
Waking Up on the Appalachian Trail
A Story of War, Brotherhood, and the Pursuit of Truth
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Narrated by:
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TJ Clark
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By:
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N. B. Hankes
About this listen
Nate Hankes returned home from his tour in Iraq unable to answer one simple question: Had his mission overseas been honorable?
Determined to find clarity and forge a new identity outside of the US Army, Nate, alongside his brother, Ben, a recent college grad delaying his entry into the Great Recession job market, set out to hike the entire length of the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail.
Unpredictable weather, brutal terrain, straining health, and a fractured mind stretched beyond comfort by a wise but imperfect hiking companion turn this walk in the woods into an adventure of body, mind, and spirit. And in a world gone mad, this coming-of-age story reminds us that true clarity and peace can only be found within.
Advanced praise:
“Like Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail is a tale of transformation and emergence from trauma and confusion into something closer to insight and clarity. Hankes writes from the heart, and his story is both powerful and important. I hope this book finds the large, passionate audience it deserves.” (Chris Ryan, PhD, author of Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress and host of the Tangentially Speaking podcast)
“There are two battlefields described in Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail - none in Iraq and the other within the human heart and mind. Nate Hankes’ memoir is the perfect metaphor for the path that leads each of us from ignorance, fear, and suffering to true freedom, reconciliation, and awakening. This book will change your life.” (Darren Main, author of Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic)
“In his courageous exploration and dogged determination to make sense of his young life as an Iraq war combat veteran, Nathan Hankes offers us the raw, honest, and gritty perspective of one who is willing to question everything in the service of living a connected, empathic and meaningful life.” (Heidi Bourne, mindfulness educator and consultant, Pacific Mindfulness)
“Tim O’Brien wrote in his novel about Vietnam, The Things They Carried, ‘A true war is never moral.’ Nathan Hankes reminds us of that, but shows us there is a way forward: By bravely seeking truth, one step at a time, to understanding and redemption.” (Kevin Sites, author of The Things They Cannot Say: Stories Soldiers Won’t Tell You About What They’ve Seen, Done, or Failed to Do in War)
“Waking Up On the Appalachian Trail is a deeply personal and powerful tale of a young veteran’s journey to understand his role in America’s post-9/11 wars. This unique coming-of-age story is an incredible encapsulation of young peoples’ general disillusionment with American exceptionalism and the frustration that comes from questioning the status quo. I can’t wait to see where Nathan goes next.” (Allegra Harpootlian, ReThink Media)
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Overall
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Performance
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A man walked into the woods, destined to spend eight months living in the wild. Exhausted and emotionally ruined living the fast-paced life of a successful young professional, it was all too easy to give up. The challenges came on the adventure of a lifetime. Months in the woods that would provide adversity, healing, and tranquility.
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Great story...hard listen.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart - the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. With a mixture of dread and determination, Paul left his job, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life and can change yours as well. In Hiking Through, you'll join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile trip through 14 states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose.
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Interesting
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the eve of turning 30, terrified of being funneled into a life he didn’t choose, Jedidiah Jenkins quit his dream job and spent 16 months cycling from Oregon to Patagonia. He chronicled the trip on Instagram, where his photos and reflections drew hundreds of thousands of followers, all gathered around the question: What makes a life worth living? In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Jed narrates his adventure - the people and places he encountered on his way to the bottom of the world - as well as the internal journey that started it all.
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Different that I expected
- By Sabrina on 02-21-20
By: Jedidiah Jenkins
A little disappointed
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SoBo
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Listener received this title free
Don't expect the detailed story of the AT trail, it's a mix of personal adventure, thoughts on dependencies between war, economy, political strategies.
I don't agree with the author on everything but I felt like having a constructive conversation with a friend and learning from each others.
Narrator T. J. Clark manages to keep the excitement alive even when there's a bit of slowdown and I will look for more books he has narrated.
Mix of adventure and introspection
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Listener received this title free
Decent story of a full SOBO through-hike
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Two narratives that don't mix well
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Excellent
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A dream in a book
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More AT, Less politics
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There are many sides to this story.
Not a fan of the reader - trying to make each line significant. Good story though.
Young and Salty Trooper
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Listener received this title free
A nice story of self discovery
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