I used to be just lately despatched a duplicate of Jim Malusa’s new e-book,“Into Thick Air – Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents” and requested to assessment it. I fortunately accepted and had the good pleasure of studying the e-book through the first two months of my 2009 European bicycle journey.
On this 336-page e-book, the writer units out to not journey to the best factors on the earth (as many mountaineers and climbers purpose to do), however as a substitute to journey his bike to the bottom factors on six of the seven continents (The writer selected to exclude Antarctica, largely due to the truth that the bottom level on Antarctica is buried deep throughout the ice. As well as, his reasoning is probably going on account of that indisputable fact that the biking circumstances on a lot of Antarctica are nearly solely insupportable). The title, due to this fact, is an apparent play on phrases, making a pointy distinction between the authors expertise of driving to the bottom factors on earth and that of Jon Krakauer’s well-known novel, “Into Skinny Air” wherein a number of skilled climbers are left lifeless after a harrowing Mt. Everest summit try.
The story begins in Australia and jumps chapter by chapter to Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and eventually, to Loss of life Valley California the place the story involves an finish.
However as a result of the story doesn’t happen in a single metropolis, state or nation… and every continent has been divided up into its personal chapter or two, the e-book usually time appears like a set of quick books, moderately than a single e-book with a solitary goal.
However it is a good factor! And the tales, whereas usually instances very totally different from each other, interrelate and join in methods you wouldn’t think about.
By the point the e-book involves it’s conclusion, you get a way that the journey for the writer (or possibly for the reader himself) has simply begun. The reader will get a way that he may, at any second, start plans for his personal bicycle touring journey and journey the world in a lot the identical approach that the writer has performed all through the e-book.
However what struck me most about “Into Thick Air” was not the tales of unusual locals in overseas nations or the writer’s observations on far-off lands (though these have been properly documented, intriguing, and infrequently instances, laugh-out-loud humorous), however the query of what makes us wish to journey within the first place.
Time and time once more the writer was requested by these round him what the aim of touring to the bottom factors on the earth could be. In any case, the writer wasn’t making an attempt to set a document or turn out to be well-known for being the primary individual to cycle to the bottom factors on the globe. The purpose, it appeared, was merely to perform one thing wherein he had got down to do.
This recurring theme (Why one travels within the first place?) made me constantly ponder my very own predicament and marvel why it was that I traveled or did something in any respect. What, in spite of everything, is the purpose of journey?
The writer, when requested this query by curious locals, usually instances responded by saying that he was a fan of desert climates, however I think about there was one thing extra to his reasoning. And for me, this query of why we journey within the first place made me extraordinarily curious.
Whether or not we journey to this highest factors on the earth or the bottom factors on every continent, why is it that we go anyplace or do something?
I’m not 100% positive what the reply is, however I’ve some concepts. And I consider the writer has some concepts of his personal as properly. In truth, I’m positive that you just too (particularly after studying this e-book) may have some concepts of your personal as properly.
Whereas “Into Thick Air” might not be probably the most memorable of books you’ll ever learn, it’s actually a superb learn for the armchair or skilled world journey. Full of historic insights and charming descriptions of native affairs from around the globe, Malusa’s writing will take you to locations you by no means earlier than dreamt of visiting. And as soon as it’s throughout, you’ll be glad you went alongside for the journey.
Whether or not you might be in search of a superb e-book to learn, a chunk of inspiration that may get you up off the sofa and out the door by yourself world journey, or materials to ponder your personal causes for journey of any variety, then Jim Malusa’s “Into Thick Air” is actually a advisable learn.
Click on right here to get a duplicate of “Into Thick Air” now.