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Unflappable: Soaring Beyond a Diagnosis
A journey through rare disease, a dream of flying, and the gratitude found in acceptance.
When Jonathan first threw his parachute—in that instant—the rushing air was still, the falling stopped, and a dream of flying began to take soaring, free from the burdens he carried, held in the sky by a fabric wing. But a cancer diagnosis began a cascade—surgeries, treatments, recurrences, and life-altering side effects. Learning to fly felt impossible.
Told with candor, vivid detail, and flashes of humor, Unflappable: Soaring Beyond a Diagnosis is more than a story of rare disease, it’s about learning from hardship, finding community, and discovering healing, even when cures are out of reach. Jonathan shares how he learned to accept a body forever changed, let go of old identities, and move through turbulent moments in life with grace and resilience.
For anyone touched by disease or disability, those who fly or dream, for medical practitioners seeking greater understanding, Unflappable offers an honest and compelling look at what it means to live fully in the face of uncertainty.
When Jonathan first threw his parachute—in that instant—the rushing air was still, the falling stopped, and a dream of flying began to take soaring, free from the burdens he carried, held in the sky by a fabric wing. But a cancer diagnosis began a cascade—surgeries, treatments, recurrences, and life-altering side effects. Learning to fly felt impossible.
Told with candor, vivid detail, and flashes of humor, Unflappable: Soaring Beyond a Diagnosis is more than a story of rare disease, it’s about learning from hardship, finding community, and discovering healing, even when cures are out of reach. Jonathan shares how he learned to accept a body forever changed, let go of old identities, and move through turbulent moments in life with grace and resilience.
For anyone touched by disease or disability, those who fly or dream, for medical practitioners seeking greater understanding, Unflappable offers an honest and compelling look at what it means to live fully in the face of uncertainty.
200 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2025
408 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 14, 2025
Jonathan's story left me with all kinds of emotions during and after reading his book. I started with sincerity from his quirky, religious-dominated and sporadic upbringing. Tenderness and respect in his search for identity in Olympia. Heartbroken from his cancer diagnosis. inspired and respectful for his resilience during his reconstruction of both body and self image. And lastly, love for his newfound sense of purpose and belonging within the paragliding community. If Jonathan didn't learn to fly, I wouldn't't have met him. If Jonathan didn't go to Chelan, I wouldn't have walked away from this book with a new understanding of the fragile nature of our mortality. This is Jonathan's message - an unvarnished telling of what it feels like to have adrenaline pumping through your veins flying a paraglider while facing a ticking clock of mortality. The reality of facing a potential death sentence that can only be blocked or slowed down with a painful body reconstruction and surgery ridden journey. All while trying to appreciate the gentle and sacred moments when surrounded by our loved ones.
Jonathan, I love you. Thank you for your story. Keep flying and keep being you.
Jonathan, I love you. Thank you for your story. Keep flying and keep being you.
October 19, 2025
From a first-time author, this memoir simply soars. Economical in length, quick in pacing, but always thought-provoking, honest, and hilarious, "Unflappable" sees Hutton sliding his life under a microscope. He's been through hell and back with the cycle of cancer, treatment, remission, reoccurrence; however, Hutton does not ask for pity, but rather, he asks that we evaluate our lives in the context of mortality just like he has done. How do we need to change for the better? What lessons can we learn? What would we tell our younger selves if we went back in time?
The paragliding scenes are presented as serene meditations, and it is clear Hutton sees life more clearly when he's in the clouds. A notable line from the author: "I am now a patchwork of additions and subtractions, a face thoroughly revised." Through his bouts of cancer excisions and subsequent reconstructive surgeries, Jonathan has seen his fair share of pain, even losing his voice for a period of time. That may have been the case, but what is undeniable is that Hutton has found his voice in the pages of this book.
The paragliding scenes are presented as serene meditations, and it is clear Hutton sees life more clearly when he's in the clouds. A notable line from the author: "I am now a patchwork of additions and subtractions, a face thoroughly revised." Through his bouts of cancer excisions and subsequent reconstructive surgeries, Jonathan has seen his fair share of pain, even losing his voice for a period of time. That may have been the case, but what is undeniable is that Hutton has found his voice in the pages of this book.
October 11, 2025
Unflappable is one of my first opportunities to read a memoir by a friend, and what an absolute pleasure to read it was! Not a lot of books are a single-sitting read but this had me transfixed, through familiar paragliding locales and unfamiliar clinics and kind professionals. Jonathan's story proved to be eminently relatable and poignant. I know him now as upbeat, adventurous and a joy to be around, I was honestly a bit surprised to read how difficult his journey has been.
As someone squarely in their early 30s and likely wildly unprepared for some of life's gnarliest curveballs, his narrative has given me an exemplary posture towards life's trials I can only hope to imitate. I believe every reader will find something of immense value in Unflappable!
As someone squarely in their early 30s and likely wildly unprepared for some of life's gnarliest curveballs, his narrative has given me an exemplary posture towards life's trials I can only hope to imitate. I believe every reader will find something of immense value in Unflappable!
September 2, 2025
If you think memoirs can’t feel like adventures, think again.
Jonathan’s story is at once funny, heartfelt, and deeply candid. On the surface, it’s about facing cancer and learning to paraglide, but at its heart, it feels like an excavation. With honesty and candor, he digs into his own life, unearthing meaning even in its hardest moments.
What shines through most is his resilience, optimism, and love for life. Reading it made me reflect on my own journey, and left me with a renewed sense of gratitude. As Jonathan says: “Life is short, learn to fly.”
A moving and inspiring read for anyone who enjoys stories of courage, adventure, and hope.
Jonathan’s story is at once funny, heartfelt, and deeply candid. On the surface, it’s about facing cancer and learning to paraglide, but at its heart, it feels like an excavation. With honesty and candor, he digs into his own life, unearthing meaning even in its hardest moments.
What shines through most is his resilience, optimism, and love for life. Reading it made me reflect on my own journey, and left me with a renewed sense of gratitude. As Jonathan says: “Life is short, learn to fly.”
A moving and inspiring read for anyone who enjoys stories of courage, adventure, and hope.
September 8, 2025
I finished this book in a single weekend because I genuinely could not put it down. Jonathan's story is incredibly honest and gripping.
The story is a captivating journey that takes a sharp turn with a cancer diagnosis. It weaves his fight for survival with the joy of fulfilling his dream to fly. Flying becomes his way of giving a defiant middle finger to the disease that tried to ground him, and he finds a new sense of purpose and community through it.
The author holds nothing back, sharing intensely personal and unflattering details with courage. He isn't afraid to show the messy parts of life, which makes the story so real.
I was left with a profound sense of his accomplishment after everything he went through. Despite permanent changes from his treatment, he refuses to be brought down by the disease. It's a powerful and inspiring story about choosing to live life to the fullest.
The story is a captivating journey that takes a sharp turn with a cancer diagnosis. It weaves his fight for survival with the joy of fulfilling his dream to fly. Flying becomes his way of giving a defiant middle finger to the disease that tried to ground him, and he finds a new sense of purpose and community through it.
The author holds nothing back, sharing intensely personal and unflattering details with courage. He isn't afraid to show the messy parts of life, which makes the story so real.
I was left with a profound sense of his accomplishment after everything he went through. Despite permanent changes from his treatment, he refuses to be brought down by the disease. It's a powerful and inspiring story about choosing to live life to the fullest.
October 7, 2025
Trying to figure out how I want to write this. I am definitely not a writer. Telling a story about oneself that other who both know and don’t know you can’t be easy. I think it takes a huge amount of courage to put yourself out there and Jonathan you have shown us for years that you have the courage. The story of your later life is hard but you have changed it to a story of living life no matter how many times and how hard it tries to knock you down. Thank you for sharing. Keep flying!!
I am changing to 4 stars after additional thought.
I am changing to 4 stars after additional thought.
September 29, 2025
I was fortunate to get an advanced copy and loved this book. Anyone who has faced a challenge in their life can relate to Hutton's journey. He is willing to allow the reader to peak inside his life and give them a window into his successes and failures, losses and victories, with an eloquent simplicity. A very enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews