Boyd Varty is a tracker. In this book, he tracks a pride of lions in Londolozi, in South Africa. Along the way, he teaches some life lessons for the reader.

Londolozi is a private game reserve founded by Varty’s family. He works there with other trackers who take tourists out to see the wildlife. The land is preserved for this purpose, and the animals are not hunted. This book is the story of one such adventure, where Boyd and two other trackers follow a pride of lions.

Boyd, along with trackers Renias Mhlongo and Alex van der Heever (co-founders of the Tracker Academy), encounter a lion trail. Their job as trackers is to let the guides know where the lions are so that the tourists can also be taken to see them. So, they set off to trail the lions. The book follows this trailing session throughout all the chapters. Interspersed with the tracking story are some life lessons and tips that Boyd has picked up along the way. So, in a way, the book is two stories. One is the trailing of the lions. The other is the lessons learned by the tracker and how these apply to life.

Boyd draws parallels between the experience of tracking out in nature and general life lessons. He is a life coach and a speaker who has traveled the world to share these lessons. He has also tracked with some of the best trackers in the world.

As a tracker myself, this reviewer may be slightly biased. I wanted to read this book mostly for the tracking stories from Londolozi. I met Alex in 2006 when I hosted an international tracking conference in California. One of the stories related in the book is how Renias saved him from a charging animal. I remember him telling that story in 2006 and it was pretty exciting how he reenacted it! So, for me, reading the trailing of the lion pride was the best part of the book. But, my perspective differs from the average reader due to my tracking background. Others may approach this book as simply a self-help book with a cool story about tracking lions thrown in. For me, that story was the best part of the book. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the life lessons that Boyd taught along the way. But, that wasn’t my main focal point in reading this book.

It is a relatively short book, but there are some great ink illustrations inside that are worth a look. And, you can’t beat the tracking story! If you learn some cool life tips along the way, then it’s time well-spent. I highly recommend it! Even if you are not a tracker, you will get something out of this book.

While I could have read this book in one sitting, I took my time to absorb and enjoy it between bouts of LIFE happening. Boyd takes us on a day of tracking a lion along with a couple of more veteran trackers. He shows us that this is not a start to finish trail, rather a start until the trail is lost, then find the trail again and continue to move forward. Such is the course of life. You can not quit each time you lose your way. You must remain vigilant and persistent. Keep your eyes and ears open (use ALL of your senses) and not give up in your pursuit.

I had actually written what I considered a more complete review but rather than do it "old school" with pen and paper, it was lost when I hit the save button. I give this book a 4.5 rating on a 5 point scale. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me a copy to read and review.

I interviewed the author for my WanderLearn podcast about this book.
So perhaps I am a bit biased.

Still, I like to judge every book by what it promises on its back cover. This is a short book. It's only 135 pages. It has about 15 illustrations. I took a photo of a few of them. And I hope my photos are helpful in giving you an idea of the size of the book.

The book's concept is quite simple. It's a day in the life of a lion tracker.

The author draws analogies between what a lion tracker does and what we ought to do in our everyday life. He uses lion tracking as a metaphor for a smart way to live. He is a certified Master life coach and TED speaker.

My best advice is the same advice I give for almost any book, which is that you should read the sample that is available on Amazon. If the first couple of pages don't grab you, then the book will probably not be for you.

Self-help books hit people in different ways mainly because it just depends on what stage of life you are in. When you are in the mood and ready to receive the wisdom and advice of a self-help book, you'll probably love it. If you are feeling cynical or bitter, then you will probably hate it.

Boyd Varty’s The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life nods at Robert Zapolsky’s Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers with its similar indictment of modern life as empty, draining, burdensome, tense, disconnected, and purposeless. Written by a life coach and lion tracker, the book conjures the South African bush through images of acacia thorn, the call of the eagle owl, and the wonder of the lion.

Because of its emphasis on male relationships (it investigates both mentors and the lingering ghost of the father’s legacy), this title may be of more interest to male readers than to women. Painting a picture of the trackers who have mentored him, Varty acknowledges the racial tensions that exist in South Africa; he writes that: “[another, white tracker’s] respect for language and culture is an act of embodied healing.” A small moment in the text, but one wishes these “embodied” acts might be exported!

Varty contrasts a modern life with the lessons of the wilderness. These include living in relation, reading tracks for “mood, movement, and cadence,” beauty in impermanence, and making moments of loss moments of discovery rather than despair. Some of the language verges on poetic and the author has a clear passion for the wilderness. The final chapter feels like a motivational speech and is very powerful.

However, the book exhorts readers to “live an authentic life infused with meaning,” but fails to offer much in the way of guidance. Though the idea of tracking is clearly meant to be metaphorical, the reader who lacks the means to escape to literal wilderness may be left with questions about how, exactly, to implement Varty’s instructions.

A short read, using the story of tracking a lion as a metaphor for life.
The structure reminds me of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, as multiple stories overlap to create the metaphor. Well written and organized, a good read.

Boyd Varty is a life coach who also works as a lion tracker, tracking big game on a nature preserve so tourists can see them on safari. In this book, he merges the two careers, describing a particular tracking while extrapolating life lessons about purpose, confidence, and knowledge for himself and others. An entertaining adventure story that reminds the reader about what being alive means.

I loved this book ! I am a bit of a self help book junkie but this book touched something far deeper. I really enjoyed going on the lion tracking journey and all the insights along the way. It is a bit like learning through 'play'. I could feel, smell and almost touch everything, it was a pleasure to get in touch with my wild side. Wherever you are it will make you hungry for nature and the great outdoors. It will also remind you of the magic and beauty that exists on this beautiful planet. This is definitely a self help book with a difference. I haven't read anything like this before, and the passion and knowledge of the author (and Ren and Alex !!) shone through. Overall a brilliant, passionate and very original book.