In Motion

New Yorker staff writer Hiss (The Experience of Place) takes on travel, or, more precisely, the concept of travel as a mind-opening, elucidating, even eureka-inspiring endeavor—something he calls "Deep Travel." One can be in Deep Travel on the way home from the market or on the way to work. It is about noticing and appreciating things, even if you've overlooked them hundreds of times. Deep Travel involves, literally, taking a first step (there is heavy coverage of the notion of first steps) and is related to the notion of "Deep Time"—as when during an activity one is lost in the moment and happily oblivious to its duration. Deep Travel is restorative; it could reduce the number of wars and other conflicts and allow you to live longer. Despite the book's exciting premise, after the first couple of chapters, reality hits: the text is interminably dull. Perhaps it would be better as an hour-long lecture or an essay made up of the beginning few chapters and the ending.