Ghost Rider

Travels on the Healing Road

By: Neil Peart

Narrated by: Brian Sutherland

Length: 15 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

In less than a year, Neil Peart lost both his 19-year-old daughter, Selena, and his wife, Jackie. Faced with overwhelming sadness and isolated from the world in his home on the lake, Peart was left without direction. That lack of direction lead him on a 55,000 mile journey by motorcycle across much of North America, down through Mexico to Belize, and back again. He had needed to get away, but he had not really needed a destination. His personal odyssey is chronicled with his travel adventures, meeting up with friends and family, and the grieving, thinking, crying, and storytelling of life as he rides. Along the way, he plays music from his internal jukebox, yet nothing seems to let him find peace. And without peace, all he could do was keep riding until he found it.

©2002 Neil Peart (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Very interesting!

A great insight into how a famous musician deals with grief and loss. I really enjoyed it. Neil has a great sense of humor and and writing style. Love the ending!

Listen at 1.25 speed

The book was great but read a little slowly. Fortunately, I adjusted the speed to 1.25 and it ended up being quite captivating. I listened to it on my iPad while following along on Google maps. Quite an adventure and quite a story.

Cathartic, haunting, beautiful, and redemptive.

As someone who has suffered the tragic loss of a child, who loves travel, and has come -- at middle age -- to enjoy motorcycling... This is honestly an AMAZING book.

I knew of Neil Peart as a talented rock drummer and lyricist, but I knew nothing of his tragedy or his widely varied talents and interests. He has read anything he can get his hands on, and it comes through in the writing.

If there's one criticism, at times the book can be redundant due to its inclusion of letters written during his journey, sometimes conveying the same information to several different correspondents. Don't let that deter you from enjoying this fantastic book.

Ghost Rider

Huge Rush fan so decided to listen to this book about a important time in the band's and Neil Peart's life that shaped the final act of this band. A great read for those who enjoy motorcycling, nature and a man's journey through ups and downs.

rest in piece NP

You will forever be missed. Here's to the best drummer. on this planet cheers, mate

The “Professor” reveals pain, shares experience and healing.

Neil Peart - the great percussionist/drummer shares the darkness and utter despair he went through after losing his 19 year old daughter and then his wife just months later. Ugh - you feel his loss.

He shares his travels from Canada through Alaska then south through western USA down through Mexico. Later back home to Toronto to reconcile his past and regroup. He pulls himself together (perhaps with the help of ‘his maker’ of whom he seems to discount at times) but many of us do. Anyway, Neil winds up in a relatively peaceful state of mind and before long he marries a lovely woman and things are good as he begins working again with his bandmates on “Vapor Trails”.

Sadly - I decided to read Ghost Rider after Neil’s passing on Jan. 7th, 2020. ‘Sometimes it takes the death of a titan to shake the procrastination of exploitation.’ - just channeled my inner Neil Peart lyrical prowess - although obviously too cheesy to be from N.E.P. :)

Anyway, the book is awesome.... I’m now even interested in procuring a used BMW R1200GS to take up some long distance Motorrad adventures. We’ll see!

Patrick from PA.

Grieving and Wealth

What made the experience of listening to Ghost Rider the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed hearing about places I've been and want to visit, as well as the details of Neil's motorcycle troubles and triumphs. I also enjoyed contrasting his experience of loss, as a wealthy musician with a lot of time on his hands--with those for whom the drudgery of work is a necessity and financial limitations are often severe.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost Rider?

Neil's descriptions of Americans as bovine obese slobs being herded into and out of buses. I have to agree with his assessment, and he did it with a modicum of humor.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Brian Sutherland?

If it was by someone I was interested in. I didn't find his narration particularly notable. His way of aspirating consonants caught my attention.

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

Many of us have lost loved ones either suddenly or after protracted illness, but what would the effect be upon someone with the freedom afforded by great wealth? What if work were unnecessary, and you could simply leave home on an impeccably maintained motorcycle, the way paved by nearly-unlimited funds and spare time--how would you then grieve? Would loss feel the same?

Any additional comments?

I usually don't think this--but this book could have benefited from concise editing. Peart's whimsical travels here and there became slightly formulaic, following a very similar shape. In fact, the book sounded more like a list than a composed story. Peart was not disingenuous about being wealthy, but he didn't spend enough time (for me at least) thinking about how that level of influence changed his grieving experience. "I wonder how this would have been different if I wasn't Neil Peart?" 99% of his readers will be left wondering.

Neil Peart is a Literary Genius

What can I say? Every time I hear a talk by Neil Peart, I am so taken by how articulate, and literate he was. He was a true Renaissance Man that was knowledgeable in many subjects. This book tells a story from the lens of a man who bares his soul and leaves nothing out. One is taken on a journey to Alaska, Canada, The West Coast, South America and across the United States. Every moment of this 55,000 mile odyssey paints a vivid picture of Neil's thoughts, experiences, triumphs and set backs. At times, I found myself laughing, cheering and yes, sobbing. Even if you are not a Rush fan, you must read this book. There are life lessons that all of us can benefit from.

A human experience

This is a book where anyone experiencing grief could find life. This is a book where anyone lacking life can find purpose. An epic story of overcoming and finding life. And then there is all the bits and pieces on history, travel and literary giants. I found Neil’s humour about his split personality particularly endearing and funny. Rest in peace beautiful souls, rest in peace.

Great read for those coping with loss

This is a wonderful recap and completely thorough description of me old motorcycle ride throughout North America following the loss of his wife and daughter. It is an excellent read, describing all of your thoughts, all of the people he met, the landscape the cities or towns, the dirt roads, the trials and tribulations with his motorcycle and other things.I will say the first half was a little easier to get through than the second half, as much of that is simply many of the letter that he wrote to his friends and family. There are very few references to the band rush, but that is ancillary to the book so you don’t really miss hearing about it.

Also is it just me, what is the narrator sound a lot like Geddy Lee? Hmmmmm