Lawrence Millman, an author, lecturer, and mycologist based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is known for his distinctive approach to travel and his advocacy of a neo-Luddite philosophy. With 23 published books—about half focused on travel—and a scientific background in the study of fungi, Millman combines his passions for exploration and nature in unique ways.
Millman, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, has embraced a lifestyle that prioritizes nature over modern technology. He describes himself as anti-television and anti-automotive, choosing to forego owning a car or television. Although he reluctantly maintains a computer “because I have to,” he identifies as a neo-Luddite, promoting a preference for the natural world over what he terms the “technological matrix” enveloping society. His latest work, released this week, is titled "A Luddite Lexicon," a dictionary-style book that critiques contemporary technology and advocates for a return to simpler ways of living.
In addition to his literary endeavors, Millman continues his scientific research, currently holding a government grant from Bermuda to study fungi. Later this year, he plans to travel to Bermuda to advance his mycological investigations. His interest in remote and unusual places extends beyond his research; when asked about places he would like to visit, Millman cited the island of Tristan da Cunha, renowned for its extreme remoteness.
Millman’s travel style reflects his hands-on and independent mindset. He books all of his trips himself and prefers “unplugged” vacations, eschewing the use of electronic devices during his travels. He noted that even short trips, such as those to Cape Cod, follow this approach. Highlighting his preference for unique and often challenging experiences, Millman shared that one of his least enjoyable travel moments occurred in Fort Lauderdale in 2017, where traffic congestion and local atmosphere diminished the trip. On the other hand, he described trips to remote locations such as Mayaguana in the Caribbean as some of his best travel experiences.
For Millman, travel is not simply a means of relaxation but an expedition seeking the unusual. He pursues encounters with rarely contacted peoples and unusual foods, such as Icelandic shark’s meat. His formative travel memories include collecting seashells in the Bahamas as a child. When thinking about literary companionship, he identifies Henry David Thoreau as an ideal travel partner given Thoreau’s lifelong dedication to nature and skepticism of technology—a connection further demonstrated by Millman’s 2024 book, “Outsider: My Boyhood with Thoreau.”
When asked about practical travel advice, Millman recommended maintaining patience with inconvenience and focusing on the experience rather than discomforts. His favorite travel gifts are simple tools such as notebooks and pens, underscoring his preference for direct engagement with the world. He relies on coffee as his preferred travel companion and maintains a personal website as his primary travel-related digital presence.
Millman’s experiences and perspectives offer insight into a mode of travel that values immersion in nature, a rejection of modern technology’s dominance, and a pursuit of the unusual and the overlooked.