The Last River

The Tragic Race for Shangri-la
By Todd Balf

Driven by the love of rivers, the outdoors and extreme adventure, these river runners are akin to climbers who attempt Mt. Everest with their willingness to push the boundaries between the human body and nature. To simplify this interesting sport, river running consists of people in small boats or kayaks taking on rapids and falls as a climber would take on a mountain or cliff.

This is easier shown than written so I am including a link to a video clip from the Tsangpo River. While this video clip is not from the expedition explored in this book, it is the best way to understand what this extreme sport consists of and how intense, mysterious and beautiful the Tsangpo Gorge in Tibet really is.

http://outside.away.com/tsangpo/video/huge_water.htm

If that did not impress upon you the power of the Tsangpo and the intense challenge this river was to run, then nothing will! If you like outdoors or survival stories this is a great story with an unfortunate but thought provoking story line. In the end it left me thinking about the challenge to live life fully - to do what you believe are the most valuable things you can do with your time on earth regardless of anyone else's opinion or interpretation of what you have chosen!

I can't help but think of some of my favorite words from a hero of mine Indian Larry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kak0isL360o&feature=related

Carpe diem!

Book 26

Ten Degrees of Reckoning

The True Story of a Family's Will to Survive
By Hester Rumberg

A gripping story of a family who embarks on a journey to live at sea. This young couple and their two small kids equip themselves over the course of years in equipment, knowledge, safety tools, and experience in preparation for an experience of a life time: to sail around the world.

The love within the family is palpable. Their courage to set out into the unknown loaded down with the supplies they need, the extensive planning of true seafaring people and the confidence (and I would argue wisdom) to take their children with them on this awesome adventure is inspiring. Their hijinx on the sea, in little towns, in untampered villages in far off regions of the world are incredible - the best schooling children could hope for.

If you enjoy any kind of water sports the maritime knowledge in this book is fascinating. For someone who is a land lubber, I learned a great deal of respect for the seafarer. Of coarse I have always loved the true, gripping tales of pirates on the open seas and in many ways the adventure of this story is much like those.

Unfortunately, it is a survivor story. It is never good to give away the key elements of a story like this because it is the mystery that grips you, the reality that shakes you to your bones.

This book is a great read and a harrowing story.

Judy Sleavin - the memories live on with us.

Book 25

Lone Survivor

The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10
By Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson

Recommended by Brett Berkowitz

Incredible, true, riveting survival story. There are alternate subtitles which could also describe this book . . .

How many times can one man fall from cliffs while fighting the Taliban and still land with his rifle arms length away?

Or . . . . how four SEALs fought off hundreds of Taliban fighters full of hate and the solid advantage of intimate knowledge of the terrain (see Pressfield's book review from a few books back)?

Or . . . the bravery of a village invoking the ancient law of lokhay in order to save the life of a stranger.

I loved this book, I could not put it down. It was an incredible story of friendship, bravery, the reality of war, and survival. These guys live and breath valor. I have the utmost respect for their dedication, training, and ultimate devotion to a team. I don't want to give anything away about the story, it is too good. I will simply leave you with a quote of part of the Navy Seal Philosophy:

"I will never quit . . . My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates . . . I am never out of the fight." (pg. 235)

Luttrell's recounting of this heroic story etches his memories into the pages of American history. The acts recounted in this story by these men will not be forgotten.

Book 24