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The Wilds of Aging: A Journey of Heart and Mind
National Indie Excellence Award Next Generation Indie Book Awards Honorable Reader Views Literary Awards "Rick beautifully weaves a deep love of the outdoors and nature into a poignant and tangible contemplation of aging. A wonderful and moving read." Jenny Golding, editor, AYellowstoneLife.com The Wilds of Aging, is a prequel to In the Temple of Wolves and Deep into Yellowstone and takes you on an illuminating journey into the wilds of aging, a passage we all face if we're lucky. With intimate moments from Lamplugh's revealing internal adventure of heart and mind coupled with stories from external adventures in Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Tetons national parks; the Oregon and Washington Cascades; the Beartooth and the Bitterroot Mountains; and more, this new book has been described by reviewers as "piercing and poetic.""After reading his second book, Deep Into Yellowstone , I was ready for a good read. But this story is filled with such delightful analogies and vivid vignettes I was entirely enthralled. Each conversation or life experience Lamplugh shares either elicits a smile, a nod of confirmation or a tear. They touch your soul and create a bond between author and reader that is rare and uplifting. You will want to share this book with those you love to keep the connection going." From Review by Kimberly Luyckx for Reader Views
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2019
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Rick Lamplugh
5 books37 followersMy next book, The Wilds of Cancer: A Life-Affirming Journey, is finally nearing publication. While it won’t be published till after the first of the year, you can read some preview chapters now. https://lamplugh.substack.com/p/1-int...
What Others are Saying:
“This is a deeply human love story of how, together, Rick and Mary navigate the twists and turns of Rick’s prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment—their curiosity, agility, and openness to adapt resonate with my own caregiving approach. I discovered a soulful and humble flow of life woven within these pages, beautifully in sync with these nature lovers.” Victoria Chin, MBA, founder of Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration (Substack)
“As a physician, I wish I could prescribe this book. Rick Lamplugh’s journey through his treatment of prostate cancer is a masterclass in patient empowerment. With raw honesty, he shares his fears and successes, creating a holistic map for healing that beautifully integrates rigorous research, profound lifestyle changes, and the restorative power of nature. The Wilds of Cancer is a must-read for patients seeking not just to survive, but to thrive.” Keith R. Holden, MD, publisher of Prostate Cancer Secrets (Substack)
And, you can subscribe to my Substack, The Wilds of Cancer, to receive updates about the book’s progress toward publication, heartfelt stories about my cancer journey, and guest columns. https://lamplugh.substack.com/
My award-winning books are available signed at http://bit.ly/SignedForYou. Books are also available unsigned or as eBooks or audiobooks on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2QiAdVv.
My last book, The Wilds of Aging: A Journey of Heart and Mind, takes you on an illuminating journey into the wilds of aging, a passage we all will face if we’re lucky. The book won the National Indie Excellence Award and was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book. The book is also a prequel to my previous two books.
Deep into Yellowstone: A Year’s Immersion in Grandeur & Controversy is a sequel to my first book. It won a Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). It was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
My first Yellowstone book, In the Temple of Wolves: A Winter’s Immersion in Wild Yellowstone, was a Montaigne Medal Finalist and won 2nd place in the Readers Views Literary Awards.
Rick’s stories have appeared in Yellowstone Reports, and the literary journals Composite Arts Magazine, Gold Man Review, Phoebe, Soundings Review, and Feathered Flounder. He won the Jim Stone Grand Prize for Non-Fiction.
What Others are Saying:
“This is a deeply human love story of how, together, Rick and Mary navigate the twists and turns of Rick’s prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment—their curiosity, agility, and openness to adapt resonate with my own caregiving approach. I discovered a soulful and humble flow of life woven within these pages, beautifully in sync with these nature lovers.” Victoria Chin, MBA, founder of Carer Mentor: Empathy & Inspiration (Substack)
“As a physician, I wish I could prescribe this book. Rick Lamplugh’s journey through his treatment of prostate cancer is a masterclass in patient empowerment. With raw honesty, he shares his fears and successes, creating a holistic map for healing that beautifully integrates rigorous research, profound lifestyle changes, and the restorative power of nature. The Wilds of Cancer is a must-read for patients seeking not just to survive, but to thrive.” Keith R. Holden, MD, publisher of Prostate Cancer Secrets (Substack)
And, you can subscribe to my Substack, The Wilds of Cancer, to receive updates about the book’s progress toward publication, heartfelt stories about my cancer journey, and guest columns. https://lamplugh.substack.com/
My award-winning books are available signed at http://bit.ly/SignedForYou. Books are also available unsigned or as eBooks or audiobooks on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2QiAdVv.
My last book, The Wilds of Aging: A Journey of Heart and Mind, takes you on an illuminating journey into the wilds of aging, a passage we all will face if we’re lucky. The book won the National Indie Excellence Award and was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book. The book is also a prequel to my previous two books.
Deep into Yellowstone: A Year’s Immersion in Grandeur & Controversy is a sequel to my first book. It won a Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). It was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
My first Yellowstone book, In the Temple of Wolves: A Winter’s Immersion in Wild Yellowstone, was a Montaigne Medal Finalist and won 2nd place in the Readers Views Literary Awards.
Rick’s stories have appeared in Yellowstone Reports, and the literary journals Composite Arts Magazine, Gold Man Review, Phoebe, Soundings Review, and Feathered Flounder. He won the Jim Stone Grand Prize for Non-Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2020
A Heartwarming Adventure
Rick Lamplugh, author of “In the Temple of Wolves” and “Deep into the Heart of Yellowstone” spent years hiking and biking in the wilderness. Then one day when he was biking with his wife and a friend, he realized that he could die trying to get to the top of this high mountain because it was beating him. When he voiced it to his wife and friend, his friend put him down. Rick still took a year off and tended to his new vegetable garden in Oregon. When his wife retired, they moved to Yellowstone, then to a town just north of Yellowstone, Gardner, Montana. They continued to hike and bike and enjoy Yellowstone, but he never did anymore extreme hiking. Best of all, at least for his readers, he wrote his wonderful books on nature.
And like many of us, he feared death, what will happen next, so he went to a seminar, lectures on death and dying, and came away with the belief that when you die you no longer exist. I am not so certain and can’t imagine it. I am at the point where I still believe in a creator, but I also think that our Creator gave us immortality, and then just left us on our own. He appears to have come to terms with it.
Next, there were the deaths of his friends and family members, which are always hard. That is one of the hard parts about aging. He went to see his father just before he died, and he told him how angry he was for the way he treated hm. His father listened and apologized. Told him that he was the better man, so to speak. I felt that this was a life changing moment. It was healing. It would be nice if we could resolve issues that we have with loved ones.
I resolved my issues with my own father in another way: When he was dying, my older sister and I went to the hospital to see him. He slept most of the time, so I began singing a song to him that he loved to hear me sing when I was a child, “Mockingbird Hill.” He opened his eyes for a moment and touched my arm. I had his ashes sent to me in Creston, CA, and then I went alone to the top dd of a hill overlooking the land. Then I stood there and told him everything that he did that was right and everything that he did that was hurtful. I then tossed his ashes to the wind, but a few came back and landed on my face and in my mouth.
Rick Lamplugh, author of “In the Temple of Wolves” and “Deep into the Heart of Yellowstone” spent years hiking and biking in the wilderness. Then one day when he was biking with his wife and a friend, he realized that he could die trying to get to the top of this high mountain because it was beating him. When he voiced it to his wife and friend, his friend put him down. Rick still took a year off and tended to his new vegetable garden in Oregon. When his wife retired, they moved to Yellowstone, then to a town just north of Yellowstone, Gardner, Montana. They continued to hike and bike and enjoy Yellowstone, but he never did anymore extreme hiking. Best of all, at least for his readers, he wrote his wonderful books on nature.
And like many of us, he feared death, what will happen next, so he went to a seminar, lectures on death and dying, and came away with the belief that when you die you no longer exist. I am not so certain and can’t imagine it. I am at the point where I still believe in a creator, but I also think that our Creator gave us immortality, and then just left us on our own. He appears to have come to terms with it.
Next, there were the deaths of his friends and family members, which are always hard. That is one of the hard parts about aging. He went to see his father just before he died, and he told him how angry he was for the way he treated hm. His father listened and apologized. Told him that he was the better man, so to speak. I felt that this was a life changing moment. It was healing. It would be nice if we could resolve issues that we have with loved ones.
I resolved my issues with my own father in another way: When he was dying, my older sister and I went to the hospital to see him. He slept most of the time, so I began singing a song to him that he loved to hear me sing when I was a child, “Mockingbird Hill.” He opened his eyes for a moment and touched my arm. I had his ashes sent to me in Creston, CA, and then I went alone to the top dd of a hill overlooking the land. Then I stood there and told him everything that he did that was right and everything that he did that was hurtful. I then tossed his ashes to the wind, but a few came back and landed on my face and in my mouth.
December 19, 2019
I want to apologize in advance for being a bad person; for I think that's what I must be to have reacted to this book in this way. I have loved some of Lamplugh's work, and I certainly love his conservation work. He is a highly accomplished and respected individual, and I think after reading this book it's also safe to say he is a very good and kind person.
That said, I did not think this was his best work. How can I even say that about his own journal? What would my journal read like? (not anywhere close to as well-written, coherent and probing as his, let me assure you!). But I found the book filled with almost-stories, and honestly there was almost a whiny quality to it. It read, to me, like musings of someone whose experiences have been sanitized. And that in turn made it ring hollow for me. It was hard to really feel his struggle, the resolutions always came so quickly and easily for him. The scope of his journey seemed limited, somehow hemmed in..It just didn't feel commensurate with the wild and raging suffering happening in the world.
It could be that he is simply a more reserved person than I; but I found myself railing against his reserve and composure, wanting his journey into the wilds of aging to feel wild and dangerous and terrifying. It didn't. It felt very tame and safe and controlled.
That said, I did not think this was his best work. How can I even say that about his own journal? What would my journal read like? (not anywhere close to as well-written, coherent and probing as his, let me assure you!). But I found the book filled with almost-stories, and honestly there was almost a whiny quality to it. It read, to me, like musings of someone whose experiences have been sanitized. And that in turn made it ring hollow for me. It was hard to really feel his struggle, the resolutions always came so quickly and easily for him. The scope of his journey seemed limited, somehow hemmed in..It just didn't feel commensurate with the wild and raging suffering happening in the world.
It could be that he is simply a more reserved person than I; but I found myself railing against his reserve and composure, wanting his journey into the wilds of aging to feel wild and dangerous and terrifying. It didn't. It felt very tame and safe and controlled.
March 2, 2019
Reviewed by Kimberly Luyckx for Reader Views (2/19)
With the “The Wilds of Aging” Rick Lamplugh writes his third book in five years. It originates from a journaling experience that preceded his two other novels. While Lamplugh usually writes of adventure, nature and the wilderness that he holds near and dear, this new book reflects a different type of nature - the essence of the heart and mind. Yet it certainly qualifies as an adventure. This is an internal exploration that is no less greater than scaling a soaring mountain. For a period of one year, Lamplugh logs his perceptions of aging, death and the afterlife as he tends to his backyard garden. The topics he tackles are sometimes difficult to process. Due to the revealing and healing nature of the work, Lamplugh describes this experience as meeting with his “paper therapist.”
Following the passing of four important people in his life, Lamplugh is confronted with the fact that he too may become incapacitated or succumb to disease. As an avid hiker and biker, this is a tough pill for him to swallow and one from which he initially puts up a wall to keep from experiencing. The journaling allows him to examine the limitations of growing older, dying and also the fearful aspect of what happens after one passes away. As the seasons change and he continues to cultivate his plots, he develops a scenario for the next period of his life.
After reading his second book, “Deep Into Yellowstone,” I was ready for a good read. But this story is filled with such delightful analogies and vivid vignettes I was entirely enthralled. Each conversation or life experience Lamplugh shares either elicits a smile, a nod of confirmation or a tear. They touch your soul and create a bond between author and reader that is rare and uplifting. You will want to share this book with those you love to keep the connection going.
The analogy of a garden and Lamplugh’s life is simple yet multi-faceted. As he digs up old memories, plants the seeds for fresh adventures and cultivates his new way of thinking, he reaps the harvest and gains the fruits of his labors. Lamplugh publishes independently so that he can keep command of his word. And his words are sincere and unaffected to be sure. But he keeps them compartmentalized so that they can be digested and reflected upon.
As I grow older myself and witness those I love facing disease and death, I realize that preparing for the inevitable is essential. To face an unknown or a strong fear at the time you are most vulnerable is scary and overwhelming. Although one cannot “plan” for death, preparing your mind for it is a true comfort.
Through all the quiet moments, the times of struggle and frustration of creating a prosperous garden, Rick Lamplugh connects with the process of aging. His realization is that growing older is just another challenging adventure in a lifecycle. Taking the time to ruminate on your existence and your demise is important to cultivating the soil of experience. “The Wilds of Aging” helps us gain perspective and direction to continue this profound journey and treasure the time we have left.
With the “The Wilds of Aging” Rick Lamplugh writes his third book in five years. It originates from a journaling experience that preceded his two other novels. While Lamplugh usually writes of adventure, nature and the wilderness that he holds near and dear, this new book reflects a different type of nature - the essence of the heart and mind. Yet it certainly qualifies as an adventure. This is an internal exploration that is no less greater than scaling a soaring mountain. For a period of one year, Lamplugh logs his perceptions of aging, death and the afterlife as he tends to his backyard garden. The topics he tackles are sometimes difficult to process. Due to the revealing and healing nature of the work, Lamplugh describes this experience as meeting with his “paper therapist.”
Following the passing of four important people in his life, Lamplugh is confronted with the fact that he too may become incapacitated or succumb to disease. As an avid hiker and biker, this is a tough pill for him to swallow and one from which he initially puts up a wall to keep from experiencing. The journaling allows him to examine the limitations of growing older, dying and also the fearful aspect of what happens after one passes away. As the seasons change and he continues to cultivate his plots, he develops a scenario for the next period of his life.
After reading his second book, “Deep Into Yellowstone,” I was ready for a good read. But this story is filled with such delightful analogies and vivid vignettes I was entirely enthralled. Each conversation or life experience Lamplugh shares either elicits a smile, a nod of confirmation or a tear. They touch your soul and create a bond between author and reader that is rare and uplifting. You will want to share this book with those you love to keep the connection going.
The analogy of a garden and Lamplugh’s life is simple yet multi-faceted. As he digs up old memories, plants the seeds for fresh adventures and cultivates his new way of thinking, he reaps the harvest and gains the fruits of his labors. Lamplugh publishes independently so that he can keep command of his word. And his words are sincere and unaffected to be sure. But he keeps them compartmentalized so that they can be digested and reflected upon.
As I grow older myself and witness those I love facing disease and death, I realize that preparing for the inevitable is essential. To face an unknown or a strong fear at the time you are most vulnerable is scary and overwhelming. Although one cannot “plan” for death, preparing your mind for it is a true comfort.
Through all the quiet moments, the times of struggle and frustration of creating a prosperous garden, Rick Lamplugh connects with the process of aging. His realization is that growing older is just another challenging adventure in a lifecycle. Taking the time to ruminate on your existence and your demise is important to cultivating the soil of experience. “The Wilds of Aging” helps us gain perspective and direction to continue this profound journey and treasure the time we have left.
January 9, 2020
Beautiful & Inspiring
This book and the stories within explore the doubts, struggles, and questions that we all have within us. Rick shares his vulnerability, and even tears, as he reminisces and addresses his demons and finally comes to terms with the inevitability of declining heath as he ages and death. He resolves to live each and every day to its fullest, even though the afterlife (or lack thereof) will remain unknown. I love his internal debates and stories.
This book and the stories within explore the doubts, struggles, and questions that we all have within us. Rick shares his vulnerability, and even tears, as he reminisces and addresses his demons and finally comes to terms with the inevitability of declining heath as he ages and death. He resolves to live each and every day to its fullest, even though the afterlife (or lack thereof) will remain unknown. I love his internal debates and stories.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews