Entertainment is a funny thing: it can come in all forms, can be expressed through many mediums. "Long Way Down" has been both a film/documentary, and is now a delightful book. How can one project become both a popular documentary and beloved book? The answer lies within the fascinating and engaging matter of "Long Way Down"...

Boorman and McGregor's trip was itself richly steeped in laudable origins. The two childhood friends had undertaken a journey around the African continent in 2004, in affiliation with the United Nations UNICEF. "Long Way Down" is a heartwarming, exciting and just plain charming tale of two men, practically brothers, who decide to take another inspiring adventure. Being young and carefree, McGregor and Boorman took the nearly 20-country tour on their own souped-up motorcycles, visiting some of the world's most beautiful and exotic locations.

It has been said many times that travel broadens the mind. McGregor and Boorman chronicle it all, though they never seem to lose an innocence, a pure love for the adventure ahead, even in the most harrowing parts of their adventure. It is no wonder that the BBC turned "Long Way Down" into a television series: some of the discussed sites are best enjoyed when viewed (though the descriptions in the book are delightful, one craves to see the actual sites the authors beheld). By the end of this book, it is hard not to want to go off and visit the same incredible locations (including Egypt, the Sahara and Tunisia, among many other places) and hope for an equally inspiring experience.


The gravitas attached to McGregor's name lends an air of Hollywood make-believe to this tale of the wonders of travel. One is reminded of the recent travel tale "My Mercedes Is Not For Sale" by author Jeroen Van Bergeijk. Even more tellingly, "Long Way Down" is reminiscent of another author, a much beloved author from an entirely different era: Mark Twain. Twain, with a razor-sharp and biting wit, also chronicled his wonderful adventures and misadventures, never missing a beat, showing the good and the ugly, but never taking away from the mystique associated with travel. This title is published by Atria Books. Enjoy the adventure of this book!

Photo courtesy of Atria Books.