My Midsummer Morning Audiobook By Alastair Humphreys cover art

My Midsummer Morning

Rediscovering a Life of Adventure

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My Midsummer Morning

By: Alastair Humphreys
Narrated by: Alastair Humphreys
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A Financial Times Summer Book of 2019

Seasoned adventurer Alastair Humphreys pushes himself to his very limits – busking his way across Spain with a violin he can barely play.

In 1935 a young Englishman named Laurie Lee arrived in Spain. He had never been overseas; had hardly even left the quiet village he grew up in. His idea was to walk through the country, earning money for food by playing his violin in bars and plazas.

Nearly a century later, the book Laurie Lee wrote – As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning – inspired Alastair Humphreys. It made him fall in love with Spain – the landscapes and the spirit – and with Laurie's style of travel. He travelled slow, lived simply, slept on hilltops, relished spontaneity, and loved conversations with the different people he met along the hot and dusty road.

For 15 years, Alastair dreamed of retracing Laurie Lee’s footsteps, but could never get past the hurdle of being distinctly unmusical. This year, he decided to go anyway. The journey was his most terrifying yet, risking failure and humiliation every day, and finding himself truly vulnerable to the rhythms of the road and of his own life. But along the way, he found humility, redemption and triumph. It was a very good adventure.

©2019 Alastair Humphreys (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Entertainment & Celebrities Music Walking Celebrity Adventure

Critic reviews

"Humphreys is clearly slightly bonkers and this is a wonderful thing." (Geographical Magazine)

"Compelling reading...It’s honest and human." (The Great Outdoors)

Honest Introspective Journey • Relatable Life Transition • Inspiring Adventurous Spirit • Engaging Storytelling Style
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I loved this book even more than I thought I would. I was expecting an entertaining travelogue that would motivate me to go on a trip of my own, and Alastair definitely met that expectation. But I was happily surprised with how much time he spent discussing the challenges of balancing the “selfish” life of adventuring with aging, being married, working a job and having a family. He goes into great detail about his personal struggles with, what felt like, a life devolving into domestic mediocrity. It was encouraging to see, almost in real time, him working through his conflicting desires for happiness as he pivots from “living life for the next adventure” to “living an adventurous life”. This is a great read for anyone who has wanderlust, and required reading for anyone in a mid-life or transitional period.

A beautiful and inspiring book

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Great book, it really captures the struggle of transforming from a constant adventurer to family life. At times I felt that Allister had put my exact current emotions directly into his book. I'll have to buy a paper copy to enjoy again.

Amazing book from start to finish

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I love this book. Open, honest, and heartfelt. This is one I will keep coming back to.

One of the best travel / adventure books out there

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Loved listening to this book and definitely would not do what the author did, however I have been on The Camino , 4 times. Completed once and sections 3 other times. Listening to this book makes me want to return one more time. I’m 71.

Loved this Book

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but please give us a more gentle ending. I want to know more about your life and your miss. the ending came too quick. I'm interested in your new life.

it was a good book

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Alastair shares his struggles with transitioning from a life of being lone traveler, extreme adventurer to a husband and father. While most will never live his adventurer life, we’ve all had to cope with those transitions from one stage of life to the next.

This is a remarkably honest and illuminating look at Alastair’s own struggles and triumphs with life’s changes and provided helpful insights for my own life.

A coming-of-age story

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I’m so glad Al’s books have finally started to come to audible. I have enjoyed reading every single one (including his kids books to my classroom). His story about balancing work, life, adventure, and family really hit home with me. I sympathize with his selfishness of adventure and freedom yet wanting to be a family man. Thank you for writing this book Al!

Another adventure with Al

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I am eternally grateful this book found me. Alastair’s journey through coming to terms with the domestic aspects of life has given me the courage and kick in the ass I needed to take control of my happiness. Recommended to anyone wondering where the individual fit in with selflessness needed for family life. Thank you Alistair!

Cathartic, Aspirational, Practical, Perfect

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Humphries is a great adventurer , great person, great writer, and great narrator! What a guy

Great storytelling

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One of the best travel books I’ve read in a long time. Beautiful imagery, raw and introspective, and a fun and relatable journey. We can all live a little more adventurously! Admitted, I was frustrated by the authors lack of insight into the opportunity to adventure with children. I am a 26-year-old mother, and I have three children. I have taken my five-year-old, two-year-old, and three week old baby hiking through the mountains. I have even done solo day hikes, carrying my baby strapped to my chest, and my two-year-old and a hiking backpack, with all of the gear strapped around him. If I can carry 65 pounds of children on my back for a day of splashing through creeks and climbing over rocks, surely Alastair Humphreys can introduce his own children to adventure. Strap the kids to your back and go!!

Beautiful book, listen NOW! And get outside!

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