{"id":515,"date":"2012-05-22T21:20:31","date_gmt":"2012-05-22T21:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/danceonedge.com\/?page_id=515"},"modified":"2017-12-21T09:27:02","modified_gmt":"2017-12-21T16:27:02","slug":"book-reviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/danceonedge.com\/?page_id=515","title":{"rendered":"Book Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wild tales of adventure and a bit of inspiration is the subtitle of this book. Wild tales, indeed!
\nAuthor John Mattson may have started life on the lonely prairies of North Dakota, but boy oh boy did he ever pack a hundred years of adventures into one life. From page one to 252, I don’t think anyone could jam more sights, adventure, craziness and unharnessed will to live into one book. This was a fun one to read.<\/em><\/p>\n

Starting out a college student who decides to try alpine skiing on a whim, then moving on to being a rodeo cowboy, a rock climber, a free spirited kayaker , a river explorer, and more, this is a story that made me think how I wish I could have done just one of these things! Full of old photographs and tall tales galore, Mattson easily and humbly describes his life enjoying the many natural splendors of our planet–and the dangers as humanity’s greed and evil lay bare the ecosystems that Mattson holds dear.<\/p>\n

Although it is not a literary masterpiece–there are a few typos, and the oversized manuscript is a little unwieldy, the typeface choppy–I don’t doubt for a minute that Mattson ever intended for it to be a highbrow book. His wild storytelling feels like you’re sitting next to him at a bonfire, sipping coffee, swapping tales. His enthusiasm for life and extreme sports is never told with a haughty swagger, but almost with an innocent, slightly crazy daredevil’s smirk, in natural country boy I can’t believe I actually did that twang that makes you feel entirely at ease–even as you are stepping off an alpine cliff with him, ready to slalom to the bottom on homemade skis.<\/p>\n

Dancing on the edge takes you from country to country , from the US to Belize, Nepal, Chile and more, as cars break down and are left roadside, as small groups of hardcore adventurers sleep in caves and under the stars, as avalanches and river rapids and danger-filled landscapes threaten them at every pass. I truly appreciated Mattson’s descriptive talents as he took the time to look for and tell the reader about natural wonders along the way: sunlight sparkling on river rapids, flocks of ewes on mountaintops, the simple but delicious foods he enjoyed. He speaks often of the friendships he made, and often cites near strangers by name, as if tipping a gloved hand to them for the warm memories they made together.<\/p>\n

I found it fascinating that he also includes great mechanical and engineering detail about equipment used and locations visited (in between jumping off mountains and sliding down rivers, he earned an engineering degree and is a designer-builder). Because of this attention to minuscule details and embellishments, I really felt like I was there, too.
\nIf you’ve ever wished that you could just lock up your house and take a wild trip around the world, with no luxurious hotels and a\/c to distract you from enjoying the natural planet and its people, take a copy of this book and read away. You’ll be wiping sweat off your brow and steadying your heart rate in no time.<\/p>\n

Review by Alicia Accardi
\nClosed the Cover<\/p>\n

Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet<\/em> is a paging turning compilation of short stories. It is incredible documentation and memories of adventure spanning decades forming a casual melody of inspiration for the reader. Following the journey’s of this classic ski\/climbing bum and river rat through a era of first ascents, descents, and remote travel beckon the reader to search for adventure near and far. Unlike some other books of this sort, the author is incredibly humble of his accomplishments with most stories revolving around his comrades. Also the book is a great deal, it is over sized with many photographs. So curl up by the fire for this one, or better yet read it by a headlamp tent bound in a snow storm!<\/p>\n

Jake M. Gaventa. Professor of recreation at Prescott College and avid adventurer.<\/p>\n

Front\u00a0Range Boulder interview \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0http:\/\/archive.org\/details\/john_mattson<\/a><\/p>\n

John has spent most of his life challenging himself and exploring the wild places on our\u00a0planet. His love of the Earth, understanding of the rhythms of the outdoors, and his ability to tune\u00a0into the people he meets along the way might act as guidance to others of us who seek to seize\u00a0life by the horns and live it to the fullest. It is too easy to be swept\u00a0 away from what is\u00a0important by the powerful currents of our day-to-day lives. Reading John’s stories and anecdotes\u00a0allows me to eddy out and regain my focus and clarity. My trips with John have been among the\u00a0best adventures of my life, and I have regaled many around campfires with crazy and\u00a0interesting stories that have been formed by those adventures. Enjoy this book, and be ready to\u00a0take a great trip from the comfort of your armchair!<\/p>\n

Scott Young;\u00a0 World renowned kayaker,\u00a0and founder of L\u2019eau Vive Paddlesports.<\/p>\n

Tip your cap to one of the great \u201ceveryman\u2019s\u201d adventurers that you\u2019ve never heard of — until\u00a0now. John Mattson\u2019s life has been one grand, non-stop adventure. From his early, self-taught\u00a0climbing exploits on rock, snow and ice to trying his hand at buckin\u2019 bronco riding and downhill\u00a0ski racing, to paddling plenty of broiling uncharted creeks and rivers across the globe, John has\u00a0been Living the Dream<\/em>. His understated, sitting-around-the-campfire storytelling demeanor lets\u00a0us join in as if we were one of the gang–even though we would probably drown trying to keep\u00a0up…John\u2019s zeal and respect for our planet and its inhabitants pervades the tales and reassures us\u00a0that low budget, easy on the environment, down-to-earth curiosity and exploration can fulfill us\u00a0with so much life and enduring experiences.<\/p>\n

Neal Beidleman;\u00a0 World renowned Himalayan climber,
\nultra-marathoner and extreme skier.<\/p>\n

John started his education in a one room schoolhouse on the lonesome prairies of North Dakota, but \u00a0he has always believed in following his dreams.\u00a0 These dreams have taken him on a wild range of extreme\u00a0adventures, and his stories and photos take the reader on a very exciting, humorous, and inspirational journey.\u00a0His new book is testament to the wonders of Outdoor Sport, and richness of life to be found in\u00a0pursuing those opportunities and experiences as an essential thread of life.\u00a0 His approach through this has\u00a0always been wide-eyed and committed and it’s wonderful to comprehend the layering of experience this\u00a0created for him and those lucky enough to share in his adventures. \u00a0John took good advantage of the time he was living in. Gas was cheap. The freewheeling 70s, 80s and\u00a090s were the long echoes of the cultural shift that affected even his \u201cfarm boy\u201d Dakota upbringing. \u00a0Under those open skies the opportunities for vagabonding coupled with the athletic joys to be found in\u00a0fitness of his youth. Starting with skiing and rock climbing, then soon after taking to kayaking in places like\u00a0the Grand Canyon, and expansively throughout the Western U S, West Virginia, and British Columbia. \u00a0Interspersed throughout, John did not hesitate to make multiple trips to South America and Nepal, building\u00a0teams, and structuring his life around the get it done attitude that drove him also through Engineering School\u00a0in his late 30\u2019s. \u00a0John is a contemporary Explorer of the first class.\u00a0 In another era he might have been a mountain man.\u00a0These enthusiastic tales connect us to wonderful places and the activities that brought him there.<\/p>\n

Landis\u00a0Arnold; Olympic ski jumper,avid kayaking explorer,
\nand owner of Wildwasser Sport USA<\/p>\n

“Dancing on the edge of an Endangered Planet ” is a dynamic collection of short stories. John brings his adventures to life with his playful mixture of words and incredible photography. I was magically transported to lands near and far, and able to become a part of the adventure. Be it kayaking remote canyons, skiing majestic mountains, trekking the Himalayas, or riding wild broncos, his lust for life’s adventures is inspiring.<\/p>\n

Leah Hitchcock<\/p>\n

John started his education in a one room schoolhouse on the lonesome prairies of North Dakota, but he has always believed in following his dreams.\u00a0 These dreams have taken him on a wild range of extreme adventures, and his stories and photos take the reader on a very exciting, humorous, and inspirational journey.<\/p>\n

Sven Gunderson<\/p>\n

This book chronicles a person’s growing commitment to the outside world and the sports that celebrate the outdoors, as that person grows himself. \u00a0I take great pleasure reading of John’s adventures as he skis, climbs, and kayaks around the globe. I feel lucky to have been on some of his trips, and wish that I had been on more.<\/p>\n

David Eckardt; co-author of Colorado Rivers and
\nCreeks<\/em> and author of The Guide to Baja Sea Kayaking<\/em><\/p>\n

If you ever thought of calling your boss, “I’m well today and I’m not coming to work.” Read this book to find out what would have happened. John Mattson has kayaked, skied or climbed in fifteen different countries over the last 30 years, and managed to earn an engineering degree and run a successful design-build construction business at the same time. Join him on his amazing adventures in this book , and get inspired.<\/p>\n

Ken Ransford; Avid kayaker and member of American Whitewater board of directors.<\/p>\n

Dancing on the Edge of an Endangered Planet<\/em><\/p>\n