Man & Horse

The Long Ride Across America

By: John Egenes

Narrated by: John Egenes

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1974, a disenfranchised young man from a broken home set out to do the impossible. With $100 in his pocket, a beat-up cavalry saddle, and a faraway look in his eye, John Egenes saddled his horse Gizmo and started down the trail on an adventure across the North American continent.

Their seven-month journey took them across 11 states, from California to Virginia, ocean to ocean. As they left the pressing confinement of the city behind them, the pair experienced the isolation and loneliness of the southwestern deserts, the vastness of the prairie, and the great landscapes that make up America.

Across hundreds of miles of empty land, they slept with coyotes and wild horses under the stars, and in urban areas, they camped alone in graveyards and abandoned shacks. Along the way, John and Gizmo were transformed from inexperienced horse and rider to veterans of the trail. With his young horse as his spiritual guide, John slowly began to comprehend his own place in the world and to find peace within himself.

Full of heart and humor, Egenes serves up a tale that's as big as the America he witnessed, an America that no longer exists. It was a journey that could only have been experienced step by step, mile by mile, from the view between a horse's ears.

©2017 John Robert Egenes (P)2020 John Robert Egenes

Great book

If you like adventure, horses, nature, you will love this book, he has a great voice, best book ever!

More than a horse story.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It is read by the author and he makes you feel the joys and hardships of this 7 month journey. John Egenes is a great writer and the story is engaging. He really knows his horses and he is also a philosopher. He encourages the reader to think about ordinary things in a different way. A great read about an incredible adventure across the United States.

Reflective and relatable

While all kinds of people will enjoy the stories in this book, for me - as a horse person and musician, the details of both aspects added an extra layer of engagement. The languid pace of the prose and the author’s voice gives the listener a sense he is talking directly to you, telling a winding tale, often musing philosophical. It gave me nostalgic pangs of my rural childhood in the ‘70s, bring forgotten memories of a time and place and people who no longer exist, and the sense of new exploration and experiences that our internet lives will never again know.

A great listen

I loved listening to John read this story. His partnership with Gizmo was amazing. I loved his thoughtful point of view, his adventures and challenges with people and places. A very uplifting tale!
Thanks John!

One of the best books I have ever listened to.

You don't have to love horses to love this emotional, engrossing book.

This would be good for young readers as well as it has life lessons and appreciation.

It was fast pased & had lots of drama.

I gasped and cried many times.

Another good book is The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawick. It is about Natsi concentration camp escapees who walk across countries, and deserts, to freedom.

A wonderful way of looking at the world around us

I cannot recommend this book enough. Before I was halfway through I had already recommended to multiple friends and family that have purchased it. This is read by the author which lends it an authenticity missing from other books. The simplicity of the nature of the act. Just riding across the country coast to coast on horseback in the 70’s. It sounds simple but has so many moving parts that one wouldn’t think of. The true gem of this story is in the personal interactions and the ripples it caused in people lives. It is a truly inspiring, entertaining and just unique piece that I wish I could give more stars and recommend to more people. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Awesome “Life” Story

I was given this free review copy audio-book at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This review is for the audio copy of Man & Horse - The Long Ride Across America by John Egenes and narrated by John Egenes. This was a very interesting and though provoking story for me. It was very immersive with descriptions of the land, animals and people. I enjoyed hearing about John’s life experience as he made his way across the United States. It brought back memories for me with some of his descriptions. And he did a superlative job at narrating his story. I was like I was living it in my mind. I highly recommend this work.

Epic journey

Fascinating account of John and Gizmo's ride across the U.S. in 1974. I looked forward to each chapter, it akes the reader along. It's amazing they made it, especially with how fragile horses are with their feed and water requirements. That was one amazing horse. I like the descriptions of their experiences; it's a window into people and nature at that time. A time before the internet and cell phones, because of which, could never be experiences again. Great story whether you are a horse person or not.

A trip down memory lane.

I really enjoyed the book especially because it was read by the author. I was one of those onlookers as he rode into the ocean at Va Beach and was privileged to meet man and horse, and to hear some of the stories related in this book. Thanks for the perspective of the long view on life, and having life before cell phones and computers brought back to my mind. The 1970s were some great times.

Interesting

I found the book interesting of it's time but somewhat redundant. The narrator/author clearly makes you feel the joys & hardships of his journey but I found place in the story somewhat drawn out. I was given this tree review copy audiobook ay my request and have voluntarily left this review.