Our review of : The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi

In “The River of Doubt”, Candice Millard tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1914 exploration of a remote and dangerous river in Brazil. After his election loss in 1912, Roosevelt desired to undertake an adventure that would take him away from politics and restore his sense of purpose. He found that opportunity when he was [...]

“Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster,” by Jon Krakauer, is an account of the author’s journey to Mount Everest and his experiences during the disastrous 1996 climbing season. Krakauer provides a detailed first-hand account of what went wrong on Mount Everest that year, from the initial planning stages all the [...]

Barbarian Days is a surfing memoir by William Finnegan. The book tells the tale of Finnegan’s lifelong love affair with the sport of surfing, from his first experiences as a young surfer in California to his adventures on Hawaiian and South African waves. Along the way, readers are treated to vivid descriptions of epic surf [...]

“Nowhere for Very Long” is a travelogue by Brianna Madia that tells the story of her unconventional life journey. After quitting her job and selling all of her belongings, Madia set off on a round-the world trip that would ultimately change her life. The book chronicles her travels to far-flung destinations such as Bali, India, [...]

In “A Walk in the Woods,” Bill Bryson tells the story of his attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz. The two men have very different levels of hiking experience, and their conversations along the way provide humor and insight into both nature and humanity. For who is this book for [...]

In 1925, explorer Percy Fawcett disappeared while searching for a lost city in the Amazon jungle. For years, rumors circulated about what became of him and his party. Some claimed that they had been killed by tribesmen or wild animals; others believed that they had found their way to the fabled city and perished there. [...]

Buried in the Sky tells the extraordinary story of how sixteen Sherpa climbers lost their lives on K2’s deadliest day. On August 1, 2008, a group ofSherpas were making their way up to Camp III when an avalanche struck, killing them all instantly. It was one of the worst tragedies in Mountaineering history. In this [...]

In his latest book, The Comfort Crisis, author Michael Easter encourages readers to embrace discomfort in order to reclaim their wild and happy selves. Drawing on personal anecdotes as well as scientific research, Easter makes a compelling case for why stepping out of our comfort zones is essential for growth and happiness. He offers advice [...]

Carol Shaben’s Into the Abyss is an extraordinary true story about a journalist who becomes obsessed with exploring why her brother, a talented pilot, died in a small plane crash. After years of investigating and interviewing survivors of the ill-fated flight, she uncovers an astonishing conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of government. This [...]

Tokyo Vice is a non-fiction book written by Jake Adelstein, an American journalist who spent 12 years working as a police reporter in Japan. The author offers readers an inside look at the seedy and often dangerous world of Tokyo’s Yakuza gangs, while also detailing his own struggles with alcohol addiction and depression. For who [...]

“The Pilgrimage” is a travelogue by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. It tells the story of his journey to Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain – an ancient pilgrimage route that culminates at the tomb of Saint James the Great. Along the way, Coelho reflects on various aspects of life and spirituality. For who is this [...]

This book by Andrea Lankford is a fascinating look at the world of park rangers, both those who are still on the job and those who have retired. It provides an inside view of what it’s like to work in some of America’s most beautiful and iconic places, as well as some of the dangers [...]