What do you think?
Rate this book
The Backyard Adventurer
After years of adventuring around the globe – running, kayaking, hitchhiking, exploring – Beau Miles came back to his block in country Victoria. Staying put for the first time in years, Beau developed a new kind of lifestyle as the Backyard Adventurer. Whether it was walking 90km to work with no provisions, building a canoe paddle out of scavenged scrap or running a disused railway line through properties, blackberry thickets and past inquiring police officers, Beau has been finding ways to satisfy his adventurous spirit close to home.
This book is about conscious experimentation with adventure, making meaning and inspiration out of tins of beans, bits of rubbish and elbow grease. Beau's Backyard exploits are funny, authentic, insightful and being copied all over the world.
YouTuber, new dad, and self-described oddball who needs to shower more, Beau is what happens when you cross Bear Grylls with Bush Tucker Man. With a PhD in Outdoor Education, a string of successful short films under his belt and a boundless passion for discovery, Beau is the real deal.
This book is about conscious experimentation with adventure, making meaning and inspiration out of tins of beans, bits of rubbish and elbow grease. Beau's Backyard exploits are funny, authentic, insightful and being copied all over the world.
YouTuber, new dad, and self-described oddball who needs to shower more, Beau is what happens when you cross Bear Grylls with Bush Tucker Man. With a PhD in Outdoor Education, a string of successful short films under his belt and a boundless passion for discovery, Beau is the real deal.
290 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2021
284 people are currently reading
1497 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 - 30 of 177 reviews
May 10, 2021
Beau's book makes me want to think good and unusual thoughts.
October 11, 2021
Let me start off by saying: I love Beau's videos. He's a creative mind and a great storyteller, and might be my favorite YouTuber.
While I enjoyed this book overall, I found it impossible to pick up its "voice". I had trouble reading the rhythm of the sentences in my head - maybe because I'm from the US rather than Australia. I just could not for the life of me hear the lines as I read. So I ended up re-reading a lot of passages again and again trying to make sense of them.
I particularly liked hearing extra context about Beau's challenge to eat his body weight in beans. This is my favorite of his videos and that chapter did not disappoint. However - the context in here is in a large part retelling what's in the videos already. And if you've already seen them, some of it feels redundant. I would have liked more freshness in the book.
Overall - not a bad read, a bit of fun and certainly happy to support Beau.
While I enjoyed this book overall, I found it impossible to pick up its "voice". I had trouble reading the rhythm of the sentences in my head - maybe because I'm from the US rather than Australia. I just could not for the life of me hear the lines as I read. So I ended up re-reading a lot of passages again and again trying to make sense of them.
I particularly liked hearing extra context about Beau's challenge to eat his body weight in beans. This is my favorite of his videos and that chapter did not disappoint. However - the context in here is in a large part retelling what's in the videos already. And if you've already seen them, some of it feels redundant. I would have liked more freshness in the book.
Overall - not a bad read, a bit of fun and certainly happy to support Beau.
July 6, 2021
Very satisfied with this. At some point Beau seeks to dub himself a hybrid of Socrates and Steve Irwin, to which I couldn't agree more of. In the same vein of "Greenlights" by McConaughey, Beau has a fascinating life philosophy that is geared towards awareness and observation. "The life unexamined is a life not worth living," is a sentiment heard a lot, but he flips the script and follows the mantra, "The unlived life is not worth examining."
This is a humble take on what it means to be an adventurer. Beau has inspired me plenty to make use of what I have, and this book delves into the deeply rooted beliefs he possesses that influence the wild expeditions he goes on. One masters their craft when he/she/they is able to embody their theoretical preferences and worldview creatively in realms that are very tactile or concrete. Beau does that. I love his voice and personality throughout the entirety of the book, with the exception of a few typos, this was plenty of fun and wildly entertaining.
This is a humble take on what it means to be an adventurer. Beau has inspired me plenty to make use of what I have, and this book delves into the deeply rooted beliefs he possesses that influence the wild expeditions he goes on. One masters their craft when he/she/they is able to embody their theoretical preferences and worldview creatively in realms that are very tactile or concrete. Beau does that. I love his voice and personality throughout the entirety of the book, with the exception of a few typos, this was plenty of fun and wildly entertaining.
March 22, 2025
Beau Miles is one of my most valued heros, and his beliefs, character and 'Beauisms' have massively influenced me since I first saw his Kayak trip around South Africa on youtube when I was 16.
Its through Beau Ive come to learn and indeed love all the adventure you can find both from big trips around the world, to deciding to walk a different way home from work - and they can both be equally fun and exciting if you let them be.
The book goes through some of the adventures or just odd ventures, hes been putting on youtube for years, but does so in such a way that it adds so much more to those stories - its great!
My favourite part, is towards the end, where Beau puts across that the old 'its the journey, not the destination' line, is a load of old rubbish. Afterall, the journey itself is often littered with lots of destinations within itself - just like how forest gump stops his run across America abruptly, on a random road one day.
The Destination doesnt/didnt matter. Infact, its not real - there is no 'The Destination', but lots of exciting stops and starts, lots of destinations all throughout a journey
Just like how the big expedition doesnt have to be any more or less exciting than the different route home. What matters is that you allow yourself to find adventure, joy, excitement and challenge at any time - at all times !
I couldnt imagine experience the book not as an audiobook read by Beau himself - and Im not an audiobook person. Really good stuff - try readin/listening to this and not feel just a bit inspired to go lookin for your own backyard adventure.
Its through Beau Ive come to learn and indeed love all the adventure you can find both from big trips around the world, to deciding to walk a different way home from work - and they can both be equally fun and exciting if you let them be.
The book goes through some of the adventures or just odd ventures, hes been putting on youtube for years, but does so in such a way that it adds so much more to those stories - its great!
My favourite part, is towards the end, where Beau puts across that the old 'its the journey, not the destination' line, is a load of old rubbish. Afterall, the journey itself is often littered with lots of destinations within itself - just like how forest gump stops his run across America abruptly, on a random road one day.
The Destination doesnt/didnt matter. Infact, its not real - there is no 'The Destination', but lots of exciting stops and starts, lots of destinations all throughout a journey
Just like how the big expedition doesnt have to be any more or less exciting than the different route home. What matters is that you allow yourself to find adventure, joy, excitement and challenge at any time - at all times !
I couldnt imagine experience the book not as an audiobook read by Beau himself - and Im not an audiobook person. Really good stuff - try readin/listening to this and not feel just a bit inspired to go lookin for your own backyard adventure.
June 19, 2021
Beau leads a humbly inspiring life. Insight into how he does it in any form is much appreciated. With Beauisms scattered throughout this book, Beau explains how he seeks adventure in the 21st century, largely seperated from risk and ego and acknowledging the patriarchy in how it has catered to adventurers in past centuries. I appreciate this book as it hints at how to find beauty in our own backyard.
November 29, 2021
Exactly what you need to read in your 20s, 30s, 40s… heck everyone should read it. A great journey while not taking anyone too seriously. Another great reminder to get out of your comfort zone.
August 10, 2025
what a wholesome, inspiring man Beau is! it was so nice to have his honest insight his thoughts & feelings throughout so many creative, boundary pushing projects i’ve spent years watching.
he went a bit overboard with his descriptiveness & long sentences at times, but reading in his Aussie accent in my head made every word worth the read. give it a go if you want to be inspired physically, creatively or mentally, and make sure to watch each video following it’s chapter to get the full picture & fall in love with the biggest ginger sweetheart.
he went a bit overboard with his descriptiveness & long sentences at times, but reading in his Aussie accent in my head made every word worth the read. give it a go if you want to be inspired physically, creatively or mentally, and make sure to watch each video following it’s chapter to get the full picture & fall in love with the biggest ginger sweetheart.
October 15, 2021
I'm a bit biased because Beau is really my role model for how to live a quality life, but I thought this book was lovely. I went back and forth between my physical copy and an audiobook copy narrated by Beau. Both versions were great but Beau has such a nice, even way of speaking, that I would recommend the audiobook for those unfamiliar with his work. Here's to more adventures, big or small.
October 23, 2021
For fans of Beaus YouTube content who love his outlook, attitude, wit and philosophies this is an enjoyable read. Much of the book is based in each of his short films posted on YouTube with extra details, logic and context. However there is an extra layer to this book, probably derived from Beaus doctoral thesis topic, an autoethnography of his day to day rooted in simple observations tied to a far wider meaning of experience and that is where this book differentiates itself from the short films and finds novelty worthy of diving into! A really pleasant experience enhanced by having the man himself read the audiobook.
January 8, 2022
I love Beau, his videos and this book . Inspires me to exercise my adaptation and push myself to experience things from a different angle.
November 5, 2025
A good sort of Aussie whacky adventures
November 13, 2023
I discovered Miles through his YouTube channel and thoroughly enjoy both his videos and The Backyard Adventurer, however I was hoping for a bit more of a narrative. I give The Backyard Adventurer a 4/5 stars.
September 7, 2024
Brought here by my love for his YouTube videos. Beau's familiar narration style resonates through this book. I appreciate his candor and frankness, simultaneously philosophical and humorous. If you haven't watched his YouTube videos, I feel like there's more to take from this book. Most chapters rehashed adventures documented in video, so it felt like there was less new content than I was hoping for. I was really excited to learn about how Beau came to find his love for outdoor education, conservation and running, his upbringing and getting his farm, and none of this was answered in a satisfying way for me.
Audiobook is a great option for this book too as it is narrated by Beau himself too.
Audiobook is a great option for this book too as it is narrated by Beau himself too.
May 5, 2023
If a conversation is by definition a dialogue between two or more entities, then I live on a small property with hundreds of chatty, introverted things. I must look bonkers to peeping toms, but I'd feel even more bonkers going about my solo days in silence. Skulking about the place as if an apple tree isn't worth having a chat with.
Like many, many people I came across Beau Miles during COVID-19, through his Trials of Miles video. Like many, many people I fell easily in love with his affable, no-nonsense, slightly unhinged way of looking at things and putting expectations on their head.
He is an undeniably interesting person with so many fascinating and important things to say - which is partly why his book, THE BACKYARD ADVENTURER, was so disappointing to me.
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I picked up his book, but what I got was basically a long-hand retelling of a half dozen or so of his videos in text form, with a little bit of extra detail thrown in, from Junk Paddle up to Big Gums.
Don't get me wrong, this is entertaining and interesting - but I've seen the videos. I've heard him say these things and seen him do those things. Unfortunately this is the lion's share of the runtime.
Where he does break away from retelling his videos, talking about his upbringing, his flirtation with a life in an unnamed special military regiment (I'm assuming SASR) and his internet dating exploits which led to his current marriage, I was rapt. He has such a fun, easy-going and yet incredibly deep way of looking at things and explaining them.
I just really wish he'd done more of that rather than selling me on adventures I've already seen him do.
I'll be seeing him live in September and I hope that he's every bit as interesting as those little hints of brilliance then.
November 7, 2021
A fun book with terrible editing
Having seen all Beau Miles’ YouTube videos, this book focuses on different details of the same adventures. Beau waxes much more philosophical and strings the adventures together a bit more with backstory and his life in between.
I loved parts of this book and laughed uproariously many times. But often the book was a slog to get through. The pacing is awkward, it’s riddled with unedited sentences, and Beau repeats the same sentence structures over and over and over.
Overall this is a fun book about an amazing life that desperately needed and editor and a couple months of revisions.
Having seen all Beau Miles’ YouTube videos, this book focuses on different details of the same adventures. Beau waxes much more philosophical and strings the adventures together a bit more with backstory and his life in between.
I loved parts of this book and laughed uproariously many times. But often the book was a slog to get through. The pacing is awkward, it’s riddled with unedited sentences, and Beau repeats the same sentence structures over and over and over.
Overall this is a fun book about an amazing life that desperately needed and editor and a couple months of revisions.
June 8, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this, so many unique thoughts and ways of thinking are shared by Beau in a collection of stories that make you want to get out there and do something, anything, just for the heck of it. His creative adventures explore the near, the far, and the self, told in a great narrative style which makes you think one moment then laugh out loud the next. 5 star for sure
April 21, 2024
Beau is truly an inspirational, funny and charismatic guy that has accomplished hell of a lot in his life. This book recounts Beau’s thoughts, trials and tribulations whilst undertaking some of his well known adventure challenges. If you’re a fan of his YouTube channel, unfortunately, you’re not likely to learn much new.
Most unfortunately, the writing and structure of this book is just not good…at all. It honestly reads like it was written by a high school student that’s just discovered metaphors, similes, and adjectives, and they’ve decided to cram as many in to meet the required word count.
It was a bit of a battle to get through the last half of the book but I made it through shear determination (and audiobook speed cranked up to 1.5x).
Most unfortunately, the writing and structure of this book is just not good…at all. It honestly reads like it was written by a high school student that’s just discovered metaphors, similes, and adjectives, and they’ve decided to cram as many in to meet the required word count.
It was a bit of a battle to get through the last half of the book but I made it through shear determination (and audiobook speed cranked up to 1.5x).
October 9, 2024
Sadly ruined by some of the worst editing I’ve seen in a book. Literally, one chapter just ends mid sentence. Littered with spelling mistakes. Either an intern edited this, or someone who didn’t proofread it once.
The content itself is also pretty dry and in truth, I wasn’t particularly enjoying the read. In the first 2/5ths of the book I feel like the author mentioned taking a leak off his deck 10+ times. Would have liked to see more focus on some of the exciting stuff I’m sure he has done through his life and would be more impressive to read than his journey picking up some trash and sleeping rough. Saying that, Miles is pretty eloquent and you can see how passionate he is for his way of life. Might be a more worthwhile read if you can get past the mistakes!
The content itself is also pretty dry and in truth, I wasn’t particularly enjoying the read. In the first 2/5ths of the book I feel like the author mentioned taking a leak off his deck 10+ times. Would have liked to see more focus on some of the exciting stuff I’m sure he has done through his life and would be more impressive to read than his journey picking up some trash and sleeping rough. Saying that, Miles is pretty eloquent and you can see how passionate he is for his way of life. Might be a more worthwhile read if you can get past the mistakes!
January 15, 2022
Overall a fun book about Beau and his crazy adventures whether its walking 90 km to work or kayaking in South Africa. The main point Beau makes that stood out for me is that less is more, as he would take less and less equipment with him and use the junk he found on the way, and boy is there a lot of junk out there. I remember Beau saying sometimes people go out and say, hey I traveled to so and so, explored that city, but few people truly explore there own backyard, how infested it is with our everyday garbage everywhere. Beau puts it into the perspective that we become so jaded that we don't see it, it sort of meshes with our world view, and he ponders through the book showing us how we can change that.
May 4, 2022
Beau is a hilarious and thoughtful man with a lot of input of how his world operates. This book is a compilation of stories told from his crazy adventures. I love the storytelling, however I seem to get just as lost as he does through his own thoughts. Was a fun read from an American audience reading an Australian man’s life. However, I don’t think I’d recommend this book to anyone other than fans of beau’s other work. Can’t justify a 4/5, because it was simply too much brain space to paint every image beau describes from paragraph to paragraph. 3.5/5.
December 24, 2023
Gifted to me by the Melbourne boy himself. Classic beau in a book—fun to learn how all of his more well-known adventures came about after watching so many of them via yt videos. Special to hear another local’s take on adam’s hometown before I visit. I struggled to read this book solely for the fact that beau writes like he talks, Australian verbiage and all. Spotify made audiobooks free midway through reading, and listening to him narrate the remaining chapters while I ran was a game changer.
June 6, 2022
Vad är fördelarna med att färdas till jobbet genom kanske det bökigaste tillvägagångssättet?
Oklart, men bra läsning var det.
Boken lämnar en med känslan att tummen har flyttat sig några steg från mitten av handen.
Oklart, men bra läsning var det.
Boken lämnar en med känslan att tummen har flyttat sig några steg från mitten av handen.
August 18, 2022
Bloody good yarn from a bloke who looks at life different to the majority, a refreshing insight into everyday things.
January 22, 2023
(3.2)
Overall a really fun read. However, if you watch all of Beau videos on YouTube the book might feel a bit repetitive.
Overall a really fun read. However, if you watch all of Beau videos on YouTube the book might feel a bit repetitive.
April 12, 2023
Great story teller. Fun read
July 2, 2024
He makes having an adventurous life so attainable
Read
April 22, 2025lovely stuff
December 8, 2025
A lot of fun, some good laughs, and a lot of nonsense.
January 29, 2023
Would thoroughly recommend on audio book if you can, beau narrating is a wonderful time. If you enjoy his videos you'll enjoy him retelling the stories of his adventures with all of his quirks and Fun philosophies for life. Will make you want to adventure!
April 13, 2023
Amazing life lessons, storytelling, and all around good times. Read this to gain more insight into who this cool dude is
Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews