Perseverance
Life and Death in the Subarctic
by Stephan Kestig
A life-and-death adventure in Far North, and the lessons learned while in complete solitude, deep in the wilderness.
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What People Are Saying
April Henry
New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen
"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."
Adam Shoalts
Bestselling author of Where the Falcon Flies and Beyond the Trees
"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."
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Mike McCastle
Extreme Endurance Athlete & Performance Coach
"Insightful and inspiring, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic is a field manual for navigating past physical and mental boundaries. Kesting’s rigor in drawing insights from adversity is as impressive as the miles he paddled.”
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Daniele Bolleli
Historian, author, and the creator of the History on Fire podcast​
"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. Can't recommend it enough."
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Emily Kwok
Two-time BJJ World Champion and Performance Coach
"Perseverance is an intimate look into the resilience one needs to complete such an ambitious adventure. By sharing heartfelt experiences throughout the course of Stephan's life, the reader is keenly immersed in his treacherous journey and pursuit of a lifelong dream. It is one man's beautiful tribute to the history and landscape of the North."
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Derek Beres
Author and Cohost of the Conspirituality Podcast
“When Stephan writes about the challenges of “navigating between the extreme of hypochondria and stoicism” three days into his six-week solo canoe journey, you quickly realize such contrast can be applied not only to every phase of his momentous trip, but to life itself. His is a well-earned life, and he offers a profound meditation on the nature of existence by traveling through parts of nature few dare to explore.
Robert Drysdale
Author, Multiple Time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Undefeated MMA Fighter
"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.”
Paul Mason
Master canoeist and author of Thrill of the Paddle
"Like a whitewater canoe trip, Stephan’s book Perseverance describes physical action so vividly you will feel the urge to itch the mosquito bites. The moments of introspection provide a welcome salve to the physical hardship described.”
James Benson-King
James Benson-King, Extreme Endurance Cyclist
"As an endurance cyclist who recently cycled from Alaska to Argentina, I understand the essence of perseverance. Stephan's gripping account of his 1,000-mile solo journey is a profound testament to resilience and determination. Meeting him whilst on my journey, I witnessed firsthand his unwavering spirit, which shines through every page of this incredible book."
Iain Abernathy
7th dan karate, and author of Mental Strength
“This is an epic book about an epic journey! Stephan Kesting records his solo trip through 1000 miles of subarctic Canada in vivid and visceral detail. All the trials and tribulations – and what was done to mitigate or overcome them – are laid out in a thoroughly engaging way. There is absolutely no self-aggrandisement here. Rather, we have a brutally honest description of what went right and what went wrong. A true page-turner!"
Patrick Wyman
Author and creator of the Tides of History Podcast
"Equal parts adventure story and introspective journey into deep questions of survival and self-understanding, Stephan Kesting's Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic 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.”
James Pierratt
World-record breaking hybrid athlete and best-selling author
