Only Planet

Only Planet is a book by Ed Gillespie about his flight free adventure around the world. Published in June 2014 by Wild Things Publishing his first book embraces environmentally sustainable, slow travel.^[1][2][3]

Plot summary

Ed and his then girlfriend Fiona set out on a year-long global circumnavigation of the world without flying, eliminating the associated carbon emissions and rediscovering the joys of travelling through the world, not just over it.^[4] Their journey sees them cover over 40,000 miles, passing through 31 countries and meeting many people along the way. Throughout his journey Ed gains different perspectives on climate change, globalisation and society's role in shaping the future, whilst gaining first hand insight into the way our planet is changing.^[5] Each chapter explores a different topic relevant to that part of the journey, for example, whilst in Japan overfishing is focused upon.

Reviews

Only Planet has been well received by numerous reviewers. The Independent describes the book as both "witty" and "thought-provoking" with the essence of the book showing "slow travel allows time for the flaws, degradation and struggles of the world, as well as its breathtaking beauty and indefatigable human spirit, to seep into the soul."^[6] TreeHugger recounts the way in which the book's "humorous cross-cultural encounters and descriptions of stunning geography" are coupled with "a passionate conversation about climate change."^[7] Lastly Geographical Magazine make sense of the book in light of the discoveries that slow travel enables, allowing for a truly "transformative" journey in a "way that air travel can never be."^[8]

References