Wild

From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

By: Cheryl Strayed

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Wild is a powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an 1100-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe - and built her back up again.

At 22, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State - and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone.

Strayed faced down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

©2012 Cheryl Strayed (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

“No one can write like Cheryl Strayed. Wild is one of the most unflinching and emotionally honest books I've read in a long time. It is about forgiveness and grief, bravery and hope. It is unforgettable.” (Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle)

“While reading Cheryl Strayed’s stunning book about her arduous solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail, I kept asking myself - what would I do if I were stripped bare of everything - money, job, community, even family and love? Thoreau once said, ‘In wildness is the preservation of the world.’ For Strayed, it is clear that in wildness was the preservation of her soul. She reminds us, in her lyrical and courageous memoir Wild, of what it means to be fully alive, even in the face of catastrophe, physical and psychic hardship, and loss." (Mira Bartók, author of The Memory Palace)

“Cheryl Strayed can sure tell a story. In Wild, she describes her journey from despair to transcendence with honesty, humor, and heart-cracking poignancy. This is a great book.” (Mary Pipher, author of Reviving Ophelia and Seeking Peace)

Great book, felt like I was there

there was just enough detail to keep it interesting and for the readers to feel the pain and hardship of being on the trail.

Worth the listen.

Inspirational especially if you've ever had thoughts of escaping alone for a while and challenging yourself.
Learned a lot about hiking and the Pacific Northwest.

mourning Mom

interesting journey of a young lady who lost her mother to cancer and went the long way to find herself grieving on the way.

Epic journey, sublimely told.

Loved it, an epic Journey told with a distinct and beautiful voice. Sometimes brutally honest but only made better by it.

A Motivational Wild Ride

This was an inspirational journey of one woman's hike through the Pacific Crest Trail that was enjoyable listening--start to finish. Made my own walks in the park, well like a walk in the park, compared to the struggles Cheryl faced. An excellent, inspiring book that I highly recommend!

What a great journey

A great story about endurance and finding oneself. It makes me want to hike the PCT. I wanted to keep reading til the end.

Ugh

Story of a self destructive girl who journeys to find herself but did she really?!? Good start and good ending but thought the middle would never end! Wanted to pull my hair out

Excellent!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Great story about finding oneself while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cheryl Strayed, the author, as she is the center of the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Makes me want to do a long distance hike.

Any additional comments?

Although this is a coming of age tale, is does not come off as preachy or too deep to enjoy the journey. Strayed has a wonderful way of interspersing background stories with events on the trail. This seamless way of storytelling makes for an engaging story that is easy to listen to.

Great book

I recommend this book highly. It was well-written and thought provoking. I enjoyed it very much.

Loved it! Makes me want to go hike the PCT

Great story with terrific character build. I loved every moment of the story. I never wanted to set it down.