Sixty Meters to Anywhere

by Brendan Leonard

An honest, uplifting memoir of overcoming addiction, and finding direction, through climbing

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Climbing, Adventure, Audiobook, Nature, Outdoors

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2016

About the author

Brendan Leonard is the creator of Semi-Rad.com and a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Outside, CNN.com, Adventure Journal, Alpinist, Climbing, High Country News, Adventure Cyclist, and dozens of other publications. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

Reviews

[Io Nuca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mă gândesc încontinuu la cartea asta. E atât de personală, și totuși mă regăsesc atât de bine în ea. Am înlocuit peste tot cuvântul alcool cu depresie și am avut impresia că citesc despre mine. Cățăratul e unul dintre cele mai minunate lucruri care mi s-a întâmplat și mă bucur tare mult să văd cum i-a salvat și pe alții.

[Emily McKinney · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was a pleasant enough read, and I appreciated him sharing his experiences, it wasn’t as powerful or as moving as I wanted it to be. I felt like the stories he told could have been tied together more strongly. Still, I don’t regret reading it.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. Very casual. Not too deep. Maybe I just don't have a great connection with the topics at hand. It was an audible freebie. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to really like Brendan's writing after a friend posted one of his posts up on Facebook. He's a common-sense, funny writer with an excellent short-form style.

I picked this book up after hearing it was being released. I was surprised to find the writing, while sometimes funny, was definitely more somber, confessional and reflective. It takes guts and some writing ability to put something like this on paper and publishing it. This is an honest accounting of a flawed dude who made the best of a shitty situation and is killing it now.

[Lee Gingras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book would be about climbing with a little bit of alcoholism; as it turns out, it was about alcoholism with a little bit of climbing. It is incredibly dark, and I don't think I've ever read anything that impressed on me just how obsessive alcoholism can be, and just how much it takes over your mind, even after you quit. Details like making obsessive lists of every drink he's ever had really make this story vivid. When he first begins mountaineering, the main draw for him is the absence of alcoholic obsession while he's up there - as soon as he comes back down, it comes rushing back. I really liked this more than I thought I would like any addiction memoir; I think because I'm a slightly obsessive climber, Leonard's story was extremely relatable and expanded my empathy for addicts in a new way. Really appreciate his sharing his story.

[Sinjin Eberle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of us has experienced periods of our lives that are consumed by chaos. The chaos of evolving out of one's pre-teen years, the chaos of the loss of a parent, the chaos of losing a partner or love of your life, the chaos of an illness or disease dictating your path. The author was challenged with a number of years of chaos piled upon chaos, and found himself confronting a life quickly heading off the rails - until he was exposed to a new direction, one that provided a life of inspiration, exploration, and purpose, that gave him an escape from the landslide of his life.

In Sixty Meters to Anywhere, Brendan Leonard provides an excellent, thoughtful, and often humorous reflection upon his path, the course of his life, and how he dredged through the potholes on the road to adulthood, and how the outdoors provided the highway to enlightenment and happiness. His prose is casual, yet compelling, and he expresses with great depth the challenges and chaos we all face in our personal journey.

No matter how your path was formed, you have met challenges and navigated a route out of the mess. This is Brendan's story - It's amazing.

[Megan Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick engaging read. Brendan talks about finding himself after addiction and how climbing changed his life. Climbing offers him a second chance and opens his eyes to a world he didn't know existed. The book focuses more on addiction and recovery than climbing, an important story that will give you a different perspective.

[Patrice La Vigne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty excited about this book, but I was disappointed in the end. I'm not sure what it was. Maybe I wanted the author to go deeper into his experiences as an addict. He reflected on them, but didn't walk us through it. I am so happy he was able to discover an outlet in climbing. And his path to discovering it was not easy, so kudos to the author for clawing his way to a better life!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated his vulnerability and honesty when discussing both his alcoholism and climbing. The references to familiar climbing areas in Colorado are fun.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ran out of audible credits this month, so I picked this one up blind as it was recommended and available without spending a credit on the app. Based on the title I assumed it was a climbing memoir, and while there certainly is a lot of discussion about climbing, it's really an addiction memoir. It's a genre I've really stayed away from for no particular reason, but Leonard tackles it in a really interesting and engaging way.

I'm lucky to say that I've never struggled with addiction or alcohol, but Leonard communicates the emotions and sensations exceptionally well. It's a short book, but it's honestly exactly as long as it needs to be. It was a great accompaniment to my day yesterday, and made me grateful for my life, and the fact that I get to do this beautiful sport, and also really happy for Brendan Leonard, that he was able to find something that filled the void so perfectly.

I honestly didn't find anything I didn't like about this, 5/5

[Beth Nosler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book that has made me want to climb more mountains, be more self reflective, move to Montana or Colorado, and quit drinking. His story is really cool and he seems like a sick guy. Would definitely recommend. Thanks Galen for the book rec and loan!!

This shit is so relatable…
“The nuances of holding onto rock features with only the friction and balance of toes and fingertips, the crucial placement of safety equipment every few moves, keeping the rope at the right tension—all these things demanded full attention, forcing me to leave my problems on the ground. Climbing taught me to persevere through debilitating fear, when I hyperventilated and was so overcome with the likelihood of falling that both legs shook hard enough to jackhammer themselves right off the tiny footholds, but I kept it together and kept going.”

[Alison Rockrohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pleasantly surprised me. To be honest, I read “The New American Road Trip Mixtape” and felt it was an ‘okay’ book- Not bad, but didn’t do too much for me, personally. However, I could have read this one in two days. It was so well written, and definitely makes me want to go after rock climbing more fervently. This memoir paints a picture of what makes climbing so unique, and how the hurdles that need to be overcome while going up faces of rock build a person up and are exhilarating. It seems that Brendan is talking to the reader the whole time. Also, on a side note, I thoroughly enjoyed reading a memoir that mentioned my alma mater- UNI 💜💛

[Joey Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent autobiography. Leonard goes through so many aspects of his life. Through his addiction, recovery and general outlook on what his life has become we get a very good view on Leonards thoughts and philosophies which I think are very interesting. He describes climbing in the same way that I do which just makes me like it more.

[Justin Bartram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve thought so much about how to review this book taking into consideration similarities that the author and I have all throughout.

One quote he drops near the end simply sums it all up and sums up the premiss of the book.

“You won’t fall if you don’t let go”

[Scott Kummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept thinking, this is my story. Such a good and interesting read of what it feels like to be an alcoholic and recover from alcoholism. Very honest and insightful. I will recommended this to the many people that have trouble getting their head around this disease.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this in a week.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The struggle is real and you can over come and accomplish anything. It wont be easy and you have to fight for it. Very sad and inspiring.

[Libby Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstandingly inspirational and vulnerable.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about overcoming addiction.

[Emmy Passi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. A powerful story. I’m also a big fan of Brendans podcast, and I am now an even bigger fan. Cant wait for his new book to be delivered!

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Leonard’s writing. This book is full of adventure, depth, & humor. Great read!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's tough to give a book about addiction and climbing--two topics that are quite important to me--only three stars. It's possible that my expectations were too high. As the memoir of a recovering alcoholic who discovers climbing can heal and give his life new purpose, I expected to be moved. While there were a few deep passages that I jotted down, I wasn't moved as much as I had hoped. I'm glad I read it but it was a little underwhelming.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward and honest account of something many of us understand, which is reaching a point in life where we realize we're on the wrong path, and choose a different one. It was interesting to read Brendan's insights into alcoholism. His honesty was refreshing, and his relationship with his grandmother and mother touching. A quick read, and I enjoyed it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, but supremely interesting. Really enjoyed the author's take on life and how he finally dealt with his demons and turned his life around.

[Kate Carden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable, unsentimental, self-deprecating and very entertaining.

[Linda Drish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iowa is pretty great and not really like Brendan described or mentioned in the book. I will get back to that in a bit. I read this book not knowing he was from Iowa. I love adventure stories and reading about challenges and accomplishments. This book is about Brendan's drinking problem and his challenges with the addiction. His love for the outdoors/climbing helped him overcome and conquer that addiction. I loved the book and he kept me completely engaged.

Iowa and/or RAGBRAI: RAGBRAI is a bicycle ride across the rolling hills of Iowa in that happens in the hottest time of year with temps and heat indexes reaching over 100 degrees. I have ridden the 400ish miles 7 years in a row and not once did I drink a drop of alcohol. RAGBRAI was my 14er. It was my Maroon Bells of Iowa. I was determined to ride every inch of it from the West to the East. I didn't touch a drop of alcohol and made sure to hydrate, eat and pace myself so that I could be successful. Many many of the 18,000+ cyclists rode it just like me. Seriously and successfully. Is it a rolling party? Yes, to some. Iowa . . . it's a state full of heartwarming, loving, talented and intelligent people. People that would drop whatever they are doing to lend a hand to a friend or stranger in need. People that will talk your ear off about how much rain they got last week. It's a land full of love. It's a land of universities, private colleges, large and small corporations, pork production, farmers and the list goes on! I, like Brendan, love Colorado and all the beauty that resides in and around those 14ers. To stand at the top of a 13,000 foot peak looking out over the Maroon Bells is the best of the best BUT . . . there's no place like home. Brendan, if you ever ride across Iowa again do it solo and with panniers and maybe you will see it in a different light.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wonder if everyone has a period in their life when they're at least a little lost about what it is they're supposed to do. You tread water until the boat marked New Identity comes by to pick you up. Sometimes it takes years. You're never in danger of drowning; you're just listless, maybe frustrated enough to feel like screaming: How fucking long do I have to do this?"

I've always enjoyed Brendan Leonard's writing from the blog articles on Semi-Rad and his other book, The New American Road Trip Mixtape. Memoirs can make you take a look at your life through someone else's story and personal perspective and finding myself comparing notes. I connect with his struggle to find identity coming from the midwest and exploring the outdoors in your 20's. Finding solace and the quieting of your mind in nature. Questioning the ego that comes with the accomplishments of summits, tough climbs, and a dirtbag lifestyle that people back home don't quite understand. I felt seen when he would go home for friend's weddings and people didn't connect as easily with the person he has become.

A big part of the author's story is his sobriety, the constant push-pull of wanting and not having a drink. As I began to look closer at who I am after turning 30, I've been increasingly uncertain about alcohol at social gatherings. After hearing the research about alcohol and how it affects people, especially with adolescents, in Malcom Gladwels's Talking to Strangers I question alcohol being in my life at all.

"It made me wonder why I even started, we we all start, and not in moderation, especially when we're young."

[Chris McCaffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not quite done, but I think I’m going to DNF anyway so I wanted to leave a review. I feel really conflicted about this book, as I can understand how it would really work for someone, and Brendan is a fantastic writer, but I also see why it doesn’t work for me. I’m a climber, and in some ways an addict. I’ve never had more than 2 drinks in a night, cause more than that and I wouldn’t be able to ski or climb how I want the next day. What I wanted in this book was to find the story of one of the outdoor communities prominent writers, and to get to learn how he interacts with the mountains. Instead it’s a book about sobriety, not a book about climbing. This in itself is perfectly fine and I was still excited to read it, the crux I can’t get over is that I just don’t think I like Brendan. I just don’t think we would be friends, I don’t think I have much respect for him. I wish I felt differently, but then I read something like The Art of Shralpinism or Uplifted and I feel so inspired by people who care so deeply for the world and the people around them, who strike me as worthy of the respect Brendan wanted to give James Frey. People I want to be friends with, who I want to be like, and I think those folks are more worthy of reading.
With all that said, I can’t wait for the next piece from Semi Rad, and I will be continuing to read Brendan’s other works for the foreseeable future, just maybe not the musings on drugs.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest and heartfelt look at a life that could have been ruined by alcoholism, but was instead filled with adventure and purpose. You can feel the regret Brandon has for the pain he caused his parents, and the difficulty he had reintegrating into a world that often feels unhealthily focused on drinking. He doesn’t hold back on speaking the truth about the terrible things he did while drunk, and he also doesn’t excuse them, even in his memory. The idea of his addictive personality transferring to another risky activity like climbing was interesting, but I think in the end, it’s okay to dive into a passion like that wholeheartedly because there is little risk you could hurt someone else, versus the destructive behavior of alcoholism. I’d definitely recommend this book, especially to someone who is either an alcoholic (in recovery or not) or knows one. Which is probably everyone, honestly. There are also lots of stories about climbing specifically, which I know next to nothing about, and still really enjoyed.

[David Doty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short memoir by Brendan Leonard tells the story of the author's journey from a small town in Iowa where he grew up, to his college years at the University of Northern Iowa, where he became an alcoholic, to his move west to Montana for a graduate degree in journalism, to his experiences learning to rock climb. The title refers to the standard length of a climbing rope, which ultimately became Leonard's path to freedom from sobriety, as well as the thing that kept him tethered to safety, both physically and metaphorically.

Leonard is a good writer, and even though I have never rock climbed (I'm deathly afraid of heights), I still enjoyed his candor and his descriptions of awe at the mountains and scenery of the West that, having grown up in Iowa like he did, I have also come to love.

This is a great redemption story and provides a lot of hope to anyone struggling with addiction or trying to support family or friends with addiction.