I’m a contributing writer for Slate. My work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Magazine, Newsweek, and other publications. I’ve received multiple Lowell Thomas awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, been excerpted three times in the Best American Travel Writing series, won the 2005 Online Journalism Award for commentary, and was nominated for a 2011 National Magazine Award for Digital Media. I graduated from Brown University, was a Knight-Bagehot fellow at the Columbia Journalism School, and live in New York.


  • Grounded

  • My first book, Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World, is about my attempt to circumnavigate the planet without using any aircraft. I rode on cargo freighters, trains, buses, bicycles, ferries, cruise ships, and rickshaws, with adventures at every turn. The Sydney Morning Herald named Grounded among "the most outstanding travelogues of the year." From the American Library Association's Booklist review: "This entertaining account manages to combine a hip modern approach with a charming nostalgic feel. A must for armchair travelers."

    I've written several travel series for Slate, including:

  • Trying Really Hard to Like India
  • Tokyo on One Cliché a Day
  • The Mecca of the Mouse
  • Should I Move to Amsterdam?

e-mail: seth@sethstevenson.com
representation: Zoë Pagnamenta Agency

View photos and maps from the journey, post your travel questions, and get news about bookstore readings and media appearances.