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You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck: The Further Adventures of America's Everyman Outdoorsman
Writing for magazines and newspapers for more than twenty years, including two decades at Field & Stream , Bill Heavey has become famous as America’s everyman outdoorsman, unafraid to draw attention to his many and varied failures—from sporting French lavender deodorant to scaring a UPS man half to death while bowhunting in his front yard.
Heavey’s 2007 collection If You Didn’t Bring Jerky What Did I Just Eat? , co-published with Field & Stream , the leading American outdoors magazine, was a resounding success that went into multiple hardcover printings. This new book, again co-published with Field & Stream , collects more of Heavey’s top pieces from the magazine, as well as the best of his writing from the Washington Post and elsewhere. In this far-ranging read, Heavey’s adventures include nearly freezing to death in Eastern Alaska, hunting ants in the urban jungles of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and reconnecting to cherished memories of his grandfather through an inherited gun collection.
With Heavey’s trademark witty candor, You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck traces a life lived outdoors through the good, the bad, and the downright hilarious.
Heavey’s 2007 collection If You Didn’t Bring Jerky What Did I Just Eat? , co-published with Field & Stream , the leading American outdoors magazine, was a resounding success that went into multiple hardcover printings. This new book, again co-published with Field & Stream , collects more of Heavey’s top pieces from the magazine, as well as the best of his writing from the Washington Post and elsewhere. In this far-ranging read, Heavey’s adventures include nearly freezing to death in Eastern Alaska, hunting ants in the urban jungles of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and reconnecting to cherished memories of his grandfather through an inherited gun collection.
With Heavey’s trademark witty candor, You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck traces a life lived outdoors through the good, the bad, and the downright hilarious.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 2, 2014
113 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 21, 2022
Like many others, I was expecting something along the lines of McManus's writings. This was a delightful blend of outdoor humorous adventure, self-deprecating humor, recounting of personal tragedy, and gentle philosophy. I particularly found the following to be thought-worthy:
"Every man totes around his own invisible boatload of heartbreak--that steady accretion of loss (the deaths of parents and friends), regret (failed relationships, things done and left undone), and self-assessment (those long nights when you try to square who you are with who you hoped you'd be). This ship of grief that we usually keep under such tight wraps never stops loading cargo. Every so often it slips its moorings and goes where it pleases, reminding you that sometimes you're more cabin boy than captain."
On the other hand, there were many places where I had to snort, snicker, or downright laugh out loud.
"Every man totes around his own invisible boatload of heartbreak--that steady accretion of loss (the deaths of parents and friends), regret (failed relationships, things done and left undone), and self-assessment (those long nights when you try to square who you are with who you hoped you'd be). This ship of grief that we usually keep under such tight wraps never stops loading cargo. Every so often it slips its moorings and goes where it pleases, reminding you that sometimes you're more cabin boy than captain."
On the other hand, there were many places where I had to snort, snicker, or downright laugh out loud.
February 1, 2020
Truth and consequences, storytelling in the American tradition
For those who don't know a compound from a breech loader or a jig from a spinner, don't worry - be happy just reading this delightful collection of adventures, situations, and involvements. Bill (he is your best friend, so no titles) can elicit chuckles, tears, and guffaws as well as McManus, Thurber, and Twain. You need not be outdoorsy or infatuated with Cabela, Bean, or Dick to know his stories, true or exaggerated, are universal in their respect for our shared humanity, seeing truth, and enjoying life.
For those who don't know a compound from a breech loader or a jig from a spinner, don't worry - be happy just reading this delightful collection of adventures, situations, and involvements. Bill (he is your best friend, so no titles) can elicit chuckles, tears, and guffaws as well as McManus, Thurber, and Twain. You need not be outdoorsy or infatuated with Cabela, Bean, or Dick to know his stories, true or exaggerated, are universal in their respect for our shared humanity, seeing truth, and enjoying life.
November 24, 2017
Like Patrick F McManus’s books, this book is a collection of articles first published in Field & Stream. If you’re expecting him to be as funny as McManus you’ll be disappointed (I’m not sure anyone can measure up to that bar). Still this collection of essays was very good. Some made me laugh, some made me cry, and the honesty with which he dealt with subject matter such as the death of a child, and his divorce were well worth reading.
February 26, 2021
I really liked this book and will get more by this writer. It wasn't quite what I expected (I was thinking funnier along the lines of Pat McManus) but it was a nice read. It was funny, don't get me wrong but it was more. It can be downright melancholy at times. Always well written with a good dose of sincerity. It leaves you with the impression that Mr. Heaven would be a great guy to be around.
September 27, 2020
Very funny, American male humor. Sometimes coarse but never vulgar. Good entertainment. But, he is also a philosopher and a romantic who is writing about life’s precious moments and our search for meaning. I have the Kindle version on my phone and would read whenever I had a few minutes waiting. The short vignettes are perfect for that purpose.
September 7, 2019
As always, Bill doesn’t disappoint. His stories are engaging and great fun to read. If you’re an outdoors man, you’ll love any of his writing and should definitely check out his books!
Favorite Quote: “...never let the necessity of making a living interfere with the luxury of living itself.”
Favorite Quote: “...never let the necessity of making a living interfere with the luxury of living itself.”
April 14, 2020
Reminds me of me 😁
Been reading Bill in F&S for a while, so glad he came out with these books. They are a can't put down, laugh until pee, here Honey read this, hell of a good time book.
Been reading Bill in F&S for a while, so glad he came out with these books. They are a can't put down, laugh until pee, here Honey read this, hell of a good time book.
April 5, 2018
Some stories were really funny others were bleh. not as good as Patrick McManus
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December 12, 2019Good Read
I enjoyed reading this book by Bill Heavey. It jumped around but was I able to follow along. If your a hunter you would enjoy this book.
I enjoyed reading this book by Bill Heavey. It jumped around but was I able to follow along. If your a hunter you would enjoy this book.
July 27, 2023
There is some humor and good wit in this book. But there are also some serious and very sad stories told here as well. Readers should be advised and caution before reading book.
December 31, 2023
Always loved Bill's writing
This book is a wonderful addition to any outdoorsman's library. Bill will leave you laughing or crying or both depending on the subject at hand.
This book is a wonderful addition to any outdoorsman's library. Bill will leave you laughing or crying or both depending on the subject at hand.
February 13, 2015
I expected his book to recount mishaps and misadventures in the outdoors. But instead, it was a series of his experiences written thoughtfully, with insight into people's hearts, with gentleness and just enough humor to give you hope, and with enough humor directed against himself to keep him humble. Yes, he spoke about his experiences in the outdoors, but he also dealt sensitively with the death of his infant daughter from SIDS, his divorce, the pain that exists in the animal kingdom, the involuntary ageing of his body that should have restricted his outdoor activities, his own mortality (and a few encounters that could have caused his death).
These events were interspersed with his foibles and mistakes in hunting and fishing, in human relationships, in beginning dating again, in shopping for clothes and shopping with a woman. In short, it was a journey through his life that showed a philosophy of life that comes from real life experiences.
But most of the book recounts his hunting and fishing experiences. He has hunted and fished throughout the world, is good at it, and is very interesting in the way that he perceives the environment, the locals, the politics, and the total experience of the hunt. Perhaps he has "bitten off more than he could chew" in some adventures which caused him difficulty and could have resulted in his death. But he has a positive determination and calm attitude that are necessary when dealing with extreme outdoor situations. I found his descriptions of his adventures very interesting, but by the end of the book, I felt that I knew him also as a person. I felt that I could hunt or fish with him, sit down with him for a beer after, and be a friend.
That is the kind of author that I enjoy. He brings his life in the outdoors and himself to reality on the printed page.
Even if you only want to read a book that is refreshing and positive and are not interested in hunting and fishing, this book is worth reading. Everyone needs to laugh at their mistakes.
These events were interspersed with his foibles and mistakes in hunting and fishing, in human relationships, in beginning dating again, in shopping for clothes and shopping with a woman. In short, it was a journey through his life that showed a philosophy of life that comes from real life experiences.
But most of the book recounts his hunting and fishing experiences. He has hunted and fished throughout the world, is good at it, and is very interesting in the way that he perceives the environment, the locals, the politics, and the total experience of the hunt. Perhaps he has "bitten off more than he could chew" in some adventures which caused him difficulty and could have resulted in his death. But he has a positive determination and calm attitude that are necessary when dealing with extreme outdoor situations. I found his descriptions of his adventures very interesting, but by the end of the book, I felt that I knew him also as a person. I felt that I could hunt or fish with him, sit down with him for a beer after, and be a friend.
That is the kind of author that I enjoy. He brings his life in the outdoors and himself to reality on the printed page.
Even if you only want to read a book that is refreshing and positive and are not interested in hunting and fishing, this book is worth reading. Everyone needs to laugh at their mistakes.
December 30, 2014
This non-fiction and often frivolous volume is something I would have never guessed that I would enjoy. I obtained it for someone else and was just going to read a tale or two from a gathering of shorter segments within; the ones that had intriguing and often irreverent snappy titles. I ended up going to the beginning and reading the entire. Fishing I do understand, because I have lived on a lake around 24/7 fanatics, but this one goes for multitudes of outdoors quests. Beyond hunting, beyond fishing- trekking or tenting in the wilderness- all the way to the male bonding feeds.
But what was the most enlightening of all was that there were SUCH sensitive chapters stuck in between the manly pork sandwiches. Truly, one of the most heart-rending recitals of the experience of a baby daughter's death and its aftermath- stuck right in there with the beef jerky. And advice on how NOT to get a divorce. Or how to adopt successfully. In there too.
This book is from Mars, but with reflections of Venus- do not let the title fool you.
Bill Heavey is a comic, sometimes a dolt- but he sure knows how it "feels". Be it about a crazed wild turkey, or a canoe sinking because the anchor won't release within a whirlpool of a high rapid, or whatever- he has masterly expression of the human humor and boy side.
But what was the most enlightening of all was that there were SUCH sensitive chapters stuck in between the manly pork sandwiches. Truly, one of the most heart-rending recitals of the experience of a baby daughter's death and its aftermath- stuck right in there with the beef jerky. And advice on how NOT to get a divorce. Or how to adopt successfully. In there too.
This book is from Mars, but with reflections of Venus- do not let the title fool you.
Bill Heavey is a comic, sometimes a dolt- but he sure knows how it "feels". Be it about a crazed wild turkey, or a canoe sinking because the anchor won't release within a whirlpool of a high rapid, or whatever- he has masterly expression of the human humor and boy side.
February 20, 2021
This book was my Birthday gift to me. And I must say I did very well for myself this year! When my children were young I always picked up the Field and Stream on the table at the Doctor's office and checked out the Bill Heavey column. Though I haven't fished in years I still have the 'fever', and I have a dear friend who goes OFTEN - we both hooted all the way through this book. If it EVER warms up, we must meet at Silver Lake or the Gristmill, both about halfway between our 2-hour separation, and wet a line again. I hope you too have a favorite fishing hole and a good buddy to keep you company there. Social distancing wouldn't be so bad on a creek bank...
Reviewed on February 12, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Reviewed on February 12, 2021, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
December 30, 2023
This is not my usual type of reading. I’m not big on essays, commentaries, or magazine content. It was the title that appealed to me. I love this collection. The author is amusing, articulate, and unafraid.
I had a father who was all about the outdoors. Despite some physical limitations that slowed my involvement, I learned to camp, cook on an open fire, fish, hunt, and ride horses. Those were great times. These essays bring me back to my youth. Some of the essays are funny, some are sobering, but they are almost all anecdotal and informative.
There are also some personal essays that must have been difficult to write. I strongly recommend this book.
I had a father who was all about the outdoors. Despite some physical limitations that slowed my involvement, I learned to camp, cook on an open fire, fish, hunt, and ride horses. Those were great times. These essays bring me back to my youth. Some of the essays are funny, some are sobering, but they are almost all anecdotal and informative.
There are also some personal essays that must have been difficult to write. I strongly recommend this book.
March 26, 2015
This is a collection of stories/columns published over a period of time, many from Field and Stream magazine, and others from the Washington Post and the Washingtonian. Some are extremely poignant (the SIDS death of his young daughter), and some are laugh out loud. A few are mostly for the dedicated hunter/fisher, but almost all have some excellent metaphors and writing that make them quite enjoyable. The book did keep me reading...although the other book "Asylums" I was reading, was much darker, and needed some relief.
April 23, 2016
I bought this book just so I could read the essay on Marty from Mountain Men, and I had no expectations for the rest of the book. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed each piece. My only complaint is that some of the stories were very personal (adoption, infant loss, etc) and they didn't seem to flow well with the other essays that were about outdoors-y/hunting/fishing topics. Still, I really enjoyed this book as a whole and I will be ordering Heavey's other two books.
July 8, 2016
Short non-fiction autobiographical essays about hunting, fishing, and fatherhood. I didn't love this as much as the collection of essays by Heavey that I read last year (It's Only Slow Food Until You Try to Eat It), but it was still fun and engaging. Heavey lives near Washington DC and does a lot of his fishing nearby.
February 10, 2015
Not quite as funny to me as It’s Only Slow Food Until You Try to Eat It: Misadventures of a Suburban Hunter Gather, but still an amusing read. Most of the essays are very short so you can start & stop reading easily.
February 8, 2015
This is by someone I know, so many of the localities he describes are familiar to me. I especially liked his trying to fish the bog at I-66's exit at Glebe Road. The part about losing his daughter to SIDS is heart-wrenching.
April 8, 2017
Some of his best work.
It's a collection of his articles from field and stream. It has some of my favorite articles. I really enjoyed reading some of his older works as I can relate to them.
It's a collection of his articles from field and stream. It has some of my favorite articles. I really enjoyed reading some of his older works as I can relate to them.
November 8, 2015
I would normally give it four because it was very entertaining. The story " Suddenly She Was Gone" pushed it to five stars. This story alone offers so on the subject of death and grieving, it should be read by as many people as possible.
January 3, 2015
Everything from hunting ants to poison ivy, a few tearjerking stories too. Not the usual reading fare for me but a good book nonetheless.
December 12, 2015
Recommended by Kristine W. , Adult Services (Three stars) (January 2015)
March 4, 2015
Great collection of Heavey's writings. I have enjoyed his stories in Field & Stream. Truce and Consequences hit home in particular as I think of my interactions with my own father.
June 16, 2015
Great comfort read for the outdoorsman type..... Like reading John Gierach with a gun instead of a fly rod.
January 12, 2016
The writing is excellent and the stories range from laugh out loud funny to extremely touching an poignant.
January 18, 2017
Perhaps only 3 1/2 of four stars. I like hiking, and Trail Running. I wanted an introduction to hunting and fishing with some laughs and this book did that nicely
August 26, 2017
funny and poignant
February 13, 2015
Great storyteller, more down to earth, less hyperbole than McManus
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews