Essential Worldschool Books: What We Read Before Selling Everything to Travel Full-Time

Before we made the leap and sold everything to travel the world full-time, I was consuming every bit of content I could get my hands on. Podcasts during my morning runs, YouTube channels after dinner, and books - lots and lots of books. Late into the night, I'd be hunched over my laptop reading blog posts from families who had already taken the plunge, desperately trying to figure out if we could actually pull this off.

Books became my primary source of both inspiration and practical guidance during those months of planning and dreaming. Some validated our crazy idea, others provided roadmaps for the logistics, and a few just reminded me why travel matters in the first place. Over three years into our worldschooling adventure across 20+ countries, I wanted to share the books that shaped our thinking and continue to influence how we approach family travel and education. Some of these I devoured before we left, others I've discovered along the way, and a few have been published since we started traveling - proving this movement is gaining momentum.

These aren't ranked in any particular order because honestly, they each served different purposes at different times. Some you'll want to read before you start planning, others are perfect companions while you're already on the road.

The Worldschooling Essentials

The Everywhere Classroom: How One Family Turned Wanderlust into Worldschooling

By Andi Almond

The Everywhere Classroom came out in March 2025, well after we'd already been on the road for nearly three years, but it's exactly what I wish had existed when we were starting our journey. Andi Almond doesn't just tell you that worldschooling is possible, she shows you how one family made it work, complete with the hilarious disasters and unexpected triumphs that make travel with kids so memorable.

What sets this book apart is Almond's ability to weave practical advice into genuinely entertaining stories. Her family's impromptu expedition to Antarctica sounds both terrifying and incredible, while her teen's solo homestay in Taiwan offers insights into how worldschooling can work for older kids too. The book goes beyond being a travel memoir by including curriculum ideas and strategies for incorporating educational experiences into trips of any length and budget.

This book confirms what we've discovered on the road: learning happens everywhere, and some of the greatest educational moments occur completely off the tourist trail. If you're wondering whether worldschooling could work for your family, this is a great starting point.

The 5-Hour School Week: An Inspirational Guide to Leaving the Classroom

By Kaleena and Aaron Amuchastegui

The 5-Hour School Week was one of the first books that made me think we weren't completely insane for considering this lifestyle. The Amuchasteguis took their kids out of traditional school to travel and educate them through experiences, and their children became more engaged, curious, and passionate about learning.

The title might sound clickbaity, but the content is solid. They walk you through practical topics like teaching kids to love learning, providing social education, and incorporating travel into lessons. What I appreciate most is their emphasis on practical skills, something traditional education often overlooks but travel naturally provides.

Their approach isn't your typical homeschooling manual filled with rigid curricula and testing schedules. Instead, it's an innovative, eclectic method that revolutionizes how families think about education. After watching our own daughters learn Thai phrases from tuk-tuk drivers over our multiple extended stays in Thailand, navigate Tokyo's subway system like pros, and calculate currency exchanges in their heads across 20+ countries, I can confirm that experiential learning works.

Our Contribution to the Worldschool Library

Tokyo: A One-Week Worldschool Guide to Affordable Family Travel

By Adam and Lindsay Clarkson (That's Us!)

Our Tokyo guide represents everything we learned from multiple extended stays in our favorite city. This isn't your parents dusty old guidebook - it's specifically designed for families who want to transform their trip into an educational adventure without breaking the bank.

We've included a family-tested 7-day itinerary, expert tips for stress-free travel with kids, and interactive learning opportunities tailored for children of all ages. Having wandered Tokyo's historic streets with our three daughters, discovered hands-on museums, and navigated the city's incredible public transportation system, we've experienced these adventures firsthand so you can focus on making magical moments with your kids.

What makes this guide different is that it's written by parents for parents. We understand the reality of traveling with kids - the meltdowns, the exhaustion, the need for bathroom breaks every thirty minutes. Our recommendations account for all of that while still providing rich educational experiences.

Taipei 2024: A One-Week Worldschool Guide to Affordable Family Travel

By Adam and Lindsay Clarkson

Our Taipei guide follows the same philosophy as our Tokyo book but focuses on Taiwan's incredible capital city. This tried-and-tested 8-day itinerary includes budget-friendly tips, unique insights into Taipei's culture and hidden gems, and plenty of interactive learning opportunities.

Taipei surprised us with its family-friendliness, incredible food scene, and fascinating blend of traditional Chinese culture and modern innovation. Our family of five walked the streets, ate our way through night markets, and spent hours in amazing museums. The research and mistakes happened so you don't have to repeat them.

Both guides complement our YouTube channel where you can see these adventures in action. We love connecting with readers and viewers, so don't hesitate to reach out with questions or just to say hello on Instagram @adamandlinds.

The Philosophical Foundation

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

By Rolf Potts

Vagabonding isn't specifically about family travel, but it's essential reading for anyone considering extended time on the road. Rolf Potts explains how anyone with an independent spirit can achieve the dream of extended overseas travel, and his philosophy shaped how we approach our nomadic lifestyle.

The updated edition covers financing travel time, determining destinations, adjusting to life on the road, and handling travel adversity. What resonated most with me was his section on re-assimilating back into ordinary life - something we're not ready to think about yet, but probably should be.

Potts writes about travel as a mindset rather than just a series of destinations. His concept of "vagabonding" as taking time off from normal life to discover the world on your own terms perfectly captures why we chose this path. Even though he's writing primarily for solo travelers, the principles apply to families willing to embrace uncertainty and adventure.

Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler's Journey Home

By Matthew Kepnes

Ten Years a Nomad is part memoir, part philosophical exploration of what drives us to travel. Matt Kepnes spent a decade covering 500,000 miles across 90 countries, and his reflections get to the real questions at the heart of wanderlust.

This book transcends basic travel advice and explores what extended travel can teach us about life, ourselves, and our place in the world. As someone who's now been on the road for over three years with our family, Kepnes' insights about the transformative power of long-term travel ring increasingly true with each passing month.

His stories about living without a cable bill for a decade or spending a month barefoot on a Thai beach might seem extreme, but they illustrate how travel changes your perspective on what's truly necessary for happiness. For families questioning whether this lifestyle is sustainable long-term, Kepnes provides both inspiration and realistic perspective.

The Master of Travel Writing

In a Sunburned Country

By Bill Bryson

In a Sunburned Country isn't a how-to guide for family travel, but Bill Bryson's Australia adventure perfectly captures why we fell in love with travel writing in the first place. Bryson combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiosity in a way that makes you want to book a flight immediately.

His ability to find humor in travel disasters while maintaining genuine appreciation for the places he visits inspired my own approach to writing about our adventures. When Harper had a meltdown in Bangkok's Chatuchak Market or when we got hopelessly lost in Tokyo's subway system, I tried to channel Bryson's perspective that the mishaps often make the best stories.

Bryson writes about Australia as an immense and fortunate land, and his affection for the country and its people shines through every page. It's a reminder that great travel writing isn't just about logistics and recommendations - it's about capturing the magic of discovery and sharing that wonder with others.

Honestly, anything by Bill Bryson belongs on a worldschooling family's reading list. His books remind us why we travel in the first place: to satisfy our curiosity about the world and to share those discoveries with the people we love.

Building Your Worldschool Library

These books served different purposes during different phases of our journey. Some I consumed voraciously before we left Indiana, others I discovered during long flights or quiet evenings in various time zones. The Amuchasteguis gave us the confidence to start. Potts and Kepnes offered philosophical frameworks for sustaining long-term travel. Bryson reminded us to find humor and wonder in every experience. And newer books like Almond's validate that this movement is growing and evolving.

As we continue our adventure with over three years of travel behind us and upcoming plans for Japan, Albania, and possibly Morocco, I'm always looking for new perspectives on family travel and alternative education. Books remain one of the best ways to learn from other families' experiences and avoid reinventing the wheel.

Whether you're dreaming about taking your first extended family trip or you're already deep into the worldschooling lifestyle, these books offer both practical guidance and inspirational perspective. They remind us that education doesn't have to happen in a classroom and that some of life's most valuable lessons come from stepping outside our comfort zones with the people we love most.

Want to see our adventures in action? Check out our YouTube channel "Adam and Linds" where we document the real, unfiltered experience of worldschooling with three young kids. And if you're ready to start planning your own family adventure, contact Lindsay at [email protected] for personalized travel planning that takes your family's unique needs into account.

FTC Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend books we've actually read and genuinely believe will be helpful for worldschooling families. All opinions are our own, and our recommendations are based on our personal experience as a family of five who has been traveling full-time since May 2022.