Hello friends!

Here are your slightly tardy, but lovingly composed, book recommendations for the first ⅙ of 2025:

The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World by Christine Rosen - Ever since watching the hoverboard scene in Back to the Future II, I’ve dreamed about the fun-filled technological wonders awaiting me at some distant point in the future. Unfortunately, after finishing this excellent-yet-alarming book, I realized that the tech future is already here– and it’s more Freddy Krueger than Marty McFly. Rosen argues that internet-based technology has seeped into almost every aspect of our lives, acting as an often-unnoticed “mediator of experience.” From online maps to endless digital photos to news to social media, these inescapable technologies change the way we experience reality, mostly for the worse. This is one of those books that supplied data and science to solidify the loose, uncomfortable ideas about technology already floating around in my head. She does not offer any actionable ideas about curbing technology usage, but she definitely increased my awareness (panic?) about the seriousness of the problem. [For actionable ideas, check out Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism.]

Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer: Colorado - From 2005 until about 2012, Delorme Gazetteers guided me all over the West, from the desolate canyons of Utah to the most remote campsites in Montana. I bought a new Colorado version as a direct result of Rosen’s book above, mostly as a (probably silly) rejection of map apps. After it arrived, I found myself studying it intensely for long stretches of time– exploring all of the memorable mountains and rivers and campsites that I’ve had the privilege of visiting over the years. I was reminded how much I LOVE paper maps– the more detailed the better. I begrudgingly admit that I'll rarely use it for driving, but I will definitely enjoy continuing to “read it” and share it with my girls. [For some fascinating insights into how different cultures have thought about mapping terrain, read The Sea People by Christina Thompson.]

Pain Don’t Hurt: Meditations on Road House (Second Edition) by Sean T. Collins - Without question, this is the funniest book I have ever read. I cannot remember ever laughing so hard and for so long about anything, much less a book. Days and days of hysterical, tear-and-stomach-cramp inducing laughter. It’s a collection of 365 essays about the greatest movie of all time, penned during 2019, soon after Collins had the passing thought, “I could write about Road House everyday for a year and never run out of things to say.” He analyzes every detail of the movie (even scenes/characters I’d never considered), and even offers a few new-to-me, mind-blowing theories (Jimmy is Brad Wesley’s son?!). If you love Road House, you need to own this book. But you better act fast, because as of this moment, there are only 15 copies remaining of this limited edition run. [If you’re wondering “Is Ed referring to Swayze Road House or Gyllenhaal Road House?,” please unsubscribe from this email right now.]

The Terminal List and True Believer by Jack Carr - Every so often, I pick up a book for nothing but pure fun and entertainment, just as I would watch such masterpieces as Rambo III, Commando, Predator, Red Dawn, and, of course, Road House. If you enjoy these types of films and also like to read the occasional novel, Jack Carr is your man. These are the first two titles in his James Reece series, which follow the revenge-fueled adventures of a former Navy SEAL with nothing to lose. These two books are nearly a combined 1,000 pages, and I cranked through them both in just a few days each. Pure action and fun and a perfect way to unplug from the real world for a while. You’ll see many more of these books in these emails, for sure. [On the far opposite end of the novel spectrum, Wendell Berry’s Jayber Crow is still in the lead as the best novel I’ve ever read. (Also, in the history of humanity, have Dynamic Duo of Carr and Berry ever been recommended in the same paragraph?)]

Surviving Denali: A Study of Accidents on Mount McKinley 1903-1990 by Jonathan Waterman - This book had been sitting on my shelf for years, unread. I randomly picked it up last month and couldn’t put it down. As the title explains, it’s a deep dive into all of the chaos that has gone down on North America’s highest peak– a landscape with a knack for breaking and/or freezing humans in a surprisingly wide variety of ways. The responsible version of myself would recommend that anyone interested in climbing the mountain should read this book first. On the other hand, I’m glad I didn’t read it before my two Denali trips, because I likely would’ve been too scared to actually set foot on the Kahiltna Glacier. But anyone who enjoys mountaineering literature and history will love this book. It’s the real deal– extremely well written, highly educational, and not at all sensational or dramatic. [Speaking of Denali, I’m almost done with Cassidy Randall’s amazing new book Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali. Stay tuned for my full recommendation… and a podcast chat!]

American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home by Steven Kurutz - For the last few weeks, I’ve been going deep into the history of natural fiber (i.e., cotton, wool, and leather) production in the United States. Long story short, the fabric/clothing industry had long been a bedrock of the US economy, until policy changes in the 1990s forced most of the production overseas. The aftermath has been a total economic disaster for many communities near and dear to my heart, particularly the milltowns in my homestate of North Carolina and many of the farming/ranching communities that produced the raw materials. Thankfully, I didn’t have to read a bunch of boring industry reports or academic papers to get my head around this subject. Instead, Kurutz’s fun-to-read, relatively short narrative gave me a thorough education on the topic via a bunch of colorful, crazy, rebellious characters who are hellbent on making American-made clothing popular and profitable (again). If you love against-the-odds business stories plus in-depth history, check this one out. [It’s very far from the made-in-America ethos, but my favorite crazy-entrepreneur book is Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.]

And three more great books written by equally great people:

• The Deck, Stories From a Pandemic by Taylor and Cody Watts - While fully grown adults (like me) struggle for years with their own writing projects, Taylor and Cody (still in high school!) publish a remarkably insightful book about their family’s experience during the pandemic. Endorsed not just by me, but by people who actually know what they are doing, such as David James Duncan and Chris Dombrowski.

• Good Hunting for Kids: Growing Up to Be the Best Hunter You Can Be by Allen Morris Jones - Ever since I brought home 150 pounds of elk meat for my family, my girls have been fascinated by hunting. So I’m thankful that my pal Allen Morris Jones applied his artist’s mind to making the subject more understandable, approachable, and entertaining for curious, outdoor-loving kiddos like mine.

• Echolocation by Sage Marshall - I continue to be poetry curious, but also continue to have no idea where to even start. I’m always happy when a gifted outdoor/conservation-focused writer like Sage publishes a collection of poetry, because I know it’ll be just what I need to read. I loved this book and will revisit it for many years to come.

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Thanks again for subscribing to my bimonthly book recommendations. I've discovered most of my all-time favorite books through suggestions from friends like you, so please let me know of any must-read titles.

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Ed

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