I think Lin and Larry Pardey's 4 books, Cruising in Seraffyn, Seraffyn's European Adventure, Seraffyn's Mediterranean Adventure, and Seraffyn's Oriental Adventure are the best ever written on the "cruising lifestyle". The go simple lifestyle may not appeal to everyone these days but their seamanship, interaction with the locals, love of the lifestyle, and storytelling make these timeless classics.
For some adventure how about John Caldwell's book Desparate Voyage. On second thought.... maybe after you read about how he was wrecked in a typhoon and survived by eating his belt and shoe leather fried in engine oil while his boat slowly drifted across the Pacific.... you will stay home.
Triston Jones's book The Improbable Voyage is a great adventure yarn even if he stretches the truth abit.