Mike Tougias looks back on his childhood and the experiences that shaped him. The author does not shy away from stating his exploits were likely misguided and made life for his mother quite difficult at times. The focus was with the relationship with his father, how they didn’t seem to be able to connect while he was growing up. Tougias thinks his hyperactive and impulsive behavior led to some of the issues. As he grew older and felt calmer in the natural environment, Tougias tried to seek it out more, even encouraging family vacations in a cabin in the woods. This led him to have a goal, to own his own cabin.

There are several themes that could be picked up here: such as giving your kids more freedom to roam and be creative instead of structured play time; cautionary tale for drinking and driving; spending time in nature can calm you. Often these themes were forcefully written, in a preaching manner.

The writing style wasn’t the most polished, but it expressed his thoughts clearly. Surprising since the author wrote and published many books. The primary experience in nature for Tougias was go fishing, to where he even called it hunting.

I picked this book up as a nature lover, but the book does not fit well in that category, as this is more about using nature. Sorry, but cutting down trees for a better view isn’t what I love about nature.

I received an ARC from Rowman & Littlefield Lyons Press through NetGalley for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book because Michael shared his life with us, learning about nature and the outdoors and viewing life through him. As I was reading I kept thinking this is how families were back in the 1960'2 and ''70s. I think he shared the way his life was, the adventures, the misadventures, the things he did on a whim without thinking about it, all the things he did are what made him who is is today. He always wanted a cabin in the woods near a pond and he did get it and was able to share it with his father.
We all have done dumb things when we were young and lived to tell about it and that is what I loved most about this book. He wasn't glorifying the things he did, but he was willing to share them with us. It just felt like he was being honest with us. I didn't grow up in the '60s and '70s but I heard my parent's stories so this was refreshing to read.

I wasn't sure what this book was supposed to be about. A young, rebellious kid daring the world to take him out. "Toug's behavior is reckless and sad. He gets others to follow him on his fishing trips or hitchhiking trips or swimming trips. All under the premise he wants to find/live in a cabin in remote wilderness. His dad owns a bakery and his mom basically yells through out the book as what a 'moron' her son is. He has a older sister who is not really part of his life and two younger brothers. This book reminded me of the book "Stand By Me'.
More of a young adult read than adult fiction.