Those of us who didn’t get a passport until college but made sure our kids had them soon after birth are quick to understand the premise behind “Don’t Let the World Pass You By: 52 Reasons to Have a Passport” ($10, Lonely Planet Publications). Filled with compelling tidbits about leaving this country to explore others and compiled by coordinating author Sara Benson, the book shares the life-changing stories of nine everyday travelers, interspersed with websites, recommendations from experts, fun trivia and helpful hints. Some examples: the top five toilet-paper stand-ins (low-denomination bills would be one), the top five religious experiences worth having (the Vesak celebrations of the Buddha’s life in Thailand among them), and the top five art books for travelers (including “The Art of Travel,” by Alain de Botton). Tips such as how to meet visa requirements, ways to avoid Montezuma’s revenge and living with local families in foreign countries add to the insider feel, and the short hits make it easy to read while waiting at the airport. If this book doesn’t have you standing in line at the post office soon, nothing will.
