Acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux joined Boston Public Radio Friday to discuss his newest book, "On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey."

Theroux told BPR he was inspired to travel to and write about Mexico after hearing rhetoric from the White House about border security and accusations about Mexican migrants having a criminal nature.

"Mexicans have been stereotyped," Theroux said.

"The job of the travel writer... is to destroy the stereotype; the stereotype of the Mexican as an illegal migrant," he said.