Life will make you do many things, some that you want to and some you do not. But if there is one thing that should not stop you from doing things that you want to do, it is failure. Josh Mathe, the author of In the Footsteps of Greatness attempted the superhuman feat of hiking the 222 miles of the John Muir trail in 6 days twice before he could finally conquer the trail in 2013. This amazing win would not have been possible if he had just dropped the whole thing when a Yosemite bear took away all his food after just a day’s hike. But that nagging desire and the spirit to persevere helped him overcome this small setback and start again from scratch.
Josh Mathe has a Masters in Human Nutrition, is a fitness expert and an endurance athlete who has finished multiple triathlons including Ironman. He is the Director of Sustainable Health Institute and owner of One 10 Performance & Nutrition. He regularly coaches athletes and business professionals for success and physical strength.
Title: In the Footsteps of Greatness
Author: Josh Mathe
Paperback: 183 pages
Publisher: 3L Publishing (June 26, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0692230270
ISBN-13: 978-0692230275
Book Review
Josh will tell you that tenacity is as important as physical fitness when you are alone in the wilderness. But it was not just the mind, of course. Overcoming the challenges on the trail also needed careful planning and meticulous training. In The Footsteps of Greatness shares all his ups and downs as he went about defeating the highest mountain peak in the continental US.
I would like to thank 3L Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this engaging and motivating book. There’s something exhilarating in knowing about a fellow human being persevere and stretch the boundaries of will and matter. However, the book is not all ‘Guru-Speak.’
Josh Mathe shares all the intricate details of preparing for this adventure. He shares the methods that helped him overcome his perceived limitations and how he tore away the negativity that crept in every time he faced a challenge. For hiking and camping enthusiasts, he provides a lot of tips about how to plan and pack for a hiking adventure , and all the thought that went into selecting the right clothes, shoes, and bear canisters to protect the food supply. As a nutritionist, the author outlines a detailed breakdown of the food that he took with him on the trail for optimum performance and endurance, and balanced his calorie needs with the food weight that he had to carry on the trail.
The book reads more like a story than a non-fiction account of how or what you should do when you pursue such goals. The motivational aspect of the book works in the background as the author makes you laugh and feel the excitement of the daily challenges. It is an easy read and the reader will take away many things on different levels from the book – some practical, some spiritual. I will say that it is a non fiction book that fiction readers will love to read.