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Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth
Had his mission overseas been honorable?
Nate Hankes returned home from his tour in Iraq unable to answer even this most basic question.
Determined to find clarity and forge a new identity outside of the U.S. Army, Nate, alongside his brother Ben, a recent college grad delaying his entry into the Great Recession job market, set out to hike the entire length of the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail—southbound from Maine to Georgia.
Unpredictable weather, brutal terrain, straining health, and a fractured mind, stretched beyond comfort by a wise but imperfect hiking companion, turn this walk in the woods into an adventure of body, mind, and spirit. And in a world gone mad, this coming-of-age story reminds us that true clarity and peace can only be found within.
Nate Hankes returned home from his tour in Iraq unable to answer even this most basic question.
Determined to find clarity and forge a new identity outside of the U.S. Army, Nate, alongside his brother Ben, a recent college grad delaying his entry into the Great Recession job market, set out to hike the entire length of the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail—southbound from Maine to Georgia.
Unpredictable weather, brutal terrain, straining health, and a fractured mind, stretched beyond comfort by a wise but imperfect hiking companion, turn this walk in the woods into an adventure of body, mind, and spirit. And in a world gone mad, this coming-of-age story reminds us that true clarity and peace can only be found within.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2020
22 people are currently reading
1629 people want to read
About the author
N.B. Hankes
1 book26 followersN. B. Hankes served in the U.S. Army from 2005-2009 as an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division serving in Baghdad, Iraq during the Troop Surge of 2007. He holds a Masters of Science in Soil and Water Chemistry from Utah State University.
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July 4, 2020
Waking Up on The Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and The Pursuit of Truth by N.B Hankes is a memoir detailing the intellectual and spiritual awaking of Nate Hankes, a young, bewildered and troubled war veteran as he and his brother hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail over five months.
Hankes, a drone operator during the Iraq War, chose to hike the trail with his brother after his return and details their trip with writing that belies his youth. Hankes has written a memoir that grows along with his insights as the miles of the trail fall away. Intermingled with segments of their hiking, Hankes also provides flashback segments of his military experience and time in Iraq.
Along the way, Hankes and his brother encounter a hippie-esque, sage-like figure named Dylan that pushes Hankes to question more and more with gentle, interesting prodding that shows Hankes there is more to life than just the highlights.
As the memoir unfolds, as Hankes continues to ask questions of himself, his self-inquisitiveness allows him to find his answers and share them with the reader.
Hankes' descriptions of the trail, Iraq, and experiences of two novice trail hikers, later labeled with the honorific title of "thru-hikers" are compelling and captivating. Insights sprinkled throughout the book by Hankes are poignant and revelatory.
One thing that would have complimented the digital format of the memoir would have been images of Hankes, his brother, and the trail (I do not know if images are included in the print version of the memoir). Still, the writing and tale told was interesting and stands on its own.
Waking Up On The Appalachian Trail is highly recommended to those that enjoy adventure type tales with self-discovery and growth.
This memoir was provided by NetGalley upon the promise of a fair review.
Hankes, a drone operator during the Iraq War, chose to hike the trail with his brother after his return and details their trip with writing that belies his youth. Hankes has written a memoir that grows along with his insights as the miles of the trail fall away. Intermingled with segments of their hiking, Hankes also provides flashback segments of his military experience and time in Iraq.
Along the way, Hankes and his brother encounter a hippie-esque, sage-like figure named Dylan that pushes Hankes to question more and more with gentle, interesting prodding that shows Hankes there is more to life than just the highlights.
As the memoir unfolds, as Hankes continues to ask questions of himself, his self-inquisitiveness allows him to find his answers and share them with the reader.
Hankes' descriptions of the trail, Iraq, and experiences of two novice trail hikers, later labeled with the honorific title of "thru-hikers" are compelling and captivating. Insights sprinkled throughout the book by Hankes are poignant and revelatory.
One thing that would have complimented the digital format of the memoir would have been images of Hankes, his brother, and the trail (I do not know if images are included in the print version of the memoir). Still, the writing and tale told was interesting and stands on its own.
Waking Up On The Appalachian Trail is highly recommended to those that enjoy adventure type tales with self-discovery and growth.
This memoir was provided by NetGalley upon the promise of a fair review.
July 4, 2020
Waking Up on The Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and The Pursuit of Truth by N.B Hankes is a memoir detailing the intellectual and spiritual awaking of Nate Hankes, a young, bewildered and troubled war veteran as he and his brother hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail over five months.
Hankes, a drone operator during the Iraq War, chose to hike the trail with his brother after his return and details their trip with writing that belies his youth. Hankes has written a memoir that grows along with his insights as the miles of the trail fall away. Intermingled with segments of their hiking, Hankes also provides flashback segments of his military experience and time in Iraq.
Along the way, Hankes and his brother encounter a hippie-esque, sage-like figure named Dylan that pushes Hankes to question more and more with gentle, interesting prodding that shows Hankes there is more to life than just the highlights.
As the memoir unfolds, as Hankes continues to ask questions of himself, his self-inquisitiveness allows him to find his answers and share them with the reader.
Hankes' descriptions of the trail, Iraq, and experiences of two novice trail hikers, later labeled with the honorific title of "thru-hikers" are compelling and captivating. Insights sprinkled throughout the book by Hankes are poignant and revelatory.
One thing that would have complimented the digital format of the memoir would have been images of Hankes, his brother, and the trail (I do not know if images are included in the print version of the memoir). Still, the writing and tale told was interesting and stands on its own.
Waking Up On The Appalachian Trail is highly recommended to those that enjoy adventure type tales with self-discovery and growth.
This memoir was provided by NetGalley upon the promise of a fair review.
Hankes, a drone operator during the Iraq War, chose to hike the trail with his brother after his return and details their trip with writing that belies his youth. Hankes has written a memoir that grows along with his insights as the miles of the trail fall away. Intermingled with segments of their hiking, Hankes also provides flashback segments of his military experience and time in Iraq.
Along the way, Hankes and his brother encounter a hippie-esque, sage-like figure named Dylan that pushes Hankes to question more and more with gentle, interesting prodding that shows Hankes there is more to life than just the highlights.
As the memoir unfolds, as Hankes continues to ask questions of himself, his self-inquisitiveness allows him to find his answers and share them with the reader.
Hankes' descriptions of the trail, Iraq, and experiences of two novice trail hikers, later labeled with the honorific title of "thru-hikers" are compelling and captivating. Insights sprinkled throughout the book by Hankes are poignant and revelatory.
One thing that would have complimented the digital format of the memoir would have been images of Hankes, his brother, and the trail (I do not know if images are included in the print version of the memoir). Still, the writing and tale told was interesting and stands on its own.
Waking Up On The Appalachian Trail is highly recommended to those that enjoy adventure type tales with self-discovery and growth.
This memoir was provided by NetGalley upon the promise of a fair review.
May 22, 2024
A great story of two brothers hiking the Appalachian Trail. The author started the trail after having done four years of military service, and needed a possibility to reflect on the why and how of military life. It's great to read the mental transition he underwent while hiking. Very nice to read.
Topic warning: some use of soft drugs & alcohol; war/military operations (mild).
Topic warning: some use of soft drugs & alcohol; war/military operations (mild).
June 17, 2020
Nate Hankes returns home after serving 4 years in the Army, as a drone operator in Iraq. He and his brother Ben, a recent college grad, decide to do a Southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. This serves both as a great adventure, and as an opportunity for Nate to sort out his thoughts on his time in Iraq, and what kind of future he wants. The book primarily follows the trail, but does include some flashbacks to his time in the war, as well as his inner though process along the way.
I have read quite a few Appalachian Trail memoirs, and this one stands out as a unique, well-written book. The best ones always have some kind of philosophical underpinning, some kind of psychological journey along with the physical one. This one asks if Nate's time in the army had any honor. It asks what an actual just and honorable life looks like. These are questions that I find important, so I was pulled in to the book.
This is not strictly a hiking book about the actual trail, but is more about the inner journey along the trail. It is well-written, and asks big questions. I felt that it contributed something new to the Appalachian Trail books that I have read.
I have read quite a few Appalachian Trail memoirs, and this one stands out as a unique, well-written book. The best ones always have some kind of philosophical underpinning, some kind of psychological journey along with the physical one. This one asks if Nate's time in the army had any honor. It asks what an actual just and honorable life looks like. These are questions that I find important, so I was pulled in to the book.
This is not strictly a hiking book about the actual trail, but is more about the inner journey along the trail. It is well-written, and asks big questions. I felt that it contributed something new to the Appalachian Trail books that I have read.
May 31, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy books written about these long journeys on mountain trails. The backpackers always seem to become enlightened on a personal level. This book is not just about the experience of the hike with the author's brother. It delves deeper into the "whys" of war and government. A couple of chapters give snippets of his experience in Iraq, which I found interesting and really pertinent to the overall book.
I enjoy books written about these long journeys on mountain trails. The backpackers always seem to become enlightened on a personal level. This book is not just about the experience of the hike with the author's brother. It delves deeper into the "whys" of war and government. A couple of chapters give snippets of his experience in Iraq, which I found interesting and really pertinent to the overall book.
June 12, 2020
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review*
It was impossible for me not to compare this book to Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" and, I admit, Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". Ultimately, while there are whispers of both those books in this one, I didn't find it quite as profound as I'd hoped - but I still enjoyed reading it!
Hankes provides a really honest account of his experience hiking the AT, sprinkled with a few memories from his time serving in Iraq. Most of the word count is spent on the minutiae of hiking the AT - the sights, the food, the shelters and camping, the temperature, the clothing (the smell), the random acts of kindness, the physical toil - and what's not to like about that? For me, there's something hugely meditative about books like this, especially as someone who has had arthritis from a young age and knows this kind of journey will never be possible for her.
In between trail life, Hankes spent a very sizeable chunk of the book chewing over his fears and doubts about whether the Iraq war was a noble or corrupt endeavour, and whether capitalism will destroy America's environment and human society. I didn't mind this, although there was too much of it for me, and it was fairly repetitive and abstract. I kept waiting to get back to the trail, where my mind was happy to follow in Hankes' footsteps. Whether you dream of hiking the AT, or you want to live it vicariously, I recommend this book.
It was impossible for me not to compare this book to Cheryl Strayed's "Wild" and, I admit, Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods". Ultimately, while there are whispers of both those books in this one, I didn't find it quite as profound as I'd hoped - but I still enjoyed reading it!
Hankes provides a really honest account of his experience hiking the AT, sprinkled with a few memories from his time serving in Iraq. Most of the word count is spent on the minutiae of hiking the AT - the sights, the food, the shelters and camping, the temperature, the clothing (the smell), the random acts of kindness, the physical toil - and what's not to like about that? For me, there's something hugely meditative about books like this, especially as someone who has had arthritis from a young age and knows this kind of journey will never be possible for her.
In between trail life, Hankes spent a very sizeable chunk of the book chewing over his fears and doubts about whether the Iraq war was a noble or corrupt endeavour, and whether capitalism will destroy America's environment and human society. I didn't mind this, although there was too much of it for me, and it was fairly repetitive and abstract. I kept waiting to get back to the trail, where my mind was happy to follow in Hankes' footsteps. Whether you dream of hiking the AT, or you want to live it vicariously, I recommend this book.
November 21, 2021
One of the better written AT memoirs I’ve read, up there with the Barefoot Sisters set. An editor goes a long way! A must read for any AT hiking collection.
June 17, 2020
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Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth by N. B. Hankes is a non-fiction account of the author’s hike on this national scenic landmark, along with his brother. Mr. Hankes is a US Army veteran, who has served overseas, this is his first book.
I enjoy good travelogues, they are difficult to write, and when they’re good, they’re very good. I did not know what to expect from Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth by N. B. Hankes, but it sounded interesting and I thought I’d give it a shot.
The narrative follows the author and his brother, an Army veteran and a college graduate, who decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from north to south over five months. The pair goes through their own revelations while trudging through physical difficulties which the trail offers.
One of my favorite things about traveling and hiking, especially for long periods of time, is the people you meet. There are people who do not run in the same circles, geographical or social, as you which otherwise you’d never know. These people give you a different perspective on established views, or share their own life experience and how it shaped their opinions. I think there is a missed opportunity with books such as these, especially on an eBook where at no, or little, cost the author can either add or link passages to maps and/or pictures they took.
The author finds this experience of meeting people enlightening as well, especially with another “thru-hiker” who joined the pair of brothers for much of the hike. Having time to reflect, deflect, and the patience to listen to others helped the author deal with the trauma he got during his wartime service, as well as reconcile his spirit.
Mr. Hankes goes into a deep analysis of the “why” behind his service, his upbringing, and his understanding and philosophy of life. He manages to come to terms with his service, and get a better, more profound understanding of geopolitics, and national politics.
The book concentrates more on being an introspective, personal journey of a soldier coming home from war to a peaceful country. It is a daunting experience where everyone seems to be in a dream state, not known they’re dreaming and only you are aware of what’s real. This is where the book shines, as a travelogue it works somewhat, there aren’t many descriptions of the trail – but as I said before the really interesting aspects of every travelogue are personal growth and people you meet on the way.
Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth by N. B. Hankes is a non-fiction account of the author’s hike on this national scenic landmark, along with his brother. Mr. Hankes is a US Army veteran, who has served overseas, this is his first book.
I enjoy good travelogues, they are difficult to write, and when they’re good, they’re very good. I did not know what to expect from Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail: A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth by N. B. Hankes, but it sounded interesting and I thought I’d give it a shot.
The narrative follows the author and his brother, an Army veteran and a college graduate, who decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from north to south over five months. The pair goes through their own revelations while trudging through physical difficulties which the trail offers.
One of my favorite things about traveling and hiking, especially for long periods of time, is the people you meet. There are people who do not run in the same circles, geographical or social, as you which otherwise you’d never know. These people give you a different perspective on established views, or share their own life experience and how it shaped their opinions. I think there is a missed opportunity with books such as these, especially on an eBook where at no, or little, cost the author can either add or link passages to maps and/or pictures they took.
The author finds this experience of meeting people enlightening as well, especially with another “thru-hiker” who joined the pair of brothers for much of the hike. Having time to reflect, deflect, and the patience to listen to others helped the author deal with the trauma he got during his wartime service, as well as reconcile his spirit.
Mr. Hankes goes into a deep analysis of the “why” behind his service, his upbringing, and his understanding and philosophy of life. He manages to come to terms with his service, and get a better, more profound understanding of geopolitics, and national politics.
The book concentrates more on being an introspective, personal journey of a soldier coming home from war to a peaceful country. It is a daunting experience where everyone seems to be in a dream state, not known they’re dreaming and only you are aware of what’s real. This is where the book shines, as a travelogue it works somewhat, there aren’t many descriptions of the trail – but as I said before the really interesting aspects of every travelogue are personal growth and people you meet on the way.
November 6, 2021
I've read a number of books about walking the Appalachian trail and other long distance walks and I really enjoy hearing about the experiences of the trips, ups and downs both physically and metaphorically and some of the nitty gritty involved.
This book separates itself from similar walking experience books with the inclusion of the authors experience in Iraq and these sections are excellent, really insightful and fascinating. My only criticism really is that I would have liked more of them. I guess the idea is that he is using his walk to move on/process and perhaps move away from his was experiences so the 'flashbacks' to this time become less as the book progresses but this seems a shame as both aspects are equally interesting to the reader. Whilst he becomes more and more disillusioned by life in the army, this change would be worth exploring further as there must be others out there who had experienced similar rather than just juxtaposing this with his time on the trail lifting his mood and spirit and suggesting this as a solution.
Great to see the brotherly relationship develop throughout and again I would have loved to hear his brother's views on the opposite angle - Iraq etc.
Really enjoyable as a read and overall definitely a book I would recommend to anyone interested in walking, challenging yourself or making changes in life.
This book separates itself from similar walking experience books with the inclusion of the authors experience in Iraq and these sections are excellent, really insightful and fascinating. My only criticism really is that I would have liked more of them. I guess the idea is that he is using his walk to move on/process and perhaps move away from his was experiences so the 'flashbacks' to this time become less as the book progresses but this seems a shame as both aspects are equally interesting to the reader. Whilst he becomes more and more disillusioned by life in the army, this change would be worth exploring further as there must be others out there who had experienced similar rather than just juxtaposing this with his time on the trail lifting his mood and spirit and suggesting this as a solution.
Great to see the brotherly relationship develop throughout and again I would have loved to hear his brother's views on the opposite angle - Iraq etc.
Really enjoyable as a read and overall definitely a book I would recommend to anyone interested in walking, challenging yourself or making changes in life.
June 15, 2020
Having returned from home from a tour of duty in Iraq, Nate Hankes is now embarking on a trek through the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail, with his brother Ben. While enduring the numerous challenges that the infamous trail will throw at them, Hankes is attempting to answer a question that has been plaguing him since he arrived back in the US: Had his mission overseas been honourable?
Hankes carefully interweaves the narrative of their time on the trail with his memories of Iraq and his reflections on the mechanism of war and capitalism, along with the long-term impacts for the US. He does not shy aware from his concerns and the trauma of settling back into life in the ‘real world’.
Although, I commend Hankes for his honesty, I did find some aspects of his reflections difficult to read of he referred to the dropping of drones and the deaths of civilians and comrades.
For me, the most noteworthy part of the narrative came as he depicted their time on the Appalachian Trail, attempting to find both peace for himself and develop a deeper relationship with Ben.
All in all, a worth while and thought-provoking read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review
Hankes carefully interweaves the narrative of their time on the trail with his memories of Iraq and his reflections on the mechanism of war and capitalism, along with the long-term impacts for the US. He does not shy aware from his concerns and the trauma of settling back into life in the ‘real world’.
Although, I commend Hankes for his honesty, I did find some aspects of his reflections difficult to read of he referred to the dropping of drones and the deaths of civilians and comrades.
For me, the most noteworthy part of the narrative came as he depicted their time on the Appalachian Trail, attempting to find both peace for himself and develop a deeper relationship with Ben.
All in all, a worth while and thought-provoking read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review
July 2, 2020
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed Nate's description of the actual thru-hiking, which comprises most of the book. He and his brother meet a lot of funny characters and are helped by so many kind people. I loved the picture he paints of this slice of America and the people who inhabit it. The trail descriptions are really well done; you can almost see it in your mind, and you can feel his love and appreciation for its beauty. You also get a great sense of just how mentally and physically challenging this feat is. Hiking over 2,000 miles sounds hard, but he brought up things I never would have thought of (like basically subsisting on dry ramen and granola bars). Nate also offers a few glimpses into his time in the Army as he muses over his service time while hiking the trail, but they really made me appreciate what exactly those servicemen and servicewomen endured in a new way.
A good chunk of this book is spent on Nate's existential musings. I didn't mind them - I think a lot of us ponder similar questions at some point (although certainly Nate's questions are impacted by his time in the service) - until they got repetitive. This is essentially a record of Nate's process of working through his experiences, and while I respect that, past a certain point, I didn't find it to be very compelling as a reader.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to memior-enthusiasts, travelogue-lovers, or anyone interested in questioning the status-quo.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed Nate's description of the actual thru-hiking, which comprises most of the book. He and his brother meet a lot of funny characters and are helped by so many kind people. I loved the picture he paints of this slice of America and the people who inhabit it. The trail descriptions are really well done; you can almost see it in your mind, and you can feel his love and appreciation for its beauty. You also get a great sense of just how mentally and physically challenging this feat is. Hiking over 2,000 miles sounds hard, but he brought up things I never would have thought of (like basically subsisting on dry ramen and granola bars). Nate also offers a few glimpses into his time in the Army as he muses over his service time while hiking the trail, but they really made me appreciate what exactly those servicemen and servicewomen endured in a new way.
A good chunk of this book is spent on Nate's existential musings. I didn't mind them - I think a lot of us ponder similar questions at some point (although certainly Nate's questions are impacted by his time in the service) - until they got repetitive. This is essentially a record of Nate's process of working through his experiences, and while I respect that, past a certain point, I didn't find it to be very compelling as a reader.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to memior-enthusiasts, travelogue-lovers, or anyone interested in questioning the status-quo.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 9, 2025
Returning from an army tour in Iraq, Nate Hankes feels adrift & so decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. At almost 2,190 miles long, it would take between 5-7 months & involve meeting with unpredictable weather & challenging terrain. Nate is joined by his brother, Ben, & initially this seems a mistake as Ben is not 'all in' initially. As the miles tick by though, the brothers make friends with other 'thru-hikers', find that strangers can be welcoming & hospitable, & may just find what is missing in their own lives.
I really like books about hiking long trails or climbing mountains as, unfortunately my chronic health issues mean it's something I will only be able to do vicariously. This one was a middle-of-the-road read. I enjoyed the hiking bits, found the flashbacks to the author's tour in Iraq interesting, but I must admit I speedread through the 'ruminating on life' bits, just because they were not as interesting as the other two topics & I wanted to get back to them. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I really like books about hiking long trails or climbing mountains as, unfortunately my chronic health issues mean it's something I will only be able to do vicariously. This one was a middle-of-the-road read. I enjoyed the hiking bits, found the flashbacks to the author's tour in Iraq interesting, but I must admit I speedread through the 'ruminating on life' bits, just because they were not as interesting as the other two topics & I wanted to get back to them. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
July 13, 2020
This has pretty much everything you would want from a memoir. It’s deeply personal, thought provoking, not overly self-obsessed or indulgent, and has its fair share of comedic moments that got me laughing to myself (quite the feat). For this kind of work, the amount of description was perfect for placing the reader in the moment alongside Hankes without being overly burdened by the details of every leaf and stone. While much of the inner journey revolved around the same few subjects, the content never got stale for me. I was greatly impressed by the skill to know what to include and exclude and how. My only gripe is at times some editing seemed rushed with minor errors or typos, especially near the end. This is a phenomenal debut published work. Kudos to N.B. Hankes, and I will follow his writing career with great interest.
October 12, 2020
Let me start by saying I have read close to 50 books about thru hikes and this is definitely in the top 3. It goes way beyond a recounting of each mile hiked and explore how two brothers, Nate and Ben and a friend they picked up along the way, Dylan come to grips with questions of life as they hike Southbound on the Appalachian trail. I have always wanted to hike the AT and life got in the way but I can experience the hike through these books. I has some of the day to day grind in the book but the author doesnt give the name brand of each item he hikes with and the specifics that I can do without that are in most thru hiking stories. This book explores the bigger picture of what the author and his brother hoped to gain from this hike and I was glad to be along for the ride.
Thank you Netgalley, N. B. Hankes and BooksGoSocial for the ARC for my honest review.
Thank you Netgalley, N. B. Hankes and BooksGoSocial for the ARC for my honest review.
December 30, 2021
The story about the trail inspired me to read this book. That it had helped Nate to give his war experience peace in his mind I took for granted. During the read I however felt more for the how he struggles with what is going on in this world and how to digest it and turn it around one way or another. I admire him for finishing of the trail as he and his brother Ben did it. I’ve only a trail of one month under my belt, so I’m only a beginner at trail hiking. Just like the book mentions/underflow reflects, there is not much going on when hiking. Smaller things in physical live show up, but all the more is going on in your mind. Nate has done a good job at that to reflect it. Next to this I learned more about how a veteran must feel in a world that doesn’t seem to understand it when looking at it from a far distance. Thanks Nate for sharing your experiences.
April 28, 2020
This is an engaging interweaving of an epic journey of two brothers along the Appalachian Trail, and within the intellectual, spiritual and physical journey of the protagonist as he reconciles his experience with the trauma of war now that he has returned to the "real world." The author has created an accessible narrative that uses glimpses of his own experience to provide a nuanced commentary on the value of challenging yourself both physically and mentally, and even experiencing suffering to understand where you fit in the greater scheme of society.
This was an enjoyable read start to finish, and is easy to recommend to others as a way to have an adventure from the comfort of your favorite reading chair. Well done.
This was an enjoyable read start to finish, and is easy to recommend to others as a way to have an adventure from the comfort of your favorite reading chair. Well done.
June 15, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nate Hankes has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He is planning on hiking the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail, with his brother Ben. As I was reading this book, my mind kept drifting back to Cheryl Strayed's WILD. While the stories (and locales) are completely different, I couldn't help but feel a pull that the two were looking for the same end---peace. Peace with their decisions in life.
This book is very well written and draws the reader onto Nate's journey. I found my mind wandering at times though, some scenes seemed to repeat themselves. Overall, it's a moving story that many readers will relate to.
Nate Hankes has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He is planning on hiking the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail, with his brother Ben. As I was reading this book, my mind kept drifting back to Cheryl Strayed's WILD. While the stories (and locales) are completely different, I couldn't help but feel a pull that the two were looking for the same end---peace. Peace with their decisions in life.
This book is very well written and draws the reader onto Nate's journey. I found my mind wandering at times though, some scenes seemed to repeat themselves. Overall, it's a moving story that many readers will relate to.
June 6, 2020
Wow.
A truly eye opening tale that makes the reader question her own beliefs while strolling through highlights from the trail. Much more than a first hand chronicle of the iconic footpath but a look into the core of human nature.
The author asks tough questions with the understanding that there will be no simple answers, if any answers at all. Thought provoking, reflective, and relatable. Very well written and easy to follow. An honest account of nature, camaraderie, and the evolution of consciousness, with a sprinkle of war. You won’t be disappointed — dive into the journey this book takes you on!
A truly eye opening tale that makes the reader question her own beliefs while strolling through highlights from the trail. Much more than a first hand chronicle of the iconic footpath but a look into the core of human nature.
The author asks tough questions with the understanding that there will be no simple answers, if any answers at all. Thought provoking, reflective, and relatable. Very well written and easy to follow. An honest account of nature, camaraderie, and the evolution of consciousness, with a sprinkle of war. You won’t be disappointed — dive into the journey this book takes you on!
June 20, 2020
I chose this book as I am very interested in stories of long distance hiking and wanted to know more about the Appalachian Trail. I enjoyed Nate, Ben and Dylan’s journey. The joy and hardships they faced were well described.
I wasn’t expecting the political angle and a lot of it was unfamiliar to me. However it was very relevant especially during the current unrest and worries about COVID-19 and the economy.
I wasn’t expecting the political angle and a lot of it was unfamiliar to me. However it was very relevant especially during the current unrest and worries about COVID-19 and the economy.
July 24, 2020
Great adventure through the Appalachian Trail, not only conquering the trail, but conquering his past. Friendships and trail names, hiking, anguish and triumph. This book follows brothers who thru-hike the AT and meet people along the way who have various views that challenge previous thoughts and beliefs. Bringing the main character through a journey of not only thousands of miles, but a mental journey through hardship and past war to his truth.
June 29, 2020
I loved this book!! I live close to the Smoky Mountains, so I have an
interest in hiking, especially when I was younger. The book is interesting
like all the other popular trail hiking books.
The book was well written by the number of days and their milage tracked.
Thank you to NetGalley, NB Hanks, and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
interest in hiking, especially when I was younger. The book is interesting
like all the other popular trail hiking books.
The book was well written by the number of days and their milage tracked.
Thank you to NetGalley, NB Hanks, and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2020
I loved this book!! I live close to the Smoky Mountains, so I have an
interest in hiking, especially when I was younger. The book is interesting
like all the other popular trail hiking books.
The book was well written by the number of days and their milage tracked.
Thank you to NetGalley, NB Hanks, and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
interest in hiking, especially when I was younger. The book is interesting
like all the other popular trail hiking books.
The book was well written by the number of days and their milage tracked.
Thank you to NetGalley, NB Hanks, and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2021
This trip did not seem to have as many trail angels or encounters with other sobos. It did not even really tell their trail names unless it was the Brothers Hankes. I enjoyed it but not as much as other books on the AT - or maybe becuase I have read others. maybe it was not identifying with the hikers - don't know
October 1, 2021
Inspiring
If you read one book this year this should be the one. Very well written. I was drawn to this book to read another story about the AT not knowing I would get so much more out of it. This book helped me to solidify some thoughts about our country and what we engage in. ....and thank you for your service to our country.
If you read one book this year this should be the one. Very well written. I was drawn to this book to read another story about the AT not knowing I would get so much more out of it. This book helped me to solidify some thoughts about our country and what we engage in. ....and thank you for your service to our country.
February 5, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this new work!
This was terrific. I have read many AT books and this is now my favorite! The writing was very good. It was a joy to tag along on the personal journey that the writer went through while on this AT hike. Highly recommend this. Many of the AT books get a little stale after a while but not this one. Worth the read!
This was terrific. I have read many AT books and this is now my favorite! The writing was very good. It was a joy to tag along on the personal journey that the writer went through while on this AT hike. Highly recommend this. Many of the AT books get a little stale after a while but not this one. Worth the read!
December 18, 2021
A decent book on hiking the AT, this one goes much further. The author examines his military service and whether it was worthwhile. Excellent, descriptive accounts of hiking are interspersed with flashbacks to his service in Iraq and political thoughts on war and other topics.
August 28, 2022
Having read several books about thru-hiking the AT, this one doesn't add much. Half the book is about the author's search for the answers to man's deepest questions. Spoiler warning...at the end of the trail he still hasn't found them.
August 30, 2020
Enjoyed reading about the adventures of the brothers Hankes.
December 31, 2020
Good book to listen while trail-running
September 12, 2021
I didn't like all the pontificating about how the US is horrible. I guess I should have read the title more carefully (and I didn't realize the author was from Wisconsin).
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