On January 30, our founder headed to the Long Center in Austin, Texas for a talk with best-selling author Bill Bryson. It was Bryson’s first time in our city, and we were happy to hear that it has been on his “bucket list” for some time. He seemed genuinely thrilled to be in town, and to spend the evening with the sold-out crowd in Dell Hall.

Guests were treated to ninety minutes of witty storytelling from the humble author, peppered with readings from some of his most beloved works, including The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson’s African Diary, In a Sunburned Country, and of course, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, Bryson recounted his “bear story” from A Walk in the Woods, and had members of the audience in stitches throughout his retelling.

Bryson is a master of minutiae, and is highly adept at translating the absurdities of everyday life into sardonic, hilarious text. In fact, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, “Bryson could write an essay about dryer lint or fever reducers and still make us laugh out loud.” He cracked jokes and made puns throughout the event, and when finished, Bryson allowed individuals to ask questions.

Some of the commenters inquired about specific destinations and moments in time referenced in his books, some of which Bryson was unable to vividly remember–he used his faulty memory to his advantage, though, and in his true, self-deprecating fashion, poked at his shortcomings and masterfully continued the conversation in a happy, comfortable manner.

One of the most interesting questions of the night came from a gentleman interested in Bryson’s upcoming projects, to which Bryson revealed that he would like to write a comprehensive book about the human body–similar to his masterpiece, A Short History of Nearly Everything, which has been praised for the approachable, accessible way it communicates the annals of scientific theory and discovery. If this is the case, expect us to pre-order it on Amazon immediately.

The last question of the evening came from a young boy, perhaps eight to ten years old. We were impressed by his perseverance and courage, as he waited for the opportunity to talk for over twenty minutes, and then stood up confidently to ask Bryson if he preferred living in the United States or Great Britain. Bryson paused and considered this question with great thought, and endearingly replied that he has loved living in both locations, and credited his parents for the excellent opportunities in his life.

It was sweet to watch Bryson take a step back and share his wisdom with the boy, and it was evident during this moment that Bryson’s books (despite all their colorful language) speak to so many generations and people from all walks of life. His talent is truly immeasurable, and so we urge others, if you haven’t already, to read at least one of his novels, and, if you’re lucky, to view the world with his humor and joy.

What is your favorite book by Bill Bryson? Let us know by sending an email to adventurebookclub [at] gmail [dot] com, or leave a comment below.

We resolve:

To read voraciously.

To curl up in bed with a good book,

And be inspired by the characters and adventurers who have the courage to take risks.

To explore the world with an open heart and wide-eyed wonder.

To summit mountains and challenges with gusto,

And say “yes” to being out of our comfort zone.

To chart the course for great adventures,

Whether it’s in our own backyard, or halfway across the globe.

To blaze a trail.

To get our hands dirty.

To be mindful of small, happy moments

While learning from the bad ones.

To ride, climb, hike, swim, paddle, run, ski, and move through life with gratitude.

And to repeat all these resolutions–year after year.

Cheers to great adventures in 2015, and beyond.

On December 10, seven of our members met to discuss Adventure Book Club’s first selected book, Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents by Jim Malusa. In addition to reading an awesome novel, we had the great fortune of stumbling upon Malusa’s photographs from his journey on his Flickr page at: www.flickr.com/photos/intothickair. If you have some free time, we encourage you to take a look. The photo above is from this set.

The following review of the book is an attempt to encapsulate our experience with this novel, without spoiling too much of it for those who’ve not yet had a chance to read it. So, without further ado…

Malusa wrote Into Thick Air in 2008. For those who have read a number of adventure-based fiction and non fiction books, the title will come across as an obvious foil to Jon Krakauer’s seminal mountaineering novel, Into Thin Air. However, the tones of these novels are incredibly different, as Malusa sarcastically recounts his two-wheeled journey across six “anti-summits,” the lowest points of the planet: Lake Eyre (Australia); The Dead Sea (Asia); The Caspian Sea (Europe); Salina Grande (South America); Lake Assal (Africa); and, Death Valley (North America). His adventures occur over a span of several years. In contrast, Krakauer’s novel recalls one of the most tragic incidents on Mt. Everest, in which eight climbers died over the course of two stormy days in May of 1996. Malusa’s lighthearted account of his travels is less controversial than Krakauer’s work.

Malusa opted not to venture to Earth’s seventh continent, Antarctica, based on its extreme, inhospitable conditions. Additionally, the lowest elevation on this landmass is covered by a thick sheet of ice–not exactly the greatest for bike touring. It’s clear that Malusa, who hails from Tucson, Arizona, is most comfortable in the desert, and when planning his trips, he gravitated toward this landscape. He seemed undeterred by logistical complications such as lack of water, necessary gear, and an unforgiving sun.

With the editors at Discovery Channel Online on board and a gigantic, Zach-Morris-satellite-telephone, Malusa left his home terrain of Arizona with his new bride’s blessing, and embarked for the sunburned, alien landscape of Australia. Onward he rode through Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, and North America, with various life milestones and the birth of his children occurring along the way. His writing was witty and vivid, and one of our book club members pointed out similarities to Bill Bryson (author of A Walk in the Woods and A Short History of Nearly Everything, among many others). Like Malusa, Bryson relies on his good humor to make friends and enjoy absurd moments in everyday life. Malusa’s episodic chapters were also very effective and welcoming to readers; our members noted that the vignettes were enjoyable and easy to complete in one to two sittings.

In addition to diction and other stylistic choices, our members shared their favorite supporting characters, of which there were many. Our founder, who has completed a cross-country bicycle ride, also referenced Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, and noted that Malusa seemed quite focused and happy while sitting on the saddle for eight to ten hours a day. She related easily to the author, and was overjoyed to hear that some of our members were motivated to plan similar (albeit smaller) trips after completing the book. Even more, the book actually inspired one of our members to purchase a Novara touring bike. Overall, the group consensus was that Malusa’s Into Thick Air was an excellent read and a great introduction into the adventure, travel, and outdoor book genre.

Once our discussion was complete, we voted on our next book to read together. We considered many works from our Suggested Readings List. When the results were tallied, we selected On the Trail of Genghis Kahn: An Epic Journey through the Land of the Nomads by Tim Cope. This 2013 novel was the Grand Prize Winner at the Banff Mountain Festival Book Competition. We plan to finish this selection over the winter holidays and meet in the new year. Be on the lookout on our Meetup page for details on when and where we’ll be meeting.

Have you read Into Thick Air? What did you think? Let us know by sending an email to adventurebookclub [at] gmail [dot] com, or leave a comment below.

In mid-November, our founder planned a road trip out to west Texas, an area of the country blessed with perfect fall temperatures and picturesque desert sunsets. The vacation was put together to inform our reading of Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents by Jim Malusa. Our founder felt that the desolate west Texas terrain would complement Adventure Book Club’s first official book. So, we confirmed our stay at a 1912 bungalow through Airbnb, packed up the car with blankets and dogs, and made the seven hour drive out to Marfa, Texas. Population: 1,819. We arrived as the sun started to fall below the horizon and shades of lavender peeked up over the painted hills. After a great meal at the Hotel Paisano, we built a campfire in our backyard and planned our vacation out, day by day, with a hot toddy in hand.

The next morning, our group awoke to freezing temperatures and a little fog, which blanketed the unfamiliar landscape. By the time we made breakfast and headed over to the Chinati Foundation, the clouds were beginning to burn away. Located on 340 acres of land on a former military site, the Chinati Foundation was founded by artist Donald Judd in 1979 with assistance from the New York City-based Dia Art Foundation. Today, the museum and grounds boast work by Judd, as well as several esteemed modern and contemporary artists. We opted for a guided tour with a quick-witted docent named Ralph. He took our tiny group around the campus, and we were treated to incredible works by Donald Judd and Dan Flavin. We then caravaned back into town, where we saw pieces by John Chamberlain, as well as a temporary, camera obscura-like exhibition by Zoe Leonard, winner of the Bucksbaum Award at the 2014 Whitney Biennial. While our minds were filled and satiated with new knowledge, our stomachs growled. We eagerly headed over to Comida Futura for a late lunch, and also shopped around town.

The best of the evening was yet to come, as we piled in the car and drove to Fort Davis toward The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory for a Friday “Star Party.” We sat in the middle of nowhere and stared up at the sky until our necks started to ache. Was it worth it? You bet. We were treated to views of multiple constellations, the distant Andromeda Galaxy, and countless meteors. Astronomers were on-hand to point out amazing, awe-inspiring clusters of stars in the dark skies.

The following day, we went back to Chinati to visit Judd’s incredible Untitled Works in Concrete, 1980-84, making sure to walk along the one kilometer stretch to the top of the hill and turn back around to peer down over the artistic landscape. For lunch, we visited Squeeze Marfa, where one member of our party was treated to a Belgian waffle of epic proportions. Coffee and good times were had as we strolled over the the Marfa National Bank and the Food Shark trailer along Highland Avenue. That afternoon, we played a game of Bananagrams and drank craft beers from Big Bend Brewing Company, including the Number 22 Porter and the Terlingua Gold.

We headed over to El Cosmico that night to see a performance by Andy Stack of Wye Oak, as well as Musée Mécanique of Portland, Oregon. With less than 30 people in attendance, it felt like our own private concert, and the stars smiled down on us as we split a bottle of wine and enjoyed the company of our fellow travelers. On our way back into town, we swung by the Museum of Electronic Wonders & Latenight Grilled Cheese Parlour. Yes, you read that right. It was awesome. #noregrets

On our last full day, our group ventured over to Marfa Book Company, which is currently set up in a temporary location off the main drag. It was practically a pilgrimage for our founder, who scored a copy of John Muir’s A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, and chatted with Joshua Edwards, author of Photographs Taken at One-Hour Intervals During a Walk from Galveston Island to the West Texas Town of Marfa and Architecture for Travelers: Poems and Travelogue. He was kind enough to sign both books for us and talk with us before we drove to tiny Valentine, Texas to see the Prada Marfa art installation. In 2005, the town of 129 people became home to a permanent “pop architectural land art project” by artists Elmgreen and Dragset. The structure mimics a high-end Prada boutique, standing literally in the middle of nowhere; tourists (ourselves included) drive through the desert at 75 miles per hour to stop, take a picture of the artwork, and promptly leave. We gladly participated in this ritual, and then drove in the opposite direction toward Marathon, Texas (population: 430), where we visited the historic Gage Hotel and poked our heads into several small galleries.

From one building to the next, the outside temperature started drop until a full-blown cold front whipped through, sending scores of aimless tumbleweeds hurling across the pavement. We hightailed it back to the car and drove to the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. The Marfa Lights, which are also dubbed “Mystery Lights,” are an unexplained phenomena of red, blue, and white lights dancing across the horizon. What makes this scene strange is that these lights appear in a completely uninhabited area and will mingle and merge in such a way that sane individuals have a hard time believing their own eyes. We parked the car for thirty minutes and stared out into the abyss, waiting for the Mystery Lights to start traversing across our field of vision. It never happened, but hey, we’re not total skeptics (maybe). We’ll hope to see them another time soon, right?

Before calling it a night, we stopped by Padre’s for live music and beers. When the next morning rolled around, it was a balmy 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The car was packed up quickly and we started to head off to Fort Stockton and I-10–but not before swinging by Frama Coffee in the Tumbleweed Laundromat and having one last chance to interact with the locals in Marfa. By the time we arrived back in Austin, rush hour greeted us, and we longed for the friendlier, more laid-back attitude of west Texas. Each member of our party vowed to return. At only a six-to-eight-hour drive, the journey makes for a perfect road trip, especially when paired with good food, good drinks, and great people–all of which were aplenty in Marfa, and beyond.

Have you ever been to west Texas? Let us know if we missed anything by leaving us a comment!

As this election night comes to a close, it only seems appropriate to discuss the democratic process by which we selected our first book. Read on for a quick recap of our first two Meetups…

Last week, we had the opportunity to meet at Black Star Co-op on October 26 to host our very first meet-and-greet over pints. The event was a chance to informally socialize and get to know one another before we officially selected our book. In addition to good cheer and excitement, we had fun coasters in tow to share with our friends. In all, ten adventurers came out to see what we were all about.

Just a few days later on October 28, we hosted our next Meetup at the REI-Downtown Austin location to select our first book to read together. Before we began the selection process, our founder Lisa DeLosso shared some images and musings from her outdoor adventures and travel experiences. When her presentation was finished, the group perused Adventure Book Club’s suggested readings list for inspiration.

The group aimed to be as equitable as possible during the book selection process. Each member highlighted five to six different novels that he or she wanted to read, and then presented this information to the group. The group subsequently considered each selection and took the length of each novel into account. The book that received the most votes was selected. The winner? Jim Malusa’s Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents.

At the end of the evening, it seemed that everyone had a voice in the process and was pleased with the overall selection. Before we parted ways, we discussed a time that would work best to meet again–both informally over drinks and coffee, and also more formally to talk about our book.

Because our founder has completed a cross-country bicycle ride, we really can’t wait for our book to arrive and start reading.  We think this is definitely going to be one heck of a journey. To join us as we start reading, and to find out when and where we’ll be discussing our selection, be sure to join our Meetup. Don’t wait; epic adventures are out there, ready to be shared.

We selected our first book tonight, and we’re pleased to announce our pick…

Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents by Jim Malusa.

Our members should feel free to purchase this book on Amazon. Kindle works great, too, and buying local at Austin’s BookPeople or Half-Price Books is always encouraged. Members are welcome to share as well.

We’ll schedule another Meetup in November to simply catch up. Then, we’ll plan to complete the book and have a discussion about it in early December. Stay tuned for more details about those dates and deadlines–be sure to join our Meetup to stay on track.

On Thursday, October 23, our founder had the opportunity to attend the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)’s Austin Area Reunion, featuring a discussion with NOLS instructor Dave Anderson.

The main focus of Anderson’s presentation was his travels to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia–once in 2004, and most recently in 2014. Anderson described the Gobi as literally one of the most remote places on the planet. Surrounded by the Altai Mountains, the Taklamakan Desert, the Tibetan Plateau, and the North China Plain, it boasts an excessively unforgiving climate, with high temperatures of 122° Fahrenheit and low readings of –40° Fahrenheit. The harsh landscape is perhaps most well-known for its association with Genghis Khan, who in 1211, led his armies across this vast expanse to unify the area’s diverse nomadic tribes and subsequently form the Mongolian Empire.

During his discussion, we learned about Anderson’s obsession with exploring the most desolate and awe-inspiring terrains. In fact, he often plans future trips with assistance from Google Earth. While most people simply sit on a couch and unwind with a movie and a beer, Anderson utilizes the 3D geographic information program to stake out his next great adventure.

Anderson’s goals for his expedition were three-fold: first, he wanted to satiate his appetite for exploring this desert landscape. Second, he wanted to learn about and interact with the people who live in this region. And finally, he wanted to send a big wall on the north side of Eej Khairkhan Uul, known colloquially as “Mother Mountain.”

The first two goals were completed relatively easily. After flying to Mongolia’s capital, Ulan Bator, his caravan headed southwest into the great nothingness of the Gobi. While there, they traveled on horses and wild Bactrian camels. He also met incredible people who graciously fed and hosted him, and challenged him to wrestling contests.

But his ultimate goal was not meant to be. Upon making his way to the Mother Mountain, Anderson and his guides noted that the rock was exceptionally brittle and not suitable for pitching. He opted instead to head back to the capital city’s surrounding terrain for some climbing. Presumably, these were first ascents and as such, he and his partner, NOLS grad Szu-ting Yi, had the honor of naming some new 5.9, 5.10, and 5.11 routes. Their expedition ended on a high note.

After the presentation concluded, NOLS alumni were treated to a drawing of free raffle items. The night finished with final remarks from alumni coordinator, Rich Brahme, who is now in his thirtieth year of employment at NOLS. Brahme instilled a sense of community among all those in attendance, as he noted that NOLS alumni are adept at recognizing, above all else, that while you can’t always change your situation, you can change your attitude.

Anderson’s failed summit of Mother Mountain is the epitome of this concept; overall, his expedition was highly successful not for the routes sent, but most importantly, for the epic adventure he’s now able to share with others.

When we were in the beginning stages of conceiving the idea that would one day become Adventure Book Club, we thought about the words that inspired us the most—the ones that made us think about our mission, the people we wanted to serve, the lessons that we wanted to learn, and the goals that we wanted to attain. After thoughtful consideration, we decided that those words were:

• Adventure
• Exploration
• Learning
• Transformation
• Camaraderie

The first word on this list, “adventure” is somewhat self-explanatory. After all, it’s an unmistakable part of our name. Additionally, it connotes a feeling of freedom about the uncharted possibilities of exploration and personal growth, paired with a bit of trepidation for danger and the unknown. Moreover, there’s a feeling of nostalgia for past travel and outdoor experiences, albeit as a child or an adult. Adventure can be scary, but more than anything, it’s a feeling of undeniable excitement that stays with us throughout our lives.

“Exploration” is a great segue, because to us, it ties into the word adventure. It reminds us that while we may seek new places and terrains, the most challenging space we can ever conquer lies within ourselves. Self-discovery is just as important as venturing out into the great unknown.

For our next principle, “learning,” we know we could have simply targeted “reading” as one of our principles. It’s obvious that we love books and writings. But we do more than read the text and scan it from one word to the next. We learn. We ask questions. We study. We interpret and analyze. We discuss. And we think critically. Learning is the best part of reading, and of living. It’s an active, never-ending process for us, even when we finish the final sentences in our favorite books. As such, learning is a core tenet of Adventure Book Club.

We also think that adventure, exploration, and learning is a holistic process of “transformation.” Our hope is that when we meet together as a group and discuss our journeys, we will relate to our peers. We want to expand upon our past experiences and grow into proactive, thoughtful, tolerant, and understanding human beings. We feel the best way to attain this goal is to read, share, and think together.

And speaking of together: we believe in “camaraderie.” We enjoy the company of others, and know that the best way to learn is to hear about others’ experiences, skill sets, and backgrounds. We want to create an engaging, manageable, and fun social environment that keeps our community of adventurers’ interests at heart…

That’s Adventure Book Club.

Adventure. Exploration. Learning. Transformation. Camaraderie.

These are the words that inspire us. What inspires you?

This post rings simple and true: thank you to everyone who has helped support Adventure Book Club in its fledgling existence!

While it’s only been a little more than a week since we launched, we truly appreciate all of the likes, follows, +1s, and comments from adventurers around the world. Each and every time we engage with a new friend, it’s amazing.

If you haven’t yet had a chance, be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+, where we keep things updated regularly.

We’re looking forward to sharing epic reads about awesome journeys with all of you. Our deepest gratitude to everyone again, and always.