Written by Colin O’Brady
Book review by Jamie Bessette
Being that this is my first book review it was difficult to decide which book to pick first. In my office on my bookshelves are dozens of books I’ve bought and read over the years relating to different educational topics that I’d love to share with you, unfortunately with the world being in quarantine right now (due to the Covid19 Pandemic) I cannot access those books. SInce I like to have the book in my hand so I can reference it for more accuracy I didn’t feel comfortable picking one of them. However, being in “stay home, stay safe” status I’ve actually had time to read which has been nice. I chose this book as my very first review not because it referred to an educational topic but because it is a motivational and life perspective book. Sometimes we need reminders of what's important and of who we really are. So here it goes….
A few months ago I was listening to a podcast and the person being interviewed was Colin O’Brady. He had recently written a book called The Impossible First and was on the show to discuss it with the host.
I was on the treadmill putting the miles under my feet listening to this guy discuss his amazing life and how his positive outlook has helped him achieve his goals. I had no idea who he was or that his major life accomplishments had even taken place. I thought to myself, “Wow, Antarctica is really cold.” He had my attention. He was a very athletic young man throughout his childhood. He had begun as a swimmer. This athleticism into his adulthood as he swam for Yale. After college he traveled. During a visit to Thailand he and a friend decided to jump rope with a rope that was on fire, he ended up getting tangled in the jump rope and received severe burns on his legs. After recovering from severe burns to his legs in his early twenties he went on to become a triathlon athlete and eventually a mountaineer. He climbed the seven summits and went to each of the poles completing something called a Grand Slam while breaking world records in the process.
Now I don’t want to give away all the details in his book because that would just be wrong, but I will tell you the book is about his trek as the first person to cross Antarctica unassisted, and unsupported. This was a huge accomplishment! (For real? Did I just say that as if running a triathlon isn’t!) People had attempted it before and died in the process, this was not a journey for the average Joe.
Over and over throughout his book he discusses that the most important muscle is the one in between your ears. Your brain is a powerful tool that with the right mindset helps you accomplish anything you set out to do (Colin is proof of that), but too often we let our fear run our decisions and therefore limit ourselves.
He discussed different events in his life, the good and the challenges. It’s hard to share your weak or not so great moments in your life to the whole world. He did so with enthusiasm. All to paint the picture of how important your thinking is and the mindset you take with the obstacle ahead. When he talks about having hard days, sometimes the lowest points of your life, he refers to these as “1 days” and then to have the most amazing days of your life as “10s”. He reminded me that inorder to know the 10’s you also have to know the 1’s.
I know working in special education that often people focus on the challenges and pick the “poor me” card over the “I can do this” card. I liked this book because it clearly reminded me that whichever outcome you pick you'll be right, either producing a limit or the accomplishment of the next goal. Mr. O’Brady asks the question, “What is your Everest?” It looks different for everyone, for O’Brady one was to complete the Grand Slam. For a little girl I know it was to get her first pair custom shoes for her club feet so she could walk in a pair of shoes, something she’d never done. One of my “Everests” was to get through my first year of teaching. I think many people will have multiple “Everestes” in their life, I know I have, it means you're evolving and that's awesome.
I do have to say there are a few swear words and a few brief and vague adult content moments so it is most appropriate for teenages and adults. If you're reading it out loud to someone they are easy to skip over making it kid friendly. I encourage you to read this book not just for the adventure of a man crossing the Antarctic but for the self -reflection that occurs while reading.
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