Outsider
An Old Man, a Mountain and the Search for a Hidden Past
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Narrated by:
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Brandon Massey
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Written by:
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Brett Popplewell
About this listen
Into the Wild meets Born to Run meets The Stranger in the Woods in a fascinating true story of a marathon-running hermit and a journalist’s quest to solve the mystery at the core of the enigmatic man’s existence
When journalist Brett Popplewell first heard about Dag Aabye, an aging former stuntman who lived alone inside a school bus on a mountain, running day and night through blizzards and heat waves, he was intrigued and bewildered. Captivated by the seemingly implausible tale of a wild super-athlete aging more slowly than the rest of us, he was determined to meet the apocryphal white-haired man who was pushing the boundaries of the human mind and body beyond what anyone could dream was possible.
What Popplewell witnessed on a secluded mountain perch led him on a six-year odyssey to uncover the true story of the 81-year-old man.
Outsider takes listeners on a remarkable journey from Nazi-occupied Norway to Argentina and British Columbia. The book chronicles how a child born under mysterious circumstances during World War II finds his way onto the big screen in Goldfinger, is heralded as the world’s first extreme skier, and is later driven into the wilderness. Both joyful and tragic, Outsider presents a bold challenge to our notions of aging, belonging and human accomplishment.
©2023 Brett Popplewell (P)2023 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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The Stranger in the Woods
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Unscrupulous: The book that's as honest as O. J.
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Alone Against the North
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- Unabridged
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Gripping and often poetic, Alone Against the North is a classic adventure story of single-minded obsession, physical hardship, and the restless sense of wonder that every explorer has in common. What Shoalts discovered as he paddled downriver was a series of unmapped waterfalls that could easily have killed him. Just as astonishing was the media reaction when he got back to civilization. He was feted by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and congratulated by the Governor General. People were enthralled by Shoalts’s proof that the world is bigger than we think.
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Not quite Shackleton
- By I can not use the product as it does not seem to be safe for human consumption ? on 2019-11-07
Written by: Adam Shoalts
What listeners say about Outsider
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Carsandgunns
- 2023-09-22
phenomenal! you will be surprised
absolutely amazing what this man did and how he lived! so interesting and lots to learn!
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- Trevor Penney
- 2024-02-18
An amazing story and real depth and commitment from the author to write an unbiased and true story for a friend.
An amazing story and real depth and commitment from the author to write an unbiased and true story for a friend. must read.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-05-11
Captivating story
Really enjoyed this! I felt very invested in Dag’s unconventional life and philosophy from start to finish.
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- Marino O.
- 2024-11-18
Fascinating true story
This was a great book to listen to. A true story of the life of an outcast. It is yet another reminder of how much things that happen to us when we are but children affect us as adults - we don't just get over it.
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- Christina Ljungberg
- 2023-05-03
Great book! Recommend it!
Inspiring! Loved this book about Dag Aabye! His deep connection with nature and pushing forward through it all is well shared in this book!
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- BrW
- 2023-05-21
Captivating
The author takes you on an amazing journey of Dag’s life and origins. Makes you contemplate how our perception of our origins and who we think we are can limit us. Lessons on persistence too. Wonderful bits of philosophy from Dag along the way.
Narrator is excellent.
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- Gail Hamburger
- 2023-07-08
Such an intriguing story
I loved listening to this story of a man of mystery, an enigma. The winding path that leads back and forth between his past, his birth story and his present never disappoints!
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- Donovan
- 2024-02-23
What an amazing story. We need a book two! 🍻
I loved this all the way through. What an amazing story. We need a book two!🍻
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- Lee Finstas
- 2023-05-19
Fascinating listen
Very interesting story, kinda sad, kinda haunting, but yet fascinating. Well read by the narrator
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- Anthony Swaneveld
- 2023-06-08
Inspiring
Well written and fascinating story that leaves you feeling awed at the extremes humans can exert upon themselves, and the hopefulness of living a life to the utmost, whatever that may be.
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