7 Nonfiction books to read before visiting the Maldives

Before you get a chance to sit on a secluded sandy white beach in the Maldives, with a thrilling book in your hand, sipping margaritas, you must do another kind of reading.

The Maldives is a dreamy paradise, a honeymoon destination, and a tropical archipelago packed with exciting sights and experiences. Most tourists go to the Maldives, stay at a luxurious resort, and return home with memories to last a lifetime.

However, this amazing island nation isn’t without its complexities and enchantments. As a country with a sketchy past and an uncertain future, its intricacies often go unnoticed. Unless that is, you are an ardent traveler willing to learn more about the local culture, beliefs, and lifestyle.

To genuinely embrace the Maldives, you must know its history, people, political setup, traditions, and the many wonders that lie beneath the surrounding waters.

These seven nonfiction books about the Maldives undertake diverse genres. They provide beautiful insights into the workings of a changing nation. So, to get a glimpse of the “real” Maldives, pick up one of the books, or maybe all. They will help you appreciate the islands and their people so much more.

Lonely Planet Maldives by Tom Masters

When it comes to guidebooks, Lonely Planet has been a market leader for decades now. Even today, its printed guides are the go-to choice for many travelers wishing to discover hidden gems of any location around the globe.

Lonely Planet Maldives is no different in that it offers comprehensive information about the island nation in a simple to understand manner. Tom Masters’ research goes much beyond talking about resorts and famous sightseeing spots. He focuses on Maldives’ changing state, giving details about guesthouses, restaurants, surf sites, the best diving spots, and ways in which people can travel the Maldives on a budget.

As is the issue with any printed guide, you still need to perform your own research for up-to-date information. Lonely Planet Maldives’ 2018 edition is a wonderful travel companion but lacks details about COVID-19 requirements, new resort openings, and how the Maldives, against adversity, was ranked as the best travel destination in 2020. For a complete picture, look into using the guide alongside Love the Maldives. This way, you won’t miss out on anything important or fun during your holiday.

Folk Tales of the Maldives by Xavier Romero-Frias

Novelist Angela Carter once said, “For most of human history, ‘literature,’ both fiction and poetry, has been narrated, not written — heard, not read. So fairy tales, folk tales, stories from the oral tradition, are all of them the most vital connection we have with the imaginations of the ordinary men and women whose labor created our world.”

Folk Tales of the Maldives might not be a nonfiction book about the Maldives in its truest sense, but these are stories that “real” people believe and have carried with them for centuries. A labor of love, Xavier Romero-Frias collected these folk tales by talking to Maldivians over three decades. Through the book, he shares stories of valor, mystical beings, and morality, highlighting the significance of storytelling in the region and how it has declined over the years.

Whether told as a way to pass the time during long ferry crossing between islands or legends that reflect local religious beliefs, these short and compelling folk tales of the Maldives will keep you captivated for days. And they will provide an excellent ice-breaker when you wish to mingle with the locals.

The Maldives: Islamic Republic, Tropical Autocracy by J J Robinson

J J Robinson is a British-Australian journalist who served as the editor of Maldives’ independent English paper Minivan News for four years. In his book, Robinson shines a spotlight on the political turmoil that has engulfed the Maldives these past few decades. Heading deep into the ethos of the local politics, he explains how the islanders are in a constant state of conflict. There are people wanting democracy, while others prefer the older form of leadership.

The book skips over Maldives’ façade as a dream destination, giving an honest picture of its famous personalities and governments instead. However, the book was published in 2015, and since then, there have been several changes in the islands’ political atmosphere.

Irrespective of these transformations, The Maldives is a compelling read packed with coups, scandals, and corruptions that at times seem fantastical but are very much real.

 

Cook Maldives by Shaai Sattar

Beware! Do not read this book on a hungry stomach. Cook Maldives delivers what is so boldly announces on its cover. A detailed guide to cooking the very best of Maldivian food, the book is a delight to own for any gourmand that enjoys experimenting with world cuisines.

Unlike several other cookbooks, Cook Maldives stands out for featuring 100s of photographs. Serving as a visual guide, these photos make it easy to understand and follow the recipes.

Moreover, Cook Maldives highlights classic recipes that give the book authenticity. Among the 31 recipes, you will find delicious yet straightforward preparations like pumpkin curry, fish soup, tuna rolls, short eats like spicy fish cake, and desserts such as milk jelly and banana fritters.

 

 

 

Dive Maldives by Sam Harwood & Rob Bryning

The Maldives is unquestionably among the best diving destinations in the entire world. Divers who make regular trips to the Maldives are aware of the necessary diving precautions to take and of the archipelago’s best sites. For diving enthusiasts visiting for the first time, the sheer abundance of wrecks, caves, and reefs can get a little confusing.

Dive Maldives eases this predicament by listing over 140 sites for diving and snorkeling across the islands. The book tries to cover dives for both beginners and professionals, giving insider tips on tackling the more challenging escapades.

Beautiful photographs and maps add to the appeal of Dive Maldives, truly making it a “complete guide to diving and snorkeling.” Moreover, the extra bit of visual information will help prepare you to be amazed by Maldives’ hidden underwater treasures.

 

 

Gatecrashing Paradise: Misadventures in the Real Maldives by Tom Chesshyre

Published in 2014, Tom Chesshyre’s book Gatecrashing Paradise captures the Maldives at a crossroad. Tom visited the country soon after it had opened its inhabited islands to tourists. At the time, the Maldives was just about starting to attract a different kind of traveler, one who wanted to experience more than luxury resorts and high-end living.

Tom, in his hope to discover the heart of the Maldives, ditches convenience over adventure. Instead of speedboats and seaplanes, he chooses to travel by ferry and cargo boats and stays in small guesthouses run by entrepreneurial locals.

As Tom travels, he finds a nation that is confused about its past and future. In a place where the disparity between the rich and poor can’t get any more evident, he tries to understand what the residents think about the wealthy tourists. He reports on their fears ranging from the long-lasting political unrest to rising water levels due to climate change. Gatecrashing Paradise isn’t without hope, though. There’s an omnipresent sense of adventure, mention of hidden gems, and awareness of the local culture that makes for a fascinating travelogue.

Fishes of the Maldives by Rudie Kuiter & Timothy Godfrey

Fishes of the Maldives almost borders on being an academic book. It’s so well detailed and descriptive that you won’t need anything else when wanting to learn about the aquatic life that calls the waters of the Maldives their home.

Even if you were to dive in the Maldives many times over the years, it wouldn’t be possible to come across all the fish species in the region. Thus, the book acts as an informative introduction to what you might see when exploring the atolls. It also highlights the rich diversity of fish found in the Maldives.

Furthermore, for first-time snorkelers and divers, Fishes of the Maldives is an educational companion, and that too a vibrant one packed with colored underwater photos. When reading the book, you’ll learn more about body shapes and external fish features via diagrams. There’s information on the various species and which atolls they are likely to frequent. By sharing knowledge about cleaning stations and marine conservation, the book takes on a holistic approach, making it an essential nonfiction book about the Maldives to buy before your island vacation.