Ten Lessons from the Road [Hardcover]

Alastair Humphreys (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Alastair Humphreys spent four years traveling around the world on his bicycle, a journey that covered 46,000 miles and five continents. During his trip he gave motivational talks and received thousands of emails to his website in which people asked what kept him going through the low-points on his journey. Collected here are the sources of Alastair’s inspiration, including affirming quotes, insights, and unique photographs. As this inspirational resource shows, the lessons he learned while on the road can be applied to any goal in life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alastair Humphreys is the author of Blue Mountains, Mood of Future Joys, and Thunder and Sunshine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: Eye Books; Reprint edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903070627
• ISBN-13: 978-1903070628
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alastair Humphreys FRGS

Aged 8, Alastair completed the 26 mile Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge. At 13 he did the National 3 Peaks in 24 hours. At 14 he cycled off-road across England. After leaving school Alastair taught for a year in South Africa and travelled round the region.
Whilst at Edinburgh and Oxford Universities he undertook several expeditions, cycling from Pakistan to China (Karakoram Highway), Land's End to John O'Groats, Turkey to Italy, Mexico to Panama and across South America. Alastair ran a charity project in the Philippines and the London marathon dressed as a rhino.

After Oxford Alastair cycled round the world for 4 years.
He has raced a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean and canoed 500 miles down the Yukon River as well as walking the length of the holy Kaveri river in India.

Alastair ran the Marathon des Sables, finishing as one of the ten fastest Brits despite breaking his foot during the race. He has rowed to France with Major Phil Packer, a soldier paralysed in Iraq.

To fight off the wanderlust back home Alastair managed a sub-3-hour marathon, had a miserable time during the Original Mountain Marathon, the Devizes to Westminster 120-mile canoe marathon and another one during Tough Guy. Travelling round the World Cup in a camper van was much more fun.

Alastair has published three books, with one more due by the end of 2009. (He has also written chapters for Lonely Planet's 'Flightless' anthology, the Adventure Cycling Handbook, Stanorama and The Traveller's Handbook).

After spending a year teaching 10-year-old boys in a school's Special Needs department, Alastair is now training for the Bob Graham Round and preparing for SOUTH, the first unsupported return journey to the South Pole and the longest unsupported polar journey in history.

Alastair pays the bills through public speaking, fulfilling a long ambition in 2008 by speaking to a full house at the Royal Geographical Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Into the Future, June 5, 2009

By 

R. hickman (Lasd cruces, New Mexico USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ten Lessons from the Road (Hardcover)

If you need a book to inspire anyone, this is it! Alastair Humphreys has taken his journeys on the road and drawn from past writings to create a book which will inspire, particularly anyone graduating from high school, university, or going into the future a bit shy. We all need a bit of gumption to take on our dreams - if anyone can tell you how, Humphreys can do it - he's been there and done that. He could not always have been the bravest of adventurers - big surprise, given the challenges he took on.But he did accomplish his dream one step at a time. Included photos are outstanding; writing draws you in; treat yourself to a wonderful bit of encouragement from the best of our young people.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick, easy, and enjoyable!, June 3, 2009

By 

J. Jensen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ten Lessons from the Road (Hardcover)

I found Alastair Humphreys' "Ten Lessons from the Road," to be a very quick, easy, and enjoyable read! This is the first book that I've read of his, and I found it very entertaining. I'm not a cyclist, but this book really isn't about cycling. Rather, it's about life and whether or not you're really "living" it. Throughout "Ten Lessons from the Road," Humphreys provides 10 lessons that led him to his greatest accomplishment and venture, yet. He provides examples and pictures from his journey, but moreover, life's lessons that he learned along the way. Through feelings of self-doubt, fear, etc., Humphreys persevered and achieved his goal. He reminds us that life goes by all too quickly, and encourages us to live our lives and pursue our dreams while we have the chance. I'd highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who needs or requires a bit of motivation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading, November 26, 2010

By 

Welshgal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Lessons from the Road (Hardcover)

Alastair is very inspiring and we had the privilege of having him stay with us for a week in California while he was on his epic journey. He funded this trip himself, cycled in all kinds of places,under challenging conditions and he has lots of fascinating tales to tell. This is not a book about cycling - it's more about what Al learned as he spent 4 years cycling round the world. He raised a ton of money - and a lot of visibility - for a UK-based charity called Hope and Homes for Children, and he is a very inspiring speaker. How many of us would even dare to do what he did? I think we can all learn from his book - bravo Al!!