What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wilderness Idiot: Lessons from an Accidental Adventurer
The path to an adventurous life seems straightforward: Crush at an outdoor sport; amass a legion of followers who drool at your hero shots on Instagram; host TED talks exhorting people to live their best life, brah.
But there is another way: the way of the Wilderness Idiot. Author Ted Alvarez built a career and an outdoor lifestyle by simply not being smart enough to say no to things that will probably kill him, or at least embarrass him severely. From nearly drowning in pro kayak races to hallucinating on solo trips across bear-and-bug-infested wildernesses, his work exists to show that the outsider Everywoman and -man can have the spotlight.
In a series of hilarious and insightful essays, Alvarez shows that you don’t need to shred sick lines to find adventure—you just have to embrace the blank spots beyond your comfort zone. That way lies self-knowledge, soul-quieting confidence, and the soul of wilderness. More than most, Alvarez knows outsiders belong outside—and he wants to welcome them into the tribe.
The Wilderness Idiot airlifts readers to the world’s most remote places (in reality and in the mind) and make them feel so at home they’ll start dreaming about adventures of their own.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2019
40 people are currently reading
415 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 10, 2022
People who spend an extensive amount of time in the outdoors are always hilarious.
August 1, 2020
I love the wilderness and the mountains and everything that comes in between (though I'm terrified of insects so that makes for an interesting combo). And I also love sarcasm, because who does not.
This book offers the best of both worlds. It recounts tales from the wilderness, experienced by one backpacker named Ted Alvarez. The time he went on a solo trip to the Icelandic volcanoes, to the time he fell in love with the nature in Hawaii, to the time he almost got his siblings killed. And many, many others. Encounters and instances, spread over a lifetime of experiences across the entire globe. From jungles to deserts to canyons to mountains to caves. This book has it all.
And of course, the sass. Oh man. Nothing makes an awkward, heart-stopping, and near-death-experience wilderness encounter funnier and more interesting to read than a sarcastic way of story telling.
It even has beautiful descriptions for all the amazing and scary places the author, Ted, goes to. The words painted pictures of such enchanting glaciers and mountains in my mind that my heart was left reeling in the aftermath.
The only downside in this book for me was the sense that Ted sometimes came off as a little ignorant and obnoxious in two to three chapters. Because to me, respecting a place also includes respecting and being considerate of any and all people who are native to it (or the region or the country, etc.) Maybe thinking like this is too idealistic and ignorant of me, but to each there own, and this was my opinion.
But anyone who loves nature, loves the earthy and wholesome feel of being engulfed in nature, needs to read this book.
This book offers the best of both worlds. It recounts tales from the wilderness, experienced by one backpacker named Ted Alvarez. The time he went on a solo trip to the Icelandic volcanoes, to the time he fell in love with the nature in Hawaii, to the time he almost got his siblings killed. And many, many others. Encounters and instances, spread over a lifetime of experiences across the entire globe. From jungles to deserts to canyons to mountains to caves. This book has it all.
And of course, the sass. Oh man. Nothing makes an awkward, heart-stopping, and near-death-experience wilderness encounter funnier and more interesting to read than a sarcastic way of story telling.
It even has beautiful descriptions for all the amazing and scary places the author, Ted, goes to. The words painted pictures of such enchanting glaciers and mountains in my mind that my heart was left reeling in the aftermath.
The only downside in this book for me was the sense that Ted sometimes came off as a little ignorant and obnoxious in two to three chapters. Because to me, respecting a place also includes respecting and being considerate of any and all people who are native to it (or the region or the country, etc.) Maybe thinking like this is too idealistic and ignorant of me, but to each there own, and this was my opinion.
But anyone who loves nature, loves the earthy and wholesome feel of being engulfed in nature, needs to read this book.
May 6, 2021
Thank you, Ted for sharing all you had in this captivating book about the great outdoors! Reading it reenforces my will and excitement to go out there, to explore, and to be braver when I am about to step off the beaten path (what would Ted do?). Thanks also for the chapter about your mom and the collapsed tent - it's my favourite (for how personal, funny, and lovely your eagerness is with wanting to show her a good time). Please write more. You have such a skill with words!
December 11, 2020
I bought "The Wilderness Idiot: Lessons from an Accidental Adventurer" about a man "not being smart enough to say no to things that would probably kill him." Based on title and description, I was expecting a Don Knots, fish-out-of-water collection of humorous essays. I was more than a little put off a few pages in when it became apparent that that is not what this book is. Nearly put it away. Very glad I did not.
For the record Mr. Alvarez is not an idiot - certainly not a wilderness idiot, nor are his adventures accidental. The essays here are not about "accidentally" finding oneself in a dangerous situation. Rather they are about someone intentionally pushing their boundaries beyond their comfort zone with the natural world and the intangible rewards of doing so. That person is Mr. Alvarez himself, but at other times, is also his mother, his siblings, the under served children of Baltimore, or even an aging Chilean baqueano opening his land to wilderness tourism in Tierra del Fuego. There's a lot of depth here, obvious love, and yes, even some humor. Well worth it!
For the record Mr. Alvarez is not an idiot - certainly not a wilderness idiot, nor are his adventures accidental. The essays here are not about "accidentally" finding oneself in a dangerous situation. Rather they are about someone intentionally pushing their boundaries beyond their comfort zone with the natural world and the intangible rewards of doing so. That person is Mr. Alvarez himself, but at other times, is also his mother, his siblings, the under served children of Baltimore, or even an aging Chilean baqueano opening his land to wilderness tourism in Tierra del Fuego. There's a lot of depth here, obvious love, and yes, even some humor. Well worth it!
October 28, 2019
From reading the description of this book, I was ready to crash headlong into a series of comedic and interesting essays about various wilderness adventures that were had by the author. After reading this, however, I was left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. The book started off strong and while there were a number of chapters throughout this that I absolutely loved, most of it was lackluster and uninteresting. It felt thrown together and not cohesive whatsoever and I struggled to have this hold my interest. While I definitely think that I would enjoy reading the author's stories, when meshed together in a book like this, they just weren't hitting any good spots for me. Separately, most of these had the potential to hold their own, but together I just couldn't find the appealing nature. I do intend on looking into more of Alvarez's writing and adventures because it was overall interesting but this book just wasn't it for me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC of this book.
May 10, 2020
Truly, a road worth taking
I had run across one or two of these short stories previously but did not expect the depth this book displayed. After some personal background in graduate studies of cultural anthropology, the genome, and a lifetime of curiosity of human history, I was taken by those instances Ted mingled indigenous peoples into his stories as well as historical and geological facts, and ecological concerns.
This work is deeper than a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and walking sticks. I trust you will agree.
I had run across one or two of these short stories previously but did not expect the depth this book displayed. After some personal background in graduate studies of cultural anthropology, the genome, and a lifetime of curiosity of human history, I was taken by those instances Ted mingled indigenous peoples into his stories as well as historical and geological facts, and ecological concerns.
This work is deeper than a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and walking sticks. I trust you will agree.
July 6, 2020
Based on the title of this book I thought it would involve more silly/ridiculous things that happened to the author during his adventures. It's more about how he felt and what he learned on various excursions, and trying to get others to see the beauty of the wilderness. The stories are still good though and some of them made me really want to see these places, and I did a lot of "google-earthing" after.
May 23, 2021
"The Wilderness Idiot", by Ted Alvarez, writer for "Backpacker" magazine, is a collection of twenty-four of his essays. The breadth of locations and experiences that he relates is a plus.
The three stories that I enjoyed most concerned him sharing experiences with members of his family: sister, brother, dad and mom. Those in which his mom appeared I especially enjoyed. It's a light reading load and generally enjoyable, so I'll be putting this book in the lending library at my gym.
The three stories that I enjoyed most concerned him sharing experiences with members of his family: sister, brother, dad and mom. Those in which his mom appeared I especially enjoyed. It's a light reading load and generally enjoyable, so I'll be putting this book in the lending library at my gym.
November 21, 2021
I thought about ditching the book after the first chapter. Then the wish got stronger. As a mountain-lover myself, all of it felt like "inspiring" Instagram shit that is poured from every hole nowadays. I guess only the wish to leave a trashing review made me continue. But then it got really better. The guy truly loves the woods and outdoors and can tell about that. If you feel like quitting - give him a second chance.
July 8, 2022
An enjoyable read. The language, at times, is a little inaccessible, but maybe more accessible for experienced outdoors-people. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, though, and should be appreciated with a slow read. The stories that Alvarez spins invokes the spirit of adventure throughout; I recommend this book to anyone who may need a little fire under them to get out and begin exploring the world.
August 21, 2025
2.5. Some of the stories are interesting enough I ugess, but there is no cohesive thread here. It seems like a randomly picked bunch of articles he wrote for other things tossed into a book. EAch one is pretty jumbled and feels like they weren't well edited. The title says lessons, but there aren't any. It's just him telling you things he has done. I am not familiar with this author and podcaster, so maybe a big fan would enjoy this more, but there was really nothing here for me.
July 8, 2022
A book of essays about outdoor “adventure” and travel. The author was a writer for Backpacker magazine so he got to do a lot of wild stuff. This was a really fun book that really did run the gamut of locations/adventures. But the title doesn’t jive - this guy is not a wilderness idiot, he is a professional adventurer!
March 4, 2023
Fantastic collection of articles! Ted Alvarez not only knows how to tell an entertaining tale, but he also knows the expert moment to insert humor. He also penned my new favorite line in a book. This is a spoiler free review l, so you'll have to look on page 52 somewhere near the bottom. I'm sure you'll know it when you read it. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
abandoned
July 5, 2023Not a terrible book, but also not a book I felt any particular motivation to pick up and read. Where each individual chapter is its own vignette, I may pick it up now and then and ultimately finish it, but right now when I’ve got novels I’m super eager to get back to every day, I just want to tidy up my “currently reading” shelf to reflect more what’s really happening.
October 28, 2019
A somewhat interesting book. Some good adventures in it, but the writing wasn't very engaging. Not much to say about it, I was underwhelmed. I am left wondering why the author is still alive. The title Wilderness Idiot is appropriate.
January 13, 2023
If like me you were expecting funny, harrowing backcountry stories, you'll be disappointed.
If you're looking for short stories of adventures in remote locations by a seasoned outdoorsman, then you'll enjoy it
If you're looking for short stories of adventures in remote locations by a seasoned outdoorsman, then you'll enjoy it
October 22, 2019
I fell in love with Ted Alvarez's new book, "The Wilderness Idiot" in the prologue. His wilderness mantra is, "Just say yes." No matter the conditions or the terror of the wilderness, it is worth the pain and the struggle for the stories you will be able to tell and the camaraderie you will build on a backpacking trip only accessible by sea plane.
"The Wilderness Idiot," are stories of Alvarez's adventures in some of the most obscure and dangerous places around the globe in his expeditions as a writer for Backpacker magazine. He takes readers on his treks through volcanic mountains in Iceland. He also journeys through the Northern mountains in Japan. He travels through inlets from the Pacific ocean on a kayak through the edges of the Great Bear Rainforest on Vancouver Island in British Columbia searching for white "spirit" Kermode bears. He also does some hiking around where I am from in Colorado, which is a fun retelling of places that I too have journeyed.
His wilderness approach is that there isn't any challenge that is too hard or scary not to try at least once. On a survival trip with a buddy he even gets used to rodent meat he traps and scorches to ensure all disease is properly expunged.
I loved this book. It inspires me to get "off-trail," do some backpacking and face/overcome my fears in the wild. I think part of my journey of conquering fourteeners is similar to his approach to "say yes" to challenge. I want to live a life of embracing difficulty and pushing myself to my limits to grow and see what is possible.
"The Wilderness Idiot," are stories of Alvarez's adventures in some of the most obscure and dangerous places around the globe in his expeditions as a writer for Backpacker magazine. He takes readers on his treks through volcanic mountains in Iceland. He also journeys through the Northern mountains in Japan. He travels through inlets from the Pacific ocean on a kayak through the edges of the Great Bear Rainforest on Vancouver Island in British Columbia searching for white "spirit" Kermode bears. He also does some hiking around where I am from in Colorado, which is a fun retelling of places that I too have journeyed.
His wilderness approach is that there isn't any challenge that is too hard or scary not to try at least once. On a survival trip with a buddy he even gets used to rodent meat he traps and scorches to ensure all disease is properly expunged.
I loved this book. It inspires me to get "off-trail," do some backpacking and face/overcome my fears in the wild. I think part of my journey of conquering fourteeners is similar to his approach to "say yes" to challenge. I want to live a life of embracing difficulty and pushing myself to my limits to grow and see what is possible.
January 16, 2020
Sporadically organized yet still interesting snippets of different adventures.
September 14, 2020
What a brave soul he is. If you are a world explorer, love the wilderness areas and are stuck home because of the pandemic, this is the book for you!!
April 29, 2021
I didn't think he really had all that much in the way of idiotic decisions or accidental adventures, but it was an enjoyable read about nature, just not as funny as I was expecting.
January 9, 2022
Absolutely loved the witty writing style — I laughed aloud a few times. Some of the specific terminology went over my head, but still a great, short read with a helping of life lessons & musings.
August 17, 2022
Starts off as interesting enough, but it isn't long before you start to realize the dude is clearly a fan of wafting his own flatulence into a champagne flute and savoring. Honestly, just shut up and hike.
August 5, 2023
Started strong and then I lost interest.
January 23, 2023
There is no doubt my favorite genre is the environment and nature. In this particular account, the mishaps and discoveries of ecosystems and environments from all over the world are brought to your front door for inspection.
This served as a community book talk among our community, and in creating a google doc analyzing each area of discovery, we leave behind yet another book that delves into the value of travel, discovery, and the environment and how such areas tie us all together. Technology is an amazing thing, but you will find the environment and nature, is the most unique, motivating, and beautiful assets we have in this world - love the content featured in this novel and being able to share this with others!
This served as a community book talk among our community, and in creating a google doc analyzing each area of discovery, we leave behind yet another book that delves into the value of travel, discovery, and the environment and how such areas tie us all together. Technology is an amazing thing, but you will find the environment and nature, is the most unique, motivating, and beautiful assets we have in this world - love the content featured in this novel and being able to share this with others!
October 21, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of outdoor adventure stories. Some are entertaining, some are informative, some are touching and many are a combination of the three.
Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews