# Book suggestions for a long flight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 29, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528 "2013-10-29T05:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/1 "2013-10-29T05:12:47Z")
I have a 15 hour flight coming up (Dubai to DC) and I need a good book to read. I’m looking for something a little light, but not idiotic, and humorous. Non-fiction is fine. I just finished Jon Ronson’s _Them_ and enjoyed it a lot. His brand of quirky humor is what I’m looking for, but I’m not ready to read another Jon Ronson book. Sometimes, I just get tired of one writer’s voice for a while and need something new. Any suggestions welcome. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/2 "2013-10-29T05:17:53Z")
Assuming you have no fear of flying, you might enjoy the novelization of Snakes on a Plane. Much better than the movie and it will add some excitement to a very boring flight. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/3 "2013-10-29T05:35:05Z")
Anything by Bill Bryson is good airplane reading. Light, humorous, doesnt require much concentration, but is always interesting-- whether he’s talking about scientific discoveries, Victorian architecture, Australian casinos, or white bread in 1950’s Iowa. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/4 "2013-10-29T08:06:20Z")
If you liked _Them_, I’d recommend _Scary Monsters and Super Freaks: Stories of Sex, Drugs, Rock ‘N’ Roll and Murder_ by Mike Sager. To quote my Amazon review: > [@](#): > > I bought this book on a whim because it looked interesting in the store. I’m glad I did as I’ve enjoyed it very much. The book is a collection of nineteen articles originally published in Esquire, GQ, or Rolling Stone. The subjects are generally sad and sordid but Sager takes the time to understand his subjects and explain not only what happened to them but why. Some of the incidents he describes are familiar but Sager’s work has depth and reveals and explains things other more superficial coverage missed. I recommend this book and will be looking for future work by this writer. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/5 "2013-10-29T08:31:18Z")
**Little Nemo** , GREAT suggestion, I’ve actually read the story about John Holmes before (didn’t it inspire Boogie Nights?). Thanks all and keep them coming. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/6 "2013-10-29T08:45:45Z")
International Space Station Commander Chris Hadfield’s book, _An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth_, will be released today, as I understand. I followed Commander Chris on his journey; and if I had a long flight in the next little while, I think his book would help to pass the time quickly. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/7 "2013-10-31T00:42:55Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Assuming you have no fear of flying, you might enjoy the novelization of Snakes on a Plane. Much better than the movie and it will add some excitement to a very boring flight. it really was good. preston child are great reads, the pendergast series can keep you entertained. or any of the books they wrote alone, douglas preston/ lincoln child. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/8 "2013-10-31T01:08:49Z")
For humorous (but informative) science nonfiction you might like something by Mary Roach - Stiff (about human cadavers), Bonk (sex), Packing for Mars (space travel), Gulp (digestion)… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-suggestions-for-a-long-flight/672528/9 "2013-10-31T01:30:16Z")
[Malaria Dreams](http://www.amazon.com/Malaria-Dreams-Adventure-Stuart-Stevens/dp/087113361X/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383182783&sr=1-10&keywords=malaria) [Death in the Long Grass](http://www.amazon.com/Death-Long-Grass-Adventures-ebook/dp/B006GR5128/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383182907&sr=1-1&keywords=death+in+the+long+grass): not funny, but wildly entertaining. When was the last time you saw a book with almost 100% 5-star reviews?