Will to Wild

Adventures Great and Small to Change Your Life

By: Shelby Stanger

Narrated by: Shelby Stanger

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Embrace adventures both big and small and pursue your wild ideas with this motivational guidebook from seasoned adventurer and podcaster Shelby Stanger.

Will to Wild is an instruction manual to adventure. Your guide: enthusiastic outdoorswoman Shelby Stanger. Shelby has been teaching folks how to leap into the unknown since she taught her first surf class over twenty years ago. Over the years, she watched many of her students quit their jobs, end dysfunctional relationships, and move across the country for a healthier work-life-balance—all after spending a bit of time in nature. Shelby marveled at the phenomenon. Being outside was changing the lives of her students, her peers, and herself. Shelby was so intrigued, she began to tell their stories, first as a writer and journalist, then as a podcast host for Wild Ideas Worth Living, REI Co-op Studio’s flagship podcast.

With her first book, Will to Wild, Shelby shares all she’s witnessed and learned in her years covering adventurers. It’s the book she wishes she’d had when she’d first felt the urge to leap from familiar to wild terrain. The one that takes you step-by-step from the first inkling of inspiration for your own wild idea through fear and self-doubt and on to the finish line.

In this book, you will find stories with practical tips and tactics from world-famous rock climbers and ultra-runners, to longtime thru-hikers, surfers, desk jockeys who’ve figured out how to get off the clock, and even a suburban mom who started teaching women to scale frozen waterfalls in her mid-fifties. Along with Shelby’s stories, they will show you how to get unstuck, how to pay attention to “trail signs” that point you toward your adventure, how to face your fears, and what to do when everything goes haywire (which will likely happen, never fear!). With Shelby’s characteristic strength and vulnerability, Will to Wild encourages you to break out of your comfort zones, get out into nature, and bring their own wild ideas to life. Whether you’re already an adventure junkie or someone who’s never set up a tent, there’s something inside this book for you.

©2023 Shelby Stanger (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Outstanding and uplifting!

As a psychologist, Shelby is speaking my language...with wit, interesting and relevant stories, and a road map to help people live full, engaging lives that matter. I will recommend to my patients, but also anyone else who will listen! Loved this book!

Life changing!

This audiobook was simply life changing. I can't get enough of Shelby's stories and personal anecdotes. Highly recommended for anyone and any walk of life.

Loved the adventure stories

Indeed friends of mine are in the book. It was hard to get into first as it felt a bit self serving and preachy. However, as I got into the actual adventure stories, I was hooked. Ultimately the advice is solid and especially appreciated the perspective of how hard “landing” can be. After a year and a half traveling by motorcycle, I can say from personal experience how hard it is to come back to “normal” after your big Wild. Yes, go take a chance. This book is inspiring and helpful.

Inspiring, entertaining, real and rad!

This book is a manual for anyone who’s ready to go after their dreams without sacrificing the things in their lives they already love. Shelby interweaves both exciting and vulnerable moments from her own life as an adventurer, with stories of people she’s interviewed first hand. These folks have all taken risks (some big and some small) to live the life they want. This book is approachable to anyone at any level of adventuring. It encourages the reader to look for the signs… the trails signs that is… that can lead to the path of your dreams.

Inspiring

This audiobook was very inspirational. I have always had a desire to live a life w more adventures. Hearing her story and the story of others inspires me to do so… “Are you gonna go?!”

Inspiring and action oriented

This book inspired me to seek new opportunities and explore new possibilities! I am at baseline adventurous, but these stories made me think differently about adventure and how it can and should fit into everyday life. I especially enjoyed the short and actionable protips. 100% worth reading!

I'm gonna go

I had a baby this year and had a longer recovery. This book comes at the perfect time for me as I'm getting back on my feet and am so ready to be active and outdoors again, meet new people, and live with intention. Loved the positive vibes, inspiration, and humor, especially the Tofino story hehe.

Ok

I liked many of the stories. The excitement wasn’t always the main focus of the story, which was a little disappointing.

Horrible narration

The narrator sounded like an adolescent surfer dude.
Some good information, but hard to take seriously.

I don’t know

This book just didn’t do much for me. Maybe if I was a teen/young adult looking to get out there it would be awesome.
Im thinking about giving it to my niece, but it didn’t do much for me. Bummer.