Throughout six years, Hoover traveled extensively, making five trips around the world. His adventures included experiencing the Boxer Rebellion in China, navigating the dense jungles of Borneo, and crossing the barren landscapes of Western Australia on camels. He mingled with notable figures like Wyatt Earp and Jack London in a Klondike saloon and even camped near the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Despite these thrilling experiences, he remained emotionally unaffected by them.

These travels highlighted Hoover's remarkable encounters and the breadth of his adventures, yet they also illustrated a disconnect. While most would derive significance and emotional impact from such profound experiences, Hoover seemed unmoved, showcasing a contrast between the richness of life and his personal response to it. This anecdote, shared in Bill Bryson's "One Summer: America, 1927," emphasizes the enigmatic nature of Hoover's character during a transformative period in history.