Holidays are usually a time to relax and spend time with family and friends. In addition to this notion, we also believe that the holidays are the perfect time to plan your next big adventure. so the outwardbound staff, instructors, and directors have rounded up some of our favorite outdoor books and combined them with an outwardbound expedition to get the ideas flowing. Whether you’re reading these books as inspiration for your next outdoor adventure, or gifting them to someone who needs a little excitement in their life, they’re sure to inspire and instill a passion for the great outdoors you may not have known existed. /p >
the alchemist by paulo coelho
description: the alchemist follows the journey of an Andalusian shepherd named Santiago. Santiago begins his travels in search of worldly treasures, before encountering a lonely alchemist who teaches him that there is more to life than gold. The book focuses on the importance of following our dreams and recognizing the opportunities that come our way on our journey through life.
Outbound Expedition: This is a great book that talks about life transitions and is perfect to read before any outbound course.
You are reading: Best outdoor books 2016
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
a river runs through it by norman maclean
Description: A River Runs Through It is the true story of two boys, Norman and Paul, who grew up in 1920s Missoula, Montana with their father, a Presbyterian minister. much of the book is about the two boys who return home after becoming troubled adults. A common theme in the book is the men’s love of fly fishing for trout on the Blackfoot River and how it affected their lives. is a coming-of-age book in which the characters embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner power, while also exploring their relationship with nature.
Outboard Expedition: This book is great to read before or after an outboard rafting expedition.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
stolen water: saving the everglades from its friends, foes, and florida by w. hodding carter
description: sometimes downright hilarious, this is a book about the environmental, political, and economic issues surrounding the everglades. Reading the book before a Florida course will shed light on the unique natural wetlands that make up lower Florida and connect to the waters of the Florida Keys. The author’s descriptions of his own adventurous exploration of the Everglades include swimming with mermaids, bushwhacking in the sierra grass, and adopting a 2,000-pound manatee named Bruce. the stories will prepare you to appreciate the wonderful and wild surroundings of your course and exercise your sense of humor.
Outbound Expedition: This book is an excellent read before embarking on any of our courses in Florida.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
granny gatewood walk: the inspiring story of the woman who saved the appalachian trail
Description: This is the true story of Emma Gatewood, a 67-year-old woman who became the first woman to walk the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person to go through it several times. As Gatewood gained public attention for this feat, her vocal criticism of the difficult and neglected sections of the Appalachian Trail helped save it from extinction. This story demonstrates the power of the human spirit and determination and is an inspiration to readers of all ages.
Outward Expedition: This book is a great read before or after courses that hike the Appalachian Trail, such as Maine Appalachian backpacking & rafting. It would also be a good read for parents of students who are on an overseas expedition.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
resistance by alfred lansing
Description: Based on the true story of the survival of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27 men on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914, The Resistance is the definitive story of tenacity and courage. shipwrecked in the antarctic ice! open ship voyage on the weddell sea against impossible odds! mutiny threat! This is an amazing account of one of the most remarkable survival stories in polar exploration, and it will certainly add perspective and depth to the difficulties he might face and overcome on an overseas-bound expedition. Many books have been written about Shackleton and his men, but this is by far my favorite story.
Outward Expedition: Although I often recommend this book to any audience, it would make a heartwarming read before or after the course for participants in the Boundary Waters dog sledding & cross country skiing, dog sledding on the bordering waters at the florida keys boating semester, or dog sledding on the bordering waters at pathfinder & cross country ski courses in minnesota Although we enjoy many benefits of modern outdoor gear technologies on the trails, we still adopt many of the classic winter survival techniques used by Shackleton and his men. The reader will be delighted to snuggle up in their trendy goose down sleeping bag after reading about Shackleton’s frozen-yet-rotten equivalent of reindeer fur!
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
into nature by jon krakauer
Description: In April 1992, Christopher McCandless is dropped off near Mt. mckinley and hiking in the desert. he spends the next sixteen weeks hunting small game, foraging, reading, and living in a deserted bus made to be a hunter’s lodge, not seeing a single human the entire time. is a great book for young adults to read as they challenge (hopefully) their traditional ways of being in society.
Outward Expedition: This is a great read before or after any Outward Course.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
live the best day ever by hendri coetzee
description: this is the story of hendri, a world-renowned expedition kayaker who made some of the world’s most daring first descents, most famously into the heart of the African continent, where he tackles remote rivers never traveled before, full of hippos, water class 5+. don’t be fooled, hendri was not just another adrenaline junkie. he was drawn to the possibilities and potential of the human body and spirit. he found the direction and strength to continue his normal life from these incredibly difficult expeditions. he found comfort in his own pain and longing for it. ultimately, he centered his life philosophy around what he learned from being on an expedition. The book focuses on leadership, perseverance, and self-reflection, and it’s a total page turner, even if you’re not a rower.
Outbound Expedition: This book is relevant to any outbound expedition, but especially can be read before embarking on a scouting or intercept course. The book contains slightly mature content and is recommended for ages 16 and older.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
the tao of leadership by john heider
description: This book is deceptively short and easy to read, with only a paragraph or so per page. however, there is so much content on each page that leaving room to reflect on it and have “ah ha!” moments while reading is recommended. The book is a loose interpretation of the Tao Te Ching as applied to leadership. When I first read it, each passage struck me as a formula or guide to what I felt all outwardbound instructors ultimately aim for in their approach to facilitating the outwardbound experience.
one of my favorite quotes from the book:
“many leaders screw up work just as it nears completion. they get anxious. are invested in certain results. they become anxious and make mistakes. this is a time for care and awareness. don’t do too much don’t be very useful. don’t worry about getting credit for doing something.”
See Also: Oh, the books that youd ban! – The Washington Post
Outward Expedition: This book is perfect for when you need inspiration after the course. it works great to read a random page out loud, knowing that everyone has something to offer and discuss. or sometimes to peruse and find a section that seems to apply more directly to the topic at hand. this book is useful for students of yosemite, joshua tree & san francisco instructor development course, and is excellent for students beginning to understand the art of facilitation on a deeper level.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
walking away: a veteran’s chronicle of war and nature by doug peacock
description: walking it off is a memoir that revisits vietnam, the desert southwest, montana, and other wild places, both in the mind and out. The author, Doug Peacock, a Green Beret combat medic, was a friend of well-known writer Edward Abbey, and was Abbey’s inspiration for the character “Hayduke”. This book is a reminder of the abbey and peacock’s relationship and the places they explored throughout the Southwest.
Outward Expedition: This book seems to pair better with the 6-Day Veterans Backpacking Course at Joshua Tree because it is written by a Vietnam Veteran dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and feel the power of wild nature very much. As we read this book, we remember the courage and strength of all veterans, and we thank them for their service.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
the everglades: the river of grass by marjory stoneman douglas
description: at the outer edge, we primarily choose to use nature as our classroom, so we understand the importance of enjoying the outdoors responsibly, protecting our public lands, and teaching our students to do the same. . this is one of the best books on environmental awareness and one of the rare times a book has had an immediate political effect.
Originally published in 1947, Marjory Douglas’s writing drew attention to the vast and little-known area that South Florida developers at the time had deemed a worthless swamp. Not only does the book detail the natural environment and the myriad animals and species, it redefines the Everglades as a free-flowing river rather than a swamp. the book inspired and drew the world’s attention to the need to preserve the everglades and its unique environment of countless animals and species.
The book was so popular that it helped garner public support for Harry Truman’s controversial order later that year to protect more than 2 million acres of Everglades National Park. the park is now one of only three places in the world to appear on the following lists: an international biosphere reserve, a wetland of international importance, and a world heritage site.
Apart from her emphasis on the environment, Marjory also does a great job researching wacky human history, from Native Americans to Spanish explorers, pirates, runaway slaves, fishermen, and outlaws.
Outward Expedition: The River of Grass is a great read before any course in the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park. As you paddle through this vast subtropical wilderness, it’s important to understand not only its history and the precious animals that inhabit it, but all the work that’s being done to preserve it for future generations.
buy the book
See Also: Business & Finance Division – Commissary and Trust Fund Department
give the gift of an overseas expedition
To learn more about outwardbound and all the expeditions we have to offer, visit our website at www.outwardbound.org.
See Also: Kendra Elliot – Book Series In Order