The book is centred on a collection of some of the articles written in a regular column by Self for the Independent newspaper.

[1] It explores the experiences of walking and the psychological states and thoughts that are generated as a result across a wide geographical canvas.

Overall the book takes in places as disparate as the Scottish Highlands, Istanbul, Morocco, Liverpool, Chicago, Siena, Australia, India, Brazil, Thailand and Ohio.

[4] The title of the work refers to the tradition of psychogeography dating back to the Situationist International.

His walking is not generally purposeless since he often has pre-arranged events to attend such as book signings whilst he is also drawn to particular tourist monuments (in addition to what he describes as the 'Empty Quarters' that are off the beaten track).