The column "Wanderlust" won the Best Online Site/Web Publication Award from the Society of American Travel Writers and represents the pinnacle of web journalism. This collection culls the editor's favorites from more than 300 pieces -- sink into Po Bronson's Club Med vacation, let Jan Morris recreate Gdansk in its heyday, and prowl Tokyo's demimonde at Karl Taro Greenfeld's side. In addition, the book contains completely new material such as essays by Simon Winchester and Anne Lamott that have been commissioned exclusively for this project.

As a whole, these 40 pearls transport readers on travel adventures the world over: a mouthwatering dispatch from the Memphis Barbeque Contest, a furious bartering session for a Kilim, and a trek to locate the authentic hula. In the tradition of the finest travel writing, these are tales of compelling adventure, delectable food and poignant humor that transport the reader a wishlist of places they've always wanted to visit.