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Man, Dog, Bike: A Ride Between Head and Heart, via India
“Man, Dog, Bike” is an evocative and comedic travel memoir about a disenchanted Australian musician on a journey to exhale the soul-decaying poison of routine and inhale the freedom of unhindered existence.
David Kerrigan is going through a quarter life crisis. He’s next in line for the house, wife, 2½ kids, dog, fish and the office job. He sometimes has trouble breathing.
Facing a life where he’ll march up grey stairs from a grey car park to a grey desk to sit behind a grey computer with a picture of an exotic tree as a screen saver, a phrase a close friend once said comes to mind:
‘Don’t aim to be material-rich. Aim to be story-rich.’
He quits his day job, says goodbye to family and friends and armed with little more than a backpack, a guitar, and a ticket to Nepal and India, an incredible journey begins.
A six-week stay turns into six-months, a blue motorbike is purchased in India, the subcontinent traversed north to south, and despite the early cold showers, a four-legged motorbiking companion, being chased by police at the border, a Maoist riot, a 10-day silent meditation retreat, (during which the Boxing Day Tsunami occurs nearby, hence the author’s older brother, unaware of his younger brother’s whereabouts, travels to India to find him), David learns that no matter where you go, you take yourself with you.
A transformative journey of self-discovery through a heart on sleeve, candid exploration of love, friendship, family, despair, loss and hope, served with a relentless dose of humor, call it the male response to ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, “Man, Dog, Bike” is an inspiring story of a young man’s determination to carve his own path.
David Kerrigan is going through a quarter life crisis. He’s next in line for the house, wife, 2½ kids, dog, fish and the office job. He sometimes has trouble breathing.
Facing a life where he’ll march up grey stairs from a grey car park to a grey desk to sit behind a grey computer with a picture of an exotic tree as a screen saver, a phrase a close friend once said comes to mind:
‘Don’t aim to be material-rich. Aim to be story-rich.’
He quits his day job, says goodbye to family and friends and armed with little more than a backpack, a guitar, and a ticket to Nepal and India, an incredible journey begins.
A six-week stay turns into six-months, a blue motorbike is purchased in India, the subcontinent traversed north to south, and despite the early cold showers, a four-legged motorbiking companion, being chased by police at the border, a Maoist riot, a 10-day silent meditation retreat, (during which the Boxing Day Tsunami occurs nearby, hence the author’s older brother, unaware of his younger brother’s whereabouts, travels to India to find him), David learns that no matter where you go, you take yourself with you.
A transformative journey of self-discovery through a heart on sleeve, candid exploration of love, friendship, family, despair, loss and hope, served with a relentless dose of humor, call it the male response to ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, “Man, Dog, Bike” is an inspiring story of a young man’s determination to carve his own path.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2017
About the author
David Kerrigan
1 book8 followersDavid Kerrigan is an Australian Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter, who became an author by accident.
As a first generation Australian, he’s the son of an Irish father and a Maltese mother. He’s travelled to over 45 countries: having often earned his way by playing live music. By definition of taxpayer, he’s officially lived in the UK and the USA.
As a first generation Australian, he’s the son of an Irish father and a Maltese mother. He’s travelled to over 45 countries: having often earned his way by playing live music. By definition of taxpayer, he’s officially lived in the UK and the USA.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 22, 2017
Yes, it's my own book. But surely my reader-self is allowed to give my writer-self 5 stars, right?
Hope you check out more here:
http://www.davidkerrigan.com/
https://www.instagram.com/daveykerrig...
@daveykerrigan
https://www.facebook.com/DavidKerriga...
https://davidkerriganblog.wordpress.com/
Hope you check out more here:
http://www.davidkerrigan.com/
https://www.instagram.com/daveykerrig...
@daveykerrigan
https://www.facebook.com/DavidKerriga...
https://davidkerriganblog.wordpress.com/
June 4, 2017
To be fair, I know the author. This book was an ideal blend of charm, self-deprecating humor and biting sarcasm, which in itself is exactly the descriptors I would use for the author. At times I was laughing out loud, and at other times I was holding back tears in the break room at lunch. Kerrigan's experiences were told so vividly that I could smell the sweat, dirt, and exotic food during his travels. I could feel the exhaustion, sexual tension, and calm as he described. The build up to his breakthrough made me feel like I was living it with him. Afterwards an enormous weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, and I, too, could once again breathe deeply.
December 12, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fabulous read! The author is phenomenal!
April 16, 2018
For me, Kerrigan has really hit the mark in the keen insights and technicolor observations in the tale of his transformative journey through India over a five month period. A naturally gifted story-teller, he has embraced the task of recounting a massive life adventure from the inside out, which is no mean feat-. He brings us in, innocently, as he began his journey, with minimal expectations and forethought. Then he takes us on the ride of his very sharp learning curve through India, from the north, to the south. I enjoyed the entire telling of it; his employment of the Aussie sardonic; the minimization of quite frightening escapades, the in jokes he shares with Ange, Lior, with others, and with us, the reader make his story so personal. I laughed out loud, many times, I heard the Australian vernacular which flows like water and I also resonated deeply with some of the more anguished moments. Kudos to David Kerrigan for allowing us to share in his reflections with candor and an honest appraisal of his transformation. I can't wait to read more of his writing, which I will be keeping a watch for.
June 19, 2017
Brilliant read. A wonderful combination of fast-paced adventure, touching moments, Indian wisdom and general thoughts about travel, language, and human values and search for self-fulfillment. I loved every single word of it and it's the only book, I think, that I read from the very first word to the very last - yes, that includes the very funny Australian glossary of slang, terms and things, as well as the long list of Thanks.
I know the author and was very eager to read this, and can genuinely say I wasn't disappointed.
Highly evocative, I loved 'hearing' the various accents and the wonderful slangs of each language. I felt fully immersed in Kerrigan's Indian experience and was easily pulled in the story, which is really what I am after when I read.
I know the author and was very eager to read this, and can genuinely say I wasn't disappointed.
Highly evocative, I loved 'hearing' the various accents and the wonderful slangs of each language. I felt fully immersed in Kerrigan's Indian experience and was easily pulled in the story, which is really what I am after when I read.
July 16, 2019
This book is an epic road trip that captures an emotional and physical journey juxtaposing raw vulnerability with gritty self-determination. The storytelling has a connectedness that makes you feel you are traveling alongside him sharing every sight, smell, and feeling. The writing has energy, honesty, and an ever-present laconic sense of humour that often belies the intensity of the lived experience. A great read this book is an ode to living life consciously, bravely and with a desire to draw every last drop out of it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews