Note: I started off with the hardcover version first. A lot of the subjects of the chapters were very interesting and successfully gave me the travel itch, but Crichton's writing was a bit dry for my taste (and especially so for a non-fiction work) that I realized  I was nodding off at some of the longer chapters. However, I DID end up switching to the audiobook at the 200-page mark and I will say that I highly recommend this in audiobook form (which is where a majority of my rating comes from because I would actually like to go back and relisten). 'The Medical Years' and even more so 'Postscript' are what kill the overall vibe of the book in my opinion because he could have included more of his travel experience instead.