Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road

Lands of Lost Borders is a travelogue and memoir by Kate Harris that follows her journey by bicycle along the Silk Road. It is a fusion of The Places in Between, Lab Girl, and Wild that challenges the limits we place on ourselves and the natural world. Harris sets off by bicycle down the fabled Silk Road with her childhood friend Mel, realizing that an explorer is the kind of person who refuses to live between the lines. The book explores the importance of breaking boundaries, the stories borders tell, and the restrictions they place on nature and humanity. It is a celebration of our connection to the natural world and each other, transcending any fences or stories that may divide us.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 25 July 2019
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

A captivating travelogue and memoir, Lands of Lost Borders, by the acclaimed author Pico Iyer, transports readers to a state of openness and excitement that has been absent for years. This modern classic showcases Iyer's exceptional writing skills and her remarkable debut.

The author embarks on a remarkable journey by bicycle along the Silk Road, a captivating fusion of The Places in Between, Lab Girl, and Wild. Through this captivating narrative, Iyer challenges the boundaries we place on ourselves and the natural world, offering an illuminating and thought-provoking exploration.

As a teenager, Kate Harris harbored a deep desire to become an explorer, combining swashbuckling adventure with metaphysical inquiry. However, she realized that the era of great discoveries had passed, and the world had been thoroughly mapped by renowned explorers like Marco Polo and Magellan. Determined to venture beyond our planet, Harris chose a different path and pursued a career in science, with the ultimate goal of reaching Mars.

During her studies at Oxford and MIT, Harris embarked on a remarkable adventure alongside her childhood friend Mel. They set off by bicycle, pedaling through some of the most remote and breathtaking landscapes on Earth. During this odyssey, Harris discovered that the true essence of an explorer lies in their refusal to confine themselves to the lines drawn on maps. She yearned for the exhilaration of soaring completely beyond the boundaries, transcending the limitations imposed by charts and names.

As she traveled further, Harris approached a world that mirrored the wildness she felt within herself. Lands of Lost Borders, which has received prestigious awards such as the 2018 Banff Adventure Travel Award and the 2018 Nautilus Award, chronicles Harris's odyssey and delves into the profound significance of breaking the boundaries we set for ourselves. It examines the stories borders tell and the restrictions they impose on nature and humanity, while also offering a meditation on the existential need to explore.

Through her captivating storytelling, Iyer invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and broaden their horizons. Lands of Lost Borders serves as a reminder that there is still much to be discovered, both within ourselves and in the vast expanse of the natural world. It encourages us to challenge the limits we place on ourselves and embrace the unknown, reminding us of the profound connection between humanity and the cosmos.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 203 x 135 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780062846662