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Local

A Search for Nearby Nature and Wildness

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About this listen

After travelling the whole world, can exploring a single map ever be enough?

Adventurer Alastair Humphreys spends a year investigating the small map around his own home.

Can this unassuming landscape, marked by the glow of city lights and the hum of busy roads, satisfy his wanderlust? Could a single map provide a lifetime of exploration?

Humphreys discovers more about the natural world than in all his years in remote environments. And he wakes up to the terrible state of British nature, land use, and freedom to roam the countryside. This is an ode to slowing down and the meaningful experience of truly getting to know your neighborhood.

Local is a celebration of curiosity, time spent outdoors, and a rallying cry to protect the wild places on our doorstep. It is a reminder for all of us that nature and wildness are closer than we think.

Narrated by the author.

©2023 Alastair Humphreys (P)2023 Alastair Humphreys Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Conservation Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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I very much enjoyed this audiobook. I am a big fan of Henry David Thoreau who was clearly a big inspiration here. I found it to be very enthusiastically and passionately read by the author who kept me engaged and I would definitely recommend.

Very enjoyable

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Slightly different from Alistair’s previous books (which are excellent!) but inspiring and teaches us to consider our choices, as well as enjoy the local environment around us.

Inspiring to all

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I have been following Alastair's journeys for some years after reading his inspirational "Around the World by Bike". He has a great voice to listen to, and being the author, his enthusiasm oozes through the speakers.

This book was anticipated after following his activities. He did caveat the book by saying it was more of a campaigning story, but don't let that put you off. The campaigning is more about preparing you, the listener, to be able to do things about what you are likely to find, and ask questions about, if you decide to explore your own area. It highlights what you can expect to find anywhere "Local".

It was a fascinating and (again) inspirational listen, and now I feel enthused to go and explore my own "Local" map.

Many thanks to Alastair

(There were also many truly heartening and stirring quotations at the start of each chapter)

So why only 4 stars for story? It is all relative. 5 stars when compared to other stories, but try listening to "Around the World by Bike" or for anyone planning a Mid Life Crisis - "My Midsummer Morning" and those are 5 star Alastair Humphries!

Another wonderful listen from Alastair

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This book was a great listen. A narrative for the concept and basis of the adventure, but so much information beyond this about what was found and all in context. Both local adventure and the world we live in all narrated with Alistair’s absolute excitement for every step.

Local a great inspiration for accessible adventure.

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Local is an invaluable reminder of just how important that which is right beneath our noses ises. A must listen/read!

Look up, look down, look left, look right and breathe!

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