Perseverance

“The title of the book is fitting—Perseverance. It’s an inspirational and honest read, showing his vulnerable side. Throughout, the author compares lessons from the wilderness he is paddling through that gives us hope in our day-to-day, dark times. Simply put, you can find strength in this book to overcome any obstacle.”   – Explore Magazine“A compelling tale of one man’s struggle against nature and himself, conveying the immense personal satisfaction to be gained if one steps off the beaten track.” – Library Journal“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 *“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 *“Stephen’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 *“Equal parts adventure story and introspective journey into deep questions of survival and self-understanding, Stephan Kesting’s Perseverance is a gripping and propulsive narrative of a solo trip into the wilds of northern Canada. Kesting’s thousand-mile voyage to the Arctic is anything but lonely, pulling 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 of The Verge, Reformation, Rennaissance and Forty Years that Shook the World and podcaster on ”Tides of History” and “The Art of Dadliness” *“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 *“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. I cannot recommend it enough.” * Daniele Bolleli, historian, author, and the creator of the “History on Fire” podcast *“Perseverance is an essential trait for longevity in the martial arts along with attraction to risk, embracing discomfort, and enjoying undertakings that provide neither financial gain nor fame. Kesting has provided an evocative and engrossing account of an epic odyssey in an environment few of us will ever get to experience. I was impressed by how he was able to seamlessly share vulnerability, interweave philosophical insights and convey moment-to-moment urgency in a manner that made this a unique page-turner. A must-read.”  * Alexander D.C. Kask, Takenouchi-ryu Ju-Jutsu instructor, former executive editor Charles E. Tuttle Publishing *“It is really an amazing book. It is an incredible adventure, but way beyond that. t’s deep and wise at times comic at times tragic, with unexpected turns and twists. Eminently worth the read!” * Mordecai Finlay, Former Marine, Rabbi at Ohr HaTorah  *

Stephan Kesting is an adventurer, jiu-jitsu practitioner, and a firefighter. He has traversed the Canadian North for over forty years, both on his own and as a guide. He has a Masters degree in biology from McGill University, which has informed and deepened his appreciation of the natural world. As a firefighter for over twenty-five years, Stephan has been commended for his courage, being awarded the Canadian National Medal for Bravery. He has been published in canoeing anthologies, is the author of several jiu-jitsu instructional books, and has written thousands of online and magazine articles in the martial arts and outdoor adventure space. He lives in British Columbia with his family.