Book Review: Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter

I wasn’t planning on posting two book reviews so close together, but sometimes you read something so interesting that you have to tell others about it. So this week, I’m reviewing Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter by Josh Gates.

If you aren’t familiar with Josh Gates, he hosts a show on SyFy called Destination Truth. His team travels the world searching for legendary creatures. I’m usually not a fan of books written by celebrities but I picked this book up because I thought it would be fun to get a behind the scenes look at the show. What I got was a total surprise.

This book is so much more than that. While there are stories and anecdotes from the show, at its heart, it’s really a book about the love (and importance) of travel. There are also sections on various monsters, photos from around the world, funny travel tips, and his life story woven throughout this book. There’s a lot going on but somehow Josh Gates ties it all together perfectly. There’s a lot of humor and heart in this book. It’s the kind of thing that stays with you, affects you. Makes you want to do, and be more. His message appears to be that most people don’t spend enough time exploring the world around them-and miss out on so much. Here’s a quote from the book to show you what I’m talking about.

“By staying home, we’re missing a grand opportunity afforded to us by those glimmering silver birds in the sky. The “golden age” of travel is right now. Jetting is no longer just for the jet set; it’s for everyone. The truth is that travel changes us, irrevocably, and mostly for the better. It can nourish the best parts of ourselves like nothing else. Travel broadens our perspective, adds texture to our lives, and makes us more interesting at cocktail parties.”

And he’s right. People should try and see the world around them. Exploration is important. Whether you are hunting for ghosts, or monsters or a better version of yourself, you should be looking.

Because this book is pretty close to perfect, I’m giving it a perfect score. 5 out of 5 ghosts.

Now go leave your house and explore. And maybe pick up this book.