At the end of each year I enjoy sending out our book recommendations  and as the holidays approach it is really nice to take some time for yourself and to curl up in front of the fire place with a good book. I have reached out to some of our guides, friends and family of Norm Hann Expeditions to share their top book selections of 2023 for your enjoyment. Support your local books stores if you are looking at grabbing one of these for your holiday reading or as a Christmas gift for those who love to get books as a present.

“My favourite book of the year was The Wager by David Grann.  From the very first page, you are captivated by a story of deception, shipwreck, starvation and life on the open seas in 1700s. This book rivals Shackleton’s Endurance for one of the greatest survival shipwreck stories ever told. A must read! – Brandon Oolsthorn, Bow Valley Sup & Surf

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage – Alfred Lansing. “Funny you should mention this Brandon as Erick Peterson, Crossfit Conditioning, also recommended this book this year. Maybe one of the greatest stories of survival, perseverance and leadership ever written. I read this book 25 years ago and it still has a special place on my bookshelf.” – Norm

The Connected Coast – “I love the drawings, practical tips and coastal stories. A really great reference book for guiding on the coast.” Tina Currie

Fire Weather – John Valliant. “Every Canadian should read this book.” Anne Hann

The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See “It has quickly become one of my favourite books. Very well researched and captivating, I highly recommend it. And of course it’s ocean themed :)” -Laura Mercy

Possessing Meares Island – Barry Gough ” This book launched me down the rabbit hole about the early explorers of the Pacific and North America. This book was enlightening – a sound, objective, and thoughtful historical accounting of the people, nations and events that have shaped the nature of the Pacific Northwest and Clayoquot Sound in particular.” – Coach Neil

Open – Andre Agassi – Bruce Kirkby. “A great recommendation by Bruce, I loved this book as well. I know Bruce also read The Wager and Fire Weather on our paddling trips this summer which he really enjoyed. And if you haven’t read Bruce’s books yet, Blue Sky Kingdom, then I highly recommend it as well.”

Outsider: An Old Man, a Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past – Jen Segger  “Gifted to Norm and I by Tracy Kelly after our Nisutlin River trip, we both enjoyed the story of Dag, an endurance runner, extreme skier and hermit living in a old bus in the Okanagan Valley and his challenging life story and personal philosophies.”

Never Turn Back – The Life of Whitewater Pioneer Walt Blackadar – Norm “I found this book at Blue Toque Sports in Courtenay, it’s a tough one to find. But what an amazing story about Walt who started his paddling career quite late in life and went on to shock the outdoor world by doing the first solo ascent of Turnback Canyon on the Alesk River, in Northern BC/Yukon.”

All In: The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing: The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing – 93 Days Alone at Sea – Chris Bertish

What are your favourite books of the 2023?

Please Leave a Reply below! Thanks and happy reading over the holidays and into 2024!
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