Julian Sayarer Books

Ten years after breaking a world record for cycling around the world, award-winning travel writer Julian Sayarer returns to two wheels on the roads of Israel and occupied Palestine. His route weaves from the ancient hills of Galilee, along the blockaded walls of the Gaza Strip and down to the Bedouin villages of the Naqab Desert. He speaks with Palestinian hip-hop artists who wonder if music can change their world, Israelis hoping that kibbutz life can, and Palestinian cycling clubs determined to keep on riding despite the army checkpoints and settlers that bar their way. Pedalling through a military occupation, in the chance encounters of the roadside, a bicycle becomes a vehicle of more than just travel, and cuts through the tension to find a few simple truths, and some hope. As the miles pass, the journey becomes a meditation on making change - how people in dark times keep their spirit, and go on believing that a different world is possible.

An incredible record-breaking journey around the world in 169 days - solo and by bike - by the Stanford Dolman Prize-winning travel writer.

On a two-wheeled journey across Spain and Portugal, Julian Sayarer returns with his characteristically keen observations on adventure, humanity, and politics. Set against the backdrop of the pandemic, this is a travelogue about the 'in-between places', the lives of the people found there, and an old blue bicycle called Miles.

The complex story of modern Turkiye unfolds in a deeply thoughtful and gripping narrative, showcasing Sayarer's trademark style from the saddle and roadside. On the eve of its centenary and pivotal elections, Julian Emre Sayarer embarks on a cycling journey across Turkiye, from the Aegean coast to the Armenian border. Along the way, he meets Turkish farmers, Syrian refugees, and Russians seeking to avoid conscription, weaving a rich cultural tapestry of a region where Asia, Africa, and Europe converge. This journey serves as a love letter to Turkiye and its neighbors, offering a clear-eyed perspective on the country and its evolving role in the world. However, the route is shadowed by tragedy, as Sayarer cycles along a major fault line just months before one of the most devastating earthquakes in the region's history. Engaging with significant historical and political questions, Sayarer uses his bicycle and roadside encounters to connect with the human experience. By the end of his journey, readers gain a deeper understanding of Turkiye and the universal nature of political power, both within the country and in a broader context.