Life Lessons aus dem Amazonas: Was ich bei meinem Dschungel-Abenteuer fürs Leben lernte

by Pip Stewart

Drei Monate lang kämpfte sich Pip Stewart im abgeschiedenen Guyana durch einen der unerforschtesten Dschungel dieser Welt. Mit Humor und Selbstironie erzählt sie von den täglichen Herausforderungen, denen sie und ihr kleines Team sich stellen mussten: vom Kampf mit Schlangen und wilden Stromschnellen, von Skorpionen und hungrigen Jaguaren. Aber auch von Glücksmomenten, der Erfahrung von Vertrauen und Selbstvertrauen. Mit nach Hause brachte sie einen fleischfressenden Parasiten. Und viele Erkenntnisse darüber, was im Leben wirklich wichtig ist. Ein packender Aufruf zu erforschen, was in uns schlummert, um aus der Abenteuerreise des eigenen Lebens das Beste herauszuholen.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Adventure, Nature, Audiobook

350 pages, Paperback

Published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Maggie Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful memoir of a trip along the Amazon. It had adventure, humour and creep-crawlies, and I recommend it for adventure travellers and armchair travellers alike.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure along the Essequibo River from source to sea in Guyana. Wonderfully written and full of great lessons learnt along the way. A fabulous read!

[Joyce Urban]

Excellent book introducing me to Guyana South America and the authors trip thru the jungle and ride on the Essequibo River. Each chapter included her sharing on a philosophy statement relevant the the chapter.

[Judy ZT · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Her journey was interesting but too full of platitudes.

[Anthony Frobisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pip Stewart's account of her 3 month expedition travelling the length of the Essequibo river in Guyana is a beautifully written paean to life, to the people of the Guyanan Amazon rainforest, to the wildlife and environment and to the spirit of teamwork, friendship, and the deep bonds of connection that are forged in extremis.
A book that navigates life and its complexities, expounding on every facet that makes up the human experience, from hope to conflict, fear to happiness. But more than that, Pip Stewart writes with an effortless style, self-deprecating, but with genuine warmth, enjoyment and honesty. The highs and lows are equally presented. A journey that involves hacking through tropical rainforest to discover the source of the Essequibo and over 1,000km paddling a kayak to the mouth of the river has its fair share of highlights and low points. From tropical infections to near fatal encounters with snakes and jaguar, to the joy of togetherness and overcoming obstacles as friend, and stronger for it.
It is a book that is generous in its writing. To the other team mates Laura and Ness, but is effusive and deeply grateful to the guides who accompanied them. As Stewart notes, there is no way they could have achieved the goals of the expedition without their guides. People who became not guides, but teammates and lifelong friends. People who shared and educated everything they understood of the jungle.
It is a book that has compassion at its core, kindness and humour.
If we all read Life Lessons From the Amazon, perhaps we would all be a little more compassionate and selfless too.
Thank you Pip - for enlightening me on a part of the world and a people I had little knowledge of. And for giving me pause for thought at every stage of your epic journey.
A wonderful book, highly recommended.

[Rachel Welton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an incredible undertaking that pushed the group out of their comfort zone, and slapped them around physically mentally and in endurance. I take my hat off to them for completing such a journey.
I did feel that the book might be better if it was not couched as life lessons. I understand why it was written that way - the experience had changed the author and she wanted to express that. The format, however, led to a lot of 'telling' instead of 'showing' which often led to the prose feeling hollow. There were sections where I was left wondering how a trip so gritty, muddy, venomous and smelly could be described in a way that felt fluffy and saccharine.
Overall, not a bad book, but the telling didn't do the adventure justice.

[Hannah Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pip is an inspiration. Whenever I read adventure books I am always a bit nervous that I will finish the book feeling rather inadequate, but there were no such concerns here. Pip tells her story with such vulnerability and openness that as I finished the last chapter I felt only pride and admiration for what she and the others achieved. I came to look forward to and appreciate the lessons at the start of each chapter. The last chapter really resonated with me, knowing what it's like to have health problems and to have to wait for a diagnosis. Her writing made me feel like I was on the journey with them but I was quite glad I wasn't at times!

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I never read adventure books only autobiography’s, but because I follow Pip Stewart on Instagram and knew of her adventure in the Amazon I knew this would be an interesting read. I wasn’t wrong. It’s well written and I found it hard to put down. It does feel like you are there in the Amazon with Pip and her crew while they are trekking or kayaking their way to the River source and then back again. With their laughs, tears and shocking moments you won’t be disappointed. Plus what happened after their adventure is a real eye opener. Highly recommend this book. Well done Pip

[DaisyDoesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy true stories of people in unfamiliar landscapes and completing some sort of challenge - like Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Unlost by Gail Muller. They resonate because they are over coming great personal hurdles like illness and addiction.
What this books was missing was that struggle. In places it read like a twee self-help book and there was just so much middle class privilege on show!
I did enjoy the parts about the wildlife and the flora/fauna and would have liked more in that area.

[Victoria Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really like this. It felt like the author went on a personal adventure challenge then felt guilty about her privilege and tried to make something meaningful out of it... but all the life lessons felt forced/laboured. The definitions of words throughout the book also felt patronising.

I never really felt I was there, couldn't get to know the people in the story and couldn't visualise the challenge as it was told as a series of anecdotes.

The only goid bit was the last chapter on leishmaniasis and global health inequalities.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the sound of this book and it was a fantastic and eye opening read. Pip travels around the world to complete a challenge. Her and her team mates have to endure the rainforest and many other wild and treacherous obstacles. It was a interesting and knowledgeable read. I felt I learnt a great deal from Pip and what she has been through to overcome her challenge is very inspiring. I hope when people read this book that they feel inspired to go out and do something that they really want to do. It was such a fascinating story.

[Paul Renwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring read from start to finish. Pip’s writing style really made me feel like I was part of the adventure. The book was filled with fun anecdotes, but also contained some important messages about the world and how we react to things.

All the members of the team on this voyage on the Amazon came across as extremely likeable. I found myself rooting for them during the difficult times outlined both during and after the adventure.

Most importantly the book gave the sense that anything is possible and if you have a dream then you should pursue it.

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - a really nice adventure memoir to get the wanderlust going, paired with some beautiful and thought-provoking life lessons. The format of this book was nicely digestible, and I found it inspiring. I stumbled upon this book in my local library and liked the cover so picked it up! I'm so glad I did - sometimes books just come to you at the right moment in your life, and I feel that this was the case here. During a long and complicated period of great change and loss for me, this book prompted me to reflect on my own life and decisions. Truly a book that will stick with me.

[Anja Schuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe eine Weile gebraucht, um in dieses Buch hineinzukommen. Vielleicht erging es mir damit ähnlich wie Pip im Dschungel - ich musste mich erst herantasten. Die Life Lessions kommen manchmal etwas Glückskeks artig daher, aber dafür habe ich Verständnis. Wo sonst sollte man dem Pathos begegnen, wenn nicht an einem wunderschönen unberührten Fleckchen Erde wie dem Guyana Regenwald. Ein berührendes Buch über die Schönheit der Natur und des Einfachen, über die Abgründe der menschlichen Zivilisation und ganz viel: über uns selbst.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting, unusual mix of an adventure story and a self help book - often the 2 didn’t seem like they were related - the ‘self help’ sections didn’t really fit with the parts of the book where they were placed but I still enjoyed it - it made a change from a straight forward tale of an expedition
It reminded me of the endurance of the human spirit and of how amazing and precious nature can be

[Amy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pip tells the story of her epic adventure, honesty and humility and it was a joy to read along as she and her team took on challenges both physical and spiritual. Despite enormous hurdles, team conflicts, and encounters with nature which made me physically squirm, she emerged positive and optimistic and I valued this outlook enormously in such dark and turbulent times.

[Andreia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't a huge fan of the writing style but Pip's adventures (and misadventures) were really interesting to read about. She's also very likeable and a great public speaker. I learned a LOT with this book and getting to know more about the awful disease she caught in the Amazon was enlightening to say the least. Thank God London's Hospital for Tropical Diseases exists.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best examples of modern adventure/travel writing that I have come across for years. An unfiltered, honest, powerful personal account of a phenominal adventure that has the power to inspire young women in adventure sports, and in pushing personal and physical boundaries. A must read!

[Irene Fung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I extremey love the reflection sections.

[Stephen Saint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A book everyone can reflect on.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brilliant adventure story that is so absorbing and rich in its writing that you feel that you are part of the team, told with humility humor gratitude, and a beautiful way of viewing the journey and what she learned from it making it a real page-turner and an absolute joy to read a truly brilliant book to read and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

[The Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read, tons of great lessons and observations.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A combination of lessons learned, and adventure travel. An interesting read about an interesting place.

[Cody Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kind of back and forth between 2 and 3, but ultimately it was an enjoyable read.

[Manon Verijdt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with some incredible insights. Must read this one again in the future to revisit the story and my own perspective on adventure.

[JS]

with dad

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not every adventure story can equally paint a picture of the actual physical environment and the personal development of the characters, but Pip's book manages to do exactly that. It is an account of an amazing jungle journey, told with humour, vulnerability and insight. A perfect example of how one journey can change a life.

[Clara Boyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Pip's re-telling of her adventures especially after following the expedition on Instagram. I loved how easy her writing was to read, but it also felt like you were in her kayak with her. You feel the love in the relationships on the page and you root for them the whole way.

[Vernon Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to Pip for taking us readers along on this adventure. Many times while reading it felt like I was on the Esequibo with the team, so good was the writing and descriptions. I thoroughly enjoyed the laughs and I felt the sadness of lows as well. The vivid descriptions of the physical wounds are still imprinted in my mind, not a good thing at all but thanks all the same! As a hiker, I totally related to the dangerous snake encounter, especially since Guyana is a next door neighbour to the country I live in and we also have the same venomous snakes like the Fer-de-lance and Bushmaster. These snakes tend to keep hikers alert on the trail as they're masters of camouflage and most hikers like me really do not want to have an encounter with them. The the trip would surely have had to be cut short if Pip had gotten bitten by the snake and this story might have been totally different. Kudos to the brave women and the entire team who made this expedition possible, such a tremendous achievement with memories to last a lifetime.

[Holly Kipling · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I listened to the book on audible*
I very much enjoyed every moment listening to this book. Pip's narrating was engaging and fun, the stories from the expedition interesting and eye opening and the lessons she highlights were each incredibly thought provoking. Definitely worth the read or listen.