I probably wouldn't have read this had it not been given to me by a friend who knows the author. I certainly wouldn't have finished it. It's not badly written, but it's just not my cup of tea. My idea of roughing it is a hotel without room service. The idea of a months long canoe/kayak trip is more or less abhorrent to me. The book lacked an overriding theme or focus ... too many uninteresting details and too many non sequiturs as well. ( )