What a surprise! This book had been on my shelf for at least five years and I never picked it up, thinking I could always wait to read tales of someone else's expensive adventures across the globe. How wrong I was!

Crichton has always been one of my favorite authors, a guy who could write an intellectual page-turner. He starts this book by delving into his years at medical school and residency; and that's when I realized 'travels' may not just signify physical land-traveling. These are short snippets of his own personal journey, and it was quite fascinating.

The most surprising aspect to me was that he sought knowledge not only through science, but about anything he didn't quite understand. He was a curious man who didn't let the basic tenets of the science-minded steer him from researching things like auras, spoon-bending, and psychics. All of which made me want to personally research some of those things I generally scoff at as well.

The book is interesting, thought-provoking, and enlightening as to who Crichton really was - something he was trying to figure out as he reflects in these pages. I'm still sad he's passed away.