Where to Start with Mark Adams: The Best First Book
New to Mark Adams? Turn Right at Machu Picchu is the right starting point — here's what to expect from his adventure non-fiction and which book suits you.
By Natalie Osei
Start with Turn Right at Machu Picchu.
It is his most celebrated book, his most entertaining, and the fullest expression of his method: personal investigation of a historical mystery, carried out with genuine curiosity, considerable discomfort, and a self-deprecating wit that makes the adventure accessible to readers who would never hike the Andes themselves.
Start here: Turn Right at Machu Picchu
Adams retraces the route of Hiram Bingham — the American explorer who brought Machu Picchu to the world’s attention in 1911 — through the Peruvian Andes. He has no hiking experience, hires a local guide, and discovers that the story of Machu Picchu’s “discovery” is considerably more complicated and interesting than the popular account suggests.
Then: Meet Me in Atlantis
The same method applied to a bigger myth: Adams travels the world interviewing everyone with a theory about where Atlantis actually was. The scholarly debates turn out to be surprisingly interesting, and his guide to the crackpot and the credible is consistently entertaining.
See the complete works
For the full Mark Adams bibliography, reviews, and biography, visit the Mark Adams author page on Editors Reads.
Affiliate disclosure: Links to Amazon on this page are affiliate links. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to know about Machu Picchu to enjoy Turn Right at Machu Picchu?
No prior knowledge is required — Adams explains everything as he goes. In fact, one of the book's pleasures is discovering that Hiram Bingham's 1911 'discovery' of Machu Picchu was considerably more complicated than the popular story suggests.
