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laerun's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
Very engaging story by Dan Richards who took himself off to various "outposts" of civilisation to emulate his explorer father. The story is interesting, informative and very funny in parts. Following the final trip to "not quite" where he wanted to be at the North Pole he concludes that we humans, as a species, don't necessarily have to stop "exploring" already explored lands but we do need to slow down, take out time and smell the roses. Excellent advice. Highly recommend if you enjoy a quirky "travel" book that does not really encourage you to follow in his footsteps.
german_sheppard's review against another edition
4.0
There is something visceral that draws me to nature. Maybe it was the days spent roaming the woods near my house or the many family camping trips, but the wilderness in the world has always drawn me in.
At the same time, I like the comfort of my life within society. I don’t have to face the true dangers of the wild with my car, steady supply of food, and heat/air conditioning. What purpose can nature serve in our society, then? This is precisely the question that Dan Richards quests to answer in his beautiful novel, Outpost.
By visiting various secluded sites around the world, be begins to better understand the relationship between man and wild.
“The spartan nature of outdoorsing opens us up to the freedom of the unknown. By pulling out the pin that mounts us to a GPS grid we are better are to experience place, space and time. Without our phones we become better connected. Breaking with the digital puts us more intensely in touch with wild country, allows us to negotiate it on the ground and take responsibility for our position.” (189)
All lovers of Emerson, the outdoors, or the human condition should read this book.
At the same time, I like the comfort of my life within society. I don’t have to face the true dangers of the wild with my car, steady supply of food, and heat/air conditioning. What purpose can nature serve in our society, then? This is precisely the question that Dan Richards quests to answer in his beautiful novel, Outpost.
By visiting various secluded sites around the world, be begins to better understand the relationship between man and wild.
“The spartan nature of outdoorsing opens us up to the freedom of the unknown. By pulling out the pin that mounts us to a GPS grid we are better are to experience place, space and time. Without our phones we become better connected. Breaking with the digital puts us more intensely in touch with wild country, allows us to negotiate it on the ground and take responsibility for our position.” (189)
All lovers of Emerson, the outdoors, or the human condition should read this book.
missdandyreads's review against another edition
5.0
As someone who was looking for a read that would quench my quarantine thirst for going to other places, I really enjoyed this book! Dan Richards has a way of taking readers to abroad places and make them feel like home. Sometimes funny, but all the more with nature's best in mind he tells stories of his adventures to not-so abandoned places, research stations, shelters from the storm, sheds, huts, bothies - outposts in the widest meanings of the word. I loved the Mars, Utah episode, everything about Svalvard and the Phare du Cordouan with a passion.
Highly recommend this book to everyone who likes to travel!
Highly recommend this book to everyone who likes to travel!
ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
Loved every second. I got this book as society begins to open back up again after the pandemic years. I thought it would allow me wallow in spaces away from people. The author appears to have thought the same, ultimately realising that these spaces are few and far between. And that those spaces are better without any people at all.
He writes with feeling, with a perspicacity that is disarming to read. He even feels vulnerable at times discussing his own flaws, although they are flaws we all share. Ponderous and hilarious. It's all I hoped it would be.
He writes with feeling, with a perspicacity that is disarming to read. He even feels vulnerable at times discussing his own flaws, although they are flaws we all share. Ponderous and hilarious. It's all I hoped it would be.
kit92's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
stef369's review against another edition
3.0
"Veel van dit boek gaat over de zoektocht naar ruimtes die duidelijkheid bieden, van Kerouacs droom van vrede in de Cascades en de brutalistische aankleding van een Zwitserse schrijverskooi tot nauwelijks bereikbare tempels in Japan. Ruimtes ver weg, plaatsen om na te denken "op de nodige afstand van de grote massa" (p. 302).
In tijden van lockdown en van niet mogen reizen naar het buitenland is dit het soort boeken dat je moet lezen. Dan Richards brengt je met veel vervoering naar uiteindes van de wereld: in IJsland, De VS, Schotland, Japan, Spitsbergen, ... wandelt hij middenin de natuur, op zoek naar de ultieme "plek". Prachtig geschreven, heel leerrijk (houd steeds Google Earth bij de hand!), soms wat veel uitweidingen. Maar heel graag gelezen.
In tijden van lockdown en van niet mogen reizen naar het buitenland is dit het soort boeken dat je moet lezen. Dan Richards brengt je met veel vervoering naar uiteindes van de wereld: in IJsland, De VS, Schotland, Japan, Spitsbergen, ... wandelt hij middenin de natuur, op zoek naar de ultieme "plek". Prachtig geschreven, heel leerrijk (houd steeds Google Earth bij de hand!), soms wat veel uitweidingen. Maar heel graag gelezen.