Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild

by Brad Orsted

Award-winning Yellowstone photographer and documentary filmmaker Brad Orsted's seven-year search for refuge and redemption in America's greatest wilderness.

When Brad Orsted’s fifteen-month-old daughter, Marley, died mysteriously at the home of Brad’s mother, he descended into madness. Blaming himself, he plunged into an abyss of grief, guilt, and self-recrimination, fueled by prescription drugs and alcohol. He planned his suicide as his wife, Stacey, searched for a new beginning. She finally found a job in Yellowstone National Park and, with their daughters, Mazzy and Chloe, the pair fled Michigan, looking for refuge and redemption in the 2.2 million acres of glorious American wilderness.

Through the Wilderness begins in Yellowstone, five months after the family’s arrival in 2012, when, in an alcoholic haze, Brad stumbled into a field of sage and survived a face-to-face encounter with an adult male grizzly bear. For the first time in almost two years, he realized he wanted to live―he just didn’t know how.

Desperate for help, Brad invited himself to a Crow sweat lodge ceremony, where an elder told him it was time to stop grieving. The elder’s words started Brad on a journey towards sobriety and inner peace, only possible because of lessons he learned in the wild, his new job as a wildlife photographer and filmmaker, and two orphan grizzly cubs who carried him back home and taught him how to live again.

Brad's ten-year odyssey is about finding the wild inside the human heart. It is a journey of the spirit― a journey to forgiveness and sobriety, to love and life, to memory, and ultimately, to Marley.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Nature, Biography, Outdoors, Biography Memoir, Autobiography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 27, 2023

Reviews

[Sheila (sheilasbookreviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic and compelling book. I've followed Brad Orsted on Facebook for a while and have loved his photography. Little did I know what an incredible story was behind his now love for animals in the wild. Brad tells readers of the incredible heartbreaking story of how he lost his 15-month-old daughter to a mysterious death while in the care of his mother. His journey of prolonged grief is felt by every word written in this book. Brad fell down a huge hole in drug and alcohol abuse.

Reading about everything that Brad went through makes the person he is now even more amazing! With the help of a Native American friend, he finally was on his way to finding inner peace and healing. Along with the help of some Grizzly bear cubs and following their lives, this also strengthened his spirit and love for animals and the wilderness and his own redemption. I love animals a lot so I could relate to many things Brad wrote about. I have also suffered great losses in my life, including an infant son. This novel spoke to my heart in many ways. I know others will also feel and see the path to healing found among these pages. This is a book that must be read by those looking for hope and healing.

[Lori Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book, highly recommend! There were many personal reasons I sought out reading this book; from my own experiences of healing & finding myself in Yellowstone to my husbands journey in sobriety and this book exceeded any expectations I had.

I really enjoyed the flow of this book and how Brad’s story of healing & redemption through experiences in and around the park were interwoven with flashbacks to the events surrounding Marley’s death, the aftermath and the families eventual move to Montana.

Raw, honest, powerful & emotional. One of the most well written memoirs I’ve read recently.

I’m grateful to St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild by Brad Orsted is the heart-wrenching story of a man who loses his young daughter and his path to healing as a wildlife photographer and filmmaker in Yellowstone National Park. One of the strengths of this memoir is the pacing, as Orsted deftly pulls you into the experience of losing a child and pushes you back into the present, to the “now what” portion of time, often in the midst of the beauty and peril of the national park. You also get to see Orsted’s sobriety journey alongside the plight of wild animals in a place that gets more than half a million visitors a year. His descriptions of nature and animals are original and luminous, which made me really wish some of his photography could accompany this meaningful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this immersive, yet incredibly sad story and recommend it to nature lovers, parents, and anyone who understands the interplay of love and grief. Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways, St. Martins Press and the author for an advanced read copy of this memorable memoir.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you to the publisher for granting me access to this powerful drc. This is a multilayered memoir of loss, addiction and grief that is excellently told and truly heartfelt. The author come across as completely honest in all he is feeling as he navigates the loss of his young daughter Marley. I gravitate towards anything that is nature and specifically Yellowstone related, as it is probably one of my favorite places I have ever been. The encounters with wildlife were excellent to read.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! So powerful, emotional and well-written. I couldn’t put it down. I’m grateful for the advanced-copy.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An award-winning photographer and documentary filmmaker recounts his long search for refuge and redemption in America's greatest wilderness, following the mysterious death of his fifteen-month-old daughter, whom he'd left in the care of his mother overnight.

MY THOUGHTS
Brad Orsted has written a compelling account of his grief, addiction, recovery, and restored hope set amid the grandeur of Yellowstone. I dare anyone who opens this gripping memoir to put it down until the last page. Highly recommended for fans of the West and readers who love great true tales that break, then remake the heart.

[Paula B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a journey! This book takes you from heartbreak, through the painful self-abuse of addiction, to the beautiful healing of the wilderness. I can't imagine losing a child, especially when you never really get an explanation of how it happened. Nor can I relate to such a strong need for alcohol. But I wholly understand the power of nature. I would like to read more stories from Brad, about his wilderness adventures and how he's now helping others.

[Bandana Bookmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent memoir. Brad shares his experience with losing his beautiful girl Marley and going from depressed, addicted to alcohol, and suicidal to finding healing in the Yellowstone wilderness. His story of loss will make you feel physically ill and yet he will teach you so much about processing loss (the wrong and right ways to do it) and the lessons he learned from the animals (mainly mountain lions and grizzlies) that he encountered. I will definitely be purchasing this book when it is released!

Video review coming to YouTube @BandanaBookmom soon!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

[Paige Redwine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I credit the author for sharing his very painful story. While in the care of his mother, his toddler daughter died. The question of what happened was never answered. He sought to cover the rage and grief with alcohol and prescription drugs. Through the time and experiences he had in the wild of Yellowstone, he began to want to live and even faced the trauma.

But like in AA, they say recovery is the opposite of surgery. In recovery, first we remove the anesthesia, and then we start cutting. Now, with the luxury of anesthesia remove, I was feeling everything, some of it for the first time . . .

[Mary Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a memoir written by Brad Orsted about his time after his daughter died. He was lost and consumed with grieve. When things are not going well his wife decides to take a job in Yellowstone and move the family there. A chance for a new start to maybe heal their grief. Brad gets a job as a photographer. Yellowstone, a place that Brad finally begins to heal from the loss of his daughter.
This book was very inspiring. I believe nature can heal most wounds. Brad learns to find his purpose in Yellowstone observed and photographing wildlife. This book is very raw. Brad poured his whole heart into writing this book. I highly recommend it to anyone but especially those experiencing grief. We can learn so much from nature.
I would like to thank the Author for letting us into his life. He didn't hold back and that could not have been easy.
I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's publishing for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

[Amy Sunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to @StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the digital arc of #ThroughTheWilderness. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I really struggled with this book and yet I liked it. I was expecting it to be more outdoors/wilderness focused, but that is really the secondary story here. This is a deeply personal, heartbreaking account of one man's struggle with depression and addiction following the tragic, unexpected death of his young daughter. Orsted writes with such honesty about his pain and his desire to end his own suffering, you can't help but root for him to succeed. I would have like a bit more detail on his wilderness experiences and the career he has built since, but still a good read.

[Mike Mikulski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brad Orsted’s tragic loss of his daughter at the age of one was extremely painful. The author’s grief and feeling of responsibility for this loss plunged him into deep grief, addiction and tremendous sorrow.

Through the Wilderness explores Orsted’s almost 10 year recovery process fostered by the wildlife, wilderness and natural beauty that surrounds him in Yellowstone National Park. I believe that nature and wilderness can heal and rejuvenate the spirit. Orsted’s book is truthful in that this healing process can be a long and not always a steady path.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brad Orsted had the dream - a beautiful wife, three daughters, and a beautiful home. He had grown up in an abusive and dysfunctional home, but his mother seemed to mellow as she got older and was especially excited to be a grandmother. When Brad's youngest daughter is around a year and a half old he lets his mom take her for a weekend. But something happens and Marley ends up dead and his mother refuses to tell the truth about what happened. This sends Orsted's life into a spiral of grief, guilt, and rage. He responds to that by drinking until he passes out most nights. Two years after Marley's death Orsted's wife lands a job in Yellowstone National Park and they move out there. Nature was always Orsted's refuge as a child, so he ends up turning back to nature to try to escape his grief over Marley's death. Eventually, the nature in Yellowstone helps Orsted decide to get sober and really deal with his grief and anger.

I wanted to like this book and there were likable parts, but overall it could have been better. 1) the story of what actually happened with Marley's death and the immediate aftermath was interspersed into several chapters. I think it would have been better to have that at the beginning of the book and then move into Orsted's healing/nature journey. It could have been divided into Before Yellowstone and After Yellowstone or something. 2) I feel like he kind of glosses over his sobriety and basically said he just white-knuckled a lot of it, which doesn't seem like great advice. 3) many marriages don't survive the death of a child, but I was surprised his managed to make it 10 years after Marley's death and then end once he had gotten his shit together. 4) after reading about his childhood I'm genuinely SHOCKED he left Marley alone overnight with his mother. Not blaming him for Marley's death, but that seemed like an obvious not good idea. 5) his obsession with the bear cubs seemed like obvious transference and you never know why they ended up euthanized. 6) I liked the photos added but it seemed odd to include both a picture of his biological dad and adopted dad when he never talks about meeting/talking to his biological dad and still considers his adopted father his dad. Overall, I didn't love it and probably wouldn't recommend this one.

[C.N Dinara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning memoir. Brad Orsted tells the story of his life, the death of his baby girl and his descent into hell. Then he brings you along as he comes up for air, finding healing and love in the wild. This memoir will stay with you a long time--probably forever. The writing is superb. The nature passages, beautiful. The tough stuff, riveting. And Brad's heart is wide open on every page.

[Michael Wiggins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead, probably.
I hate doing reviews on my phone, but if I don't do it now I may never get around to reviewing this mess of a memoir. I am deeply sorry for this man's loss of his daughter, Marley. The way in which it occurred, in some way connected with his mother, adds greatly to the anguish of the situation. Overall, though, I'm not sure his redemption story offers much to any reader seeking a way forward through pain and loss. He immerses himself in work, antidepressants and booze-- lots and lots of booze. He deadens his feelings and tries to kill his harrowing dreams almost every night. He has a wife and two stepdaughters who need him, but he just checks out on humans and transfers his protective instincts toward bears. I certainly appreciate the deep healing power of nature and doing something that gives one's life purpose, but I believe family takes precedence over career. He uses words like 'gods,' 'Creator (they/them pronoun, it seems)' and some native American terminology to whatever he gives credit for helping him turn his life around.

The main problem with this book is it is dangerous to a recovering alcoholic. For example, when he and his wife move to a new home, he writes about an idyllic future, in which he will be using a small cabin on the property as his writer's/ editor's retreat. "There would be evenings spent by the toasty woodstove, reading Keats and sipping Irish whiskey while the kids played outside..." This is easily recognizable as the alcoholic's desire to drink 'normally.' Maybe that's not the truth for Brad Orsted, but that seems so classic a trait. I almost think he put it that way on purpose to drive the point of his addiction home.

There is more that bothers me about this journey, but it's his journey. I got it. I will only add that I wish he had told Marley's story in one chapter, especially as there is no real resolution.

On the plus side, I am happy that Orsted found his life's work and that it involves fighting for grizzlies and wild things.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Brad Orsted first book. Wow!

The book starts with Brad telling his own personal story of losing his daughter and the crippling effects that had on him. His wife and daughters stick with him through all the heartbreak they each feel.

Brad doesn’t know how to process the pain he feels so he does they only thing that he can think of drinking alcohol and taking pills. He describes himself as walking wounded or more likely staggering wounded.

Have you ever experienced pain from losing someone you loved? This book could be a great help to you as Brad shares his story.

Please read Brad’s story as you read of the hope that Brad discovered.

Thanks to St. Matin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way this made me sob so many times. Beautifully written and articulates grief and healing in a way that we don't usually think is possible.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Brad Orsted's story. It was difficult to read, but one that I had to read. He put everything in this book, and you will feel it all. I had to read the book because I needed to understand how you survive such grief, pain, and come to where he is today.
I received an ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.

[Jerry Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press. Brad Orsted has written a very powerful and heart-wrenching book. The horror of losing a child and the mystery that surrounds her death is enough to paralyze any father. Orsted does what many others have done and turns to alcohol and drugs to numb his pain. However, he eventually comes to find peace and solace by immersing himself in nature. I absolutely love that he had a sit spot under a Douglas Fir tree and that becomes his daily ritual. His love of the outdoors reminds me much of myself. I feel so much at peace when I am immersed in nature. I get lost in the sights, sounds, and smells and feel fully rejuvenated after a day in the woods. The parallel stories of tracking and photographing the grizzlies and mountain lions was the icing on the cake for me. Orsted does a wonderful job of weaving everything together and at the same time exposing his raw emotions. I hope that the writing of this book was as cathartic for him as his trips into the Yellowstone.

[Diane Terrana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this book in manuscript form. Brad Orsted has the heart of a grizzly and his memoir is a life-changing read.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC of this empowering memoir from Netgalley, author Brad Orsted, and St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Through the Wilderness of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Brad Orsted is an author I will follow. His work in film and print is from the heart and soul. I am pleased to recommend his work to friends and family.

And this book brought me to tears more than once. I too lost a daughter in the early 1970s, (Ellie died of SIDS) and could find no path forward through grief and the sense that I had failed to protect her until I spent time in the Gila Wilderness in SW NM. I hope that this route to peace and understanding will be available to many who need the closure that wilderness can bring to the heartbreak of loss and despair.

pub date June 27, 2023
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on June 17, 2023. Reviewed on June 28, 2023 at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Brooklyn NY, the closest wild life I saw was when my dad took me to work with him at the Prospect Park Zoo. All the bears and killer cats lived in pens and cages, far from me. So going to Colorado and Wyoming the first time, I was woefully unprepared for just how raw and wild the American West still is. It's hard to imagine in the 21st century that there are places that man has yet to tame. Trying to live there, a person spends a great deal of his/her life just learning to cope with the elements, the terrain, the weather, and the vastness. If a soul wanted to lose himself there, it would not be hard.

Brad Orsted captures this desperate desire in his memoir Through the Wilderness. Drowning in grief from the unexplained death of his baby daughter while in his mother's negligent care, Orsted takes a job in Yellowstone to try to move on from this tragedy. Instead, the unforgiving terrain and weather almost cost Orsted his life. He wanders into a field of sage not realizing the danger lurking in the brush. Deeper and deeper he goes only to find himself struggling with each step. It doesn't help that his drunken haze hampers his ability to navigate his way back to safety. Unaware, Orsted comes face to face with a grizzly, the king of the West. The harrowing encounter scares him into an eventual path to sobriety and healing with the help of a Crow elder. Orsted honestly and sometimes maudlinly, recounts his personal journey to healing and health.

Orsted harnesses the inner strength to face his grief, his demons, and the struggle to sustain in Wyoming's brutal endless winters. His narrative does a great job of capturing the experience of a man and the wilderness that challenges and eventually helps him find his way. The ruggedness of the West and the reality of the Natives who live there are richly detailed. It's hard to imagine a place where it starts to snow in September and can still be snowing in June. Life deep in the Rockies takes a certain inner strength to carve your place there and survive. Orsted's narrative harkens to the inner survivor in all of us. Not only does he paint Yellowstone in wonderous raw colors, it makes one want to visit. He also shows how tenuous and fragile life is. His story shows the power of nature to help heal the deepest of wounds, physical and emotional.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An evocative and introspective memoir that delves into the depths of grief and the journey towards healing. Orstad bares his soul as he recounts his turbulent relationship with his mother, which was slowly on the path to reconciliation, until an inexplicable tragedy struck—his beloved daughter, Marley, passed away under mysterious circumstances while in her grandmother's care. This devastating loss sent Orstad spiraling into a ten-year abyss of addiction, grappling with alcohol and drugs. Yet, amidst the darkness, his unwavering wife and daughters stood by his side, a testament to the power of love and resilience.

However, a glimmer of hope emerges when Orstad finds himself employed at Yellowstone National Park, a pivotal turning point in his recovery. It is here that he encounters a bear and experiences a profound revelation, illuminated by the majestic forces of nature and the wisdom imparted by Native American teachings. This memoir paints a vivid portrait of Orstad's transformative journey, intricately weaving together the threads of his restoration, aided by the remarkable healing powers of the natural world and the guidance of indigenous communities.

While the narrative is skillfully crafted and brimming with profound insights, some aspects could have been further explored. Descriptions of Orstad's struggles with alcohol tend to become repetitive, occasionally detracting from the overall impact of the storytelling. Additionally, the character of Stacey, his wife, could have been more fully developed to provide a deeper understanding of her perspective and her unwavering support throughout Orstad's darkest days.

Nonetheless, the memoir remains a well-written and thought-provoking account of one man's arduous path to recovery. Orstad's introspection offers readers an intimate glimpse into the complexities of grief and the redemptive power of nature. Special thanks to Netgalley for providing the Advance Reader Copy (ARC). Overall, this book is a compelling and worthwhile read that will resonate with those seeking solace and inspiration amidst life's most challenging trials.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more bookish posts please visit https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild by Brad Orsted is a non-fiction book, documenting the struggles the author had after the death of his infant daughter. Mr. Orsted is an award-winning wildlife photographer.

I have to admire the author for pouring his heart out for all to read. Frankly, I don’t think I have it within me. The journey of pain, addiction, as well as the healing power of the magnificent Yellowstone National Park is heart wrenching.

Through the Wilderness by Brad Orsted takes place around a decade, or so. The story is powerful and honest, from his abusive childhood, to his marriage, death, and divorce, we see get a glimpse into what makes him. Stacey, Mr. Orsted’s wife got a job in Yellowstone, and the family were actually living inside the park. This was a lifeline to all of them, from the people they met, to the animals, and the vistas.

I have every reason to believe everything Mr. Orsted wrote. I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like to live with a grieving man drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Drinking is a big part of this book, much more than his wife and daughters. The sadness just leaps off the pages and I’m glad he managed, with lots of help, to survive his personal hell, and become a contributing member of society.

The descriptions of wildlife, and of course the bears, are amazing. The author finds serenity tracking two orphan bears, drawing parallels to his departed daughter. Mr. Orsted’s journey of healing and redemption is just as fascinating as his wildlife work and descriptions.

[Sharon Dene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad. Was a very interesting character in this book when you talked about his life.. When he was younger he seemed to drift through life. You had A dog for his constant companionship. The travel room do not jobs. Things were tough for him but he managed to get by. People really didn't understand this man. You had a troubled childhood his mother was not very nice to him. When he was eighteen he struck out on his own. He ended up in michigan and fell in love. Stacy had to Two children from previous marriage. They were enjoying life and having a really good time. They had a child. This is when the story got really interesting. His mother wanted to babysit the child and He was afraid of his mother. So he let her babysit the child and the child ended up dead. It wasn't interesting how he went through this grieving processed by drinking, and it was really hard for stacy and the children to realize he wasn't really functioning. He's Was addicted to pills. Stacy got a job in Yellow Store National park. Things were going well he was still drinking. You had some setbox there is Will. We can't friendly with the native americans. It took a long time to get his sobriety. But you can see how this man dealt with grief and how we overcame it. Some people do with grief and different ways.. I like this book especially the title. You can say ho T Ties and 2 together in the end.

[Sue Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story that Brad Orsted tells is heartbreaking. It's impossible to imagine what it must be like to deal with the death of your young daughter. Then do continually feel the guilt because her death was at the hands of his mother and no official explanation was given. It has to leave a person out of balance.

That is largely what this book is about. As the author struggles with his daughter's death, he turns to alcohol to numb the pain. His wife is also dealing with this pain and numbness. When she is offered a new job in Yellowstone, they think it's a great way to start over and heal.

He is a professional phototographer and soon gets a job following bears and taking pictures of their lives. Eventually he is charged with focusing on two cubs that watched their mother die. As these young cubs grow and he sees them each year, he somehow gains perspective, yet he never forgets his daughter.

This is a story of his journey to attempt to heal and the story is good. Unfortunately, there are some redundancies as his drinking becomes part of the story. Plus, he mostly omits parts of his life including his wife and two step children. Getting the full picture and seeing that although he grieved alone, he also felt the pain of others would have been better. It would have been a more complete and complex story.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding story. I’d recommend to anyone.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

The Story
What a beautiful storytelling and journey.

Grieving father. The timeline like flashbacks. Complex parent relationships. Trajectory of personal profession. Dependency. Resiliency. Guilt and shame. Drawing from nature. Capturing the art of it and profession. Meaningful relationships.

Some comedic, lighthearted bits in there too.

Different struggles and grievances yet finding solace, there’s relatability and it’s a very beautiful, detailed account.

The Writing
Great storytelling in the sense of capturing the deeper emotion of circumstance, descriptions that from geological formation to questions about life, and the wanting and yearning after much loss.

I will look forward to more.

Blog post

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brad Orsted shares the story of life before and after the day his toddler was left in his mother's care and died there. He and his wife were left trying desperately to get answers of what exactly happened, and she would not tell them..

The account is raw and filled with descriptive sentences that took me through the events so clearly I could feel them too. They left me in tears.

I'm not surprised that Brad, let alone anyone in his position would look for ways to blunt the pain--for Brad that meant prescription drugs--which he was forced to give up, and alcohol that became his main crutch.

I can't even begin to imagine how devastating this was. But there is also hope as Brad gets wrapped up in photographing the animals at Yellowstone National Park, and through a series of events, he starts to heal.

It's quite a journey, and one that others might want to follow along with through this book.

[Lissa00 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Orsted lost his toddler daughter after her overnight stay with his mother went tragically and suspiciously wrong. He spends the next decade in a downward spiral of severe depression, alcoholism and guilt. With his remaining family, he moves to a home within the ecosystem of Yellowstone National Park and slowly finds a way to heal while tracking and filming grizzly bears and mountain lions. Beautifully and honestly written, this book is very hard to read at times and you should be forewarned if you have sensitivity around these subjects, but I found his message that immersion in nature is an important aspect of healing very inspiring.

I received a digital Advanced Review Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this memoir. I am always interested in reading about how other people challenge themselves in the great outdoors, as I'm too chicken to do it myself. I was piqued by this book about a man's challenges, not just with nature but with his own demons, with grief and addiction.

His journey includes wonderful narrative of his time spent in Yellowstone and how it was ultimately nature that got him through his recovery. His love of the wild animals that he photographed was a definite source of rebirth for him.

I was taken by both his compelling personal journey as well as the insights about the wildlife in Yellowstone Park. I highly recommend this book, it is both sad and joyful.