Five books for those who fly

F lying has always been part of the schedule of a busy executive, a world traveler or just someone on holidays or visiting a family. There are two types of flyers, those who enjoy it and those who fly but have anxieties when they do. For those who enjoy it, they simply just carry on […]

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lying has always been part of the schedule of a busy executive, a world traveler or just someone on holidays or visiting a family. There are two types of flyers, those who enjoy it and those who fly but have anxieties when they do. For those who enjoy it, they simply just carry on with it but for those who have anxieties, it is a battle to get them from one point or the other. Incredibly, some of those with those anxieties fly a lot and seem to be coming from a secure place of flying, like my cousin who does not like to fly but has to. Interestingly, she is the daughter of a pilot. We all have our pet peeves about flying. Sometimes it is delays, other times it is just dealing with the next passenger beside you who prevents you from going to sleep or simply won’t leave you alone. With news of another air crash, Lion Airline in Indonesia last week, we all get sober and thankful that we go wherever we want with no incidences. Our condolence to the families of the 189 persons, who perished aboard that flight. May the souls of the victims’ rest in peace, Amen. A terrible tragedy.

Today, let’s talk about how to make flying more pleasurable both for the frequent flyer, the casual flyer and the anxious flyer. We provide a list of books for a long haul like a 15hour flight or a short flight like 2hours and one hour and books for stop overs; those times you have to wait six hours before your connecting flight. We also present books for anxious flyers like my cousin. As the holiday season approaches, there are those whose holiday destination requires flying from one point to another, in addition to those who have last minute work related flights. Well, here is a selection of books for you.

1) Cockpit Confidential by Patrick Smith is a wonderful book for all anxious flyers and for those who want to get aviation information. The author is an airline pilot who in this book covers the nuts and bolts of flying. Information in this book includes pilot training, turbulence issues, how you fly and debunks all the myths about airline travels. A good book for all and sundry. This should inspire confidence in all those who fly.

2) Everyone who travels long haul and is more into books than movies like me needs a fat paperback to get them through the flight. Often times at 38,000 feet above sea level, you are in another world and the transit nature of travel enhances the travelling experience through a book in times and seasons and meeting different fictional or non-fictional characters. Zadie Smith’s White Teeth which I have read over and over again falls into this category. It is a modern day epic story with twists and turns that both excite and alarm you and it is a tome of a book that should be nearing the end on a 15-hour flight with stop overs in between. A wonderful book for flying.

3) Soar by Captain Ton Bunn. This book is for those who have the fear of flying and it is written by a pilot who is also a psychologist. He intimates us in the book how fear is processed in the brain and how one can short circuit the process. He helps you to strategize your flying plans and advises on how to choose the right airline to help you stop or eliminate flying anxiety.

4) Aside from a big fat book, short stories are fantastic for flying because you can dip in and out of it. I highly recommend Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s, The Thing around your neck. A book that is as Nigerian as it gets and still has an international flavor. Written in easy prose, it gives you different stories to choose from and is an incredible read. While you are at it, please get the edition in collaboration with International fabric manufacturers, Vlisco. The cover design to die for is one of the high end fabric manufacturer’s of Ankara motifs. Beautiful and a sight for sore eyes when you carry it through an airport and read it on board. It is like a gorgeous accessory. Classy!

5) David Sedaris’s “Me talk pretty one day” This is a collection of tales from the author on his travels. His hilarious fish out of water stories in France and Japan will be relatable to most travelers. You know how you arrive in one country and there is a language barrier or you are immediately identified as a stranger. Lo. This is the book for you as you make your way to those countries.