Book reviews | Books and my backpack

Greetings, readers and trail blazers.

I highly recommend a new book by a young author whose first effort was my favorite book of 2020.

David Smart’s True Nature: The Wise Woman in Nepal and Searching the Himalayas for Enlightenment is a captivating story about his adventurous quest that was filled with twists.

His first book is The Trail Provides: A Boy’s Tale of Walking the Pacific Crest Trail. I have read a library full of trekking books and The Trail Provides is the one I couldn’t put down.

Here is the Amazon description of True Nature:

“After receiving a mysterious invitation to train with a spiritual guide in Nepal, David and his monastic friend Bradley leave behind their old lives and embark on a journey to find spiritual enlightenment.

“The two soul searchers find themselves on a madcap trip through the chaotic streets of Kathmandu and the breathtaking peaks of the Himalayas. Along the way, they meet a few friendly nomads, a clever businessman with an enticing offer, and a wise woman who teaches them unexpected lessons about friendship, soulmates, and ultimate liberation.

“Filled with more than 50 photos from David and Bradley’s real-life travels, True Nature is a captivating blend of adventure, spiritual insight, and personal reflection. Whether you’re looking for a companion novel for your own spiritual journey or simply want to escape into a dream-like adventure, start reading True Nature today.”

I would love to hear your thoughts about David’s work.

Two wheels.

16,276 miles.

Sweat and courage.

120 flats, 23 bear sightings.

Never quit.

Trevor Lund, a young Englishman, turns out to be more than an astonishing adventurer. In North to Alaska, he writes a story that kept me up at night, unable to put it down so I could sleep.

He bicycles from the southern tip of South America to the northern tip of Alaska, skipping Colombia only because of the dangers posed by unrest there.

He rides most of the way alone, but generosity, friendship, extreme challenges, and danger follow him as he struggles to make his 10-year dream come true.

He transforms hardships into wisdom:

“I had run out of water crossing the driest desert in the world, dislocated my shoulder descending the Andes, been ‘rained’ on by an erupting volcano, been robbed by three desperate men in Quito and sung to bears to keep them at bay. And, oh my word, how wonderful that all those things happened to me.”

And words that many adventurers can relate to:

“I had many stories to tell but few people on this planet could begin to comprehend what I had been through.”

One bicycle.

Two continents.

Limitless endurance.

Trevor Lund, author and adventurer extraordinaire.