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Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America (Wanderlearn) Hardcover – December 30, 2006

by Francis Tapon (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 131 ratings
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Hike Your Own Hike is about hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and how its key lessons apply to everyday life.Who would enjoy this book? Anyone who: • Loves reading outdoor adventure books. • Has a good life, but wants to have an amazing one. • Wants to learn more about the Appalachian Trail. • Dislikes preachy self-help books, but doesn't mind getting some useful ideas presented in a light tone. • Is stuck in a rut and is looking for some inspiration to make important changes. • Likes to support starving writers. Unlike the typical self-help book, Hike Your Own Hike: • Provides an entertaining, flowing tale as a backdrop. • Draws all its lessons from the adventure of walking the entire Appalachian Trail.• Doesn’t take itself so darn seriously! Unlike the typical travelogue, Hike Your Own Hike: • Is not all about the author, it’s about what YOU can get out of the story. • Delivers practical ideas that help you squeeze more out of life. • Recounts a challenging southbound thru-hike versus the typical northbound thru-hike (only 5% hike southbound). The Seven Principles on how to get the most out of life are: 1. Hike Your Own Hike.2. Beware of Summit Fever.3. Hike with Passion.4. Learn from Trail Lore.5. Eat Well, Walk Hard, and Sleep Soundly.6. Practice Trail Magic.7. The Journey is Too Important to Take Seriously.Each chapter in the book is devoted to each concept. Chapter One starts in Maine where Francis learned the First Principle. Chapter Seven ends in Georgia where he learned the Seventh Principle. Summary: Hike Your Own Hike will inspire you to change your life without lecturing you. With over 50 photos and two color maps, this book will transport on an intense and remarkable journey that is filled with wisdom, insight, and mosquitoes. Visit www.FrancisTapon.com to download the first chapter for free!
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  1. Print length
    351 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wanderlearn Pr
  4. Publication date
    December 30, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0976581205
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0976581208
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The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Francis Tapon's book worth reading, for anyone and everyone unsure of their current path . . . . The 351-page book has helped bring focus to my own journey. I'm confident it'll help you, too.

The lesson here is to hike the trail the way you want - live the life you want.
The author challenges himself with Lisa, his hiking partner, physically through this backpacking trip, and intellectually by pondering the meaning of it all, what we can do to find more meaning and how to go about reaching this meaning. "Most people lead a life of quiet desperation," Henry David Thoreau said. Mr. Tapon thinks we should not settle for comfort, not "stay put and cling". We should get up and out - "soar". Comfort is not magic. And isn't magic what we're striving for? Well, yes! Passion, joy from passion, both leading to this magic.

You guessed it. This book is a guide, a self help, a how-to read that happens to take place while on a journey, and that's how it landed on my desk.
Hike your own Hike has a textbook appearance - headings, sub headings, charts, bullets, quotes interspersed throughout, photographs, maps, an index, endnotes, even quizzes. It is also personal and honest.

Comparisons will be made to Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Bryson's A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail). It is neither and a little bit of both. As such, it is a beneficial guide to improving the quality of one's life. Hardly new, rather another reminder and nudge to get back on the track of optimization. From that perspective, it's a worthwhile read.

The travel portion is valuable for newbies; disappointing for seasoned hikers of the Appalachian Trail and those well read about it.

It is hoped the book becomes a catalyst for a new trend in the reader's life. Mr. Tapon has done his part well. He has provided numerous tools. The value lies in what the reader chooses to take from it. ----Thom Gabrukiewicz, Redding.com

By hiking the Appalachian Trail, Francis gave himself 4 months to find out if he could get more out of life. This became his inflection point, where he let himself pursue a radically different direction in life. In doing so, Francis discovered his true passion is to be a travel writer, book author, and backpacker.

Understandably, Francis' new, itinerant lifestyle is not for everyone, and hiking the AT might not be your inflection point. Francis gets that. But what Hike Your Own Hike is about, is giving yourself permission to take a break from the everyday groove that you've worked yourself into, to try something different that might make you a lot more happy. It's about reducing the level of fear we all experience when we question our life-course and consider alternative options. ----BootsnAll.com review

Hike Your Own Hike is a wonderful self development and self help book that shows you why walking is so powerful for your mind, body and soul, as well as covering life lessons that will change our life with increased self empowerment, emotional health and emotional wealth." --BellaOnline.com

From the Inside Flap

Francis Tapon knew he had a good life--he had a great career, fantastic friends, a nice home, and a cool electric shaver. However, something was missing. His life was good, but not great. It was quite predictable and safe, but thoroughly uninspiring. He wondered how to take his life to the next level. He thought it would be smart to do what the sages do: hang out in the woods for several months and get some wisdom.

Although he ultimately found wisdom, finding it wasn't as easy or as romantic as all those spiritual books say it is. They neglect to mention that during the hot humid summer months there's no air conditioning in the woods.

Hike Your Own Hike balances the story of an adventurous and insightful trip across the Appalachian Mountains with practical advice on how to squeeze the most out of life both on and off the trail. It's enlightening, educational, and entertaining. It's a serious book that doesn't take itself so seriously.

Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in one season has soared in popularity over the last 20 years. Compared to 1985, there are eight times more people trying to "thru-hike" it! What accounts for this phenomenon?

Today people are overly stressed and need a break to return to the fundamentals. Feeling disconnected from the rhythms of life, hikers go on these multi-month trails to recalibrate their perspective. Hike Your Own Hike is about this incredible pilgrimage, what we can learn from it, and how to enrich our lives without getting too muddy.

"Francis Tapon's book is a marvelous addition to the very best outdoor and personal development books available. Against the backdrop of a rich and unique journey along the Appalachian Trail, Hike Your Own Hike offers the reader a wealth of practical how-tos blended masterfully with the wisdom of the ages. This isn't another boring hiking guidebook, it's a wonderful guidebook for life." -- Kim and Demetri Coupounas, Co-Founders, GoLite

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wanderlearn Pr; 1st edition (December 30, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 351 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0976581205
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0976581208
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 131 ratings

About the author

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Francis Tapon

Francis Tapon

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Origin: Francis Tapon's mom is from Chile and his dad is from France. He was born and raised in San Francisco, California.

Education: He has a degree in Religion from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Backpacking: He's walked across America 4 times and he walked across Spain twice. He was one of the seven finalists to the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Author: He wrote "Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America," which is a self-help book based on hiking the Appalachian Trail. "The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us" is about his 3-year adventure in 25 Eastern European countries.

Current activity: From 2013-2018 he is traveling to all 54 African countries.

To learn more about Francis, visit FrancisTapon.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
131 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, with one noting it's very informative for backpackers and hikers. Moreover, they appreciate its readability and humor, describing it as a great read and funny. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its hiking content, with one customer highlighting its detailed description of the Appalachian Trail. However, the writing quality receives mixed reviews, with some finding it well-written while others note it's repetitive.

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23 customers mention "Content"21 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the content of the book, finding it provides good insights into lessons learned and is inspiring. One customer notes that the principles are good for the soul, while another mentions how it relates to both backpacking and everyday life.

"...it is a collection of anecdotes about the AT, it is also a book of suggestions about how a person can live their life to its fullest potential...." Read more

"Lots of food for thought in this book. The author's philosophy on how real life relates to hiking (or vice-versa) is the center of this book, with..." Read more

"..." as are most all his fellow thru-hikers, and his tips on gear and techniques - interspersed throughout the book - have convinced me to "lighten up!..." Read more

"...Appalachian Trail, most of the book is devoted to a clear, simple philosophy he developed over the course of his journey...." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"18 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning it kept their interest throughout.

"...For the most part I enjoyed the book, although I thought the section on nutrition went on a little too long...." Read more

"...Do read this fascinating and enjoyable book!" Read more

"...All in all, I really felt like this could have been a good book, even as a self-help type book if the author would have humbled himself a bit and..." Read more

"...Mixed in with some interesting stories from the trail this book will keep you entertained while you enjoy reading it." Read more

4 customers mention "Hike content"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the hiking content of the book, with one review specifically mentioning its detailed description of the Appalachian Trail.

"...First of all, this book is about the Appalachian Trail. But it's also about hiking in general and not just on the well-beaten path...." Read more

"...I think it's amazing that someone can hike a long trail but some shouldn't write about it...." Read more

"Enjoyed the description of hiking the AT very much. Francis Tapon also is right on with his Life Lessons...." Read more

"Hike your own hike...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous.

"Mr. Tapon offers sound advice in his delightful and funny book...." Read more

"...While the advice is good for the most part, and the author is funny as other reviews say, it's not what many of the other reviews claim...." Read more

"Loved this book. It was funny and does relate to everyday life and backpacking...." Read more

11 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it well-written while others note issues with repetition and typos.

"...Tapon is very articulate in his musings but never to the point of rambling...." Read more

"...This can be eloquently imparted to the reader through sharing more real-life experiences along the trail, as opposed to telling the reader what's..." Read more

"...I also found several typos or spelling errors, which doesn't really bother me at all...." Read more

"...Although the author has an interesting way with grabbing life lessons from backpacking it didn't quite work for me...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Rick Seals
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down - Great Book, Not What You Think
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons From Backpacking Across America by Francis Tapon is a surprising book on many levels.

    First of all, this book is about the Appalachian Trail. But it's also about hiking in general and not just on the well-beaten path. It catches the reader unaware immediately because while it is a collection of anecdotes about the AT, it is also a book of suggestions about how a person can live their life to its fullest potential. Instead of just reporting what the author saw and did on his journey in the mountains, he recounts the lessons he learned and puts them in perspective for the reader. He breaks the lessons into seven basic parts, which I will not spoil for you here.

    This book is also surprising because unlike many of the AT books on the market which often give a simple recount of what happened during the author's journey, Tapon's tale does not focus primarily on his own adventure but rather it focuses on the big picture. He spends a lot of time describing the type of things that happen on the trail via quotes and emails from other travelers and then he tries to point out the significance of each. For instance he spends a lot of time explaining why there is an entirely different philosophy to traveling the trail north to south (being a SoBo) and south to north (being a NoBo). He explains what might motivate someone to do each and how each version of the trip will teach different lessons to the adventurer.

    Tapon is very articulate in his musings but never to the point of rambling. He never says, as far as I can remember, that you have to do anything a certain way. On the contrary, he says continuously to make your journey your own and offers various tools to do so. All in all, this is not your usual AT book. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes adventure stories and especially to anyone who has even remotely thought about taking the AT or any other multi-week or multi-month hiking trail. I give it five stars.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Pamela Wyant
    4.0 out of 5 stars Different than the typical trail story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of food for thought in this book. The author's philosophy on how real life relates to hiking (or vice-versa) is the center of this book, with a few trail stories thrown in. For the most part I enjoyed the book, although I thought the section on nutrition went on a little too long. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone just wanting another account of an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, but for anyone on a quest to get a little more out of life, especially those of us hikers who can really relate to concepts such as trail magic and hiking with passion, Hike your own Hike has some interesting ideas to get more out of life in general.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Leon Nelson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful compilation of options for living!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    What I learned from reading Hike Your Own Hike is that it's a masterful compilation of options for living that can be applied by virtually anyone who is less than satisfied with his or her present circumstance in life. That the author was able to mold these options into "7 Life Lessons" is testimony to his skill as a writer. I found myself keeping a note pad handy for jotting down many of Tapon's original and profound statements. His knack for including perfectly placed Quotable Quotes throughout his text kept the pace of the book lively. What's the key to the value of the book? It's inspirational! It's a handbook for Living a Better Life! Is there something in it for backpackers? You bet! I've backpacked passionately for 60 years, and I'm determined to continue for as long as I'm able. Tapon is really into "ultralite backpacking," as are most all his fellow thru-hikers, and his tips on gear and techniques - interspersed throughout the book - have convinced me to "lighten up!" This is one of those books that you want to share with your friends. Rather than do that, I chose to buy several copies for gift-giving. I encourage you to get yours NOW!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Emily S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and funny
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Mr. Tapon offers sound advice in his delightful and funny book. It's clear his prime motivation is to give to others, and in doing so he reminds us how to live a healthy, inspired life. While touching on a few of his experiences on the Appalachian Trail, most of the book is devoted to a clear, simple philosophy he developed over the course of his journey. My favorite part is his "Perspective of space" to reduce stress--how to imagine you are filming yourself, and slowly pull back the camera, to get a better perspective on your problems.
    One person found this helpful
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  • JacobH
    3.0 out of 5 stars Misleading but informative self-help guide
    Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of the reviews make this book seem like it is about the Appalachian trail. It's not. It's a self-help guide interspersed with anecdotes relating to the authors AT thru hike. While the advice is good for the most part, and the author is funny as other reviews say, it's not what many of the other reviews claim. It's a little preachy and there is a lot of emphasis and repetition of things like "eat your fruits and veggies" and "exercise daily". The author is funny but that doesn't really carry the book. I'm generalizing a bit, there is definitely some good advice here, but if you are looking for an epic adventure, this book does not fit that description.

    In addition, that it's got quite a few inaccuracies, ex. the White Mountain National Forest is a National Park, Franconia Ridge in New Hampshire is part of the Presidential Range, etc. Details like this detract from the already minimal amount of story and trail information that can be found within. One great thing was the perspective of a Southbound hiker on the AT, as almost all other books I have found are written from people who traveled Northbound on the trail.

    I wish I would have read the author's review of his own book prior to purchasing because he was much more honest with the description than the other "professional" editorial reviews!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • A. Burgess
    5.0 out of 5 stars Life is a journey!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I highly recommend 'Hike Your Own Hike'. It is fascinating how the author links the hike to real life, which after all is a journey! How are you travelling on your journey of life? What preparations have you made? Are you prepared for your future? Are you going to make the most of your journey? Do read this fascinating and enjoyable book!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • R. Walther
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in Germany on September 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    In 2006 I've heared the first time of the AT. I looked many videos and so I watched the youtube video about the CDT YOYO of Francis Tapon. Because of that I bought this book.
    It is not only a book about the life on the AT, it is a book which transfers trail wisdom on the "normal" life.
    So I could learn many things of long distance hiking and how to organize my "normal life". It helps me a lot. Altough I had till that a really good life. Family, job, ...
    But I wanted to "squeeze out the most out of my life".

    Altough I am not a native speeker and my English is really not the best, this is my favourite book.

    I thank Francis Tapon for this work and that he shared this experiences.

    R. Walther from Germany
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  • R Green
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good ideas and advice
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Having read the preview on Kindle I downloads the whole and read it cover to cover very quickly. The manner in which the story of Francis's AT hike is used is a vehicle to discuss a myriad of topics is inspired.

    Lots of great ideas and brainfood to get you thinking. A good read indeed..
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  • TJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring guide book for living my best intentional life!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Hike your Own Hike: honestly its seems a summary of my life learnings more succinctly said! Generally an excellent reminder for me to be more consistently intentional to get the most out of life and not slide off track drifting along at times. I enjoyed the format with the interjections of quotes from the trail and from other quotable sources. It was an easy read - I'm going to say with confidence the first "self help" style book I've read cover to cover. It's cool the way you unravel the principles along the journey. I wanted to read it more slowly to digest and take some actions along the journey too but still read it quickly as I was captivated. I did take immediate actions - cancelled several subscriptions, purged my closet, mapped my life inflection points to reveal the source of my own themes/principles, reminisced about moments of "trail magic" experienced and shared, helped my friend refinance her debt and set some goals to help her move to living below her means; and started to plan a 12-month trip through each country in South America. I love ("Don't") Eat like a Sumo Wrestler - I will forever think of that whenever dinner happens later in the evening!!!
    Customer image
    TJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Inspiring guide book for living my best intentional life!

    Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2023
    Hike your Own Hike: honestly its seems a summary of my life learnings more succinctly said! Generally an excellent reminder for me to be more consistently intentional to get the most out of life and not slide off track drifting along at times. I enjoyed the format with the interjections of quotes from the trail and from other quotable sources. It was an easy read - I'm going to say with confidence the first "self help" style book I've read cover to cover. It's cool the way you unravel the principles along the journey. I wanted to read it more slowly to digest and take some actions along the journey too but still read it quickly as I was captivated. I did take immediate actions - cancelled several subscriptions, purged my closet, mapped my life inflection points to reveal the source of my own themes/principles, reminisced about moments of "trail magic" experienced and shared, helped my friend refinance her debt and set some goals to help her move to living below her means; and started to plan a 12-month trip through each country in South America. I love ("Don't") Eat like a Sumo Wrestler - I will forever think of that whenever dinner happens later in the evening!!!
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  • ali
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is really good book to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is really good book to read. Makes you think about your life and right diction to make. it is a good guide to start or how to change your life. well done Mr Tapon.
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  • JONO5K1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good company for a long road.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I tend to enjoy travel books no matter-what. Francis definitely succeeds at creating a lighthearted read, and I can therefore only hope, that having read both books, another will soon follow.
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