
“Kingdoms in the Air” is a collection of Pulitzer Prize finalist Bob Shacochis’ travel essays from 1989 to the present, full of signature bravado recounting death-defying adventure. But in addition to rugged action stories, nuanced portraits emerge of his travel companions and global plights. For example, the titular essay describes a journey to Nepal with friend Thomas Laird, the first foreigner to live in the kingdom of Mustang.