We read a number of books about the Camino in preparation. Here are some of the ones we read;
Very good day-to-day route guide:
A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago: St. Jean/Roncesvalles/Santiago (Camino Guides 9th Edition) by John Brierly
This is a great guide, lovely to look at. Unfortunately it is only in paper form.
Planning guides, these are the two best ones we found:
Your Camino by Nilsen, Sylvia, Greg Dedman
— We think the best general guide. It covers everything.
Camino de Santiago: To Walk Far, Carry Less by Jean-Christie Ashmore
— How to eliminate weight
We read a lot of books where people described their experience:
Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino by Joyce Rupp
— Joyce Rupp is a Catholic nun (very liberal though). More spiritual and inspirational.
I’m Off Then: Losing and Finding Myself on the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling, Shelley Frisch
— This was a huge best-seller in Germany and inspired huge numbers of Germans to walk the Camino. Kerkeling is a German comedian so he is pretty entertaining. We enjoyed it.
Following the Milky Way: A Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago by Elyn Aviva
— Elyn Aviva walked the Camino first in 1982. A nice account of the Camino 30 years ago. Coincidentally we met Elyn and her husband Gary last year when we were in Girona, Spain. We struck up a conversation in a supermercado and later had coffee and they showed us their apartment in a lovely old building.
The Best Way by Bill Walker
— Bill Walker walked the Appalachian Trail and then the Pacific Crest Trail and then the Camino (twice). He wrote a book about each one. He is a pretty good writer and his books are fun and interesting.