Every Expat Should Have a Guide to Living Abroad and Relocate
I moved away from home more than 14 years ago. 9 years ago, I moved out of my country.
Finding information was so rare that sometimes we relied on advice from people who moved to Canada when actually we were relocating to South America. Any idea was welcome because, in fact, it was all we had.
But if you are moving out in 2022, you are part of the lucky ones. Never in history, has there been such an extensive amount of great blogs, posts, and even entire books with life-saving advice about moving out from home.
The post is divided into 4 parts:
- Books about moving abroad or away from home. Here are the best titles in terms of cultural adaptation, general life advice, and psychological preparation. It doesn’t matter if your destination is another city, state, or overseas, take a look at these pages.
Books about Digital Nomads. Digital Nomads (a specific type of remote worker) are an increasing community of people who leave their homes without a fixed address, a possibility offered by remote jobs. In this post, there is a longer explanation about what they really are. You can also check the best city in the world for Digital Nomads. - Books for entrepreneurs. Some of us leave our homes because of our studies. Others, due to relationships or professional opportunities. There are also individuals who move out to execute business ideas. This is my case.
- The Best Book if you are leaving the United States. Here you will see only 1 recommendation, inserted especially for my dear American readers who are planning to move elsewhere.
Books About Moving Away From Home
Move to the Place of Your Dreams: A Relocation Handbook
Publication year: 2014
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.2 stars.
Why you should read it:
This book will tell you about the benefits of moving and why you might want to do it. The book gives you a low-stress, step-by-step plan for finding the best place for you, moving there, and getting used to a new place.
This complete guide is full of exercises and tools to help you organize your thoughts, questions, preferences, and plans. You’ll also find an amazing collection of up-to-date resources about moving that cover practical, legal, and financial issues.
Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity: 11 secrets to make your expat & digital nomad life better than you imagine
Publication year: 2020
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.4 stars.
Why you should read it:
You can learn the following things from this book:
- Despite having access to a certain incredible resource of knowledge, you aren’t using it. (Hint: It’s not in the media or on forums for expats.)
- The family advice you will never regret taking. Neither will they.
- How to succeed in your expatriate job by quickly adjusting to the customs and mannerisms of the area.
- How to gain the respect and admiration of the locals by acting like one of them.
- How to prosper locally without actually being one.
What readers say:
- This is THE book to buy if you’re soon going to be an expat. very thorough research Plenty of information about how to flourish, survive, and maintain contact with home. The author’s anecdotes are quite moving, especially the one about his grandma. The five stages, which go from honeymoon to yearning, all apply to me. enjoyed the resources, especially in the conclusion.
- There is some great guidance in this book! You must read it if you want to live abroad because the author gives you so much information! Make sure you do your homework, that your goals are measurable, and my personal favorite: speak with the cashier and cab driver rather than the agents because they won’t have any ulterior motives. highly advisable
- Excellent advice and information that is evidently drawn from the author’s personal experience living abroad. It explains how to get ready for any move overseas as well as what to do (and what not to do) after you arrive in your new nation. It provides insight into the kind of expat you are and the various emotional phases you will go through during your overseas journey. Tons of useful suggestions and guidance.
Culture Hacks: Deciphering Differences in American, Chinese, and Japanese Thinking
Publication year: 2019
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.5 stars.
Why is it a good book about moving abroad:
Richard Conrad deftly and expertly navigates the most delicate and frustratingly elusive subject for anyone trying to understand Asia’s rise: the complex role of culture in nations like China and Japan and its intersection with trade, business, and economics.
Conrad examines everything from best business practices to how business and political elites consider different cultural factors when making decisions to the escalating tensions between the US and China with the expert analyst’s eye of someone with years of experience and fluency in both languages.
Books About Moving to Another Country and Living as a Digital Nomad
The Digital Nomad Handbook
Publication year: 2020
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.2 stars.
Why you should read it:
This helpful book is split into two parts. The first part talks about how to make money while working on the road, how to handle career changes, how to stay in touch with family and friends, what to do with your stuff, how to get over common fears before leaving, how to stay healthy on the road, and much more.
The second shows a number of great places for digital nomads to go. It gives helpful travel tips and information about each place, including its pros and cons, as well as inspiring stories from digital nomads on the road. […] This book was written by some of Lonely Planet’s own nomadic experts, and it’s full of tips, insights, and real-life stories about what it’s like to work on the road.
Tales of A Digital Nomad: A Narrative of Freeing Oneself Through Travel, Adventure, and Self-Realization
Publication year: 2019
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4 stars.
Why you should read it:
This amazing journey will really move people who want to fly off into the distance and see the whole world. Imagine how scared and excited Nadia must feel when she takes the brave step to start her own business, then goes traveling to meet new people and work toward a hard and painful lesson in self-realization.
Best Expat Books for Entrepreneurs Abroad
Expat Secrets: How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas & Make Giant Piles of Money
Publication year: 2018
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.1 stars.
Why you should read it:
Mikkel Thorup uses his more than 20 years of experience living overseas to give you an easy-to-understand guide to living overseas, saving money on taxes, getting a second passport, and traveling the world as an Expat.
This book will save you years of trial and error and give you a detailed plan for how to plant flags all over the world as a PT (Previous Taxpayer, Permanent Tourist, Perpetual Traveller).
Expat Secrets is full of information that will always be useful, based on Mikkel Thorup’s travels to more than 100 countries. It gives you a straightforward look at the offshore markets.
Starting Your Own Business Far From Home: What (Not) to Do When Opening a Company in Another State, Country, or Galaxy
Publication year: 2020
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.5 stars.
Why you should read it:
You will find out in this book:
- When choosing a place to start a business, you should think about both business and non-business factors. They are often overlooked, but they make the difference between huge failures and amazing successes.
- How to find allies in your area
- How to know your rivals better than they know themselves!
- How to find business-killing paths and stay away from them.
- How to adapt to changes in your environment and make the most of them. (Hint: Taleb).
- How can you avoid being tricked?
What the readers say:
- The author starts by saying that starting a business takes a sincere desire, a lot of planning, being careful, and “a spark.” The book makes sense, is easy to read, and covers a lot of ground, both from a business and a personal point of view.
- This book couldn’t have come at a better time for me as I look to move my business to another country. It shows what you should be aware of wherever you are in the world and gives great examples from the author’s own life and from his research.
- As someone who works in business, I agree with a lot of what he says at first. However, as you read more, you realize how much you didn’t know or think about. You would be glad you knew about it before you jumped into a completely different culture, environment, and way of life.
Global Career: How to Work Anywhere and Travel Forever (Become a Digital Nomad Today with Remote Work!)
Publication year: 2018
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.6 stars
Why you should read it:
This detailed book is full of real-life stories and actionable advice, such as:
– The exact tips and shortcuts you need to build a world-class career on the go
– Skills for negotiating and getting higher education, internships, and high-paying jobs overseas
Best Book if You Are Leaving the United States to Live Abroad
U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans: The Traveling Expat’s Guide to Living, Working, and Staying Tax Compliant Abroad
Publication year: 2017
Amazon Rating (From 1 to 5): 4.4 stars.
Why you should read it:
Olivier covers a lot of international tax information that has been updated for 2021. This includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for the Forms and Schedules you will use to file your offshore tax, no matter where you are.
- How to get special tax breaks, credits, and exemptions when dealing with international taxes.
- Why it’s easier than you think to open bank accounts and companies in other countries.
- How living in another country or becoming a citizen of that country can legally lower your taxes.
- How do your American or non-American spouse and/or children affect your tax situation?
- What to think about before giving up your American citizenship and saying goodbye to the IRS for good.
Key Takeaways: Books to Read Before the Big Move Abroad
1. Books for Every Stage of the Expat Journey: There are 9 books that can guide you through every stage of your expat journey. From understanding the benefits of living abroad to dealing with culture shock, these books offer valuable insights. “Move to the Place of Your Dreams: A Relocation Handbook” is a comprehensive guidebook that helps prepare you for the move, while “Culture Hacks: Deciphering Differences in American, Chinese, and Japanese Thinking” helps you immerse in intercultural understanding.
2. Digital Nomad Life: For those looking to live life as a digital nomad, books like “The Digital Nomad Handbook” provide insights into working less in a day job and enjoying reading about the world. It’s a guide to a successful life while living on the road, offering tips on staying healthy and connected.
3. Entrepreneurial Insights: If you’re an optimist looking to start a business in a new country, “Starting Your Own Business Far From Home: What (Not) to Do When Opening a Company in Another State, Country, or Galaxy” can help guide you. It covers topics like finding allies, knowing rivals, and adapting to changes.
4. U.S. Citizens Moving Abroad: For American readers planning to move elsewhere, “U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans: The Traveling Expat’s Guide to Living, Working, and Staying Tax Compliant Abroad” is a must-read. It covers everything from opening bank accounts in other countries to understanding international taxes.
These books captivate the reader with real-life stories, actionable advice, and tools to make the transition smoother. Whether you’re preparing to move for an increasing number of opportunities or simply to experience life abroad, these books contain affiliate links to resources that can help guide you.
Are there any other books you would recommend to people who are moving out from home? Please let me know in the comments about your best books about moving abroad! Also, check this list of must-read self-development books to transform your life.
Check also: The Best Places to Retire in Europe This Year and The Most Laid-back Places to Live in the World
Levi Borba is CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. You can check his books here, his other articles here, or his Linkedin here.
