The author, Erling Kagge, is almost more fascinating than his book. Kagge, a Norwegian, takes on challenges. He has done the three basic walking challenges – North Pole, South Pole and Mt Everest….and to add a nadir to the quadrant, he squirmed through the sewers of New York when his marriage was breaking up. This is not an ordinary person. Then again, it’s hard to say that any long distance walker is ordinary.
“Walking” is more of a philosophical treatise than the description of a journey. It is, though, a passionate thesis on the power of walking. Erling understands both pain and elation. In the author’s world there is no joy without effort. The more extreme the effort, the more ultimate the joy.
I enjoyed this book. It’s a short read at 177 pages, but it is intense. It almost makes blisters seem like a blessing.