We Came, We Saw, We Left

Wheelan (The Rationing), a professor of economics at Dartmouth College, delivers a humorous account of the year he spent traveling the world with his family. In 2016, Wheelan and his wife, Leah, embarked on a nine-month trip with their three children: Katrina, 18; Sophie, 16; and eighth-grader CJ. Starting in Colombia, where the kids momentarily go missing on a train platform, high-strung Charles and budget-conscious Leah haul their moody children across six continents, balancing moments of self-discovery with family meltdowns. They encounter “avocado-sized spiders” in the Amazon, notoriously horrendous Saigon traffic, visa problems in India, and an orphanage for albino children in Tanzania, and go “kiwi spotting” in New Zealand. Frequently anxious yet determined to enjoy himself, Wheelan offers plenty of self-effacing humor, amusing digressions (“Our experience was the opposite of what happened to George Bailey,” referring to Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s a Wonderful Life), and heartfelt observations (writing about friends they made along the way, “They are a kind, charming people with a deep respect for this unique part of the world. I felt sad to be leaving”). This rip-roaring adventure will especially appeal to those whose passports are collecting dust thanks to the pandemic. (Jan.)