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Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter
by
Josh Gates
Truth is stranger than legend . . . and your journey into both begins here. World adventurer and international monster hunter Josh Gates has careened through nearly 100 countries, investigating frightening myths, chilling cryptozoological legends, and terrifying paranormal phenomena. Now, he invites fans to get a behind-the-scenes look at these breathtaking expeditions.
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Paperback, 256 pages
Published
October 11th 2011
by Gallery Books
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I loved this book. Well written with a lot of behind the scenes takes on the Destination Truth episodes that I love.
It was VERY hard while reading the book not to stop and read every other paragraph out loud to whomever was in the room. It was that fun and interesting. As a matter of fact, I often gave in and read large portions aloud. Once I even got out of bed to read a page to someone. They were as equally shocked as I was by the information I was reading. (Chernobyl, anyone?)
At different tim...more
It was VERY hard while reading the book not to stop and read every other paragraph out loud to whomever was in the room. It was that fun and interesting. As a matter of fact, I often gave in and read large portions aloud. Once I even got out of bed to read a page to someone. They were as equally shocked as I was by the information I was reading. (Chernobyl, anyone?)
At different tim...more
I picked this book up for two reasons: I am a fan of the show Destination Truth and it is this month's selection for a reading group to which I belong. I anticipated it being nothing more than a regurgitation of the episodes I've seen on TV, but that assumption was way off mark.
Anyone who has ever experienced even a fleeting moment of wanderlust should read this book. Gates takes the reader along on some amazing journeys, but he also provides some important lessons about the difference between b...more
Anyone who has ever experienced even a fleeting moment of wanderlust should read this book. Gates takes the reader along on some amazing journeys, but he also provides some important lessons about the difference between b...more
If you've ever seen the popular show, Destination Truth, on Syfy, you know what this show is all about. A man (Josh Gates) and his team travel throughout the world in search of the crytozoological and paranormal. And if you've watched the show, you know it's not just about finding the unexplained, it's about the meeting of cultures and beliefs, finding reality within the myth, and Josh Gates traveling the world as he falls, fumbles, and cusses at the always-failing broken-down transportation.
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2 likes · like · see review
This was a great book. As a longtime fan of Destination Truth I could almost hear Josh telling the stories. If you like the show , you ought to read this. If you haven't seen the show but like travel books or sarcastic humor, you should read it too.
Yes, this is a book written by the host of the Syfy show Destination Truth and yes, it does give you a behind the scenes look at the unique challenges that Josh and his crew face. However, if that is all a reader gleans from this memoir, then I would suggest a re-read, as you've missed the most important part.
Josh is an adventure traveler and one of a small percentage of people that truly understands the importance of exploring the world in all of it's beauty and wickedness. Not merely traveling...more
Josh is an adventure traveler and one of a small percentage of people that truly understands the importance of exploring the world in all of it's beauty and wickedness. Not merely traveling...more
so, way back in the day when I was graduating from college my mom offered to take me to spain to celebrate. Now I didn't think it would actually happen because it wasn't the first time an offer had been made. But later I found out my stepfather had offered to pay, but he didn't want to go to spain. I offered some other options ireland, italy, you know europe. It turned out he was offering backpacking in indonesia. My response... "I don't sleep on the ground". Yeah I know people are suppose to li...more
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Anyone who talks to me for more than five minutes knows that I love Josh Gates, I love Destination Truth, and I fangirled so hard when I heard this was coming out. (Hell, I Preordered it at B&N.) It really didn't let me down. Gates writes about various explorations that they've done, and things that have gone wrong, and things that have gone so very right. Gates was a photographer before he started working on this show, and it's demonstrated here. He's got a way with words and setting the sc...more
Its evident that Josh Gates is not only well versed in the Legends he hunts but also in life in general. His quick witty one liners that make the show so appealing, transfer straight across to the pages of his book. I was also very impressed with the level of writing that Josh has seemingly produced on his own accord with out the help of a co-author. Another point of interest was the fact the instead of recanting the first season of Destination Truth, like other in the same field have done, he i...more
To say that this book was amazing and inspiring to me would be a very big understatement. I originally picked up this book because I am a huge fan of Josh Gates and the Destination Truth show, but I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it is.
This book is not just about the creatures the Destination Truth team studies and looks for, hunts shall we say but also about how lazy we've come, how obsessed with safety we are and how little we are willing to take an adventure as North Americans. It inspi...more
This book is not just about the creatures the Destination Truth team studies and looks for, hunts shall we say but also about how lazy we've come, how obsessed with safety we are and how little we are willing to take an adventure as North Americans. It inspi...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the SyFy series Destination Truth through the eyes of its leading man. Josh Gates has been at the top of my list of favourite television personalities for years now, and I enjoy reading his musings and interactions on Twitter just as much as I enjoy watching him trot the globe looking for monsters, so it is, perhaps, no surprise I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Josh's voice is unique and his tone and sense of humor carry through flawlessly...more
Oct 26, 2011
Maggie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
adventurers, travelers
“Wind is suddenly screaming into the cockpit of this aging Antonov biplane. Charts and a half-assed, handwritten flight plan whip by my face and through the cockpit door into the main cabin. In the rear of the plane our director of photography, Evan, who has been filming out the open door, is suddenly thrust forward toward the edge of open space, only to be yanked to a stop by his four-point harness. Documents eject past him into oblivion.”
Josh Gates brings his customary wry sense of humor and b...more
Josh Gates brings his customary wry sense of humor and b...more
Josh Gates is indeed a monster hunter, being the lead of the show by the same name, in which he and his team visit (sometimes) exotic locales to try to prove/disprove, or find clues about the existence of some of the legendary and mythological animals that are rumoured to live in the area. What I like about the show is that they seem to go into the investigations with a pretty healthy skepticism, but at the same time realizing that you can never say never, and that some of these place are very u...more
This book was nothing like I originally expected it to be. Initially, despite the fact that I figured it would simply be a behind the scenes play by play of Josh's many cases, I picked it up anyhow because I find Josh amusing. To my surprise and happiness I was completely wrong. Though he does mention his cases, this book contains so much more...his thoughts on travel, humor, culture, food...everything. As someone who experiences the itch to travel often, he really gives a good argument as to wh...more
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was a bit hesitant to purchase it, even though I absolutely LOVE the show, cryptozoology, and traveling; I was afraid that I would find the DT crew to be disappointing. I worried that I would find out that they only do this for money(I'm sure being paid to travel is nice), and actually hate their jobs. I need not have worried, it is very clear that Josh Gates loves what he does and his personality throughout the book is much like it is on the tv serie...more
Fantastic! Josh has a personality that is hard to not love and that amazing personality is found in his book. He is a wonderful storyteller and he kept me laughing so much throughout the whole thing. I had to stop at one point and simmer down a bit because I had a laughing fit. You only see so much of his adventures on the television and this book really fills in the gaps that you don't see. Wonderful book. If you like the show, you'll love this book. Even for those who've never seen the show -...more
I really, really enjoyed this book. Any one who loves the series on Syfy called "Destination Truth" will get a kick out of this book. Written with the same sarcastic wit that makes Josh a hysterical darling on the show is present in this book. I actually walked away from the book feeling bad for cursing out the show whenever I hear "the season finale" after only 6 shows per season. It gave an excellent insight, not only into the history of the show, but also what occurs during taping of episodes...more
I got this for my b-day last week & it provided a lot of entertainment for us in the hospital. It's not just reading entertainment. There are games, too. We were quarantined, had some dice with us & learned some new dice games.
This is more of a travel book & memoir. It reads the way Gates talks & comes across in a conversational tone. There are "behind the scenes" stories about Destination Truth travels, but not a lot of info on the investigations themselves. The case files betw...more
This is more of a travel book & memoir. It reads the way Gates talks & comes across in a conversational tone. There are "behind the scenes" stories about Destination Truth travels, but not a lot of info on the investigations themselves. The case files betw...more
Josh Gates, you brilliant man, you.
I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this book. 5 stars aren't enough to adequately show how phenomenal it truly is. Not only are his stories amazing and his travels unbelievable, but Gate's writing style is uncommon and more refreshing than diving into a pool on a hot summer day.
But be aware: while you read this book, you'll get strange looks from people because you'll randomly bust out into laughter. I kid you not.
After reading about his adventures, I...more
I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this book. 5 stars aren't enough to adequately show how phenomenal it truly is. Not only are his stories amazing and his travels unbelievable, but Gate's writing style is uncommon and more refreshing than diving into a pool on a hot summer day.
But be aware: while you read this book, you'll get strange looks from people because you'll randomly bust out into laughter. I kid you not.
After reading about his adventures, I...more
As a longtime fan of the show Destination Truth, I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about reading this memoir from the show's host. Okay, I am kidding no one, I was the fan who waiting for the premiere of the show for a month and have refused to miss a single episode since so we'll call me a dedicated fan of the show. Honestly, as much as I love Josh Gates as the host of the show itself, I wasn't quite sure what I found discover about him as a writer. The two things are very different venu...more
I picked up this book because I am a fan of the SyFy show Destination Truth. I find the host, Josh Gates, to be witty and charming, so when I discovered that this book was actually written by Josh, and not by a ghost writer, I knew I had to give it a chance. I'm so glad I did.
This book isn't as much about monster-hunting as it is a diary of Josh's travels with the DT team. For anyone who is interested in travel, I think this book is a must-read. Josh and the DT team have explored corners of the...more
This book isn't as much about monster-hunting as it is a diary of Josh's travels with the DT team. For anyone who is interested in travel, I think this book is a must-read. Josh and the DT team have explored corners of the...more
I adored this book. First, it's incredibly inspiring. Destination Truth already made me want to get out in the world and go experience different cultures, but after reading about all the places Josh and the DT crew have been, I want to pick a place and go.
The book was also very clever and witty, something I was expecting after watching how quick witted Josh is on the show. I especially loved the chapter about what not to do as a tourist - I've definitely seen people commit those faux pas on som...more
The book was also very clever and witty, something I was expecting after watching how quick witted Josh is on the show. I especially loved the chapter about what not to do as a tourist - I've definitely seen people commit those faux pas on som...more
Feb 05, 2012
Tatum
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
DT fans, cryptid/unexplained phenomena buffs, alternative travel people
Well, I suppose I should start by saying that I do love the Destination Truth show and have seen all the episodes, which probably makes me biased when I say I very much enjoyed this book. As I was reading I kept hearing Josh Gates' voice and delivery and I could picture the episodes he was talking about and that did add to my enjoyment.
That said, he does talk about world travel and customs and it's interesting, independently of if you've watched the show or not. He's obviously passionate about g...more
That said, he does talk about world travel and customs and it's interesting, independently of if you've watched the show or not. He's obviously passionate about g...more
I love the show, and I think Josh Gates is a proper explorer, but I don't believe he has the background necessary to make the statements he does in his entries on various cryptids. Those aside, this is a fascinating travelogue as well as an excellent spotter's guide for strange encounters.
It's also interesting for its revelation on how much work goes into making these shows that take the cast from one part of the world to the other, something that some other shows in the same business leave out...more
It's also interesting for its revelation on how much work goes into making these shows that take the cast from one part of the world to the other, something that some other shows in the same business leave out...more
I love the show Destination Truth on SyFy. The host Josh Gates is funny yet extremely knowledgeable. He and his team travel the world looking for monsters like the Yeti, The Jersey Devil, ghosts and all other things that go bump in the night. I will say that if it was not for Josh Gates i would not watch the show. He is awesome. So this book has the tale of how he got his job and some behind the scenes look at some of the shows episodes. It also has a bit about his growing up, friends, family et...more
This is a fast, mostly entertaining read. If you like Josh Gates's funny, snarky narration on the TV show Destination Truth, you'll probably like this book. His commentary is the only reason I watch the show most of the time because seriously? I could give a hairy Bigfoot's posterior about most cryptozoology. I do enjoy his ghostly encounters, but Mr. Gates mostly discounts those as being outside his preconceived notions of the world therefore not real. Which strikes me as funny, snarky, and sli...more
This book it a behind the scenes memoir of the host of Destination Truth on SyFy. Josh Gates and his crew go through some crazy stuff, while hunting the "Monsters" on the show. Some things are completely hilarious, and some things would scare the pants off of me. I really liked the story's of the people they met and things they saw on their travels. Alot of the stories in the book were things that weren't shown on the Television show. I finished the book in one sitting, it had me hooked from the...more
Apr 06, 2012
ZaBeth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
_g-biography,
source-lib,
_g-travel,
r-suite101,
r-goodreads,
series_1off-read,
7-writingcareer
Josh Gates is trying to do for American travelers what Alton Brown has done for American cooks. In his book documenting the making of his Destination Truth TV show that airs on the SyFy channel, Gates mixes in a good dose of well-phrased pop culture, notes on the mysterious folklore creatures he is chasing, and a good bit of common sense about traveling around the world today.
Destination TV Memoirs
This very funny and often touching memoir will take readers to the far corners of our planet. To t...more
Destination TV Memoirs
This very funny and often touching memoir will take readers to the far corners of our planet. To t...more
* The full review is available on my blog {Bookish Comforts}
To put it simply, I thoroughly enjoyed Memoirs of a Monster Hunter! Gates provides an excellent narration, allowing the reader to come along on his trips as he recounts various life and travel experiences, some DT related, some not. In fact, it took me a bit longer to read the first 50 or so pages than normal because I couldn’t get Gates’ voice out of my head! I think that speaks to his ability to bring alive the stories he is sharing,...more
To put it simply, I thoroughly enjoyed Memoirs of a Monster Hunter! Gates provides an excellent narration, allowing the reader to come along on his trips as he recounts various life and travel experiences, some DT related, some not. In fact, it took me a bit longer to read the first 50 or so pages than normal because I couldn’t get Gates’ voice out of my head! I think that speaks to his ability to bring alive the stories he is sharing,...more
I really enjoyed this. Don't be fooled into thinking this author is going to spend his time trying to convince you of the existence of bigfoot and ghosts. This is a humourous look into the travel adventures of the host of a popular SyFy show, mainly detailing some pretty sticky situtations they get themselves into, with just enough mystery to keep you wondering. From Chernobyl to the Amazon, this book takes you across the world with some chilling anecdotes and laugh-out-loud mishaps. Loved it.
I bought this book in soft cover because my husband wanted to read it too. I have to say that from the moment I started reading I was hooked! Mr Gates writes in exactly the same manner he talks. It was witty, the humor was dry! It was impossible not to hear his voice in my mind! It was a wonderful peek behind the scenes, and filled out some of the stories!
I also enjoyed reading about how the whole Destination Truth saga began. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they watch the show o...more
I also enjoyed reading about how the whole Destination Truth saga began. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they watch the show o...more
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“Travel does not exist without home....If we never return to the place we started, we would just be wandering, lost. Home is a reflecting surface, a place to measure our growth and enrich us after being infused with the outside world.”
—
18 people liked it
“The magnificent thing about her [Amelia Earhart] is, in the eyes of the world, she simply never died. Her fear never witnessed, her failure never recorded, her shiny twin-engine Electra never recovered. Earhart's legacy of inspiration is amplified because her adventure is perpetual. We don't think of her as dead; we think of her as missing. She is forever flying, somewhere beyond Lae, over that limitless blue horizon.”
—
6 people liked it
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