To Crack the World Open: Alaska, Solitude, and a Dog Named Woody

by Ward Serrill

From a remote cabin in the rugged rainforest of the Alaskan wilderness, where the untamed landscape tumbles into the ocean, a remarkable yellow Labrador retriever named Woody helped an exile from corporate America seek a fierce freedom.

A young Ward Serrill arrived in Southeast Alaska in 1982, dispatched by his Seattle accounting firm to a remote native village to audit their new corporation. Within a year Serrill had ditched the job, with designs on forging another life up north, a new Labrador retriever puppy in tow. Woody—named after Guthrie—was of champion bloodline and seemed ready for any adventure.

After a stint working with Tlingit elders in the village of Saxman, Serrill was adopted into the clan. Some called him Dleit Yéil, or White Raven. But over time, his connection to the village began to fray as his relationships there unearthed dark aspects of his own family history. Only his friendship with Woody remained unshakable, and it was time to move on.

On the maiden voyage of their dogyak—a specially fitted kayak—Woody and Serrill rounded a point into a half-moon bay with rugged coastline. There, sixteen miles from town on the rough, steep bank, accessible only by boat, sat a small gray house on stilts. In the shadow of ancient spruce and cedars, with a waterfall on one side and the ocean below, he and Woody took up their years-long vigil in the place he came to call Shakri-La.

His experiment in self-isolation helped Serrill to confront the reality and the emotional cost of running away—physically and emotionally—all his life. Looking inward and facing his darkness, Serrill discovered an unexplored region of his heart that offered the true possibility of healing and belonging, made possible by the steadfast devotion of a very special dog.

An extraordinary journey of the heart and soul from award-winning filmmaker and director of The Heart of the Game, To Crack the World Open is a poignant, adventure-driven Alaskan story of self-discovery, with one of life’s most essential relationships—a man and his dog—at its heart.

Genres: Memoir

287 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2021

About the author

Ward Serrill has written, directed, or produced over ninety short films and writing projects for progressive causes. His feature-length film, The Heart of the Game, shot over seven years, debuted at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005 and was released nationally by Miramax Films in 2006.

The film won high praise across the country from the likes of Jay Leno, Ebert and Roeper (“an Oscar level piece of work”), People Magazine, USA Today, O Magazine, Rolling Stone, and others.

He was executive producer for Wild America, narrated by Sissy Spacek, and he codirected and produced Building One House, narrated by Robert Redford.

Ward’s other documentaries include: The Bowmakers, the story of the most important instrument you’ve never heard of, Song of the New Earth about the power of sound; Catching Fire, on Peter Scott, developer of a cook stove to save lives and forests in the developing world; Babies Behind Bars for Soledad O’Brien and TreeStory about humanity’s relationship to trees.

He is currently working on his fourth feature film, Dancing with the Dead: The Life and Times of Red Pine. Ward taught advanced non-fiction film at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, dances tango, and plays harmonica.

Reviews

[Coffeedog · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to like a dog book when the author yelled at his dog, berated him, let him wander and didn’t check on him, and was about to beat him with a piece of firewood. I gave the book two stars because I like Woody the dog, but he was far too good for the owner he had, the author of this book. Also, nothing much happened in this book to actually warrant writing a book. Pretty boring.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get to finish the book because it was a random pick found in my vacation apartment. I found the premise intriguing and appreciate a good dog-centered story. Not sure the second half goes ... but I'd pick it up again and finish reading if I had the chance.

[Mckenna Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed To Crack the World Open. The writing is vivid and immersive — it makes you feel like you’re right there in each scene. The story is beautifully told, and I flew through the book because it was so captivating.

The author takes you on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and reflection, and by the end, he’s clearly come out a better, more self-aware person. One thing that shines through the entire book is his deep love and admiration for his dog, Woody — his “cosmic dog.” Through their bond, he learns some of life’s most important lessons.

I also want to address a review that said it’s “hard to like a book where the guy beats his dog.” That’s a gross oversimplification of a pivotal moment. In that early scene, he reacts out of fear after his dog runs away, which lead him to act out the same harmful patterns he experienced from his abusive father. He immediately recognizes this, stops himself, and is overcome with remorse. It becomes a turning point — he vows never to hurt his dog again and spends the rest of the book growing from that moment.

This book is honest, emotional, and beautifully written. Don’t let that one misunderstood scene stop you from reading it — it’s absolutely worth it.

[Marga Kapka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, humorous, personal, honest...are some of the adjectives that came to me upon finishing Ward Serrill’s "To Crack The World Open."  Truly an engaging read, the writing at times lyrical, at times folksy, imbued with vibrant metaphors and imagery.  One image that I found particularly strong is in the chapter, "The Waterfall" in which the writer evokes the memory of Willie Mays to describe the feeling of being cradled by the "mitt" of a hemlock.  From baseball to yoga meditation --the hand mudras-- to a reflection on water as life, one drop at a time.  This captivated me.

Those who have experienced Alaska will undoubtedly relate to some of the author’s descriptions:  going "Outside" when leaving the state; the blazing beauty of the Northern Lights; the day of chasing a halibut; salmon spawning, the snow, the crystalline sunrises, the whales, otters, dolphins, eagles, bears.  And, of course, dogs.  Everyone had a dog. 

I enjoyed the book immensely.  Bravo!

--Marga Kapka, co-author (with Edith Kapka), Roots and Branches: A Story of Survival in Budapest During 1944 - 45

[Ivory Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ward Serrill moved from an office in Seattle to a remote Alaskan native village to work as an accountant. Seeking to escape people his experiment in self isolation allowed him to immerse himself in nature with a devoted Labrador puppy as his only companion. After ditching his job he devised a way for the Tlingit to pass on their native songs and dances and create an income. Along the way he discovered how much fear was ruling his life. I imagine the solitude gave him plenty of time to reflect on the past and created the opportunity to find himself.
I still can’t imagine what it would be like living somewhere it rains 27 days straight. At the same time it sounds an amazing area to live.
Also I love dogs and Woody was a huge part of Ward’s life. He sounds an amazing dog and my heart was in my mouth the day he went missing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital advance reading copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quotable:

We... walked up the street toward the Craig Inn Bar, a two-story, storm-washed pink building from the early 1900s... Inside, our nostrils were assailed by the aroma of a thousand fights, blood and beer ground into the floor, then swashed out with an old mop.

Rescuer and victim
It feels noble to you. You step in to help. It seems as if you are blowing fresh air into their lungs, showing them a way, a new life. Trouble is, a lot of victims, while appearing to want to change, are afraid to leave their situation. They often don't want to take responsibility; they do not want to be rescued. It's a form of abuse actually. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. You infiltrate people's lives and start to move the furniture around as if they asked you to. Trouble is, they most likely didn't really want to change. Eventually the victim will turn on the rescuer and will make the rescuer their imagined persecutor.

[Tim Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Crack the World Open is not your typical "Coming of Age Story about a Boy and His Dog". First of all, the Boy is 24 years old at the beginning and 33 at the end. Not quite a boy. And the dog seems to be more of a yogi in animal form than just a dog. The story is a mesmerizing glimpse into the evolution of a life, from fear and feeling abandoned to a full acceptance of self. Serrill not only describes the beauty of the sea and forest of southern Alaska, but he describes the intimate details of his process of escaping a world he didn't understand, finding his four-legged teacher, finding himself, and finally, returning to civilization... but as a new being. A being no longer limited by his past.

This is so well written, that it was a page turner. I couldn't wait to read each new chapter. Thank you for this gift Ward Serrill.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time Alaskan resident, I'm familiar with the ares in this book. The background, community and charcters are accurate and easily recognizable. The difficulties faced from within and from outside the tribes and remote villages set the scene for so many of the disagreements and discrepancies faced everyday. When the voices within you are too much to face, there are many places that will shelter you but finding the one that will calm the pressures of a society that does not respect the space of an individual is harder. Ward Serrill was lucky to find a place of solace and have a friend in his dog to provide the companionship everyone needs. This was a really good book that would find a welcome place in any library.

[Kristin- Kristin's Bookstack · Rating 2 out of 5]

A memoir about the author's years he lived in Ketchikan, Alaska. His goal was to follow his heart and crack the world open and thought he could do that in Alaska away from his family. He worked for a logging company, started tourism in the area, and learned to stop running away from the anger and pain caused by his family.

This memoir was well-written but wasn't interesting enough to keep me fully engaged in reading. It was a very emotional read with some sad moments. I was happy that it ended on a positive note.

Thank you to NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Ric Prideaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Crack the World Open by Ward Serrill is a well produced, thought-provoking ride. The book takes you on a journey of life experiences with his beloved dog - Woody, and a deep dive into self-discovery, curiosity and introspection. The author’s willingness to be candid and vulnerable allows for a beautifully relatable transformation. He shares knowledge, understanding with time, place, and experiences, in a masterful way. Perhaps even enriching your life through his journeys. Don’t pass this book by; it’s well-worth your time.

Ric Prideaux

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ward Serrill has again gifted us with the encouragement to engage fully. He cracks his world open and releases a flood of beauty. As he shows me his beloved Alaskan wilderness with awe and ecstasy, I am compelled to run to the woods and access the power of wild nature myself. He reminds me of the medicine of dogs, of the need to balance community and solitude, and most importantly, that all we have to do to stop running from ourselves is stop running.

[Mary Anne]

The author does have a way with words. “A dog’s bible has one commandment: go outside.” But I will finish this book when I’m ready for the slow pace. He describes the dog chasing sticks and balls in detail.

[Darlene Granberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maybe due to a kind of kinship (Seattle accountant in the wrong career), love of nature, and most importantly love of that special dog. Enjoyed the writing style. It was a two day read for me.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to live this life but maybe not in Alaska. I would have taken more responsibility for my dog though. The book itself was easy to read and held my interest throughout.

[Annie (is so far behind 😬) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming-of-age book, of sorts, in the wilderness around the remote town of Ketchikan, Alaska. A young man and his dog, Woody, spend years in relative isolation after his relationships with people in Ketchikan fray. Sixteen miles from town, he and Woody find a cabin and spend six years living alone - only travelling to town for supplies when necessary and for work - and coming to terms with himself.

Woody is a remarkable and constant companion, and this didn't have the ending I was expecting. The experience obviously had a profound impact on the author, writing decades after living it. Not a book I would normally read, but I couldn't resist that beautiful photo of Woody on the cover and, having limited experience of living (reasonably) remotely next door to Alaska in the Yukon, I was drawn to the northern experience.

A steady, enjoyable read over a few days.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.