Moving into the second week of January, New Year’s resolution goers are either holding steady on their self betterment plans or rethinking them entirely. Without fuel for the fire, the flame of New Year’s motivation can dwindle quickly, and when faced with a setback, it might completely die out. These three books cushion the fear of failure by illustrating true stories of those who had massive goals and ultimately achieved them despite major challenges.
“Running with Sherman” by Christopher McDougall
When journalist Christopher McDougall moved his family to Pennsylvania Amish country, he adopted Sherman, a crippled donkey who, after years of neglect in the possession of an animal hoarder, could barely walk and was on death’s doorstep. McDougall’s original goal was to nurse Sherman back to health, but as Sherman’s physical condition improved, McDougall determined the donkey deserved a greater purpose. Winning the Leadville Boom Day race, an unbelievable spectacle where runners race donkeys in the high altitude Rockies of Leadville, Colorado, would become Sherman’s goal.
In his journey of training Sherman and himself to handle 15 miles of running at 10,000 feet, McDougall encountered numerous obstacles. The characters who help him along the way are individually inspiring in the journeys they have endured. McDougall’s writing is informative, inspiring, hilarious and heartwarming as hell. This is the ultimate story of how one goal can take on many lives of its own before coming to completion.
“To Shake the Sleeping Self” by Jedidiah Jenkins
Much like “Running with Sherman,” Jedidiah Jenkins’ “To Shake the Sleeping Self” is a story of both amazing physical accomplishment and relatability. When Jenkins decided to bikepack from Oregon to Patagonia, it wasn’t due to cycling experience or extreme athleticism. Grappling with confusing identities within his faith and sexuality, at 30 years old Jenkins decided to uproot his life and quit his job to embark on a grueling journey biking across the Americas.
This story is extremely inspiring for both those who feel they’re incapable of large goals and for those who give up their goals at the first sign of failure. Jenkins’ journey is by no means perfect, and there are several sections where he has to get off the bike and find other means of transportation to get to Patagonia. Instead of packing for home at the first challenge, Jenkins reroutes his plan to better suit the reality he’s faced with.
As he travels through different countries, Jenkins comically depicts cultural differences, and he shows a side of humanity that is unexpectedly beautiful and forgiving. Perhaps the most special part of the book is the conclusion. It’s far from a Hollywood ending and reveals the unglamorous truth of achieving a goal.
“Bravey” by Alexi Pappas
“Bravey” by Alexi Pappas — professional runner, Olympian and UO alumna — is a story chock full of motivational gold and comfort for those embarking on post-college journeys. Pappas coined the term “bravey” as a term for those who chase the dreams that scare them. Claiming her title as a bravey, Pappas illustrates her life story throughout the book from the loss of her mother by suicide at age 5 to her debut at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. At the core of the book is Pappas’ own experience grappling with mental health. She illustrates her self-healing journey with care and compassion for her past self and reminds readers how important prioritizing yourself is.
Pappas’ tone throughout the book is unwaveringly confident, but her story is extremely relatable despite the unfathomable things she has accomplished. “Bravey” depicts the inevitable ups and downs of life and assures readers that failure does not equate to the death of a dream. In the final chapter, Pappas unleashes a torrent of priceless advice to her readers about achieving goals. “Being committed isn’t about the end result, it’s about giving yourself the very best chance to get there,” Pappas said. Touching on themes of depression, body image issues, sexism and the challenge of balancing adult life, “Bravey” is an incredibly well rounded and combative story.
