North to the Future: An Offline Adventure through the Changing Wilds of Alaska

by Ben Weissenbach

Ben Weissenbach—an L.A. native with little prior wilderness experience—treks through the Alaskan tundra with a series of eccentric environmental scientists, and returns with a new perspective on technology and a revitalized sense of wonder for the natural world.

At the age of twenty-one, college student Ben Weissenbach set out into the Alaskan wilderness armed with little more than inspiration from his literary heroes and a growing interest in climate change. What meets him there is a landscape both stark and awe-inspiring—a part of the world seen by few outside a small contingent of scientists with big personalities.

There’s Roman Dial, the larger-than-life field scientist who leads him on a five week journey into the Alaskan backcountry. There’s Kenji Yoshikawa, the isolated researcher who leaves Ben alone for eleven days to care for his remote cabin, where temperatures at night drop to -49 degrees Fahrenheit. And there’s Matt Nolan, the independent glaciologist who flies planes onto glaciers.

As Ben’s mental and physical resilience is tested, he discovers far more than his own limits; struck by the landscape’s staggering beauty and sheer indifference to humanity, Ben emerges from each experience with a new perspective on our modern relationships to technology—and a deep sense of wonder for our natural world.

 

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Adventure, Memoir, Environment, Ecology

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to #GrandCentralPub for a beautiful hardback copy of this book!

I felt as though I were on an adventure beside the author, like he was chatting with me as he explored. I appreciated the Alaskan journey, the invitation to think critically about my relationship with technology, and the role that the changing climate is having on one of the last wilderness locations on Earth. Weissenbach’s choice to write first person for this non-fiction narrative was a fantastic approach because it read like a conversation and invited readers to be part of the experience. With his connections to scientists (field scientists, glaciologists, and researchers), Weissenbach has an opportunity to share with the reader so that they, too, gain access to skilled outdoorspeople.

I loved reading, among many, many other things, about his quest to find the northernmost tree, how mares' tails are formed, and why the Arctic is warming 3X faster than the rest of the world. I binge-read about his time alone in an isolated cabin and his (and Sue's) interactions with a bear.

I was most interested in the way that his tech detox (unplugging) affected him and in awe of his humility in the presence of greatness. I think we all need to put a greater importance on experiencing the world firsthand, not through a screen. We are missing out on so much …

"A man who keeps company with glaciers comes to feel tolerably insignificant." - Mark Twain

"Trying to translate a glacier to a screen is a bit like trying to teach Buddhist meditation techniques over TikTok, or attempting a nuanced discussion over the platform formerly known a Twitter. It doesn't work."

I highly recommend this non-fiction book!

[Susan Kendrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Enjoyable. I appreciated his balance of idealism and pragmatism. Ben was honest and really gifted in his writing. It was a little rambling, a little long. But on the whole I liked it.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about the author’s time in Alaska studying the environment (with no background or training) with some interesting individuals both scientists and experiential sho present a different view of what is happening to the tundra and wilderness than what is commonly believed today. While this book may not be for everyone, I found it a worthwhile read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Sarah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir follows the real life adventures of the author as he explores the isolated regions of Alaska and runs into all sorts of dangers: bears and clouds of mosquitoes, injuries and food rationing, landslides and extreme temperatures at -40 F. These vivid descriptions may bring the expeditions to life (and the science) but the real message in this book is about nature... How you can be out in the woods or be at the beach but you aren't really there because your brain is thinking of the things you have to do later, like the laundry and you need to get those items at the store. Then you pause to check your phone or your tablet. You walk past blooming plants without seeing them. You don't know the trees around you or the types of clouds overhead. Worse you don't understand what the things you see actually mean. Because somewhere through the many generations you lost that knowledge. And only the electronics are important. But maybe you're living in a flood plain without knowing it because you don't know it when you see it. You don't know a storm is coming because you can't read the clouds. The environment is changing around you but you don't notice.

This is the type of wake-up call the author got in here: that he saw things but had no idea what he was actually looking at. And that was IF he could actually manage to pay attention. Because it's hard to put those devices down. They take over our brains. And we get addicted to seeing the world through the screen of a phone or the lens of a camera.

This well written book is about the changes that are going on in Alaska. It comes in four sections. I thought the science in here was very well explained although I did Google a few things on my own for a better understanding. And I must admit some of the things I never would have guessed - like snow keeps the ground warm. Who would ever think that?? Snow is cold!

But what I truly loved is reading the adventures the author went on in here and the descriptions of the wild places. And he certainly wasn't any expert at this stuff. Often he felt clumsy and a bit embarrassed about his lack of skills. That shines through in the writing. And the fear about being followed by various bears. Those bears are clever and apparently circle around you to sneak up from the other direction! And this group only had the one gun. So yes, moments of anxiety in here.

1. The author goes on a long, grueling hike with Roman as they search for tree saplings. It may sound weird but this tells how the forests are spreading to new areas. I found this to be exciting and there are bears too. And tussocks. Wolves. I had to Google to actually see a tussock - it's a pity the book has no photos. I just love learning about these different land forms.

2. Ben stays many days in January with Kenji at a very isolated cabin.. I learned about permafrost (and I also asked Google lots of questions so I could understand it better) and reindeer. Ben has to care for Kenji's reindeer while he is away but he has no experience with this. I actually found the reindeer quite fascinating as I was comparing them to what I know about horses. I actually never read about real reindeer so can't say I know anything about them. Makes me wonder what their intelligence level is.

3. This third part was extremely short and involves a plane trip with the pilot Matt. Matt also studies glaciers and has developed new techniques to map them. The most intriguing thing in here was how being in the plane changed the author's viewpoint of the mountains: and he was now smart enough to notice it.

4. And he is back with Roman again doing another grueling eleven week hike in more dangerous, desolate, wild areas. And the bear threat is more severe. Once again they search for trees but also catalog other plants. The green is spreading rapidly.

This is very readable. It's all vivid descriptions and wonderful story telling. Not dry in any manner.

I would add it's more adventure than climate change. Yes, they are searching for tree saplings but the journey itself is the forefront of the book.

More people definitely need to read this.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of books but don’t write many reviews, so the fact that I am doing one on "North to the Future" is notable. I Really liked this book! I came away from this single, fairly modest-length volume with a feeling for a young man’s personal development through some very challenging personal adventures, a better sense of Alaska and what is so unique, compelling and humbling about it, and a much clearer understanding of the scope of the geological, cultural, biological and - I think I would have to say – philosophical implications of climate change/global warming. I have read various books on each of these broad topics, but by skillfully weaving them into the same narrative, "North to the Future" satisfied my desire to learn more about each of those constituent themes but in the context of a compelling personal story.

[Alanna Grace]

North to the Future

Because of a few twists of fate, Ben set off to discover, document, and in a sense, become one with the land - that land being northern Alaska.
Observing climate change in real time, learning more about life, Mother Nature, and himself, Ben went on the adventure of a lifetime. I loved his writing, sense of adventure, and his appreciation for the world around him. If adventure and the outdoors is your thing, this memoir may be for you.

[tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring debut from a promising young author

[Shira Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who loves the natural world but is no expert in paying attention to it, I found this book fascinating. It was incredibly relatable, fun to read, and covers ideas and feelings that I think everyone should be thinking about, especially in a world where we all have screen addictions. I don’t usually read adventure books or books about climate change, but this book felt like a perfect combination of gripping, insightful and an opportunity to learn about climate change in a non preaching way.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable debut from a young author and scholar — a digital native who explores the importance of reconnecting with the natural world in wake of climate catastrophe.

While you will find great adventures and epic landscapes here, this is much more than a travelogue of the Alaskan wilderness. "Being part of the first generation to go through adolescence with front-facing cameras" and having a "perennially distracted mind," as he describes himself, he has a very accurate understanding of the challenges that young people face:

„Our ancestors honed their senses to navigate the land in search of sustenance and shelter; by the time my friends and I entered the world, our attention had become a battleground for marketers seeking to exploit every cognitive foible, every evolutionary tic. And by the time we started high school, this battle no longer stopped at the front door. That was 2011—four years after Apple put the whole world in our pockets, a year and a half after Facebook created the Like button, and the same year Snapchat showed adolescents how to “live in the moment ;).” Almost overnight, the new digital culture flooded our lives, and only those things engineered to reach out and grab us—by our amygdalas, our dopamine receptors, our gonads—had a chance of getting through. Say what you will about the petabytes of vapid and often demoralizing content we consumed, but what about all we learned to ignore?”

He makes an impressive effort to find that out, including living off the grid for weeks or months at a time while accompanying famous scientists slash explorers. And it pays off. I love the mood described in this excerpt:

„In the evening we make camp on a gravel island and wash ourselves in the river. Then we build a fire and watch the smoke rise, and the water pass, and the tundra bow in the wind. After several hours Allen breaks the silence. “Does anyone know what time it is?” he asks. “No,” replies Julia. “No,” I say. “Good,” says Allen, and we return to our watching.”

As somebody from an older generation who grew up without digital devices or the internet, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for people immersed in the attention economy from an early age to find this kind of focus and awareness of the world around them. However, this book made me hopeful that it's possible.

Thanks to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a recount of the time the author spent in Alaska, both as an undergrad and shortly after graduating college, conducting fieldwork to study climate change with scientists. Despite not living in Alaska and not especially having all the skills needed to survive on his own there, he somehow was convincing enough to be added to the field team and got a crash course in survival in isolated regions of Alaska. The book chronicles the fieldwork they did, the author's difficulties at times adjusting to a non-digital world, and the hardships that are present in these areas of Alaska where few people travel, let alone live.

This sounded promising. I was interested in learning about the more isolated parts of Alaska and what it was like to experience them. For me, those were the parts that were strongest in this book. I enjoyed the descriptions of how many mosquitoes there were and how the "slap test" (seeing how many mosquitos you kill in a single slap to your arm) was the real indicator of how bad they were. It was also interesting to read about how the field crew camped in such a desolate area and did their best to protect their food by doing the opposite of what's typically recommended (sleeping with the food in the tent, since there was no way to safely store it otherwise and protect it from bears). My favorite part of the entire book was a chapter or two in which the author described house sitting for someone who lived off-grid and the absolute insanity that he encountered there, such as the man trying to train reindeer to pull a sled.

For me, although parts of this book were interesting, there were also a lot of parts that I ended up skimming. Although this book was billed as an adventure in trying to stay offline, the actual parts that discussed this seemed to only be surface-level and did not actual take a complex look at the topic. There also seemed to be a lot of day-by-day plays (especially about the second journey he made) that just didn't seem to hold my interest and caused me to start skimming.

I do feel like there were interesting parts to this, and it's clear that the author enjoyed his time exploring Alaska despite the hardships, but something felt lacking from this book. There were parts I liked, but as a whole, this didn't feel as compelling to me as it should have.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

North to the Future by Ben Weissenbach is an engaging and thought-provoking debut that blends adventure, environmental reflection, and cultural critique in a way that feels fresh and relevant. While at first glance it might seem like a travelogue about Alaska’s wilderness, this book offers much more—a deeply personal exploration of what it means to unplug from a hyper-digital world and reconnect with nature in an era dominated by distraction.

What stood out most to me was the author’s vulnerability and insight as he reflects on growing up in the attention economy and the challenges of carving out mental stillness when our devices are designed to keep us hooked. His observations about how our ancestors used their senses for survival versus how modern life hijacks our attention were fascinating and, frankly, sobering.

The sections describing his time in Alaska—completely off-grid and immersed in vast, wild landscapes—were beautifully written. You can almost feel the cold river water and see the tundra bowing in the wind. These moments contrasted powerfully with the digital noise most of us experience daily and made the author’s journey feel meaningful and restorative.

While the book occasionally meanders, the mix of memoir, environmental commentary, and philosophical insight kept me engaged. It left me not only thinking about climate change but also about the personal cost of disconnection from the natural world—and how necessary it is to seek out wonder in our lives.

A remarkable and hopeful debut that I’d recommend to anyone curious about the intersection of nature, technology, and human resilience.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Anika Asthana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Weissenbach’s North to the Future is far more than a travelogue—it’s almost a buldingsroman of personal development and a profound exploration of nature.

As a young adult, I most resonated with Ben’s journey into the wild as a digital native. His work explored what it meant to remove yourself from your phone screen and plunge yourself into the natural environment, replete with grizzly bears, wolves, and fierce storms.

Weissenbach’s lack of outdoor experience makes the book all the more compelling for a general audience. He takes the readers so close that they can hear the “glassy crackling as the glaciers recede.” His own wonder at the natural world is infectious.

North to the Future was a remarkable debut, and one that left me hopeful: that we can still find meaning, still rediscover awe, and still choose to pay attention—if we’re willing to unplug and listen. I highly recommend this book for any readers interested in travelogues, adventure narratives, coming of age stories, or meditations on our relationship with the natural world.

[Denise Chojnacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you delve into subjects such as climate change, you are going to learn a few things about the character of the people that are doing the research. This young guy who went out into the Alaskan wilderness with 5 different people to learn about permafrost, was witness to pioneers in the field who were each so different in approach, but their goal was the same. The conditions these researchers endure on a daily basis, very willingly is beyond imagination. What I loved in addition to the passion the author acquired throughout his journey, was also some touching realizations regarding family. Without the distraction of screens, he tunes into nature and the beauty finds its way into his heart bringing emotional thoughts of what is important.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. What a brilliant and brightly observant book; I appreciated Weissenbach's honest style (reminiscent of Litt's in IT'S ONLY DROWNING) and to-the-point narration. His notes about attention, our escape to the digital world, and abstracting ourselves into nothingness felt especially profound (even though they are things you think you'd already know). It brought my own awareness of my surroundings into question in a more meaningful way than I've explored before.

What does it mean to be present? He didn't seek to answer--more so understand these questions and their possibilities--which brought his nature writing into clearer focus. I only wish he would challenge subjects further and spend more time on them than he did. This is one of those books that has a purpose beyond itself.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and wonderful combination of outdoor adventure and illustration of how climate change affects permafrost and the tree line. I very much appreciate that this is written by a younger person, a digital native as he refers to himself. Having spent time in the Brooks Range, this was also a trip to a place that was soothing to me in the past. We did see what we thought was the farthest north tree in the Canning River Valley as of 2006. It would probably stun me again to see those places now. Very well written. A bonus for me were the references to my favorite book of all time, Brooks Range Passage by David Cooper, and the author even met him! If I were still teaching geology and physical geography, I would find a way to get students to read this.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska (not quite like the author experienced it) so I was intrigued! This is a non-fiction fish out of water story—a memoir of a man who travels from Los Angeles to Alaska. What a wild adventure. The author recounts—below freezing temperatures, ice, grizzly bears, wildlife encounters, climate warming, detoxing from the digital world, and more. Ben learns from an ecologist, glaciologist, and shares their knowledge with us throughout the book.

What I took away from this memoir was to remain present and aware of my surroundings and spend time away from screens to live and experience the changing world around me.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating read with a poetic narrative of the Alaskan wild—its beauty, its ruthlessness, and its enduring spirit. The people Weissenbach meets and follows into the remote tundra are fascinating, deeply experienced, and a joy to learn about. Having grown up reading Krakauer and other adventure classics, I enjoyed this book as much as any of the best in the genre. Most compellingly, the author poignantly captures the modern disconnection from nature and reflects on his own journey, exploring the profound effects of immersing himself back into the wild.

[Erin Wyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But this land, and these people, have shown me precious things, which I will probably spend my whole life forgetting, and remembering, and trying not to forget again.”

I loved this memoir of self growth and exploration, set in what has always been a challenging environment, but the current century has exasperated the changing condition, in unexpected as well as predicted ways.
Perhaps what will stick with me the most is the bear and the mosquitos.

[Mike Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weissenbach has adventures and interviews several prominent scientists mainly in Alaska. His conversations and findings about global warming that is changing the Alaskan landscape are thought provoking and sad at the same time. It's fun to 'tag along' on his Alaskan excursions and great to get a close up view of what the scientists are studying and seeing. Well written and engaging.

[Erik Halfacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben’s stories of his time traveling and doing research in the Arctic are vivid and riveting. I was not aware of the pace with which the tree lines of the arctic are moving, but now I am interested enough to learn more about it. Thanks for educating me Ben!

[Kinsleigh Sawatsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What an incredibly thoughtful and eye-opening view of Alaska. I am fascinated by the journey and grateful for an education of some of the mysteries still to be solved in Alaska. Anyone who loves trees or cares about wilderness should definitely check this one out.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read about friends. This is too much a story of personal growth / coming of age but does explore the problem of screen-time vs real-time and climate change as explored and experienced in Alaska.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The climate is changing, but it’s not changing everywhere at the same rates. But some of the most extreme changes are being seen at the poles. In North to the Future: An Offline Adventure Through the Changing Wilds of Alaska (galley received as part of early review program), Ben Weissenbach details a series of adventures he undertook learning about the climate of Alaska, what has changed, what might be part of more natural cycles than just the anthropogenic warming we have been experiencing, and how quickly the environment in various places has changed in the past few years.

He was part of expeditions exploring how trees were expanding well beyond what had been formerly recognized as the tree line in northern Alaska, but how this is happening far more to the west than in the east, most likely because of less sea ice in the Chukchi Sea and therefore more systems and precipitation in northwestern Alaska. He experiences the profound cold of an Alaskan winter. He interviews long-time residents to capture the various environmental changes they have noticed.

And he does all this in a kind of coming to age and maturity experience, trying to experience life in some more profound way.

One can gain much from reading about the author’s experiences; Alaska will definitely see a lot of changes over the next few decades, and no doubt a lot of those changes will surprise us in various ways, for better and for worse. As the author’s experiences would remind us, we should expect the unexpected in America’s final frontier.

[cazzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow this was so fun!! this was the perfect mix of wilderness adventure, climate change science, and introspective musings on attention. honestly the perfect mix for me. I want to go backpacking and to Alaska so bad right now (but probably not backpacking in Alaska.... the mosquitos scare me)

[James Easterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A protege of John McPhee the author takes us on his own version of Coming into the Country in a scientific quest to gather data on the changing world in the north. Traveling the width of Alaska with others this science quest in an extended adventure in every sense. A very good read!

[Bikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an adventure! It was sobering to read about how the climate is changing but an amazing story. I am signed up to go to Alaska in March 2027. Although I will not be hiking and am on a tour, I am excited to see the nature and some of the places the author describes.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting enjoyable adventure of Ben Weissenbach book of traveling in Alaska! Definitely worth reading!

[S C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative but not preachy.

[Clive · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping journey through wilderness and of self-discovery – woven with deep friendships, mentorship, cutting-edge insights in ecology and glaciology, and richly evocative nature writing.

[NonFiction 24/7 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this a climate novel, adventure novel or finding yourself memoir? It's worth the read, did he marry Julia?