Bone Games: Extreme Sports, Shamanism, Zen, and the Search for Transcendence Book

"You are out on the edge of the human world; even as you long for the warmth, the noise, the comfort and reassurance of that world, something else draws you farther out, into the unknown. The cash and credit cards in your pocket will not help you. All the old bets are off…"

A great read but hard to describe other than a book about extreme sports, and living on the edge, almost dying several times in pursuit of "bone games", the ultimate physical challenges. Doing things like hiking from Nepal to Mt. Everest, alone, during monsoon season. Running for 50 miles not on trails, but straight through the wilderness.

It's not just about the extreme sports, it's about his internal experiences and the journey, while managing a career and family.

"It's hard to take the petty realities, the gossip, the fads neuroses, squabbles, half so seriously when you've been soaring with the hawks, diving with the dolphins, running with the elk."

If you're looking for a fitness or running book, this isn't it. If you're looking for a story about the pursuit of physical extremes, this is a great one. The author's the type who one whim drove to the Pikes Peak marathon, got a couple of hours of sleep, grabbed a cup of coffee and a donut, then ran the race. My kind of guy.

"Play the game by your lonesome. On short rations, as hard as you can, and if you keep your mind on the search and your eyes open, you will eventually find it. And after you've found it once, twice, and again, it will begin to stick-the power and the bliss will work itself into the grain of your life, changing everything."