Three reads that dig into different psyches
By Molly Sprayregen
Hell on Two Wheels
In Hell on Two Wheels, Amy Snyder provides an astonishingly well-reported story of a group of athletes who face sleep deprivation, hallucinations, heat stroke, respiratory problems, neck failure, and so much more in the Race Across America, a competition to be the first man or woman to reach Maryland from the Pacific Coast. This race is not done in stages like the Tour de France. Instead, athletes bike straight through the nights, sleeping no more than three hours
A Blistered Kind of Love
One Couple’s Trial by Trail
The miracle of Angela and Duffy Ballard’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike came not from their completing the journey but instead from the fact that, after five months, 6,300,000 steps, 1 knee injury, 36 blisters, a marmot attack, 528 ibuprofen doses, and countless arguments, they were even more in love than when they began. (Mountaineers Books, $18.95)
My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir
After losing her job as a fast-paced blogger, Noelle Hancock decided it was time to change more than her occupation. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing every day that scares you.” So, for 365 days, Hancock did just that. From karaoke to shark diving, Hancock chronicles her discovery that, by embracing and understanding her fears, she can dominate them. And by intertwining her own story with that of Eleanor Roosevelt, Hancock adds fascinating depth to an inspiring tale. (Harper
Collins, $25)
