What is the theme in The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin?

The value of a life in motion is a central theme. The journal excerpts at the end of the book in particular, and moments throughout the book in general, serve as testament to how ardently Chatwin adheres to the belief that a human life is best lived in motion. He lauds the virtues of walking through literary quotations and testimony from scientists who observe that even in our infancy, people desire the motion of walking. Our bodies and minds are healthier for it, and we are able to shake off the diseases and psychoses that come from a stagnant, sedentary existence.