Beyond the Bear

How I Learned to Live and Love Again after Being Blinded by a Bear

By: Dan Bigley, Debra McKinney

Narrated by: Kevin Young

A 25-year-old backcountry wanderer, a man happiest exploring wild places with his dog, Dan Bigley woke up one midsummer morning to a day full of promise. Before it was over, after a stellar day of salmon fishing along Alaska’s Kenai and Russian rivers, a grizzly came tearing around a corner in the trail. Dan barely had time for “bear charging” to register before it had him on the ground, altering his life forever.

“Upper nose, eyes, forehead anatomy unrecognizable,” as the medevac report put it. Until then, one thing after another had fallen into place in Dan’s life. He had a job he loved taking troubled kids on outdoor excursions. He had just bought a cabin high in the Chugach Mountains with a view that went on forever. He was newly in love. After a year of being intrigued by a woman named Amber, they had just spent their first night together. All of this was shattered by the mauling that nearly killed him, that left him blind and disfigured.

Facing paralyzing pain and inconceivable loss, Dan was in no shape to be in a relationship. He and Amber let each other go. Five surgeries later, partway into his long healing journey, they found their way back to each other. The couple’s unforgettable story is one of courage, tenacious will, and the power of love to lead the way out of darkness. Dan Bigley’s triumph over tragedy is a testament to the ability of the human spirit to overcome physical and emotional devastation, to choose not just to live, but to live fully.

©2013 Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

YOU are not alone

I liked the author’s narration, the sharing of intimate thoughts, the choice of embracing one’s life as it exists after a trauma and letting go of the ‘former life’. The story validated that we have choices, we may embrace life with all the hardships and difficult lessons and experience happy, tearful truths. Or, simply be miserable and feel sorry for self and live in self pity until we die... without growing or being human. I have been there, and throughout my own journey I thought I was alone, but I am not❤️

This was excellent

Where does Beyond the Bear rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The best and most interesting. Hard to stop listening.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a true story. It helped me to be a better survivor of the little things in life and some of the big ones too. This story has inspired me to be a better person.

What about Kevin Young’s performance did you like?

He was great. His voice was nice to listen to.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Beyond the bear

Any additional comments?

This is an inspirational story. It has inspired me to deal with not being able to do the things I use to be able to do.

great story

Aawesome story.
Easy read for anyone.
Enjoy this book. Great inspiration for everyone. Must read.

Wow!

Great inspiring story of a man who loves life and chooses to keep loving it! We need a thousand more Dan Bigleys.

Wonderful book

Although the premise of this book is based on a tragic event, the story of how this man recovered and made a better life for himself is a remarkable one. hearing this story has helped me regain courage, hope, and motivation to move forward with my own goals in life even when it gets hard. No two people are the same, but as someone who is completely blind myself, I found I could relate to his experience. I laughed and cried throughout the book! It is very well written and easy to listen to

This story was capturing. So well told and described.

I loved this book! It never felt dull. It had so much packed into the story. Romance, adventure, psychology, nature, family ties. It was such a great story and inspiring tale of overcoming.

Do yourself a favor: read it!

Never feel sorry for yourself; Dan will inspire you to find your way to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Amazing…

I am reading this book almost 6 years after a medical tragedy caused me to lose 90% of my hearing. I now live with 3 kinds of tinnitus, diplacusis disharmonica which means everyone sounds robotic and music is out of tune, and I almost lost my ability to practice medicine.

I have been at a crossroads this past year… and found myself withdrawing more and more. Even though I found renewed purpose when I started a medical practice last year making housecalls to marginalized people groups (disabled, homebound, low SES, elderly), my motivation and drive to create and amazing life AFTER still seemed to elude me.

After hearing you on “What was that like?” I knew I had to read your book and did so the very next day. It is inspiring to see the fervor with which you pursued the AFTER… and it has motivated me to get back into trauma therapy to deal with the PTSD and to get on with creating more for my AFTER!

So much more than a terrifying bear story!

Dan Bigley spoke at my Rotary club recently, and he was such a talented storyteller, I decided to listen to the book. There’s so much more to this book than a terrifying bear tale. It’s also a story of grit, reliance, and the power of love.

Heart wrenching and inspiring

I knew Dan briefly in Alaska right before his run in with the bear. He was, just as he says, always smiling, always upbeat, and an all around great guy. His story of persevering and thriving an incident after when most people would just give up, is truly inspiring. I've read this book several times and listened to it just as many. I laugh, I cry, and I find myself truly moved every time.