Go Lightly: How To Travel Lightly Without Hurting the Planet, reviewed

We look at this carefully considered book by Nina Karnikowski, who attempts to offer as light a travelling footprint as possible for those seeking to see the world. You can order a copy of the book here.

Go Lightly: How To Travel Lightly Without Hurting the Planet, reviewed

This book has been put together in a lovely way, with a soft feel to the cover, and also indented lettering which gives it a great tactile touch and feel to it. This sensitivity to positive design is continued throughout the book and there are pretty illustrations across every chapter. Karnikowski then attempts to get to grips with the challenges of what could, arguably be the fundamental paradox of both wishing to travelling, and yet also managing your carbon footprint.

She is aware of these challenges and does attempt to break it all down into actionable choices, and also attempting to raise awareness to bring greater clarity about what we do, why we do it, and if it is actually going to be a meaningful experience or not. She has some useful mini interviews with other travellers who have been on this journey too, and one of her most interesting questions to each of them is ‘what is the biggest mistake you have made in terms of sustainable travel?’

In many ways this does get to the crux of the issue, that many of us have probably travelled a little too hard, too fast, and with too little sensitivity to what is around us.

The last year of covid related lockdown has also potentially created a deeper reassessment of what good, sustainable travel might look like going forwards. She mentions the Swedish trend of ‘train bragging’, as people consciously move away from flying. Not everyone yet feels this way, but you can see that as climate change awareness grows, books like this serve an important role in helping us to all think more deeply about our actions, and their potential impacts on the planet.

This is a thoughtful book, and well worth reading.

More about the book ->

Go Lightly: How To Travel Lightly Without Hurting the Planet written by the influential travel writer Nina Karnikowski published by Laurence King P 

Karnikowski’s latest literary offering is filled with insightful advice on how to explore our planet without causing harm including sections on choosing the least impactful methods of travel, how to pack with more consideration and how to implement mindful practices into each travel day.

Nina’s career has seen her journeying through Mongolia in ex-Russian military vehicles, exploring the Namibian desert in opensided safari trucks and dodging icebergs in Antarctica in an icebreaker ship, and beyond, to over 60 countries. Nina’s previous books like How To Make A Living Living has received international acclaim including Harper’s Bazaar and People Magazine as well as being praised by Hollywood A-listers like Nikki Reed. Nina is based in a surf town of Byron Bay in Australia.

More about Nina ->

Freelance travel writer, portfolio at travelswithnina.com. Work most commonly featured in SMH Traveller, Sophisticated Traveller and Paradise magazine, also in Get Lost, Wild, Majestic Disorder magazines and more. Currently writing a book about creative living for Laurence King Publishing in London.

Formerly staff travel writer/producer across Fairfax Media’s travel sections, Saturday Traveller and Traveller on Sunday. Also wrote travel news stories for the Sydney Morning Herald, for both print and online at traveller.com.au.

Previously wrote for Fairfax Media’s magazine division, primarily for Good Weekend magazine (1.56 million readers), Sunday Life (1.2 million), the(sydney)magazine and Sport&Style – feature stories, columns on fashion, food, relationships and lifestyle, restaurant and travel reviews.

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