Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon to Me!

I ordered this book for my reading pleasure anticipating the pleasure I received from all of his earlier books.The narrative is gripping , poetic, informative, with the beautiful photos accompanying his journey, so delightful regarding his stance on Mother Nature & on the story of his joyful freedom exploring his world..I am deeply grat3eful for this 'last'. book by Neil---he is sorely missed.

A musician I much admired but also a really good writer with his own voice, Pearl’s tales of travel and ‘the guys at work’ are fascinating to read and a little painful reminder that his voice has been silenced but the focus, fun and purpose ring through leaving you with the classic happy/sad face.A lovely read.

This is an incredibly well written and insightful look at a remarkable career as one of the world's most noteworthy drummers. It is bitter sweet to read this book because Neil goes through a lot of detail to explain to the reader *why* he has chosen to retire and why it is really non-negotiable. While some fans will chant "keep going, keep going," - he makes it clear that he is "done." And, while his drumming and writing have influenced me significantly since the 70's with All the World's a Stage, I completely agree with his reasons. Having suffered tragic and significant family loss in his past, he deserves to "tend to his own garden" now. If he were to ask me, I would have said "thanks for all the great work, drumming, writing, and entertainment - but... shouldn't you go be with your family since you know better than anyone that nothing in life is permanent and there are no guarantees?"The book is certainly a masterpiece of both design and writing, and is a crowning jewel in the king's crown (to further use the Farewell to Kings theme). In his previous blog-to-book efforts, Neil would take his blog posts, tweak them, and republish them in coffee-table format. Certainly not a bad thing, but it was a little weird to think "hey, I could read these exact same stories on-line..." Nonetheless, I bought the books, but that thought did cross my mind. It didn't cheapen the experience, but it did diluted it just a bit. With Far and Wide, only a few of the stories were distributed on his blog and greatly benefit from being interwoven together much more effectively (vs. being discrete stories) where the narrative of one story leads into the other. By the end of the book, you see why the life he has lead is so rich, and his achievements so fantastic, that you understand why "pulling out of the game" now is a worthy decision. At a certain point, with all the impact of age, hearing loss, physical stress, etc.. you have to ask "Rush are in their top form now - where else can this go but down?" Many entertainers, like cheese that has been left on the counter too long, become moldy parodies of themselves if they stay in the game past their prime.Anytime I read a Peart book (or lyrics), I get that much more motivated to be excellent and achieve all that I can within the scope of my life and to be that much more observant and curious. That is, and has been, Peart's influence on me since I was about 14 years old! What a fantastic thing that I have been lucky enough to have a "hero" who professed that it was OK to think for yourself, that it was ok to be driven and to rise above the norm (especially in a time when music (and art in general) was steadily turning more plastic and shallow.)So, this is a touching (often funny and always insightful) look into Neil's life, this last tour, the miles of travel to all kinds of interesting places and human interactions that go with that travel. It is a look at what drives (rewards and frustrations) someone who has accomplished so much and is surprisingly open in its observations inward and outward.From the very bottom of my heart, I am grateful for the inspiration he has given to me (and a whole generation) and thanks for this "going away" gift to readers, explorers and fans.

More than likely, the R40 tour was Rush's last major one. The journey through this book carries the reader as a fellow rider along with Neil, as he "arrives" at his destination: retired from being one of rock's most noteworthy drummers ever, and certainly the most prolific lyricist/drummer. He seems upbeat and resolved in this collection of stories -- no more touring, as had been his goal for a tremendously long time.Picturesque stories between destinations, music and laughter, the joy of motorcycling and the freedom of riding are felt throughout this book. Neil's introspection is conveyed in intimate fashion onto the proverbial papyrus. Ever the shy guy who wanted to be "hidden in the background", his talent of writing, in both lyric form and these books have enriched our lives in so many rewarding ways. Whether it's a story about a particular venue, a ride on a certain backroad or pensiveness in Bubba's Garage, Neil has the gift of immersing the reader in the story being told. There were several points in this book that made me just not want to put it down.The hardcover version of this book is a coffee table masterpiece, illustrated with lots of memorable pictures to go along with the stories. It is the crescendo of a remarkable musical career that is the envy and admiration of thousands of musicians and hundreds of thousands of fans. As Neil describes the last concerts on the tour and other noteworthy musicians waiting to celebrate Neil's career after the last show, I felt the excitement from the reader's perspective, of one journey ending for Neil and another beginning. At this point in the career of Rush, as is the career of Neil Peart, nothing is owed to the fans. The sacrifices that Lee/Lifeson/Peart have made in the 40 years of music, physical/mental/personal, are immeasurable and a well-deserved retirement seems sensible at this point.I won't taint this review with the minor points of repetitiveness in this book, e.g. faith-bashing and avoiding fan contact. Sad that Neil feels the need to satirize and/or criticize those who practice religion in every book. Should we learn to laugh at it by now? In this instance, characterizing yarmulkes as "Jewish beanies" may be funny to some; offensive to others. Neil preaches (sorry, no pun intended) about tolerance and respect, yet he can sometimes only personally agree to the tolerance part of it and not always the respect. To me, that's just part of Neil's attempt at "amateur philosophy" regarding such matters. Hence, I apply the converse of Christopher Hutchens' formulation which translates as "What can be dismissed without evidence, can be asserted without evidence".

This is the third road journal I've read from Mr. Peart, and it's just as fulfilling. You are dearly missed, Professor/Bubba.

I bought this book for my dad who is both a motorcycle and Rush enthusiast and he really likes it. The hardcover version works well as a coffee book with lots of pictures to flip through. Parts of the writing can be a little "preachy", which is why I gave it 4 stars, but the beauty of this book is that you can simply skip sections that don't appeal to you and move on.

I'm not a Rush fan, but I ride the same brand of motorcycles as Neal Peart (BMW) so I was naturally drawn to his travel books. He has a nice conversational style and a remarkable feel for America, considering he's a Canadian. This is a book I had a hard time putting down - a really fun read by a humble articulate man.

As a Rush fan and motorcycle enthusiast, this book is a must read.

Es fantástico leer a Neil. Ya sea que esté contando una anécdota de la infancia o describiendo un paisaje desde su moto, lo hace con mucha inteligencia y buen humor. Siento que aprendo mucho de este gran músico y humano cuando leo sus libros. Además, frecuentemente cuenta anécdotas de Rush y da un buen vistazo a todo lo que sucedía tras bambalinas. Recomendado al 110% para cualquier seguidor de la banda.

Chegou até mim em ótimo estado.

I've read a few of Neil Peart's books...they are always a good read...if sometimes a little 'wordy'...but hey,he was the 'Professor' after all.

Lectura rica y motivante para los fans.....