Showing Up

by Nedd Brockmann

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable–the story of a 23-year-old tradie who put his body ‘through hell and back 10 times’ to prove that anything is possible when you break past your own barriers.

Nedd Brockmann isn’t afraid to dream big. Fresh after running fifty marathons in fifty days, the twenty-three-year-old had an idea: a 4000-kilometre run across Australia, averaging 100 kilometres per day with the aim of completing it in the fastest known time of 43 days. He wasn’t chasing fame or public recognition. He just wanted to test his limits and raise a million dollars for homelessness in the process.

Most said he was crazy, others claimed it couldn’t be done. But those who know Nedd knew never to doubt him. They understood that this is someone who will do whatever it takes to finish what he started, and that when he commits his mind to something, he always gets it done.

Understanding the mindset of someone predisposed to such feats of voluntary suffering has been nearly impossible–until now. With his trademark humour and unfiltered style, Nedd recalls the lessons learned on sporting fields that cultivated discipline, the setbacks that tested his resolve, and the relationships that proved most important of all: those who instilled the importance of hard work, of never giving up, and to always give back generously.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography, Memoir, Self Help, Autobiography, Personal Development

290 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2023

Reviews

[Luke Agostino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this whilst running, would recommend for anyone who needs (or wants) a kick up the arse

[George Yorke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring book! It will make you want to get up and go for a run!

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Has Nedd achieved great things physically? Definitely.

But the book is far too over-the-top inspo for me. The flowery language, the endless self-congratulatory comments about his mind and spirit. The rule of show, don't tell, is broken on nearly every page. My mind kept reading it in an over-the-top manly voice like a beer or gambling ad, because that's how it's written.

Plus I'm tired of this whole 'abuse your body, be unprepared' trend. When he talks about not knowing what to eat, or where they could restock, or missing out on sleep, and how badly prepared they were it's not cool, it just makes me feel frustrated. This shit is basic, it's embarrassing to brag about not even thinking of it. It's inconsiderate to everyone involved.

And saying he felt like an equal to Goggins at the end...my brain exploded. Just no. Goggins has been through so much more, from childhood trauma and racism to actual war. A privileged white boy going through some self-imposed suffering doesn't compare, and I can't quite believe he thinks it does.

Yeah. Not a fan. I'll stick to Jurek and Jornet for true inspiration.

[Kate Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook
Incredible

[Jess Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a guy! I’m in awe of Nedd’s ability to push not only his body, but his brain to extraordinary limits. He has a rock solid mentality and a heart of gold to go with. Once he gets into his run, it really makes you consider just how much the human body can handle. If Nedd can wake up and run 100km a day for 47 days, then I can EASILY make that 6:15 gym class every morning 😂 Nedd narrating the audiobook himself gave it such a personal touch. The short chapters are easy to bang out quickly and the country lingo keeps things entertaining all the way through. Reading the audience catch on and grow during his run was as exciting as watching it grow in real time. I couldn’t imagine the exhilarating feeling of running the final kms into such a massive crowd. He’s equally an inspirational human and a maniac, but I’m so excited to keep watching his growing journey.

[Libby Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a 4/5 but it was slightly too ‘ghostwritten’ for me. Plus, about a quarter of it before he gets to the main run, is pretty boring in my opinion. Not to be harsh, I just felt like it didn’t really offer anything to the book and was almost a bit of filler.

[Brigitte Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very torn in my opinion of this book. No doubt Nedd is an inspiring human being, what he has done and pushed through is incredible. Raising 2.5 million dollars is ludicrous and when he described runnning into Bondi I couldn’t help but tear up.

However I found it hard to be totally in awe as I found preaching under preparation and overtraining very frustrating. A white privileged male self imposing struggle and telling everyone to just show up and do it, enrages me.

There was an overall lack of depth to this memoir.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a man! I love reading books about people defying the limits on their mind and body. There’s something about realizing that our lives are limitless once we put our mind to something and Nedd’s story is just that.

[Danielle Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this while running and put things in perspective

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not stop listening to this! Inspiring Aussie icon!! "Discomfort gives meaning to pleasure" 💫👌

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to Nedd describe the abuse he puts his body through with reckless abandon was inspiring and nutty. was he woefully unprepared and could've minimized some damage to his body and probably his life span? yeah definitely. but he says himself, this is about quality of character and self satisfaction. the man has an insatiable drive and mental strength. there's something there in the discussion with Goggins, some things you need to experience, you can't explain, but Nedd does have a good run in this.

[Cam Brinsmead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great motivational read!! Was great to listen to while running and gave such a great insight into his run however I wished it sounded more original, rather than sounding like it was written by someone else about Nedd

[Megan Tolson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written- not just about the running journey but mostly about the power of human connection and sheds light on how inhumane society trains us to be towards the homeless who are desperately seeking some form of connection. Such an eye-opener honestly made me emotional. What a book. What a man.

[Tom Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mad dog

[Lea Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Would read it again.
Let’s GO!

[Leeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nedd is a phenomenal human being, this was such a good listen. Definitely given me the push to just start living, showing up and giving my all. This young lad has a heart of gold!!

[Sophie Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

didn’t expect this to be so well written but the writing quality is really good, almost felt fictional! so good infact i had to get my grey highlighter out! if i ever do something physically ridiculous blame this book.

[Amelia Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man, the myth, the legend. I am soooooo inspired.

[Lucas Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read - hopefully carries me through tough times during ironman training.

thanks cornishes for the read - loved it!!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so inspiring & I’m glad I listened to the audiobook. Perfect half marathon motivation!!

[Georgia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ned Brockman’s fundraising and running achievements are impressive, and his tenacity is admirable, but I found this book repetitive, boastful, and full of contradictions. He preaches humility while constantly reminding you how extraordinary he is rather than showing you his achievements and letting you connect the dots. The "push your body to (and past) the brink" mindset and his lack of preparation at some points are framed as badges of honor rather than lessons to learn from, which I found frustrating. Basically, I found it lacked substance, and wouldn’t recommend.

[Amy McElhinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational read!

[Nathan Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead set legend. Makes me want to pull off something outrageous

[Simone Sookias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

[Slater Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, very easy to read. It’s nice to read a book about individuals challenging themselves that isn’t to “self-helpy”

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook took us 6 months to get through (thx Libby waiting times and us only listening on big drives) but a great audiobook that kept us engaged the whole time.

[Mawrc Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get a dog in yah Nedd , loved this book eh

[Sophie Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Showing Up by Nedd Brockmann earlier this year. It’s an easy read as Nedd writes about his childhood and formative years that shaped him into the type of person who’s crazy enough to run across the country. I find it very interesting learning about how people who achieve greatness got to where they are now. Many of us would look at Nedd Brockmann and think he’s almost superhuman but he had humble beginnings as a kid with ordinary sporting ability but extraordinary determination and grit.

Nedd’s story is inspiring and raising $2.5million for mobilise, an Aussie organisation helping the homeless, is astonishing. The way everyone got around him when he was completing the run, especially on social media, was incredible. But in the end I found Nedd to be someone I couldn’t relate to. The amount of physical pain he pushed through to complete traversing across Australia is fucked. His never-give-up attitude is almost frightening. Nedd openly shares how he abused and lashed out at his loved ones on the road. At the end of the book he also wrote that he doesn’t care if he dies young and wrecks his body in order to push himself to his limits. To achieve such insane feats there’s a certain level of selfishness at play. Nonetheless, he’s still a legend and his choccy milk also slaps.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an impressive guy.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average memoir. Nedd has achieved some great things but this memoir lacked depth and could have been done in half the pages (I do not need to know every detail of his school sports endeavours). I find Nedd choosing homelessness as his cause abit surface level, this could have been further explained. I do hope he does more in the future for the cause.