10,000 Better Days: Promise of the Appalachian Trail

by David Knobbe

Epic adventures done well and right are probable game-changers. That's what this book's about. If you're looking for a "How To" book about hiking the Appalachian Trail, this isn't it. If you're looking instead for a "Why To" book, this might be what you're looking for. In 1987, the author completed a 2,100-mile southbound trek along the Appalachian Trail. David Knobbe was young and admittedly stupid about many things related to such an adventure. Luckily, he was not beyond learning and improving with each of the five-million steps between Mount Katahdin in Maine and Springer Mountain in Georgia. Instead of getting eaten by a bear or quitting along the way, he learned from misadventures with moose, monsters, mountains, and from the miles and miles the AT provided for thinking. As is true for most thru-hikers and serious adventurers, his journey became the foundation of valuable lessons embraced ever since. For the author, the payoff of investing six months in a "great" adventure was that each day since for the last thirty years has been better than it might otherwise have been. Every positive in his life can be convincingly tied back to that initial decision to hike the Appalachian Trail. And to not quitting when things got tough. That's the power of any adventure -- not just the Appalachian Trail. If done well and right, it leads to better days - Lots of them. You can't walk the backroads of fourteen states without collecting stories. 10,000 Better Days chronicles the high and low points of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. It describes brushes with devils and angels, heroes and heroines, kidnappers and lost souls. It's a thirty-year old snapshot of life along the thin slice of America that is the Appalachian Trail. It's always been a remarkable place. This book captures the good, the bad, and the ugly of six-months on the trail with light-hearted stories about the characters who kept the experience interesting. We'd all benefit from stepping into the wilds now and then and just soaking it in. For those who pursue something more, they might reap even more like a renewed spirit and a more-targeted trajectory. Epic adventures come in all shapes and sizes. They don't even need to involve tents or boots or mosquitoes. If done well, though, any adventure, as long as it's big enough, offers a shot at amazing and enduring outcomes. This is the story of one such adventure and its value thirty years later.

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 23, 2019

Reviews

[funkeedancer257_]

Excellent read!

Made me think about my life adventures in a different way. One of those books that make you go "Hmmm..."

[Mike Calabrese]

Another good thru hiker book... 30 years later.

I enjoy reading thru hiker books as each one has a different perspective. Mr. Knobbe's angle was that he wrote his thru hiker book 30 years after the event. 2 things that stood out for me were that he met some interesting people along the way and his faith was one of of the factors that got him to Springer. He was a bit preachy at times and inferred that you were less of a person if you did not complete your thru hike. But this was a good read.

[Barbara Jaquith]

Better than some

I read everything I can on the subject of the AT. This book has some positives...the author frames his experiences well in the context of doing all aspects of life well. It is there for re puzzling why he did not get this book edited. It has an abundance of missing words and typos that should be cleaned up to be congruent with his message of doing an adventure with purpose and excellence. In this aspect the book is typical of many... one persons potentially interesting story described in a sloppy manner.

[Lisa]

I didn't think I was going to like this when I first started reading it, it seemed to be a typical motivational book, which is not my favorite. When I got around 15% in, though, I really started loving it. I even got my newest favorite quote:

Somewhere there may be more and there may be better and there may be greater; there's no assurance that there is, but there's no assurance that there isn't. And not to look for what might be because it might not be is failure, plain and simple.

[Mitch]

A true inspiration

Knobbe has written an amazing book, chronicling his 1987 thru hike on the AT, and all of the life lessons he perform that experience. A truly remarkable saga, with some awesome lessons.

[Rhonda]

10,000 better days

This is a good book, could be a great book with better editing, but it is definitely 10,000 better words. Great thoughts behind the scenes of simply thru hiking a trail turning it into life long lessons.

[Lily]

This book was pretty good, but lots of repetition. Needs a good editor.

[Susan Bisbing]

Great book

Loved this book. Living the hike through reading the descriptions of his hike. He walked alone and hiked with friends.