Reginald Spittle's Blog: See my book blog

Who was the first American to summit Mount Everest? Who was REI’s first full-time employee? Who was REI’s second CEO? Who dedicated his life to preserve iconic wilderness places? Who has been called America’s best climber ever? Jim Whittaker, who recently died at 96, lived a life filled with adventure and purpose. His compelling story, … Continue reading He Climbed to Heights Like No Other →

Kindle Unlimited members have read more than a million pages of my books. In fact, readers have sent the number well beyond the seven-figure mark and 2026 has recorded even higher numbers than previous years. (Kindle Unlimited is a monthly subscription program that allows free access to books online at Amazon.) These figures do not … Continue reading More Than a Million Pages! Infinite Thanks! →

Who travels alone to the Yukon, camps by herself in Oregon and Canada, and has 500,000 followers of her YouTube channel? Her name is Wendy Eden. She promotes her age of 77 and urges her viewers of all ages to “just go!” She is one of my favorite YouTubers because her simple, captivating presentations and … Continue reading Wendy Tells Her Followers: ‘Just Go’ →

On our way to Arizona, we stayed at the Chiriaco Summit Rest Stop off Interstate 10. Expansive views of California’s Colorado Desert and mountains. A gravel pad. No hookups. And it was free! This is the moment it hit me. Sue and I had sold our Oregon home and moved into our travel trailer for … Continue reading Freedom… →

It often seems surreal that Sue and I walked the John Muir Trail. I only dreamed that so many people would choose to read about our adventure a year after my third book published. Thank you!

I paused on my way to the Mount Whitney summit in California’s Sierra Nevada, Guitar Lake posing behind me. I was on an “awe walk,” what Dacher Kiltner, UC Berkeley psychology professor, calls experiences that positively affect our bodies, our relationships with others and how we perceive our world. You don’t need to climb the … Continue reading Inspire Yourself, Take an ‘Awe Walk’ →

“Here you go, Reg.” Coach handed me the baseball scorebook. “The directions are inside the cover. If you need them.” Need them? I couldn’t even understand most of the book’s first two pages, which were filled with rows and columns of diamond-shaped basepaths, each representing a player’s at-bat. But Bill Riggs was depending on me … Continue reading Bill Riggs: A Coach—and So Much More →

My favorite book that I read in 2025 features a heartwarming friendship, unexpected twists, and a race. Jason Cashman is 10 years old when he meets Murray McBride, a former major league baseball player who is 100. One has a terminal illness and the other is racing to help him fulfill his five wishes before … Continue reading Book of the Year: All About Life, Wishes, and Death →

Today, Christmas Eve, Sue and I made a difficult call. It will mean we will miss tonight and Christmas Day with our adult kids. They are just 64 miles away, but we are an ocean apart. An “atmospheric river” has California in its grip and it has sent wind and rain that has stranded us … Continue reading When Is the Right Time to Quit? →

Andrew McCarthy grew up searching for direction. He was plagued by anxiety, a lack of confidence, and bad grades in school. Through it all, though, he sensed that he possessed a gift. It surfaced one day when he was a teen-ager, uncharacteristically putting aside his jitters and walking into a rehearsal hall at New York … Continue reading Andrew McCarthy: Was He Really a Brat? →