Books
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A new book reveals, in vivid detail, how Christopher Knight escaped society more completely than most anybody else in human history
In honor of Outside's 40th anniversary, we're selecting our all-time favorite gear, places, accomplishments, and people. This month, we rounded up 40 of the wisest tips we've ever given—on everything from health and fitness to what should be on your reading list.
Jim Shepard’s latest collection takes a hard look at characters confronting extraordinary—and often cataclysmic—environmental situations
Florence Williams has been writing about the tangible benefits of getting outdoors for years. Presenting the best of what she's learned.
Running and storytelling go a long way back. These are some of the most notable examples.
'World, Chase Me Down' is a nonstop crime adventure novel. Even better, most of it actually happened.
The new photography book 'Racing Age' reminds us that it's a whole lot of fun to be a competitive athlete for life
Noted adventure writer Colin Thubron's latest novel tells the story of residents trapped in a burning building—but it also distills what he's learned over a lifetime of nomadism
When Douglas Preston joined an expedition searching for the ancient Ciudad Blanca, he realized there may have been some truth to the warning not to enter the place
In an always-connected society, the urge to unplug has never been stronger. A new book takes a fresh look at just how difficult that can be.
Though it is humble, it will always come to the rescue when nothing else seems right
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
Author Michael Branch's new book is a hilarious and thoughtful exploration of how to be a parent in the wild and harsh Nevada desert
In an excerpt from "Raising Wild," Michael Branch examines at the stick—you know, the part of the tree—as legendary plaything, metaphor, and ultimately, just a stick
British citizen Rory Stewart spent the first 36 years of his life exploring everywhere but Britain. In his new book, he finally returns to the country of his nationality and tries to understand it.
In 'The Unnatural World,' journalist David Biello argues that while humans have gotten Earth into a mess, we also have the power to fix it
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
Garrett McNamara's new autobiography tackles his reputation, his critics, his records, and his less-than-traditional childhood
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
The stars of 'Alaska: The Last Frontier' have created a cookbook full of their family's best recipes that offers homesteading inspiration to even the city-bound
A new photo book tells the stories of trailblazing athletes and advocates. There’s a good chance you haven’t heard of most of them.
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
The comedian, actor, and author of the new woodworking book 'Good Clean Fun' talks about one of his favorite projects—a canoe paddle
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
From dog-eared classics to under-the-radar picks, this is our list of 15 books that will awaken the adolescent Outsider.
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other media on our radar
The photos in the accomplished skier's new fitness-focused book show that she knows her power. But do her messages about strength and beauty hit quite as powerfully today?
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
On his recent trip to the top of the world, polar explorer Eric Larsen didn’t so much hike as fight, slog, and swim. He’s now convinced that his will be one of the last on-foot expeditions to the North Pole.
Tom Harrison makes painstaking, recreationist-friendly maps the old-school way. But it's not a lost art—in the enduring popularity of his products is a lesson on what makes the paper map special.
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
Warren Miller’s autobiography gives a thorough look at his six-decade career—which just so happens to parallel the rise of skiing in America
Water-reporting vet John Fleck's new book explores the ways the West is dealing with drought, and it's not all gloom and doom
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
Seaweed farmers want Americans to eat the "kale of the sea" in more than just sushi, and there's good reason to take their advice
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
The rock climbing veteran talks his career on El Capitan and the psychology of climbing with Alex Honnold
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
Warren Miller Entertainment will also be releasing 'Here, There, and Everywhere' so look out for a tour stop in your area.
The books, articles, archives, and other happenings on our radar
The books, movies, music, podcasts, and other happenings on our radar
In an excerpt form Robert Moor's new book, 'On Trails,' the author attempts to guide sheep on foot with some of the nation’s last traditional shepherds
In a terrific new memoir about his career in journalism, McDonell talks about working with writers who became modern legends (including Jim Harrison, Edward Abbey, George Plimpton, and Hunter S. Thompson), the early days of 'Outside,' and the bright future he sees for a magazine industry that’s undergoing a historic transition.
In an excerpt from 'The Accidental Life,' McDonell tells the story of tagging along to a rather stuffy dinner party with Edward Abbey—and how things got a little out of hand.
The books, movies, shows, and other happenings on our radar
A political primer on the world’s most expensive sports party
A new book examines sex-specific fueling, the role of female hormones in performance, and why you're probably not eating enough carbs
In his latest novel, Dave Eggers follows Josie, a former dentist escaping the loss of her practice and a divorce, and her two children, Ana and Paul, as they take a road trip through Alaska. In this exclusive excerpt, they break into an abandoned ranger’s cabin to wait out a wildfire and hide from a man who Josie is convinced is pursuing them.
Lili Wright's debut novel is a fast-paced, immersive exploration of place and cultural veneration of the sacred object
Larry Olmsted's new book reveals the surprising truth about counterfeit foods.
For those who run, the sport is a subject of inexhaustible interest. From goosebump-inducing trail porn to the most thoughtful ruminations on running and life, here's how we stock our running library.
Adventure narratives written by women are finally getting their due—and Blair Braverman’s 'Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube' is a new classic.
At 18, determined to carve out a life as a "tough girl," Blair Braverman moved to Norway to learn dogsledding at an Arctic folk school, chasing fear and finding home in the great white North.
In his new book, 'Being a Beast,' Charles Foster attempts to understand the inner lives of animals by living as they do—as an otter, fox, badger, deer, and swift. In this excerpt, he "becomes" a red deer and allows himself to be hunted by a bloodhound.
You worry about your vacation—we’ll handle the reading list. We'll even help you decide which book to take with you (just in case you're a little too busy on the trail to read all of our picks).
Even in urban settings, there's potentially super-nutritious, super-cheap food growing right out of the cracks in the sidewalk. In an excerpt from his book, 'Unseen City,' Nathanael Johnson asks if it's possible to utilize it safely—and deliciously
Even if you’re not traveling from Los Angeles to Patagonia by way of 13 countries like this writer did, you’ll want to add his travel resources to your to-meet and to-read list
The writer's best travel works, compiled in 'Kingdoms in the Air,' are a lesson in curiosity, empathy, and proper fly-fishing technique
Proulx’s chronicle of two families who inhabit and ravage North American forests might be her best book yet
Whether you're a beginner looking for insider wisdom (don't give your friends beer poisoning!), or you're looking to try something a little more difficult (hint: chocolate-covered banana-flavored beer is not the move)
The acclaimed nature writer's portraits of 12 parks go beyond perfect postcard tributes, and the resulting book couldn't have come at a better time
Czech running phenomenon Emil Zátopek was unstoppable on the track. Outside of the arena, living in a Soviet satellite state, was where things got complicated.
Badass cyclist Juliana Buhring left a notorious childhood cult, biked around the world, set a world record, and wrote a book about it. It's as close as you could get to riding alongside her.
Justin O. Schmidt has traveled the world studying—and getting stung by—some terrifying insects. In his new book, he explains the nuances of the sting, from the bulldog ant to tarantula hawk.
Inspired by an ancestral ill-fated journey, a writer travels the world to understand how humans find their way through the unknown
Jon Krakauer’s obsession with what killed the star of ‘Into the Wild’ has persisted for nearly 24 years. Whether it was ignorance or arrogance, do the details still make a difference?
A conversation with the journalist whose 2015 surfing memoir, 'Barbarian Days,' just won the Pulitzer Prize, about tapping his passion for a book project, and what his favorite breaks are
The award winning journalist and documentarian has spent the past several years immersed in combat overseas and its portrayal. Why is he stopping?
Bestselling author Caroline Paul’s new book, 'The Gutsy Girl,' is a how-to guide for parents to push through the anxiety and let their kids take acceptable risks outdoors
In his new collection of short stories, the author presents a series of vignettes far from the bustle of cities, but no easy answers
A new book simplifies the complicated decision of how to buy ethical salmon—and how to make it with a citrus-dill-vodka marinade
Yvon Chouinard thinks environmental activists could learn a thing or two from businesspeople, even if—as he puts it—businesspeople are sleazeballs
In his latest book, Pulitzer Prize–winning scientist Edward O. Wilson argues for a bold step in conservation
Stock your physical and digital library with these must-read and must-see works that capture the fun, danger, and beauty of the cold.
A rollicking new book examines the extraordinary, nearly forgotten life of the american scout and adventurer
A retired Navy SEAL teaches us how to turn common household objects into brutal weapons in a pinch, which is almost as funny as it is terrifying