‘Wilder Journeys’ is an eclectic anthology of travel and nature writing from a wide range of writers. There is a mixture of poems, short stories, memoir pieces and essays covering a range of continents and subjects.

One of the things I really love about anthologies is it gives you a chance to discover writers that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Reading several of the stories I found I wanted to know more about the people who had written them and learn more of their adventures. While there was no section of the book I didn’t enjoy stand out pieces for me was an essay by wildlife camera man Hamza Yassin who wrote about eagle fledglings and drew links between their experience and his own both as a refugee and following his dreams. Another interesting tale was of one person’s adventure through South America which involved spending several days floating down a river (without a boat) to make their way!

While I read this book cover to cover it would be really well suited as one to instead dip in and out of, choosing a story at random.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great way to feel transported and included in someone elses stories.
it was like taking a trip around the world at someone elses expense with none of the stress of planning to organising.

If you enjoyed Nan Shepherd's The Living Mountain, this might speak to you. It's not a feel-good, cosy compilation of anecdotes about being in nature then getting back to your office job all renewed.
It's quite challenging. It situates us as being within a wild natural world, rather than the natural world existing as a sort of theme park.
You can read accounts of people climbing Mount Everest, anecdotes of jungle survival, poetry, and pivotal life-changing events like the time someone was inspired to set up a surfing collective for people of colour.
It's very diverse and can be dipped into - it doesn't have to be read all at once.

Good for people who like nature and being outdoors. A source of healing and inspiration. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

As with any book that uses pieces by different authors, this book did not resonate with me for a few of them.

Maybe it was because I did not know the places or heard of them, but the articles used did not inspire me to find out more.

Adventurous people who have the determination to go out and experience different things outside of the "norm" I give credit to. Maybe this book is more suited to the USA market.

This collection of writings by various people around the world who engaged in extreme adventures to connect to the wider world suffers from the uneven quality of the writing. It was clear that some of the writers had more experience than others. Those less experienced could have done with a little more editing.

There was also a certain amount of sameness to the entries. That may be down to the common sense of awe that can be experienced by people in both a religious and a non-religious context which has been widely reported on in social science and psychology articles. The ineffable quality of such experiences leaves us all with too little vocabulary to express ourselves in the way we might wish.

The personal experiences are interspersed with poems on nature and connection. The story I enjoyed the most was David Malana's about the inspiration for his Color the Water community. The accessibility of his story resonated more than the stories of people summiting Everest, floating down a river through territory contested by revolutionaries and the Colombian government, or living a hunter-gatherer existence in New Zealand.

Overall, I thought the book could have used a wider variety of stories to illustrate more ways in which people have found a new connection to nature.

I absolutely adore this book! The stories within spoke directly to my nature-loving, wandering soul. I have never before come across a collection of stories and poetry that all seemed to connect to me in one way or another. .

I plan to post a more in-depth review about this read on my travel blog and my socials very soon.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

A really inspirational and deep-thinking collection of stories, poetry and prose regarding so many aspects of being in the wild and connecting with nature in all kinds of ways.
I think this book will connect on so many levels with readers and anyone who craves adventure or feels part of something much bigger than themselves

A collection of short stories about people who found solace and healing in nature.

I loved this book. The stories were well written and interesting. I loved the diverse backgrounds and locations. Nature is where I find my respite and although I wouldn’t take a trek like many of these travels did, I do admire and respect their adventures.

Thanks to Watkins Publishing and Netgalley for giving the opportunity to access this ARC! I loved this and think it would provide some great short stories for classroom readings.

'Wilder Journeys' is a collection of essays, poetry, and the occasional snippet of film script discussing our connection with nature in sometimes alarming or dangerous situations. Taken from dramatic, intimdating moments designed to push the limits of human experience, as well as the quiet every day experience of nature, the resulting collection is often inspiring, and frequently written with a wry humour at the foolish decision to begin this journey in the first place.

As with any collection by various authors, some of these pieces connected with me and some did not. The stories that struck a chord with me the most were those that combined the wonder of the beauty and wilderness of the planet with the surprising compassion of other humans, encountered on the journey. In war-torn Columbia, villagers help a stranger as he floats past them in the river; a wildlife photographer watches the life cycle of an eagle whilst the locals excitedly pester him for updates on the chicks.

Some stories are funny, some are a window into a moment of despair and revelation. They are all extraordinary in their own way.

A really interesting read with a variety of stories, biography and poetry. Whilst not every section was for me, it was definitely in the minority - I particularly enjoyed the biographical sections regarding journies in south America, Everest and Australia.

Obviously for nature lovers and those that like to read about the subject. Really good stories. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I enjoy this very much. Recommended.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!

This collection of true tales and poetry advocates healing, wisdom and adventure through reconnecting with nature. This gentle book is packed with beautiful descriptions of the wonder of the natural world, be it South American jungle, the Australian outback or remote Scottish islands.

The chapter at the beginning of the book, “One Day in a Wilderness Life” by Miriam Lancewood, describes complete contentment in the New Zealand wilderness. It sets the scene for the rest of the book. “Waking up on Everest” by Sophie Sung-Bin Hilaire is an inspirational, deep-thinking piece.

Hamza Yassin, a Sudanese-British wildlife cameraman, presenter and current star of Strictly writes a stunning chapter about the behaviour of eagle baby chicks being observed.

“I walk far more gently in the world nowadays”, is the key message from once hermit Gregory P Smith from Australia, appreciating what nature gave in his time of need. This book had so many moments for the reader to reflect.

I loved this book. It is refreshing and restorative.

Thank you Watkins Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is everything I hoped it would be and more. Part spiritual guide, part poetry, part story telling - it’s like a handbook example for Women Who Run With Wolves. A book for anyone connected to nature, and anyone disconnected from nature. The draft I read was without final edit, but if the cover art is anything to go by I wouldn’t hope that this is a visual satiating book on top of everything else it has to offer. Truly wonderful.

A book full of inspiring stories feom the wild. How people connect with nature, find themselves lost and fully immensed in the beauty. Stories of grit, determination, love and exhilarating adventure in the wild.
Reading these stories resonated as I love nature and find that humans are more capable of living in the wild than they think they are.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and feel that I will return back to this book of knowledge- so many tricks and "olden" ways of being and living hidden in these chapters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

In a world where the pace of climate change is happening so fast that even scientists are surprised, it’s no wonder that many of us are filled with despair about the future of our planet and al the living things that call it home. These two authors have pulled together narratives from scientists, explorers and people that care about our world to showcase the incredible beauty and majesty of our planet. The hope is that readers will understand the incredible impact the natural world can have on us, and in turn the impact that each one of us can have working to save our fragile and oh so precious planet. A book that should be required reading for every politician on our planet