Bears Don't Care About Your Problems: More Funny Shit in the Woods from Semi-Rad.com

by Brendan Leonard, Steve Casimiro (Foreword)

If you've ever considered the absurdity of sleeping on the ground in a place where bears live, pooping in a bag on a glacier, or trying to teach someone you love a sport that scares them to the point of loudly threatening to kill you in front of strangers, Bears Don't Care About Your Problems will make you laugh. Author and creator of Semi-Rad, Brendan Leonard is part Dave Barry, part Gary Larson, and 100 percent twisted in his own fresh way. The Semi-Rad perspective has become the funny, introspective voice of outdoor Everyman and Everywoman adventurers.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Nature

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2019

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

[Dylan Garret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swap reading an essay from this book in place of looking at social media while having your morning coffee, and I guarantee at least a 100% improvement in your mental outlook for the day.

[Chris Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun and inspiring book. I laughed. I thought about my life. I was emotional. I went outside and did things and will keep doing them. This book (among other things and persons) has really helped me see what I am capable of. I think anyone can do hard things they haven’t done before, and it helps to know it’s uncomfortable, scary, etc for others too, but it gets better.

[Bobbie Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun and motivating - life stories in essay form using the great outdoors as the thread. I actually purchased this book as a gift for someone and after reading through a few of the essays, I decided to read it myself. Enjoyed some laugh-out-loud moments!

Admittedly, many of the stories referenced things I know nothing about (rock climbing, mountain biking, camping…) resulting in skimming more than usual. And, reading a compilation of short stories so quickly results in noticeable repetition.

I really enjoyed this book because it was positive, uplifting and motivational. No shit from the author! Now, I’m off to the gym to workout!

Thanks, Brendan Leonard!

[Niko Kingi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of short essays that made me laugh and inspired me to consider certain perspectives when facing different situations, both big and small. This book has earned a spot on the coffee table for the foreseeable future.

[Beth Jusino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charmingly optimistic, entertaining, and fun, with a heavy dose of serious outdoor activities. This is a collection of blog posts from semi-rad, and there's not much of a theme. But if you're burned out on the news, tired of the tension, and in need of someone to make you laugh (and you know the basic terms of rock climbing and camping), this will hit the spot.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays are bound to make you either laugh or ponder life's complex rhythms. Each essay discusses many different subjects, many of which involve the great outdoors and the author's adventures in them. Other subjects touch upon motivation, slice of life or the authors love of coffee. Though sometimes the reader can get lost with the runner and climber lingo or gear described in the stories, there is still some enjoyable material in this book.

This book isn't meant to win any major literary awards. Rather, it is letting you know that bears may not care about your problems, but at least reading this book can make you forget about them for a little while, and maybe even give you a solution or some motivation to overcome them.

[Paula (feed-the-need-to-read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t have to be an extreme sport enthusiast to enjoy and learn something from this book. It helps to like the outdoors but it isn’t a requirement. In between the humor and tips on survival is the simple message of being a good human. How to be nice, how to set goals, how to be positive, how to not make excuses, how to reach goals, how to be a friend, how to avoid negativity, and how not to be an asshole because Bears Don’t Care. Maybe I didn’t need to learn these things, maybe I already knew them, but it was a fun way to be reminded of the simple rules of life. Be happy, make time to do what you love, make other people happy or at least don’t piss them off and make them sad.

[Leah]

My library loan expired before I finished. I know enough to understand the author's writing style. With a long list of books to sample, I won't check it out to finish, but I liked the bit that I read.

[Scott Kummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything by Semi-Rad. Whatever your sport or type of outdoor activity is, there’s bound to be several of these stories/blog entries that make you laugh out loud. One of the most creative and humorous writers out there.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, cute and whimsical a collection of short stories for everyone who loves to climb, hike, ski or bike. Does have language so not for kids. Also encouraged me to push myself and have a more positive outlook. Adventure in life should be priority even if it’s in your own backyard!

[HHWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine, except for a quote he included from his friend "when I was younger, I thought I was going to change the world. Now I let people merge in front of me in traffic", and that did change my life a little.

[Olivia Simonsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this! It took me a while to finish it cause I had to balance a lot of schoolwork, but I loved some of the bits and pieces of learning everyone’s adventures of being outdoors. It has some good laughs and I look forward to summer now after reading this!

[Pav Marek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved it. Brendan's storytelling style is everything a semi-sarcastic outdoor/adventure writer needs.

[Bue_digre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun collection of stories that are very recognizable for any outdoorsman/woman.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and quick to read. I liked the overall messages in this book: things like make plans not resolutions and having positive outlook.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious. I love this guy's stuff. A great fun read.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I know this is just a compilation of his blog posts but I don’t care. I always love a good Semi-Rad post, whether online or on paper.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

my absolute favorite :)

[Nick Boguslaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted and easy to pick up and read. Good coffee table book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny stories and blog entries full of life advice that's useful even for people who are not outdoorsy types. I really enjoyed it.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious. My friend and I read it while planning our hike of the High Sierra. Lots of inside jokes and quotes came from this book.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the most motivating read to live an active outdoor lifestyle!! Humour is fantastic

[Artemisia Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book matches my vibe quite well, all I need for it to be a perfect match is to be muchhhhh more into rock climbing

[Sarah Leclerc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining for sure. Funny at times. Truly profound and accurate at times. There were certain things that got me thinking about life a little differently.

[Emily Mellow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not great. The forward was better written and more interesting than the essays/articles that comprise the book. I was hoping for better, after really enjoying an autobiography by Brendan Leonard.

[Meredith]

Easy fun read. Recommended for lovers of the outdoors

[Chris Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. Regular bloggish insights, but some good humour.

[Jasmine Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book so much. Funniest short articles on outdoors culture and adventures

[Kathy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny & engaging, really enjoyed this book! Although I didn't read this book straight through, it could be a quick read.

[Woody Sobey]

Notes and hightlights: https://drownedchipmunk.com/2023/03/1...