On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage

On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage on leondumoulin.nl *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage by .
Table of contents

Rueben, being a former editor, knows where to stop and what to cut out from a book sometimes this is not as easy to do as it seems. Rueben's "pilgrimage" is as much a personal, even spiritual journey as it is a physical one. It is not fair to even mention this book in the same sentence with Bryson's. Rueben's hike, as well as his book, is a much more sincere effort.

For one thing, he hiked the whole AT. For another, he hiked the AT because it was a pilgrimage for him, not because he just wanted to get some material for his next book. Rueben's journey is a triumph whereas Bryson's is a failure. Rueben is consistent throughout his book in writing and storytelling, whereas the second half of Bryson's book ultimately falls into some random, chaotic and awkwardly put together bits and pieces can you say hypothermia?

Comparing this book with those of Colin Fletcher who certainly had some long hikes would be more appropriate. There are two differences between the two over-simplifyingly: Rueben is a better writer and editor, while Fletcher goes on and on and on, Rueben knows how to write a compact yet insightful book; 2.

Fletch is a true naturalist and truly enjoys the outdoors, whereas for Rueben, the hike was just a vehicle on which he hopes to carry out his personal and spiritual search. I had read so many books about walking the Appalachian Trail that I thought I would not purchase any more, but noting the excellent reviews of 'On the Beaten Path' I decided just one more. I am glad I did. Everyone's experience of the AT and the reasons for undertaking the venture, is unique.

Robert Rubin was having a "mid-life crisis" and hoped that the challenge of the trek would produce some sort of transformation in him. He probably did not expect the level of guilt he would suffer throughout the journey over what he admitted was a selfish act. I liked the inference that the AT has now become the "beaten path", because so many people hike it every year.

He brings to light just how close the AT is to civilization when he sees the tops of the two towers of the World Trade Center and realizes that the panorama of Manhattan is just beyond a single wooded ridge. The author also paints a graphic picture of the illnesses that befall the AT community, the torn knee ligaments, the stomach bugs, the health hazards of crowded mouse-lousy shelters, the strange effect on the bladder.

But it is not all doom and gloom, the author has a beautiful command of the language and the descriptions of the environment he is walking through read like poetry. This is the first book where I have read the "Afterword" before finishing the book because I could not resist finding out whether he really did find what he was looking for.

One person found this helpful. I finished On the Beaten Path recently and have to say it's one of the most lyrical books on the AT experience I've ever read. I love Rubin's writing, as I should, since he was an editor before hitting the trail and made the journey after becoming disillusioned with his job, along with the difficulties editors face, which I know first hand.

Slogging through lots of stories to find the gems and then once you do so, the pain of writing rejection letters, and even having to reject good writing simply because there's no room. Rubin's descriptions are poetic and vibrant, his approaches change as he is transformed by the trip and the spiritual nature, not in any heavy handed way, more the way one feels when they stand at a summit in awe of the vision stretched out before, above and below them.

He can translate this into words and therefore into our minds and hearts. This is a book I'll read over and over. It is an end-to- end, shelter by shelter NOBO relating of the trek, which at this point in educating myself about the trail, I enjoy. It makes it easier for me to look up sections as Loner goes through each particular area so I can imagine what he's seeing. The human story is just as vivid as the nature and travel experience.

Rubin honestly accounts the confusion and unsettled discomfort he feels and which drives him to the trail, despite the fact it is a hardship on his wife. We are allowed to come to an understanding, as he does, of how each hiker is transformed by the experience and via a ripple effect so are those in their lives. This remarkable weaving of many perspectives of the Trail helps us understands why some people "need" to make this journey.

On the Beaten Path: An Appalachian Pilgrimage

Some may see it as an escapist act, but in the larger vision, it is not a running away from the world but a running towards the true north authentic self. I agree with Bryson in looking at the attempted thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail as a sort of pilgrimage, something each culture needs as a sort of initiation, a coming to terms of what's important and how one must be transformed, an act which minds like Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell considered imperative to the growth of each person.

While not as irreverent as Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods", Rubin's book still has its funny bits, and while not as detailed as David Miller's book AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, with it's organized info, I found On the Beaten Path less dry for a non hiker who is looking more for a story than for a tool to use to plan a hike. So far, I think Rubin's book is my favorite on the Appalachian Trail, a profound story on both an inner and outer level, of what he calls a pilgrimage. Rubin masterfully blends the powerful encounters of human nature and Mother Nature into a vivid portrayal of this monumental task.

See all 57 reviews. Most recent customer reviews.

Published 8 months ago. Published 1 year ago. Published on August 3, Sep 30, Margaret rated it it was ok. I found this book to be I really don't know exactly how to describe it. Because it seems the author was struggling in his life when he began his hike - in his job, marriage, etc. I found it kind of depressing at times, particularly at the end. Rather than it coming across as this major accomplishment, I found this book to be Rather than it coming across as this major accomplishment, life-altering event, etc.

He said at the end of the book he'd been changed, but I didn't get that out of his writing. Jun 04, Mom2atornado rated it really liked it. This was a beautifully written book and when I had time to read, I would find it hard to put down. I truly felt as if I was with the 'rhyming worm' on his hike. I found myself ear-marking pages that had wonderful statements that I wanted to come back and read again. Thank you to Robert Rubin for including us in his adventure.

Mar 05, Nikki rated it it was amazing. Most AT thruhike memoirs have this formula - start in Springer, have lots of pages about the pain of the trail, talk about the people who dropped out, have a couple thoughts about society don't work desk jobs! This is not one of those memoirs. As an AT enthusiast, this book is now my "go-to" for showing people why a thruhike is truly magical.

Rubin is a great writer - it comes, in part, fr Most AT thruhike memoirs have this formula - start in Springer, have lots of pages about the pain of the trail, talk about the people who dropped out, have a couple thoughts about society don't work desk jobs! Rubin is a great writer - it comes, in part, from his M. As a result, this book reads beautifully: Rubin is not one to say that his thruhike is without pain, but he is the only memoirist I have read that takes the time to reflect on it, recognize it was good, and focus on the positive parts of the trail.

The result is a book that is both honest about the pitfalls of thruhiker culture in the late nineties, while showing that there is beauty, self-discovery and happiness to be found on the trail. I devoured this book in one sitting and this is as a busy graduate student because of how important it was. Aug 03, Jen Larsson rated it liked it. My husband read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. He said he felt like he was hiking the trail with the author and recommended that I read it with the hope that I would come to understand why he loves the AT so much.

The story was exciting and well paced. I very much enjoyed the other hikers and the trail nicknames. But, I had to force myself through the book because I couldn't stand the author. Basically, this guy hates his job and hates his suburban lifestyle. He thinks that if he quits his My husband read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. He thinks that if he quits his job and hits the AT for 6 months, he will find himself or figure out what is missing in his life.

Unfortunately, he has a wife and a mortgage and other bothersome things adults are tied to. I couldn't get over this guy whining for two thousand miles about himself and his guilt at leaving his wife saddled with everything back home. He struck me as so self centered- why drop out of life for six months? Why not just take some Lexipro and therapy and look for another job? Yeah - these thoughts ruined the book for me. I appreciate the honesty, but I was too annoyed to enjoy the story.

Nov 27, John rated it it was amazing. Hands down one of my favorite books about the AT. Rubin describes the trail with a descriptive dialogue that makes it easy to read. His personal view about the trail and fellow thru-hikers makes you want to pack your gear and follow the blaze north. This book also had me questioning Pamola Two sentences left me awestruck in this book I've read a number of books written by people who hiked the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. They all seem to be at a crisis point in their lives. Some have lost a job, or simply gotten sick of their job and quit as in Robert Alden Rubin 's case.

Some have gotten a divorce or their spouse had died recently. For anyone who is over about 25 or so, it seems it would take a pretty powerful motivation to spend six months walking up to 20 miles or more every day through all kinds of weat I've read a number of books written by people who hiked the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. For anyone who is over about 25 or so, it seems it would take a pretty powerful motivation to spend six months walking up to 20 miles or more every day through all kinds of weather.

For Rubin , his choice to hike the AT seems to be a way to avoid making a decision about his future. He hated his job as an editor of nonfiction books at a publishing company and so he quit. His wife Cathy understood that, I think, but when Rubin decided to spend six months walking the AT, leaving Cathy to hold hearth and home together, she was not quite as understanding. Frankly, I was surprised they were still married by the time Rubin wrote the epilogue, seven months after he had finished walking the AT. They were taking separate vacations at that time, so who knows what the future holds for them?

The main reason I gave this book two stars instead of my standard three readable with minimal flaws is that for large portions of the book, reading was a hard slog. It becomes very obvious that Rubin's work as an editor of nonfiction books influenced his writing, despite the fact that he has a degree in creative writing. In other books I have read about thruhikers on these 2,mile trails, their personal journey is as important as their physical journey. Rubin ends his trek without coming to any conclusion about his life and in fact when he wrote the epilogue seven months later he still didn't have a job.

The author information on the book jacket states that Rubin now works as a senior editor for the Appalachian Trail Conference, which seems like an ideal job for him. One has to wonder how his wife felt about that. I imagine she was glad that he got a job. Please note I realize that the relationship between the author and his wife is none of my business, but he wrote extensively about it in the book so it is natural to speculate about whether they were able to find a middle ground and work out their differences.

For most people it seems these extremely long thruhikes bring about a fundamental change in their lives and even their character. For Rubin, it seems to have brought out something that was already there, simmering underneath. I would recommend this book only for diehard thruhiker fans. I fear I am becoming one - a fan, that is, unfortunately I am too old and have too many health problems to be more than an armchair hiker.

Mar 19, Terri rated it liked it. I looked forward to reading this book, and for the most part, enjoyed it. The author did a lot of research and I liked reading about the history and geography of the AT However, the book started to get a little slow and I started skimming. The biggest disappointment, though, was that throughout the book the author talked about giving up everything and hiking the trail, searching for something in his life.

But spoiler alert , by the end of the book, I still didn't know what he was I looked forward to reading this book, and for the most part, enjoyed it. But spoiler alert , by the end of the book, I still didn't know what he was searching for and whether he found it. After all he put himself and his wife through, he could've at least told me what happened after he went off trail. Jan 30, Jen rated it really liked it. I still dream of hiking one of the long trails I probably will until I actually do it.

It sat on my amazon wish list for almost 6 years, until a recent Secret Santa kindly bought it for me. Aug 28, Judy rated it liked it. I liked this book. I think it probably deserves a 3. Dec 19, Jennifer rated it really liked it Shelves: Another book about someone making the trek from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail.

This was the best out of the three I've read so far. Rubin chronicles his journey like a diary and doesn't include a lot of boring statistics like the others. He is more personal and includes more descriptions about his own journey and not the trail in general. He starts each chapter by telling what day of the hike it is, the date, his location, how many miles he's walked and how many he has left, the weat Another book about someone making the trek from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail.

He starts each chapter by telling what day of the hike it is, the date, his location, how many miles he's walked and how many he has left, the weather and the elevation. It gets exciting as it nears the end and I anticipated his ascent to Mount Kathadin. He returns to Damascus for trail days and meets up with some of the thru hikers from ' He knows that that particular adventure is over now and it's time to move on to something new. I found I could relate to much of the author's feelings, including the sentiments found in the following quotes: Lately, a work week would blink by almost before I woke up - five days of struggling out of bed in the morning, sorting through bad manuscripts, churning out copy, making excuses, racing deadlines, asking favors, sucking up.

The weekend would slip by too, and no book or movie or Internet chat session could slow it down. These are my demons. Over the past few years they'd multiplied until I could no longer simply will myself to turn the machine off and get on with the business at hand. More and more I found myself raging at the obligations, the failures, the fact that I couldn't stop repeating myself, couldn't leave the demons behind.

It began poisoning the accomplishments I took pride in, the beauty I saw, the friendships I valued, the people I loved. That's one of the ways depression works, coming upon you gradually, like the night. Myself am hell, Satan says in Paradise Lost. It's a darkness you carry with you, a darkness that burns. But for all that, mornings come, and with them, hope. I'ts about all most of us have come to expect in the age of information and entertainment: No hype has manufactured it, no spin doctoring applied, no marketing necessary.

Jul 06, Dee Mills rated it liked it Shelves: The guy can write, but for me, his book was that of an observer rather than a participant. Too often, he seemed to step back and watch the experience, rather than open himself to the experience itself. I found this off-putting.

On the Beaten Path : An Appalachian Pilgrimage: leondumoulin.nl: Books

Too often, his stance had a pinch of superiority to it. I suppose it was only that he was trying to analyze situations, but I didn't invest enough in the author to appreciate his insights. Perhaps my enjoyment of this book was tempered by the fact that I didn't find the a The guy can write, but for me, his book was that of an observer rather than a participant.

Perhaps my enjoyment of this book was tempered by the fact that I didn't find the author to be a likeable fellow. Other readers might have a different reaction. Jun 30, Kurt rated it really liked it Recommends it for: It's another hiking narrative of a guy's trip up the A. This one's got a little more going for it than many. He has an on-going stressful relationship with his wife that the distance doesn't seem to help.

And also he weaves in a lot of local history, geography, ecology and so on. He worked in publishing before hiking in So that could hint that he knows about writing and about the Trail, too. It's a good and thoughtful r It's another hiking narrative of a guy's trip up the A. It's a good and thoughtful read.

Sep 11, Joseph Gillen rated it liked it. I read a lot of hiking stories, mostly about the AT. This one was just OK. To me, it seemed the author made the actual story secondary to trying to be poetic. The "verse" seemed forced to me, as were the periodic allusions to Thoreau.

I skipped over several paragraphs of rambling descriptions. The highlight of AT stories for me are the interactions of thru hikers and the unexpected friendships. This book didn't have those in any real detail and I missed that. No matter what, the author wrote a boo I read a lot of hiking stories, mostly about the AT. No matter what, the author wrote a book and walked the AT, two of my dreams, so he definitely has my admiration.

Apr 20, Anthony rated it really liked it. I have always wanted to hike the entire Appalachian Trail and have been enthralled with hearing about anyone else that has, this is another one of those stories. Robert did complete the entire journey and speaks about the day to day life and his thoughts during the trek. This is more of what I was looking for, less side stories and deviations from the story and more what actually happens on the trails.

Bla bla bla No wonder this guy quit his job as an editor. This book was boring.

Product details

A forced attempt at humor and self analytical babble. It moved indiscriminately between the people on the trail, nature, psycho babble and trail history in an in organized and rambling manner that I did not enjoy. No wonder this guy quit his job as an editor. If this book is a reflection of his skills he should stick to hiking.