5 Minutes With Paul Theroux

Welcome to McCool Travel’s 94th travel interview. I did a very unscientific survey and asked a few people, “Who is the most famous travel author you have heard of?” More than half answered Paul Theroux. I agree. He is the best travel author in my lifetime. I am humbled and honored to present this travel interview with Paul Theroux.

Many of my all-time travel quotes, I often say in jest, were spoken by Yogi Berra (who recently passed away). One of my favorite actual travel quotes is from Paul Theroux, “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” 

Paul Theroux’ bio:

“PAUL THEROUX is the author of many highly acclaimed books. His novels include The Lower River and The Mosquito Coast, and his renowned travel books include Ghost Train to the Eastern Star and Dark Star Safari. He lives in Hawaii and on Cape Cod.”

McCool Travel's 94th travel interview is with Paul Theroux, prolific travel writer and adventurer. The author of Mosquito Coast shares his travel wisdom.
Paul Theroux, photo credit: Steve McCurry

Paul Theroux

Hometown…

Medford, Massachusetts where I was in the Boy Scouts with Michael Bloomberg

Always in my luggage…

A small Sony short-wave radio – I used to take a Swiss Army knife in my briefcase, but no longer

3 favorite home-away-from-home places…

  1. the coast of Maine (Rockland, Thomaston)
  2. Langkawi Island (Malaysia)
  3. Sicily

A favorite travel memory is…

seeing the sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala on Maui

McCool Travel's 94th travel interview is with Paul Theroux, prolific travel writer and adventurer. The author of Mosquito Coast shares his travel wisdom.
Paul Theroux at home in Hawaii, photo credit: SmithsonianMag.com

3 money-saving travel tactics I use are…

  1. taking a bus
  2. avoiding gourmet restaurants
  3. avoiding locals who say, “Meester, I can help you…”

3 ways I have fun while traveling are…

  1. making a friend
  2. reading a book
  3. writing something

8 word (or less) travel mantra…

“You travel faster and better if you travel alone”

I am fortunate to have met …

a Buddhist monk in Burma all of whose earthly possessions he carried in a small, football-sized bundle

McCool Travel's 94th travel interview is with Paul Theroux, prolific travel writer and adventurer. The author of Mosquito Coast shares his travel wisdom.
Paul Theroux in Africa, photo credit: thetimes.co.uk

Thank you very much, Mr. Theroux, for taking a few minutes to share your travel inspiration and tips.
For more information about visit his website.


McCool Travel presents tips from travel experts in our 5 Minutes interview series—featuring travel industry giants, super frequent travelers, and adventurous persons. Previous 5 Minutes post: Anwar Yafai.

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20 thoughts on “5 Minutes With Paul Theroux”

  1. I loved reading Paul Theroux’s Mosquito Coast in particular, and it reminded me of the writings of another favourite author, Somerset Maugham in a way. I have yet to read Deep South but I will. Scoop Charles.

  2. I was a friend of Paul’s until age 11 when I moved to Long Island.We got into trouble in the third grade when he suggested we go watch the trains behind the Washington School.Miss Cook made us write on the blackboard 100 times that we not go near the trains.So much I guess he did not heed that advice. Jack Flynn

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