With the change in weather comes an end to some outdoor activities and a beginning to others. With the winter, I do lots of reading. I love reading non-fiction books pertaining to adventure, outdoor adventure, human beings overcoming unprecidented odds, inspirational events, historical events, disasters, etc. Some good examples that come to my mind are:
The Long Walk Slavomir Rawicz (War/Will to Live)
Touching the Void Joe Simpson (Climbing/Inspirational)
Endurance Alfred Lansing (Unbelievable!!!)
Peter Heller's Hell or High Water book on the Tsangpo Gorge Expedition is absolutely amazing.
I'm reading Eugene Buchanan's book Brothers on the Bashkaus right now and it's of the same caliber: show up with a grant for a first D in Siberia that turns out to not be accessible, hook up with a group of random Russians you don't know and run 3 week V expedition on homemade gear...
Powell has some good stuff (slightly drier). There are some other good similar books for skiing like Max Dercum's book and more.
COUNT
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"The world would be a better place if everyone kayaked."-Brad Ludden (Valhalla)
"You only get one chance to run a drop blind."-DD
"A Place to Stand" by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Its basically a man who over comes adversity. It is a true story about his life before prision, during prision and after prision. Good read.
Stevesie
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"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind"~Gandhi
I've been reading a lot the last year, mostly things people send me. If you feel like fiction here are some of the standouts:
Trinity by Leon Uris
Loaded with historical fact and perspective about the troubles in northern Ireland starting before the potato famine.
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller...WWII at its finest, from the lunatic perspective. Closest account to actual army life I've encountered. Then again I'm a lunatic.
White Noise by Don Delillo...a snapshot of college town family life in the 80s. Way more interesting than it sounds.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel...the supposedly true story of how an Indian man crossed the Pacific to Mexico alone in a lifeboat.
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood...this is possibly the best of the bunch. Depression era Canada to present day, captures the essence of aging and love lost. Incredible writing.
Can't go wrong with any of those. If they can distract you from falling shells they can intertain you during the dark hours of winter. Enjoy.
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I hope in the future Americans are thought of as a warlike, vicious people, because I bet a lot of high schools would pick "Americans" as their mascot. -Jack Handy
Brian, I could list books for days- Wild Animus- Rich Shapero; Into the Wild and Eiger Dreams, in fact anything by Krakauer; Of course you've read Abbey? Monkey Wrench Gang, Desert Solitaire, Hayduke Lives; If you like Touching the Void, read The Lost River by Richard Bangs and there's a great "mystery" nonfiction book about a woman who murdered her new groom on their honeymoon raft trip on Cataract in the 1800's- can't remember the name of it and it may not be the kind of inspiration you're looking for- interesting story though- case never solved. Anyway, you could also start reading any Will Hobbs or Gary Paulsen book to your new addition (start now, in the womb!) How's that going by the way? Take care and drop me a line when the little one arrives. -Kjirsten
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Originally Posted by bshock
Thanks for the input. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish might be the most fitting since my wife is three days past her due date.
The Liquid Locomotive.
This summer I couldn't put the thing down. Best river rat book i've ever read. It compiles all of the best stories that have been published about great expiditions, epics, humors tales, even a little romance, and just plane ol' crazyness. The stories are short enough so you don't loose interest, and there all different.
Others on the list
Laugh of the Water Nymph. Good stories, very passionate and emotional writing. Ammons offers a perspective on more than just kayaking, but of one on life.
Never Turn Back. Just started this one, so far it's got me hooked.
River Gods. Great coffee table book. Amazing photos, and really far out places, probably as far off the grid as possible.
woman who murdered her new groom on their honeymoon raft trip on Cataract in the 1800's- can't remember the name of it
Sounds like the story of Glen & Bessie Hyde on the Grand... That story and afew other good ones... are in "Canyon" ~ Micheal Ghiglieri (sp?) ~ If you are ever headed to the Grand bring this book along!!!! 5 or so stories from ledgend to modern day.
"Cadilac Desert" ~ Marc Reisner ~ is a fantasitc book about the history of water rights in the western us, political and informative, some pretty dry sections, the bits about how LA came about, the bits about the Mighty Colorado, and the story of the Army Corps of Engineers / Dept Reclamation are well worth the read.
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