I find it hard to relate to people that do not value any downtime, so it felt like I was peering into another life far removed from mine.
Feature image credit: Jacob Vizek (via Unsplash)
Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering is a self-help book that compels you to do more, yet acknowledges that you cannot have it all. Written with heart in a straightforward manner, this book is suitable for any audience. However, there is one disclaimer. Do not read Endure if you can’t stomach stories of animals being hunted and killed. After all, bowhunting is Hanes’ passion, and the process of stalking, hunting, and killing elk is exactly the field that he strives to be the best in.
The book starts with the author’s personal story. By including this tough upbringing from the outset, Hanes shows us what drives him to be the best. As he personally reflects on those challenging times, he notes the precursor for the extreme demands he places on his body now is directly related to personal pain being a constant for him for many years. In his own words, “Suffering grants power” (page 22). As he had grown accustomed to pain from others, he became indifferent to pain for his own ambition.
He then continues with his life history, giving the reader a thorough insight into his character development. We see how he overcame addiction, mediocrity, and relationships with toxic people to become the man he is today. He credits the people in his life that led him on this path, and the very few with whom he shared his bowhunting passion in life, as he often pursued the sport solo.
It is clear not only from the structure of the book, but the direct repetition of the message from the author to the reader, that it is okay to lead a conventional life; this book is not about judgement. What it is about is what is required from you to be exceptional rather than ordinary, should this be your desire.
With a detailed explanation of each hunt and the preparation taken beforehand, his stories are both motivational and transportive. When I hear of the wild and remote mountains he journeys in, it is hard not to feel a desire to escape to the wilderness of Alaska to enjoy the rawness it offers. For me, however, that is where my enjoyment of reading his anecdotes ends, as it is difficult to stomach the death of an animal despite him being selective in detail. He also explains his ethical position, which I feel is valid and makes perfect sense, yet is still criticised on social media.
Hanes sends a strong to message to every reader: to be the very best in one field, you must make sacrifices in others. If you want to relentlessly pursue your passion and excel, this is the book for you.
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Pan Macmillan Australia
Released: May 2022
RRP: $34.99
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