What do you think?
Rate this book
She Explores: Stories of Life-Changing Adventures on the Road and in the Wild
Combining breathtaking travel photography with compelling personal narratives, She Explores shares the stories of 40 women on unforgettable journeys—women who live out of vans, trucks, and vintage trailers, exploring wild landscapes, cooking meals over campfires, and sleeping under the stars. Complementing the narratives are practical how-tos with advice for planning an adventure, including tips for preparing for a solo hike and must-haves for a road-trip kitchen. Beautiful, empowering, and exhilarating, She Explores is a spirited celebration of female courage and an inspirational companion for any woman who wants to explore the world on her own terms.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2019
200 people are currently reading
2331 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
January 7, 2019
This book is so wholesome. I just finished and I feel so inspired by these powerful and free women!
The book is divided in chapters with various kind of women, for example travelers, artists and professionals. In one or two pages they describe their life and why they explore the way they do. Guided by stunning photography and art, it really immerses you in nature.
What I especially love is the diversity of women in this book. It's not just privileged rich people. Even though most lifestyles are not for everyone, I think most readers can feel inspired by these women and use a little of their enthousiasm in their own life.
There's also helpful tips for exploring, hiking and camping in this book. This is a welcome addition in my opinion since it also makes the book practical. There are just enough stories in it, not too much, so that you feel you arent reading the same thing over and over.
So, I give it five stars. The photography really is so beautiful, and sets the mood so well. If you buy this book, get it as a hardcopy. That will make the photography come to life even more than your eReader or computer screen.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
The book is divided in chapters with various kind of women, for example travelers, artists and professionals. In one or two pages they describe their life and why they explore the way they do. Guided by stunning photography and art, it really immerses you in nature.
What I especially love is the diversity of women in this book. It's not just privileged rich people. Even though most lifestyles are not for everyone, I think most readers can feel inspired by these women and use a little of their enthousiasm in their own life.
There's also helpful tips for exploring, hiking and camping in this book. This is a welcome addition in my opinion since it also makes the book practical. There are just enough stories in it, not too much, so that you feel you arent reading the same thing over and over.
So, I give it five stars. The photography really is so beautiful, and sets the mood so well. If you buy this book, get it as a hardcopy. That will make the photography come to life even more than your eReader or computer screen.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.
August 1, 2019
There are some books that may not have the best literary value, but you stumbled upon them in the right place and right time. This one is it for me
June 17, 2019
Classy looking and spectacularly photographed! Supremely above average materials and construct on this hardcover book which is actually a work of art.
The author, her women co-writers (each in a category and writing their own life core outdoorsy models of ideal)- have their written words or art surrounded by sublime and often unusual natural world and personal photos. Mountains are prime. Water, forests, fields, rock- somewhat secondary.
Loved the photos and the texture of the pages. Was awed by some of the stories. Nevertheless I almost gave it a 3 star, despite all of that. Because aftermath thinking made me realize that there is no memory of mine easily recalled which has held so many "I's" per page. Especially considering that the written copy per page (some pages have little- maybe 4 paragraphs amidst space or photos)-is scarce and stories per woman quite short. And within those few insights, you get the me, me, me or I, I, I word endlessly. Just not a bag that I can carry and connect within well, IMHO. I did try and read some of the "identity politics" labeling and virtue signaling twice over to try to understand what great importance to their own strength it posits for them. Possibly I reread because it is so different (nearly contradictory) than the "we" identity lived in the group cultures and society of my life? Where we got our identity for work, belief systems, morality behaviors etc by being often "all together" as equals to each other? Most of the time in very kind to each other and humongous with "ties of interests and activity" groups at that.
This is all about "me"- the modern woman. Separate by choice in various ways and putting herself as most important. Frankly, most of them cut themselves off from the larger world in huge aspects to experience a more desired and "bigger" awareness.
A great majority of these women are hikers, roamers for extreme sports, solitary lovers in general, nature preferred outdoors camping life or van gypsy type wanderers and especially are people who deem or prefer not to have a home place at all but live, raise children, or work endlessly "on the road".
I'm tougher is some regards, but certainly not one of them with this kind of preferred world view, despite loving travel. Their likes and cores I understand somewhat- but their methods? Not so much at all. But this is an intensely and well done visual experience in print. Definitely of generation who cuts ties extremely well.
The author, her women co-writers (each in a category and writing their own life core outdoorsy models of ideal)- have their written words or art surrounded by sublime and often unusual natural world and personal photos. Mountains are prime. Water, forests, fields, rock- somewhat secondary.
Loved the photos and the texture of the pages. Was awed by some of the stories. Nevertheless I almost gave it a 3 star, despite all of that. Because aftermath thinking made me realize that there is no memory of mine easily recalled which has held so many "I's" per page. Especially considering that the written copy per page (some pages have little- maybe 4 paragraphs amidst space or photos)-is scarce and stories per woman quite short. And within those few insights, you get the me, me, me or I, I, I word endlessly. Just not a bag that I can carry and connect within well, IMHO. I did try and read some of the "identity politics" labeling and virtue signaling twice over to try to understand what great importance to their own strength it posits for them. Possibly I reread because it is so different (nearly contradictory) than the "we" identity lived in the group cultures and society of my life? Where we got our identity for work, belief systems, morality behaviors etc by being often "all together" as equals to each other? Most of the time in very kind to each other and humongous with "ties of interests and activity" groups at that.
This is all about "me"- the modern woman. Separate by choice in various ways and putting herself as most important. Frankly, most of them cut themselves off from the larger world in huge aspects to experience a more desired and "bigger" awareness.
A great majority of these women are hikers, roamers for extreme sports, solitary lovers in general, nature preferred outdoors camping life or van gypsy type wanderers and especially are people who deem or prefer not to have a home place at all but live, raise children, or work endlessly "on the road".
I'm tougher is some regards, but certainly not one of them with this kind of preferred world view, despite loving travel. Their likes and cores I understand somewhat- but their methods? Not so much at all. But this is an intensely and well done visual experience in print. Definitely of generation who cuts ties extremely well.
January 3, 2023
Loved the diversity in this book, however it didn’t feel like a collection of stories, more like summaries. It left me wanting depth that wasn’t there.
March 9, 2023
I'm reading only female authors this month and this was perfect for International Women's Day. I loved all the stories from different genres and roles with the outdoors whether if you are a climber, a hiker, a camper, or a motorcyclist. But what I really loved was the diversity of this book. When I read collections like this, it's mostly white people (looking at you running book). But this has white women, Asian women, Latina women, African American women, skinny women, medium women, and bigger women, and my favorite reading about a women with Cerebral Palsey fighting against the odds to hike more. I wished I read her story during my leg injuries to give me inspiration. The book touched on arts and music and businesses and activism, which I appreciated.
Now, I am writing a list of Pros and Cons for my husband to read so that he will be convinced to go live in a camper van down by the river.
Now, I am writing a list of Pros and Cons for my husband to read so that he will be convinced to go live in a camper van down by the river.
January 19, 2020
My son gave me this book when I retired. The perfect gift for this almost 60 year old woman heading out on a new adventure (my Glampervan should be ready to hit the road in May 2020).
The book has a large number of short person vignettes and stories from a diverse array of women adventurers. Photographs and artwork make up the rest of the book. Meant to inspire women to think outside their self proscribed boundaries, the book succeeds. At least it did for me.
Not only is the book beautiful and inspiring in its own right, it connects you to Women on the Road podcasts and an online She-Explores stories to keep you inspired. I have found many compilation nooks like this often end up very homogeneous, lacking diversity, reflecting mini-mes of the editor. Not so with this book. Almost all women will find themselves somewhere in this book.
If you are called to the Earth’s natural places, dream about or live adventure, be it hiking, road tripping or mountaineering, you will likely enjoy this book.
The book has a large number of short person vignettes and stories from a diverse array of women adventurers. Photographs and artwork make up the rest of the book. Meant to inspire women to think outside their self proscribed boundaries, the book succeeds. At least it did for me.
Not only is the book beautiful and inspiring in its own right, it connects you to Women on the Road podcasts and an online She-Explores stories to keep you inspired. I have found many compilation nooks like this often end up very homogeneous, lacking diversity, reflecting mini-mes of the editor. Not so with this book. Almost all women will find themselves somewhere in this book.
If you are called to the Earth’s natural places, dream about or live adventure, be it hiking, road tripping or mountaineering, you will likely enjoy this book.
February 16, 2021
I found this collection of brief stories of adventurous women combined with breathtaking photos to be an inspiring read and it made me want to search out more female travellers online and keep finding my own adventures (even if they are limited to my city for the time being). I did find that many of the stories seemed very focused on mountainous/hiking adventurers and as someone who prefers the ocean over mountains, it just felt like a narrowed view of being adventurous.
Read
February 5, 2023as a lover of the podcast, i’m glad to have finally read this book. i loved reading the stories written by outdoorswomen about their experiences. i love being outside and know i don’t spend enough time outside, so this has inspired me to make outdoor time a higher priority.
i dream of someday doing a thru-hike with my love and our baby dog, so maybe it’s time to just start planning it.
i dream of someday doing a thru-hike with my love and our baby dog, so maybe it’s time to just start planning it.
January 23, 2024
Lovely photographs and stories to go alongside.
New Zealand features!
New Zealand features!
February 11, 2024
Read this for a book club, I think I'll ditch the book club
March 18, 2020
I don’t know what it is about this season of life for me but I just haven’t been interested in reading or listening to books lately. I’m accepting this and not forcing myself to read just because “that’s what I do.”
However, my husband brought home this book a few weeks ago when he stopped into the library. He said “I saw this on their featured shelf and thought it looked like a Sydney book!” And indeed, he was correct. Short 1-2 page stories of women who all share a love for the outdoors was the exact type of thing I want to read right now. They inspired me and the pictures were gorgeous. If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and empowering book to enjoy, look no further!
However, my husband brought home this book a few weeks ago when he stopped into the library. He said “I saw this on their featured shelf and thought it looked like a Sydney book!” And indeed, he was correct. Short 1-2 page stories of women who all share a love for the outdoors was the exact type of thing I want to read right now. They inspired me and the pictures were gorgeous. If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and empowering book to enjoy, look no further!
August 20, 2019
This was an inspirational collection of stories from women who spend their lives exploring and adventuring. I picked it up because this is basically LIFE GOALS for me. Can I please uproot and spend the rest of my life exploring nature?
February 10, 2021
I cannot express how much this book touched my heart. Growing up I wasn’t a part of an outdoorsy family, but as an adult nature has become an integral part of my life. This book allowed me to feel connected to others in the exploring community and reminded me that anything is possible if only I choose to set my mind to it. Thank you so much for this amazing collection and for reigniting the fire in my heart.
November 19, 2025
As someone who loves the outdoors and hiking centric books this book was a huge disappointment. It felt more like a coffee table book. The book is full of beautiful photography, but every single woman’s story in the book is so brief that there is zero depth. One of the ladies hiked the entire PCT and got a grand total of two paragraphs.
I struggled to finish this book.
I struggled to finish this book.
July 14, 2019
A good friend gifted this book to me because she thought I would appreciate it. She was right! I loved reading the women’s stories about travel and adventure and the photographs were incredible. This book inspires one to hit the road or the trail. My only small criticism was that I wish some stories were longer to go into more detail.
December 23, 2020
This is a beautiful collection of photographs and stories that will inspire and uplift every reader, no matter what your interest level in the outdoors. Gorgeous book!
December 25, 2020
Perfect stuck-in-your-house quarantine reading
February 10, 2022
Entices you outdoors with some poetically written inspiring stories, just not always super clear whos who and what they’re doing
April 3, 2022
A bunch of short snippets from outdoorsy women and their experiences. Right up my alley with pretty pictures.
April 6, 2024
So cute so inspiring. Feels so calming - dreaming of the outdoors!
February 8, 2022
A beautiful book about how women connect with the out doors. The pictures are breathtaking and the short essays are inspiring!
August 3, 2021
This book was so inspirational and impacted my life in a really positive way. Every chapter was interesting and educational as well. I have so much inspiration to live my life to the fullest.
November 11, 2021
4.5/5
Un super livre.
Magnifique qualité, très très belles photos.
Portraits de femmes inspirantes.
Conseils pour se lancer et repousser ses limites.
Une très belle lecture que je recommande aux amoureux de la nature
Un super livre.
Magnifique qualité, très très belles photos.
Portraits de femmes inspirantes.
Conseils pour se lancer et repousser ses limites.
Une très belle lecture que je recommande aux amoureux de la nature
January 10, 2023
A book to truly treasure.
January 25, 2024
I should first point out that I read the e-version of this book so I might have not gotten the full experience one would have with the print version of She Explores. The book is a collection of very and I mean very short stories - typically less than 3-4 pages in length on an iPhone - from a diverse selection of women adventurers. Each story is followed by a selection of amazing photos that compliment and enhance the story. The print version could make a good coffee table book given the photos. However, the brevity of each story was the downfall of the book for me. I wanted more. The stories just seemed to be rather generic and weren't developed enough to get me invested. I got the impression that many of the individual authors do have a great story to tell, they just weren't given the space to tell it.
February 19, 2020
This felt so empowering and comforting.
January 13, 2020
A pretty bold claim A collection of stories that inspires unforgettable adventure. I do agree this is a “beautiful, empowering, and exhilarating” collection of short personal essays (between a couple of paragraphs to about a page each). I wouldn’t claim these essays will inspire an unforgettable adventure, but I’m not sure that’s really what Straub set out to do.
Gale Straub her career as an auditor but transitioned to a creative professional with a blog and podcast. I’m not sure the impetus to leave the business life, but since she did her focus has been collecting personal accounts of women enjoying the outdoors. I loved that the collection showcases diverse women and experiences. The message is any woman can get outdoors and enjoy nature in whatever ways she wants. Some women hiked with musical instruments to host impromptu concerts, some go tiny and mobile #VanLife, and other women advocate for wild spaces. Peppered throughout are basic tips for being safe outdoors, fireside cooking, and more, but don’t expect in-depth how-to's. You will not learn how to build a fire or field dress an animal. What I greatly enjoyed were the gorgeous photographs! Stunning landscapes where everyone looked like REI models.
While I don’t think this will inspire non-nature lovers to get outside, I do think this collection could be the perfect little nudge of encouragement to spend more time enjoying nature.
Gale Straub her career as an auditor but transitioned to a creative professional with a blog and podcast. I’m not sure the impetus to leave the business life, but since she did her focus has been collecting personal accounts of women enjoying the outdoors. I loved that the collection showcases diverse women and experiences. The message is any woman can get outdoors and enjoy nature in whatever ways she wants. Some women hiked with musical instruments to host impromptu concerts, some go tiny and mobile #VanLife, and other women advocate for wild spaces. Peppered throughout are basic tips for being safe outdoors, fireside cooking, and more, but don’t expect in-depth how-to's. You will not learn how to build a fire or field dress an animal. What I greatly enjoyed were the gorgeous photographs! Stunning landscapes where everyone looked like REI models.
While I don’t think this will inspire non-nature lovers to get outside, I do think this collection could be the perfect little nudge of encouragement to spend more time enjoying nature.
February 3, 2019
Inspiring collection of women’s stories from the Outdoors and from the road
First off, I read this book as an ebook, which I believe took away some of the beauty of the photographs, as I was seeing them in black and white on a small screen.
This book is a collection of stories from women from different walks of life about what being outside means to them. I have to say, I enjoyed every single one of them. The stories are grouped according to what the outdoors means to each of the women (enthusiasts, creatives, founders and professionals, nomads, transplants and advocates). All the stories mean to inspire in some way. In between, there are some tips on hiking, living on the road, making friends on trails, cooking on the road etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The photographs are beautiful. The stories are beautifully written and unique. I enjoyed the “nomad” stories most, they almost made me want to give up my job and start living on the road! I also liked the tips in between. Overall, I found this an inspiring read that I highly recommend. I imagine this to be a great “coffee table” book to just pick up and start dreaming.
First off, I read this book as an ebook, which I believe took away some of the beauty of the photographs, as I was seeing them in black and white on a small screen.
This book is a collection of stories from women from different walks of life about what being outside means to them. I have to say, I enjoyed every single one of them. The stories are grouped according to what the outdoors means to each of the women (enthusiasts, creatives, founders and professionals, nomads, transplants and advocates). All the stories mean to inspire in some way. In between, there are some tips on hiking, living on the road, making friends on trails, cooking on the road etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The photographs are beautiful. The stories are beautifully written and unique. I enjoyed the “nomad” stories most, they almost made me want to give up my job and start living on the road! I also liked the tips in between. Overall, I found this an inspiring read that I highly recommend. I imagine this to be a great “coffee table” book to just pick up and start dreaming.
May 21, 2019
Love this book! It's a series of essays by women about their relationship with travel, the outdoors, nature, politics, family... life. There are some really thoughtful reflections on race and gender.... very refreshing to see in a book ostensibly about exploring nature.
Interspersed with the essays are also some practical tips for travelling and exploring nature. And there are some beautiful photos - not your typical nature photos (one pic through a carabiner is amazing). It's unlike anything I've ever read; it's hard to define. It's not just essays, or just photos or a 'how to guide' -- it's all that and more. I just love this book!
It is a collection from/inspired by the website of the same name. I'm embarrassed to admit I wasn't familiar with the website until I stumbled upon the book... but now I am. At least I got to experience the book fresh, with no prior knowledge of the website so the book was a wonderful surprise. And holding the stories and photos in your hands is an entirely different experience than viewing them on a screen.
Interspersed with the essays are also some practical tips for travelling and exploring nature. And there are some beautiful photos - not your typical nature photos (one pic through a carabiner is amazing). It's unlike anything I've ever read; it's hard to define. It's not just essays, or just photos or a 'how to guide' -- it's all that and more. I just love this book!
It is a collection from/inspired by the website of the same name. I'm embarrassed to admit I wasn't familiar with the website until I stumbled upon the book... but now I am. At least I got to experience the book fresh, with no prior knowledge of the website so the book was a wonderful surprise. And holding the stories and photos in your hands is an entirely different experience than viewing them on a screen.
April 6, 2020
I liked how all the entries in this book were short, and the combination of stories and tips, though I will admit my favorite part was the pictures. It's broken down into sections, which is how I read it, and it makes for a smooth, quick, easy read that also makes you think.
It was an interesting read and this book, combined with a travel book I am reading have me wanting to travel, and go back to hike in Switzerland again, trails I did once when I was 8 but that I have not been back to since. It also has me wanting to go camping again, I got a nice tent with my car to go camping, but have not yet found the motivation to use it.
Now with stay at home orders and having to work from home, and in a situation where we don't know when the end will be, I feel like I can't even really plan anything yet, but I do think I might try to come up with a rough plan.
I don't think it's a book that I would off the top of my head recommend to anyone, but I think to the right person I would certainly consider it, or if someone was already looking at the book and asked me about it I would recommend it then.
It was an interesting read and this book, combined with a travel book I am reading have me wanting to travel, and go back to hike in Switzerland again, trails I did once when I was 8 but that I have not been back to since. It also has me wanting to go camping again, I got a nice tent with my car to go camping, but have not yet found the motivation to use it.
Now with stay at home orders and having to work from home, and in a situation where we don't know when the end will be, I feel like I can't even really plan anything yet, but I do think I might try to come up with a rough plan.
I don't think it's a book that I would off the top of my head recommend to anyone, but I think to the right person I would certainly consider it, or if someone was already looking at the book and asked me about it I would recommend it then.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews