysed for a few months or sooo as my pelvic bones were broken as well. I am a 51 year woman who worked for Nedbank for 27 years then this traumatic events started : We were moving office from one floor to another and I fell up the stairs with boxes in my arms and aged 22 bumped my head that time my colleague laughed and said they never heard of a person falling up the stairs but only down the stairs.

The doctor that time said my tumours is inherit from 3 generations meningioma and malama passed on to me and is stress related and he suggested that we move out of the residential area. Which we did. But neverless I lost everything my husband my beautifull plot my children my friends all my personal and sentimental belongings due to my personality changes, emotional insecurity, social phobia, memory loss, Nobody understood the changes in me, not even me do now. I had 4 brain operations over a period of 15 years. The first in 2001 half of my hair was shaved off to open my scalp to remove the tumour, the second 2002 the back of my left ear that leave me partial deaf the 3 rd in 2011 on my frontal right lobe eye what started with losing my eye sight the last in 2015 in my right frontal lobe.. which created a personality change which I battled to accept and it is difficult for my family as well. My children think I am putting up a act to get attention. I am losing my eye sight I think the last one was the most difficult one due to my age and it created a personality change which is difficult to accept by myself and family and I am scared for people that I did not know before the operation. I have no words to explain my condition, I cry every day and is tired and sleep most of the time. I am unbalanced and dizzy if I stand to long I cannot even go shopping. I went through a divorce and into a new relationship which made every thing more confused as I did not understand why are everybody treating me like a baby and my bf never left my side for 24/7. It felt that all know something but don’t want me to know. I believed I was crazy but my family rescued me. Well I believe I am able to cure with professional help / sponsorship or even if research is done on me to better technology. I am prepared to relocated for studies to be done on me. I want to be the same or a better person with wealth and health and happiness and success and love than before. I am under 24/7 care but believe I am able to heal 100% with God on my side and professional help. I constantly change living arrangements within the family as they do not know how to handle my moods and I cannot live by myself . I have emotional issues as I cry a lot and my family want me save and happy. I have short term and long term memory loss and it seem that no one understand me and I have no reason to live anymore. I was once admitted to Akeso Clinic as I had a major breakdown and my daugther send me to Randvaal in Walkerville in 2016 a place for old age people and brain damage persons younger than 60 who are under care 24/7 as well, as she has Power of Attorney on all of my financial affairs, but I turned out worse and now I am with family in Heidelberg always family with me 24/7 as I get lost and all funny things happen to me. So I am never alone….. I were everywhere with the family Durban, Cape Town, but had no professional help just loving family protecting and caring for me for the past 5 years. The Brackenhurst clinic referred me to Alberton North pshyco who wanted me go go to Sterkfontein hospital but my family said noooo. Once a month the family comes together and dress me up and make me beautifull for photos but that makes me even more emotional. They love me sooo much and also want to see me as I use to be and I Brain opp photos x15

November 30, 2021 at 3:10 am

These are soo inspiring stories we should put in our lifes.

January 13, 2022 at 6:38 am

Awesome site. Thanks for sharing.

March 1, 2022 at 7:48 pm

All stories inspired my way of thought and my life too. This will always be my power and knowledge to my life.

March 3, 2022 at 9:07 pm

I loved it I read it at school and it was the best ever I had to write a story based off or it.

April 6, 2022 at 9:43 am

The quates are seem to be a considerable and useful for everyone who logically go through them. Thank you. I appericiate your work.

November 7, 2022 at 2:52 pm

Thanks for sharing the stories. It would be nice to have more. I would appreciate if you could upload these kinds of things with in real life reach and teach us. 👍

Best Todays – Best Todays | A website to learn the ways to make money online and reviews. https://bestodays.com/

October 30, 2023 at 9:03 am

Thanks a lot buddy. Really felt happy.

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10 of the Best Poems about Journeys

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

According to Thomas de Quincey, Wordsworth clocked up an estimated 180,000 miles during his lifetime, walking around his beloved Lake District (to say nothing of the Quantocks, where he lived near Coleridge during the 1790s).

Andrew Marvell, ‘ Bermudas ’.

Where the remote Bermudas ride In th’ocean’s bosom unespied, From a small boat, that row’d along, The list’ning winds receiv’d this song. ‘What should we do but sing his praise That led us through the wat’ry maze Unto an isle so long unknown, And yet far kinder than our own?

This poem, from the seventeenth-century poet Andrew Marvell, is set in the Atlantic ocean and focuses on a group of people aboard a boat, and clearly in exile from their native land. They spy the island of Bermuda, and sing a song in praise of the island. The next 32 lines of the poem comprise their song.

The people aboard the boat praise God for leading them to this previously undiscovered island, which seems ‘far kinder’ than the island they have left behind, namely Britain.

These people have endured and eluded sea-monsters and storms, and God has led them to safety on the ‘grassy stage’ of this new island. It is mentioned that they are fleeing England because of ‘prelates’ rage’, namely religious persecution – so ‘Bermudas’ is a poem about undertaking a difficult journey to find a new place where a community of people can start afresh.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner .

The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone: He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.

‘The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top.

‘The Sun came up upon the left, Out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right Went down into the sea …

Written in 1797-8, this is Coleridge’s most famous poem – it first appeared in Lyrical Ballads . The idea of killing an albatross bringing bad luck upon the crew of a ship appears to have been invented in this poem, as there is no precedent for it – and the albatross idea was probably William Wordsworth’s, not Coleridge’s (Wordsworth got the idea of the albatross-killing from a 1726 book, A Voyage Round The World by Way of the Great South Sea , by Captain George Shelvocke).

The poem is one of the great narrative poems in English, with the old mariner recounting his story, with its hardships and tragedy, to a wedding guest. Variously interpreted as being about guilt over the Transatlantic slave trade, about Coleridge’s own loneliness, and about spiritual salvation, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner remains a challenging poem about a journey whose lessons the ship’s crew, and we as readers, continue to learn from.

Robert Browning, ‘ How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix ’.

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I gallop’d, Dirck gallop’d, we gallop’d all three; ‘Good speed!’ cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; ‘Speed!’ echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we gallop’d abreast …

Beginning with the wonderfully rhythmical lines ‘I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; / I gallop’d, Dirck gallop’d, we gallop’d all three’. But this poem, describing a horse-ride to deliver some important news (although we never learn what the news actually is). Instead, the emphasis is on the journey itself, with the sound of the galloping horses excellently captured through the metre of the verse.

This poem has a notable claim to fame: in 1889, it became the first poem (spoken by the author) to be recorded on a phonograph, when Browning recited (half-remembered) words from the poem into an Edison phonograph at a dinner party.

Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, ‘ The Night Mail North ’.

Now then, take your seats! for Glasgow and the North; Chester! – Carlisle! – Holyhead, – and the wild Firth of Forth,

‘Clap on the steam and sharp’s the word, You men in scarlet cloth: –

‘Are there any more pas .. sengers, For the Night .. Mail .. to the North!’ Are there any more passengers? Yes three – but they can’t get in, – Too late, too late! – How they bellow and knock, They might as well try to soften a rock As the heart of that fellow in green …’

Before W. H. Auden’s more famous ‘Night Mail’ poem from 1936, there was this poem, whose full title is ‘The Night Mail North (Euston Square, 1840)’ – 1840 being the year the penny post was introduced in Britain. Pennell captures the snatches of conversation on the train as it prepares to embark on its long voyage north and the passengers settle down for their journey in this skilful piece of what we might call documentary poetry.

Emily Dickinson, ‘ Our Journey had advanced ’.

Our journey had advanced; Our feet were almost come To that odd fork in Being’s road, Eternity by term …

In many of the best journey poems, the journey is a metaphor for something greater – and this is certainly the case in this Emily Dickinson poem. And what journey is greater than that from life into death, mortality into eternity?

A. E. Housman, ‘ White in the moon the long road lies ’.

White in the moon the long road lies, The moon stands blank above; White in the moon the long road lies That leads me from my love.

Still hangs the hedge without a gust, Still, still the shadows stay: My feet upon the moonlit dust Pursue the ceaseless way …

In this poem, the king of lugubrious English verse writes about leaving his beloved, with the road lying ahead of him that ‘leads me from my love’. And although he trusts that the same road will eventually lead him back to his love, first he must travel far, far away.

W. B. Yeats, ‘ Sailing to Byzantium ’.

That is no country for old men. The young In one another’s arms, birds in the trees, —Those dying generations—at their song, The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas, Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long Whatever is begotten, born, and dies. Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect …

W. B. Yeats wrote ‘Sailing to Byzantium’ in 1927, when he was in his early sixties, and the poem sees Yeats’s speaker announcing that the country he’s left behind is ‘no country for old men’.

Being old, the speaker felt out of place there, and so he is making a journey (a pilgrimage?) to the ancient city of Byzantium, which can be read as a symbol for his yearning for spiritual meaning: the poem, then, is about a spiritual journey, and renouncing the hold of the world upon us in order to attain something higher than the physical or sensual.

D. H. Lawrence, ‘ The Ship of Death ’.

Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion.

The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise themselves an exit from themselves.

And it is time to go, to bid farewell to one’s own self, and find an exit from the fallen self …

A poem of angst and death, ‘The Ship of Death’ uses the metaphor of a journey to invoke the idea of self-discovery: the poem involves the poem’s speaker calling for the reader to prepare a ‘ship of death’ – ‘the fragile ship of courage, the ark of faith’ – to transport them to ‘oblivion’, travelling from ‘the old self’ to ‘the new’.

T. S. Eliot, ‘ Journey of the Magi ’.

A nativity poem with a difference, ‘Journey of the Magi’ (1927) is spoken by one of the ‘Three Wise Men’ (as they’re commonly known), as they make their journey to visit the infant Jesus. The speaker reflects on the hardships he and his fellow travellers endure on their journey, and the implications of the advent of Christ for the Magi’s own belief system.

Philip Larkin, ‘ The Whitsun Weddings ’.

This poem, the title poem in Larkin’s 1964 collection, describes a journey from Hull to London on the Whitsun weekend and the wedding parties that Larkin sees climbing aboard the train at each station. Actually inspired by a train journey from Hull down to Loughborough in the Midlands, ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ captures the hope and togetherness these wedding parties symbolise – although the poem can also be read in a less optimistic way .

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7 Hero’s Journey Examples In Real Life

If you’re looking for hero’s journey examples in real life, here are the books and movies to seek out – plus, get tips on applying the template to your story!

The hero’s journey is one we all know well: it has formed the structure of our stories, myths, and legends since humans first began to weave tales and remains part of our collective subconscious today. Joseph Campbell detailed the tropes of the hero’s journey in his seminal book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces , setting out the key stages that a main character typically progresses through: Odysseus and Katniss Everdeen , though thousands of years apart in their creation, must navigate these same phases of their journeys.

So, we know the hero’s journey in movies and stories is a popular storytelling framework, but what about real life?

Below, we take a look at how this template can translate into real-world tales of heroism and adventure and how the story structure of the hero’s journey can inform our understanding of them. Plus, we give you a getting-started guide on applying the hero’s journey template to recount your own real-life experiences.

Here Are Best Hero’s Journey Examples In Real Life

1. jarhead by anthony swofford, 2. the pursuit of happyness by chris gardner, 3. gorillas in the mist by dian fossey, 4. apollo 13 by jim lovell and jeffrey klugar, 5. a beautiful mind by sylvia nasar, 6. girl waits with gun by amy stewart, 7. annapurna by maurice herzog, how to craft your hero’s journey, finding each stage, becoming your own mythologist.

As the narrator of his own story, Swofford offers up to the reader his experiences as a young Marine rifle sniper in the first Gulf War . Although the book is based on real events, its structure perfectly reflects the steps of the hero’s journey as they appear in stories through the ages.

Beginning in the ordinary world of his childhood, the narrator details his desire to join the military (specifically, the Marine Corps) from a young age. On the surface, our hero’s journey may look very different from that of Odysseus or Frodo Baggins, but dig a little deeper, and it mirrors the quests that these characters undertake. Leaving his known world behind to join the military, the narrator soon fears he has made a terrible error.

This narrator appears to be The Warrior archetypal hero – but herein lies the rub. The protagonist aligns with an entirely different archetype (possibly that of The Researcher), which causes much of the psychological conflict within the book.

After the Crossing the Threshold section, where the narrator begins his military training and endures the various privations of boot camp, he must face many trials and tribulations, from mental breakdown to dealing with the inadequate kit that puts the life of himself and his comrades at risk, and the daily discomfort of living in the desert.

The book is a disturbing insight into the psychological impact of being trained to kill, and war. The Return with the Elixir is powerful: it’s only many years after leaving the Marines, and much time spent reflecting that the narrator can dissect his experiences and recognize the lessons inherent within them – the book that he wrote, as a result, is the manifestation of the elixir.

“Every war is different. Every war is the same.” Anthony Swofford

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• Swofford, Anthony (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 272 Pages - 04/05/2024 (Publication Date) - Scribner Book Company (Publisher)

Perfectly embodying all the stages of the hero’s journey, this book tells the true story of a man who’d just landed a promising role in the world of finance before getting caught up in a terrible, unexpected spiral of life events that result in him and his young son finding themselves on the streets, homeless.

The road of trials is a bitter and brutal one. The narrator spends nearly a year in shelters, waiting in soup lines and sleeping rough. But, despite the terrible tribulations he faces, Gardner does not give in, determined never to be parted from his son but to seek the Road Back – just as the heroes in Campbell’s monomyths successfully do. Eventually, the circle closes, and the narrator and his son return home as Campbell transitions from the invisible homeless to an influential, powerful, highly visible figure in the world of high finance.

Critics have likened The Pursuit of Happyness to a myth for its resonance, power, and timelessness. This means that when the hero returns, we’re all on our feet, having rooted for his triumph throughout. Because his victory becomes our collective redemption.

“Still a dream, yet more a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail.” Chris Gardner

• Chris Gardner (Author)
• 320 Pages - 10/24/2006 (Publication Date) - Amistad (Publisher)

Widely cited as one of the most important books ever written about the connection of humans to the natural world, Gorillas in the Mist follows Fossey as she leaves behind her everyday life to enter a special world deep within the rainforests of the Virunga Mountains in Africa. Fossey subsequently spent thirteen years studying and living with a family of mountain gorillas , enduring the daily challenges of loneliness, constant rain, and the threat of poachers.

Fossey’s work was highly influential in convincing people of primates’ innate sentience, and she was fiercely determined in her conversation efforts and opposition to poaching. Tragically, Fossey was murdered in her remote cabin in Rwanda in 1985. But her legacy was powerful: her research and work in the field helped reduce the downward trend of the mountain gorilla population.

The book is a personal adventure story and a quest for enlightenment, with Fossey detailing her attempts at securing the future of the mountain apes that she spends so many years studying. The publication itself serves as her Return with the Elixir (a key stage in the hero’s journey): designed to pass on knowledge of our closest primate relatives, the specialness of these animals, and what must be done to safeguard their survival.

“There are times when one cannot accept facts for fear of shattering one’s being.” Dian Fossey

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Used as the basis of the Apollo 13 movie, this is the real-life account of the lunar shot that nearly ended in total catastrophe. As well as spawning the Hollywood blockbuster film of the same name, the book is told using the classic hero’s journey template – evidence of how ingrained this storytelling is in our collective subconscious.

This story literally starts in the known world, Earth, before the Crossing of the Threshold stage, where Jim and his crew are recruited for the daring mission. Next comes The Ordeal. An explosion shortly after launch forces the astronauts to abandon the main ship, seeking refuge in the lunar capsule – which was designed to keep two men alive for just two days. The Return Home stage is fraught with danger, and the narrative shifts focus to what’s going on at mission control to ensure the men’s safe return.

The Return with the Elixer is the last of the steps of the hero’s journey. In the case of this story, it is represented both by the astronauts’ changed sense of self in the wake of the events they’ve endured and in the vital information that NASA has gained from the experience and the rescue, which will inform future space missions.

“From now on, we live in a world where man has walked on the moon. And it’s not a miracle, we just decided to go.” Jim Lovell

• James Lovell (Author)
• 400 Pages - 08/17/1995 (Publication Date) - Coronet (Publisher)

This biography of the Nobel prize-winning mathematician and economist John Forbes Nash Jr. was nominated for the Pulitzer prize upon its release. It was later adapted into a film directed by Russell Howard. It features an unlikely hero – but a hero nonetheless – in its subject, Nash, a brilliant mathematician whose descent into serious mental illness derailed his career and had devastating effects on his personal life.

The Road of Trials was a harrowing one for Nash. Schizophrenia meant he missed out on a Nobel Prize, despite his game-changing work on game theory – which, by the 1980s, was underpinning much of economics. The Nobel committee decided they weren’t prepared to give the award to him due to his mental illness.

Step-by-step Nash recovered, and in 1994 his work finally received the credit it deserved. He shared the Nobel Prize for Economics with two others. In the subsequent critically-praised film, the movie’s screenwriter perfectly captured the impact of this journey on Nash and those around him.

Nash’s subsequent invitation from Princeton to join the faculty as a professor is his apotheosis moment: this is a key stage of the hero’s journey, as described by Joseph Campbell. It’s the point where, after defeating the enemy, the hero travels toward and meets their destiny.

Linked to this stage is the receiving of the Ultimate Boon: in A Beautiful Mind, this is represented by Nash’s re-connection with his old life. He rebuilds relationships with friends and family members that had been lost during his trials. And, most powerfully of all, connecting once more with his ex-wife, the pair remarried in 2001 and lived – of course – happily ever after.

“People look to the order of numbers when the world falls apart.” Sylvia Nasar

• Sylvia Nasar (Author)
• 461 Pages - 04/04/1999 (Publication Date) - Faber and Faber (Publisher)

Based on the true story of one of the US’ first female sheriffs, Girls Waits with Gun tells the story of Constance Kopp and her two sisters. It’s a hero’s journey story that, like Kopp herself, breaks the mold of the genre. The tale, as a whole, is about finding your place in a world that sees you as a misfit: Kopp isn’t interested in getting married and has no time for a quiet domestic routine. Instead, she yearns for adventure and independence.

The Call to Action announces itself loud and clear: when a drunk driver, Henry Kaufman (owner of the local silk factory), crashes into the sisters’ buggy, Kopp demands the man pay for the damages. When he refuses, she begins plotting how to obtain justice. The First Threshold is crossed when, turning up at the silk factory, Kopp meets an employee in a state of high distress: her baby has gone missing.

A campaign of intimidation against the sisters unfolds, which results in the sheriff arming the women for them to defend themselves. But neither Kopp nor her sisters are prepared to back down, and Constance can’t get the missing baby out of her mind…

As a direct result of successfully navigating her trials and tribulations, Kaufman ends up in court, and the judge finds against him. There’s a buzz around Kopp, who’s now famed for her bravery and tenacity – so much so that the sheriff offers her the Ultimate Boon: the position of undersheriff – a role in which no woman had ever served before.

“We have to be a part of the world in which we live. We don’t scurry away when we’re in trouble, or if someone else is. We don’t run and hide.” Amy Stewart

• 416 Pages - 03/10/2016 (Publication Date) - Scribe Publications (Publisher)

A survival story is a perfect vehicle in which to deploy the hero’s journey structure. Annapurna recounts Herzog’s attempt in 1950 (along with his climbing partner Louis Lachenel) to scale the notorious, treacherous Himalayan mountain, after which the book is named.

The trials and tribulations that follow are brutal: frostbite and snow blindness nearly resulted in the death of the two climbers, but ultimately, they were successful in their quest. The Road Back is not just a spiritual one: it’s represented by the very real climb back down the mountain. And the Ultimate Boon? Having passed through The Ordeal, Herzog and Lachenel were recognized as the first expedition in history to have reached the summit of an 8,000-plus meter mountain…and return alive.

The book has enjoyed enduring appeal since its first publication in 1951, which turned Herzog into the world’s first mountaineering celebrity! National Geographic ranked Annapurna at number six in its list of 100 Greatest Adventure and Exploration Books, claiming it to be one of the most influential books on mountaineering of all time.

“Annapurna, to which we had gone empty-handed, was a treasure on which we should live the rest of our days. With this realization we turn the page: a new life begins.” Maurice Herezog

• Herzog, Maurice; Joe Simpson (new introduction) (Author)
• 288 Pages - 04/04/1997 (Publication Date) - Pimlico (Publisher)

Applying the Hero’s Journey Template to Your Own Life Story

The monomyth template is a powerful tool for fictional and real-life stories. The same steps can be discerned in Frodo’s journey to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, in Harry Potter’s quest to discover his wizarding destiny, and in Luke Skywalker’s adventure that takes him from moisture farm worker to Jedi in Star Wars can be deployed to create a compelling true-life tale.

Begin by identifying some of the key stages in the hero’s journey to add structure and dynamism to your story. Start the tale in the Ordinary World. Write about your subject’s life before the Call to Adventure. Next is a Refusal of the Call moment. Perhaps the individual unexpectedly got awarded a scholarship or was presented with an opportunity to travel abroad? If they were initially reluctant to cross this First Threshold, then this marks the important Refusal stage. For inspiration, read our article profile common essays about heroes .

Work through the story you want to tell, using Campbell’s hero outline to find those milestones in the tale that can act as both strong organizing and structural devices. While there may not be the presence of supernatural aids as mentors, look to your narrator’s key allies with a view to how they fulfill this role. Consider a moment that marked the Return Threshold and how your narrator and those around them reacted to it.

You may be surprised at just how natural the hero’s journey template fits when crafting a real life story – whether your own or someone else’s. The power of myth is so potent, after all, because it captures the kernel of our collective human experience, across borders and time.

Try using this story structure when creating a piece of creative writing or crafting a documentary or video content. The hero’s journey structure can even be used to assemble and edit a wedding video to create a powerful narrative that stirs emotions!

Melanie Smith is a freelance content and creative writer from Gloucestershire, UK, where she lives with her daughter, long-suffering partner, and cat, The Magical Mr. Bobo. Her blog posts and articles feature regularly in magazines and websites around the world.

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Home » Finding The Stories that Shape Your Journey Through Life

FINDING YOUR LEGACY STORIES: Harvesting the Stories from Your Journey Through Life

6-week storytelling course, january 9 - february 6, 2024, tuesdays, 11am - 1pm pst, registrations open until monday 15th january, discover finding the stories that shape your journey through life.

Over the course of six Tuesdays each of us will discover and share those tales that transform a lifetime of experiences into a journey. Joel will guide us on this journey through stories, of course, as well as through a series fun and interactive exercises that will draw forth the story material lurking just below the surface of our conscious minds.

Focusing on specific storytelling techniques and journey templates, we will craft what we find into tales of our journey. Between classes students will have the opportunity to connect with story buddies from the class to share their stories in progress based on prompts from the class. By the end of the class each student will have a much clearer perspective on what their journey through life is all about.

This course is for you if:

• You wish to discover just how rich your life is in stories.
• You want more magic in your life.
• You sometimes find yourself wondering what it all means and how it all fits together.

Watch a Free Masterclass from Joel ben Izzy

"going to the well to discover our stories".

In this course, you will experience:

• Embark on a profound journey of self-discovery with our course , “Legacy Stories,” where you’ll gain a nuanced understanding of the threads that weave through the narrative of your life. This transformative experience equips you with invaluable techniques for unearthing, crafting, and eloquently sharing the stories that define you.
• Delve into pathways that seamlessly guide you from the routines of daily life into the enchanting realm of storytelling, revealing narratives you never knew you possessed. Witness the magic of discovering stories within you, stories waiting to be acknowledged and shared.
• Experience the transcendent joy of finding meaning in your life by viewing it as a cohesive and purposeful story. “Legacy Stories” empowers you with a clearer understanding of your unique storytelling voice—a skill applicable not just to those interested in writing, but to anyone seeking to express their narrative authentically.
• While the course doesn’t focus solely on writing, it serves as a valuable resource for those wishing to articulate their stories in written form, aiding in the cultivation of a distinctive writing voice.
• Immerse yourself in a community of kindred spirits, fostering connections with fellow students on similar journeys. “Legacy Stories” is more than a course; it’s a shared expedition into the art of storytelling, where meaningful connections enrich the tapestry of your experience. Join us, and learn how to create stories that resonate with newfound clarity and purpose.
• Come prepared to have a lot of fun

“I am writing a book for young adults on the intergenerational legacy of the Holocaust, based on my mother’s stories of her survival. I reached out to Joel for assistance with distilling, shaping and pacing the telling of memories and discoveries, both my mother’s and my own. It is quite a journey for me, and Joel is both a companion and a guide. He listens carefully, reflects back wisely, and suggests and supports with a full heart and a creative mind.” Judy

“Joel is a knowledgeable, compassionate and wise storytelling coach and teacher. Using prompts, tutelage and gentle guidance he has helped me unearth stories that were so deeply buried I didn’t know they existed. These recaptured memories and the glue I call love have allowed me to build tales of family that speak of violence, alcoholism, abandonment, courage, grace, humor, kindness and wisdom…and to tie these tales to who I am and how I got here. I am particularly grateful when people, on hearing my stories, say thank you…I’ve been there too.” Gerry

“Working with Joel has helped me discover recurring themes in my life.... The work we did on my post-divorce years led me to see how much fun I had in spite of traumatic heartbreaks... I used to see those times as sad and embarrassing, but now I see them as adventures and living my life to its fullest - I wouldn't change a thing.” Claire

A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead. ~Graham Greene

Your guide — joel ben izzy.

It was four decades ago that Joel ben Izzy set off to travel the globe, gathering and telling stories. Since then, he has told and taught storytelling in some thirty-six countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and has recently returned from a series of presentations and workshops in Kigali, Rwanda, working with young people from throughout North Africa. Joel has also produced a series of six award-winning recordings and is the author of “The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness” (Algonquin, 2003), which has now been published in eighteen languages. A memoir woven together by stories from his travels, it recounts the remarkable journey that began when Joel awoke from a surgical procedure to discover he could no longer speak, sending Joel tumbling headlong into a story as wild as any he had ever told. Since his return from that, he has a passion for helping people harvest the stories from their own lives, giving shape to their journey – which is what we’ll be doing in this class.

Joel has coached CEOs in New York skyscrapers to training women entrepreneurs in the hills of Rwanda, from work with thought leaders at a Washington, D.C. think tank to high-tech cancer researchers in South San Francisco, and from Hollywood movie studios to coffee farmers in Chiapas.

Finding the Stories That Shape Your Journey Through Life $350

6 weeks (january 9 – february 6, 2024) tuesdays, 11am – 1pm pacific time registrations open until monday 15th january, this storytelling course includes:.

• “Ah-ha!” moments that come from discovering treasures hidden in plain sight
• Pathways that lead through the mundane to the magical
• New ways to hold the stories of your lives, making your journeys that much more rich and meaningful
• 6 live, interactive class sessions on Zoom (12 hours)
• Access to an exclusive online community platform
• Small groups to work with outside of class
• Recordings of all classes (permanent access)
• Coaching and skill building
• Join a community of conscious creators

Join us and…

• Unveil Your Ancestral Tapestry : Dive deep into the rich tapestry of your heritage, unlocking the secrets and timeless lessons embedded in your family’s legacy. Discover the untold stories that have shaped you, and harness their strength to propel you forward.
• Craft Your Narrative with Purpose:  Learn the art of sacred storytelling as you mold your experiences into a narrative that resonates with authenticity and meaning. Through guided exercises and expert insights, we’ll help you unearth the gems within your personal history and illuminate the path toward a legacy that reflects your true essence.
• Cultivate Connection and Healing:  Experience the profound healing that comes from embracing and sharing your legacy stories. Connect with fellow storytellers in a supportive community, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding that transcends time and space.
• Illuminate Your Path Forward:  As you delve into the timeless narratives of your ancestors, you’ll find clarity and purpose for your own journey. “Legacy Stories” isn’t just a course; it’s a roadmap to guide you toward a future grounded in the strength of your roots.
• Embark on this sacred storytelling adventure  and leave a legacy that resonates for generations to come. Join “Legacy Stories” now and step into the transformative power of your own narrative. Your story is not just yours—it’s a beacon that lights the way for others.

Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released. ~Robin Moore

Receive more stories, and join the sacred storytelling community.

© 2023 School for Sacred Storytelling.

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I kept noticing how many incredibly talented and gifted people around me are forging new paths, and how much energy it takes to initiate projects, how much energy it takes to be at the front and leading a project, and how much energy it takes to complete a project. And we simply can’t do it alone.

And then there is this: We are living in quickly changing times; scarcity and fear are filling the airwaves, and the people around us. It is simply harder to find people who know how to support people like us: creatives, dreamers, imaginaries…we see something that hasn’t been created yet…and feel compelled to do it.

As someone who has brought many projects to the finish line, and grieved those that died before making it to the finish line, I have intimate lived experience of what it takes to bring a vision to fruition, and that this is an initiatory process.

Now I’m going to share part of my bio in 3rd person because sometimes it’s just easier that way:

Leah’s commitment to the environment has been expressed as an ocean advocate, writing and producing award winning PSA’s on taking action to protect our planet, consulting on communications for The Pachamama Alliance, giving activists a voice in the media while hosting the green channel at Al Gore’s Television Network, covering the UN Climate Talks in Paris, and was the Arts consultant to the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation.

Her commitment to working with story as a tool for social change was developed while working with Active Voice, where she developed the strategies and implemented engagement campaigns led by The Fetzer Foundation and Participant Productions.

A lifelong learner, she has studied with many of the great storytellers of our time including Martin Shaw, Caroline Casey, and attended The 13 Moon Mystery School and The Orphan Wisdom School. Her greatest teacher of story has been a long tale called The Whale Dreamer, her commitment to this story has taken her to the edges of the earth and back.

Her writing has been featured in Fast Company, Spirituality & Health Magazine, and National Geographic News Watch. She has spoken about and taught about storytelling as a sacred art at Google, Hollyhock, a variety of retreats, and continues to produce storytelling events and tour Story Ceremonies across the country.

10 Best Movies Based On Jules Verne Books, Ranked

• Jules Verne's work has inspired numerous movie adaptations and is the foundation for some of the earliest science fiction films.
• Some Jules Verne adaptations are entertaining and enjoyable, while others are outdated and not required viewing.
• The film "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (2008) successfully updates Verne's classic story with modern special effects and remains fun to watch.

Jules Verne is undoubtedly one of the most prominent authors in science fiction , and its no wonder that his works have inspired countless movie adaptations. One of the most translated writers in human history, the French author has written legendary tales like 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Around the World in 80 Days . Verne's daring imagination put him far ahead of his time, and it's no surprise that movie studios have sought to replicate his sense of wonder with multiple live-action adaptations of Jules Verne stories .

Jules Verne's work has become the foundation for some of the earliest films in the science fiction genre , some of which even hold up today remarkably well as enjoyable, adventurous romps through the imagination. The mid-to-late 2000s saw a resurgence of Jules Verne films as well, to varying degrees of success, with studios hoping to recapture the joy and nostalgia of the earliest films to adapt Verne's books for a new generation. With so many familiar titles, it's a difficult task to distinguish the very best depictions of Jules Verne's novels over the years.

Journey To The Center Of The Earth

An easily-overlooked made-for-TV movie, the two-part Journey to the Center of the Earth special was a solid attempt at getting to the center of what made Verne's original story so memorable. The film is decidedly slow-moving and low-budgeted, with some creature effects occasionally bordering the precipice of acceptable for a shoestring budget, but the C-List actors can often bring in decent performances amid the campy set-dressing. Despite it's many flaws, the two-part film is an entertaining, knowingly campy jog through Verne's beloved tale of subterranean exploration.

Master Of The World

Master of the World is the sole film to adapt Jules Verne's novel of the same name, and when compared to his other, more well-known stories, it's easy to see why. The narrative of a rich maniac dedicated to the idea of threatening the world's governments into laying down their arms isn't quite as whimsical as Verne's other premises. As for the film, despite rich talent from the likes of a young Charles Bronson and the legendary Vincent Price , the special effects are especially outdated, even for the time period . Master of the World is fun, but not required viewing.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Journey 2: the mysterious island.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is the follow-up to 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth. The film takes place four years after the original, showing Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson teaming up with Hank, his stepfather, to find his lost grandfather. Due to scheduling issues, Brendan Fraser wasn't able to return as Trevor Anderson but was replaced by Dwayne Johnson as the film's lead.

Release Date 2012-02-12

Director Brad Peyton

Cast Josh Hutcherson, Michael Caine, Vanessa Hudgens, Dwayne Johnson

This semi-adaptation picks up where 2008's Journey to the Center of the Earth left off, replacing Brendan Fraser with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. As the passable action adventure delves into the incredible isle, the tone rides a strange line, at once too scary for younger viewers and too subdued for older ones. Amid mediocre CGI and all-too subdued performances, the best thing that can be said about Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was how it pioneered the art of throwing Johnson into a jungle, later done better in films like Jungle Cruise and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle .

Around The World In 80 Days

Though the idea of circumnavigating the globe in the span of 80 days is now a triviality, in Verne's time, such a time was the stuff of science fiction. The 1956 take on the story is an incredibly grand adventure comedy with a runtime that feels nearly as long as the titular journey itself. The international cast is crammed with stars of Hollywood's Golden Age , who had enough charisma between them to earn the film an early Academy Award for Best Picture. Today, the spectacle and aged humor can be best appreciated as a museum of 50s stardom.

Starring a young Josh Hutcherson and Brendan Fraser, still hot off the success of The Mummy trilogy , 2008's Journey To The Center Of The Earth had all the makings of an action-adventure hit. Being the first to truly update one of Verne's classic stories with modern special effects, the film still looks great 15 years later, even if it is marred by several obvious moments clearly meant to be enjoyed in the context of a 3-D theater. Adapting the classic adventure about as well as it could have, Journey To The Center Of The Earth isn't revolutionary, but undeniably fun.

While most adaptations of Verne's work make at least some departures from the source material, 2004's Around The World In 80 Days completely re-imagines the story as a raucous action-comedy. Though critically-panned at the time, the film is endlessly re-watchable today , with eye-popping action choreography courtesy of Jackie Chan's Passepartout and deadpan comedic timing from Steve Coogan's Phineas Fogg. If the anachronisms and deviations from Verne's novel can be forgiven, Around The World In 80 Days is a creative globe-trotting adventure that doesn't get the respect it deserves.

There's simply no replicating the cheesy fun of the original Journey To The Center Of The Earth , an earnest science fiction adventure movie that wears its heart on its sleeve. The special effects are certainly dated, but it's hard not to wring a certain level of charm out of the delicately hand-painted backgrounds and practical lizardman costumes. Beyond the addition of the deliciously dastardly villain, Count Saknussemm, the film is also one of the most faithful to Verne's work, a commendable effort in and of itself.

The Mysterious Island

The Mysterious Island is one of Jules Verne's lesser-known stories, but the 1961 film of the same name takes every advantage of the novel's conceits. Following a group of Union soldiers in the Civil War who escape prison in a hot air balloon only to wash up on a bizarre uncharted island, the film's sense of tension only ever dials up, as the heroes contend with grimy human pirates and giant fauna rendered by the talent of stop-motion legend Ray Harryhausen . Not the deepest narrative, this thrilling tale of danger holds up decades later remarkably well as a harrowing odyssey.

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

One of Disney's earliest forays into live-action storytelling, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea presented the aquatic crew of the Nautilus with untold dangers then-undreamed of by 50s audiences. Beyond the great creature and sci-fi technology designs that still hold up today, the film offers substantially more heart than most other Verne adaptations, taking the time to acclimate the viewer with its intrepid adventurers. It's no wonder that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was influential enough to earn a spot as a Disneyland mainstay even seven decades after its original release.

A Trip To The Moon

It's only fitting that the world's first science fiction movie sprung from the mind of one of the genre's most influential authors. Presenting early audiences with a dizzying idea of space travel long before the first astronaut was born, A Trip To The Moon 's hypnotic, almost feverish visuals and brisk 14-minute run time assaults the imagination with a yet-unmatched spectacle of dreamlike reality. From the Moon's incredulous face to the dancing insectoid aliens that vanish in a literal puff of smoke, A Trip To The Moon is by far the most influential science fiction film courtesy of Jules Verne.

The True Story Behind ‘Under the Bridge’: What Happened to Reena Virk?

By Lexi Carson

Lexi Carson

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How does a fight between a group of teenagers result in murder?

Hulu ‘s new true-crime series “ Under the Bridge ,” based on the late Rebecca Godfrey’s non-fiction book, portrays the before and after of 14-year-old Reena Virk’s brutal murder. The first two episodes, released on April 17, show the timeline of events leading up to Virk’s death and the investigation that took place.

Popular on Variety

The show’s cast also includes Vritika Gupta, Ezra Faroque Khan, Archie Panjabi, Chloe Guidry, Javon Walton, Izzy G. and Aiyana Goodfellow.

What Happened to Reena Virk?

Virk’s father, Manjit, wrote “Reena: A Father’s Story” in 2008, which details his daughter’s life and death. According to Manjit, Virk grew up feeling like an outsider and was bullied throughout her youth. She had a complicated relationship with her Indian Canadian parents who raised her as a Jehovah’s Witness.

When she was 14, she started to hang out with a group of teens including Nicole Cook. In the novel “Under the Bridge,” it details how Virk allegedly spread rumors about Cook saying she had fake breasts, wore colored contact lenses and had AIDS. 

Virk managed to get away. However, Ellard, then 15, and Glowatski, then 16, followed Virk when she and kept attacking her, dragged her into the water and Ellard held Virk underwater until she drowned. Vice obtained a coroner’s report that indicated Virk sustained multiple blows throughout her body and suffered a “convulsion injury as often seen in car crash victims.”

Police found Virk’s body on Nov. 22, 1997, eight days after she was killed. 

Who Were the Teenagers That Killed Her?

The six girls involved in the inital attack became known as the “Shoreline Six.” They were convicted of assault in juvenile court for their role in the initial attack that took place. They received sentences ranging from 60-day conditional sentences to one year in jail.

Ellard and Glowatski were both tried as as adults in separate trials. Glowatski was tried first, and in June 1999, he was convicted of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for seven years, but was later granted parole in 2010.

Ellard’s trial began in March 2000 and she was charged with second-degree murder. However, in February 2003, The British Columbia Court of Appeals ruled to overturn Ellard’s conviction. Ellard’s second trial ended in a mistrial in June 2004. Following her third trial, in April 2005, jurors convicted Ellard again and she received a life sentence, and her parole eligibility was set to seven years. She was granted day parole in 2017.

Ellard has since changed her name to Kerry Marie Sim and gave birth to two children. She remains behind bars.

What the Showrunners and Cast Want the Audience to Take Away

Showrunners Quinn Shephard and Samir Mehta told Variety’s Marc Malkin at the premiere on Monday how important it was to cast girls that were the same age as the real-life killers.

“We were like, ‘Please trust us, the show won’t work if they’re not really young.’ And luckily, we were given the freedom to do so,” Shephard said about the initial casting process. “It was the most inspiring experience getting to work with them [the kids] and seeing how seriously they took the subject matter, and how much they wanted to do justice to the story.”

Because of the heavy subject matter in the show, there were social workers and trauma counselors there on set for support, if needed.

“We had many conversations just kind of beforehand, not only in rehearsal, but just in meetings to talk about the subject matter and really make sure we were all on the same page in terms of responsible portrayal,” Mehta said.

Mehta spoke about how he hopes this show inspires “more investigation of the self.”

“Could I have been a part of this? If I was that age, I was there under the bridge that night? You know, is the thing that I’m judging so fiercely, because of how horrible it is? Is that actually on some level of projection of something that might be live within me?” Mehta said.

“I really hope that looking at the series, we focus on the true part of true crime a little bit more than the crime aspect,” she said. “Sensationalizing the crime elevates the perpetrator to celebrity status and erases the victim in the process. And when we do that, we also lose the opportunity to talk about what made that person… what in society enabled it so that vulnerable person became the victim.”

The remaining episodes will drop weekly on Hulu until the finale on May 29.

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