The best books about adventure, survival, and the natural world aren’t sea-sprayed boast-fests, but all about humbling self-discovery under extreme conditions. Even then, they end up being less about individual toughness and more about our shared resilience, whether that sense of connection and rescue comes from other people or from the particular peace that settles on the solo traveler, deep in the wilderness or way out at sea. The best outdoor adventure books are about the incomparable beauty of the natural world and the absolute necessity of other people. As we ease into the great thaw, with warmer days, an ever-widening safety net of Covid vaccines, and the moody perspective-seeking of spring, we’re all reflecting on our lives. What do we treasure now that we didn’t fully appreciate before, and what would we happily leave behind? These great books, back from the edge of human endurance, can help lead the way.
