****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Erik Weihenmayer has recently released his latest adventure story titled "No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon." I highly recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about themselves, pushing their own boundaries farther in their quest to make an impact, and living a life without barriers. Am I making a difference in the world? Does my work matter? These are just some of the questions the reader is forced to ask themselves as they make their way through Erik's real life journey to explore and extend his own "edge of the envelope."If you are not aware of Erik's background, he is a world class adventurer, having successfully climbed all of the famed Seven Summits around the world; all done completely blind, but never in the dark. Every adventure Erik undertakes is always painstakingly prepared for, meticulously planned and practiced, accomplished with an acutely focused sense of responsibility and dedication, and always done with an intended purpose for a greater cause.Erik is also a tireless advocate for those facing challenges in their lives, and he selflessly provides a powerful voice to this community through his non-profit foundation No Barriers USA, with the singular goal to help people of all ability levels overcome personal, physical, intellectual, and societal barriers to reach farther than ever was thought possible.In this new book, and in his own unique voice, Erik eloquently illuminates how we can all move forward in our lives towards growth and purpose – despite the barriers that get in our way. I promise, it's just as inspiring as his first book, Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than The Eye Can See. And in may ways, it's even more captivating.In relating his journey to kayak the entire length of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Erik's singular ability to explain the entire process, from the initial idea all the way through to successful completion, weaving into the story all of the people who helped him along his path, and intricately describing the myriad of obstacles that needed to be overcome, was not only incredibly exciting, but at times, breathtakingly terrifying. He does a fantastic job of building the story of his journey to its ultimate crescendo, across many different story lines. Without a doubt the most suspenseful part for me from the kayaking perspective was his personal battle and ultimate triumph over the aptly named section of the Colorado River called Lava Falls!Beyond the kayaking, the extremely intimate and revealing personal stories are brilliantly told, thought provoking, and at times very raw and emotional; a captivating read for sure. You will not be disappointed!
