Alexander D.C. Kask
Perseverance is an essential trait for longevity in the martial arts along with attraction to risk, embracing discomfort, and enjoying undertakings that provide neither financial gain nor fame. Kesting has provided an evocative and engrossing account of an epic odyssey in an environment few of us will ever get to experience. I was impressed by how he was able to seamlessly share vulnerability, interweave philosophical insights and convey moment-to-moment urgency in a manner that made this a unique page-turner. A must-read.
Daniele Bolleli
"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. I cannot recommend it enough."
Explore Magazine
"The title of the book is fitting—Perseverance. It’s an inspirational and honest read, showing his vulnerable side. Throughout, the author compares lessons from the wilderness he is paddling through that gives us hope in our day-to-day, dark times. Simply put, you can find strength in this book to overcome any obstacle."
Judo Olympian Roman Hatashita
"Stephen’s incredible account of his journey into Canada’s rugged North embodies the many martial arts principles that lead to success. Train hard, train smart and aspire for perfection through repetition, repetition, repetition but most of all, never give up."
Adam Shoalts
"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."
Robert Drysdale
"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.
April Henry
"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."
Mordecai Finlay
It is really an amazing book. It is an incredible adventure, but way beyond that. t’s deep and wise at times comic at times tragic, with unexpected turns and twists. Eminently worth the read!
Patrick Wyman
"Equal parts adventure story and introspective journey into deep questions of survival and self-understanding, Stephan Kesting's Perseverance 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."
judo Olympian Roman Hatashita
Stephen’s incredible account of his journey into Canada’s rugged North embodies the many martial arts principles that lead to success. Train hard, train smart, and aspire for perfection through repetition, repetition, repetition but most of all, never give up.”
author of The Verge Patrick Wyman
Equal parts adventure story and introspective journey into deep questions of survival and self-understanding, Stephan Kesting’s Perseverance is a gripping and propulsive narrative.”
New York Times bestselling author April Henry
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.”
Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Robert Drysdale
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.”
bestselling author of Where the Falcon Flies and B Adam Shoalts
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.”
Multiple Time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Robert Drysdale
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.”
Library Journal
03/14/2025
Firefighter, martial artist, and lifelong canoeist Kesting (coauthor of Non Stop Jiu-Jitsu) describes his six-week, 1,000-mile trek through the Canadian subarctic in the aftermath of personal loss and a close brush with mortality. Kesting argues that people don't undertake grueling and dangerous pursuits like this for mere happiness or enjoyment, for these are fleeting emotions. Instead, a journey like this, whether it's summiting Mt. Everest or embarking on a solo trek in the middle of nowhere, comes down to finding satisfaction (which may involve hard work, pain, or even fear), learning about oneself, and allowing oneself to be changed by the immense power of nature. Kesting's account of the physical and mental training necessary for this arduous journey serves as a reminder that all challenges—from seemingly simple tasks such as organizing a cluttered house to crushing events such as contending with the death of a loved one—can be met with resolve and preparation. VERDICT A compelling tale of one man's struggle against nature and himself, conveying the immense personal satisfaction to be gained if one steps off the beaten track.—Brian Renvall
