It took 4 years of writing, but now my book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic is available for pre-order. And I'm going to bribe you get it.
This is an adventure story about my 1,000-mile solo trip from boreal forest to the windswept tundra of the Arctic after a life-saving kidney transplant. Bears, forest firest, rapids, storms... it all happened on that trip.
Early reviewers have been unanimous in their praise for the book, which has been very gratifying...
Praise for Perseverance from Early Reviewers
"Perseverance has the breakneck pacing of a thriller but in real life. Evocative and beautifully written, this book will satisfy both armchair adventurers and people who are moved to push themselves to superhuman feats."
April Henry
New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen
"I sat down to read Perseverance and didn't stop until I was done. This book is a love letter to Nature, a meditation on the haunting beauty of voluntary solitude, and a thrilling adventure all rolled into one. Can't recommend it enough."
Daniele Bolleli
Historian, author, and the creator of the popular History on Fire podcast
"A fascinating, eloquent account full of wisdom and insight on wilderness travel and life. Kesting's positive, resolute mindset in facing adversity and tackling daunting challenges is a welcome life lesson."
Adam Shoalts
Ph.D. bestselling author of Where the Falcon Flies and Beyond the Trees
"Stephan’s incredible account of his journey into Canada’s rugged North embodies the many martial arts principles that lead to success. Train hard, train smart and aspire for perfection through repetition, repetition, repetition but most of all, never give up."
Roman Hatashita
Judo Olympian
"Kesting’s book serves as a wake-up call of how weak and artificial (which is to say, impoverished and inhuman) an excess of city life has made us. Risk and perseverance are amongst life's most elated testaments to itself. And from this costly venture, we learn to become who we were meant to be all along.”
Robert Drysdale
Multiple Time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Undefeated MMA Fighter
"Like a whitewater canoe trip, Stephan’s book Perserverence describes physical action so vividly you will feel the urge to itch the mosquito bites. The moments of introspection provide a welcome salve to the physical hardship described.”
Paul Mason
Author of Thrill of the Paddle
"Equal parts adventure story and introspective journey into deep questions of survival and self-understanding, This is a gripping and propulsive narrative of a solo trip into the wilds of northern Canada. Kesting's thousand-mile trip pulls the reader into an alien landscape that offers both myriad dangers and the hope of excavating the deepest layers of the traveller."
Patrick Wyman
Author (The Verge, Reformation, Rennaissance and Forty Years that Shook the World) and Podcaster (Tides of History and The Art of Dadliness)
“An epic book about an epic journey! Stephan Kesting records his solo trip through subarctic Canada in vivid and visceral detail. All the trials and tribulations – and what was done to mitigate or overcome them – are laid out in a thoroughly engaging way. The hard-won wisdom and insights to dealing with extreme circumstances will be of value to all readers as they navigate life's difficulties."
Iain Abernathy
7th dan karate, and author of Mental Strength
"A thrilling, grim, comical, adventurous, inspirational, instructive confessional. Eminently worth the read!”
Mordecai Finlay
Former Marine, Rabbi at Ohr HaTorah
"Perseverance by Stephan Kesting is a phenomenal read. Stephan immerses us in a unique world, (one that I will never experience myself) that is both intriguing and inspiring. So many adventures, life lessons, and pure entertainment. And the writing itself is stellar. Thank you Stephan for taking us along. Your readers are better off for it."
Burton Richardson
Author of 5 Martial Arts Books, Full Instructor in Bruce Lee's Jun Fan JKD Method
"Insightful and inspiring, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic is a field manual for navigating past physical and mental boundaries. Kesting’s rigor in drawing insights from adversity is as impressive as the miles he paddled.”
Mike McCastle
Extreme Endurance Athlete & Performance Coach
Perseverance, Life ane Death in the Subarctic, is available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indigo right now!
Pre-Order Bonuses from Grapplearts
Why on earth would you pre-order something that isn't released yet?
There are three good reasons (the bribe is number three)...
First, pre-orders are incredibly important for an author. They send a message to the bookstores that a book is going to be popular, and in turn, they'll support it more. Pre-orders make or break a book
If you've ever appreciated my emails, videos, or podcasts grabbing this would be a great way to show support and I would be supremely grateful.
Second, if you pre-order now then this won't get lost in the shuffle next year and you'll be among the very first to get the book in your hands.
Third, if you pre-order, please take a screenshot. Then hit reply to this message, send that screenshot, and I'll put you on the list to get my next professionally produced BJJ instructional entirely for free when it comes out in September.
(Pay $29.95 for a book, get a $97 instructional for free; pretty good bribe I think!)
Where to Order Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic
Here's where you can grab this book and get the bonus instructional right now!
Click here to pre-order on Amazon
(or click here for Amazon.ca)
Thanks so much!
Stephan Kesting
P.S. Unlike many of the 'authors' in our space, I wrote every word myself without using ghostwriters or ChatGPT. So you're getting the real, unvarnished deal here.
P.P.S. If you send me the screenshot of your order then not only will you get that BJJ instructional you'll also get invited to a live Q&A session about the book and outdoor stuff in general.