Perseverance

Life and Death in the Subarctic

By: Stephan Kesting

Narrated by: Stephan Kesting

An adventurer, firefighter, and jiu-jitsu practitioner embarks on a journey of a lifetime—a thousand–mile voyage through the Canadian subarctic—after recovering from a life-threatening illness.

The Canadian North is a vast and lonely land where bears roam free, fires rage unchecked, and storms blast every living thing on the tundra. When Stephan Kesting, already no stranger to pushing his own physical limits, was faced with a rare illness, he knew the only way for him to recover in both body and mind was to dig even deeper.

Despite the dangers inherent in the subarctic, Kesting sets out on an unimaginably difficult journey. Completely alone for six weeks in the wilderness, where a single mistake could cost his life, Kesting followed in the footsteps of the native peoples and earliest explorers. In this deepest solitude and wracked with self-doubt, he found the strength to endure.

Perseverance is the moving and nail-biting account of his journey from near-death to a raw embrace of adventure and life. Inspirational, vulnerable, and honest, Kesting shares the lessons he learned in the wilderness that will help us hold onto hope in our darkest moments and show how we can find the strength to overcome any obstacle.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Stephan Kesting (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

I'm not an outdoorsman but I love this book,!

I really enjoyed how the author plugged so many reflections triumphant tragedies together in a way that read very natural.

Authentic and Interesting Adventure in the Outdoors

I’ve followed Stephan’s work online for years now, generally his martial arts content. Decided to check out his book after hearing part of it on his podcast. It was a really fun adventure story that was authentic and interesting. Made me want to take up canoeing and visit the arctic even though I have neither of those skills. Really though it made me appreciate the outdoors and thinking about the good times I’ve spent outside and memories I’ve made. His personal challenges also made me think that I need to get out and do more because life is easy to take for granted. A great story and one that made me think long after I finished it.

Perseverance

I really liked how the author weaved in how he trained what he sacrificed about his brothers and other family members. I think it was great how he gave the details of what was going on, but didn’t overdo it so the story moved quickly and it was interesting. And as I mentioned, I particularly appreciated him talking about the preparation in the years of preparation not just for this particular trip but overall experience in martial arts in firefighting in Whitewater kayaking, rafting and guiding it wasn’t just he decided to take off one day. He had a ton of Practical knowledge. It was also impressive of how many books he said he read in preparation.
A great read!

A wonderful adventure into the far north.

This is a well written and well documented adventure of a canoeist travels tracing the river systems used by early hunters and explorers navigating the very northernmost lands of North America.

Engaging and inspirational

Review of Perseverance by Stephan Kesting

Rating: ★★★★★

As someone of a similar age and origin to Stephan Kesting, yet with only the faintest experience in canoeing, I found Perseverance to be an extraordinary and moving account of one man’s journey through the Canadian subarctic. Kesting’s narrative is not just a retelling of an epic solo trip; it’s an exploration of the earned capacity to endure and thrive in the face of extreme challenges.

Kesting’s journey is rendered with such vivid detail and emotional depth that I felt as though I were experiencing it alongside him. His descriptions of the landscape, the wildlife, and the solitude are so immersive that I could almost feel the mosquitoes biting.

What sets this book apart is Kesting’s ability to intertwine the physical challenges of his journey with introspective reflections on life, resilience, and personal growth. His vulnerability and honesty in sharing his fears, doubts, and moments of despair make his journey all the more inspiring.

I will never embark on such an epic journey, yet I am inspired to attempt something to test my own capacity, Kesting’s story offers a vicarious experience that is both exhilarating and enlightening. It serves as a reminder that even as we reach a pass our middle age, there is the potential for growth, transformation, and triumph.

I think this is a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever faced adversity and sought the strength to overcome it. Highly recommended for readers of all ages and backgrounds, but especially old Canadian couch, potatoes.

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