I was ready to die. Then I forgot to.
In July 2016, 66‑year‑old mental health writer John McManamy lay in bed, unable to breathe. With his phone in the other room and his heart failing, one thought surfaced: “I could die right now.” The next: “I’m good with that.”
But he didn’t die. Six months later, having weathered bypass surgery, eviction, and financial ruin, he did the only thing that made any sense: he packed three didgeridoos and other necessities into his ’98 Passat and drove 13,000 miles in a loop around America.
My Rather Improbable 2017 is a funny, unsentimental, and moving account of a man testing his refurbished heart on the open road. From panicking on high bridges and mountain roads to wordless didgeridoo “communions” with strangers, his journey is more than a travelogue—it’s a transformation.
Follow John through 30 states as he:
Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson’s wit and Cheryl Strayed’s raw honesty, this is a story for anyone who has ever felt “done,” only to realize the best miles are still ahead.
Start reading today and see what it really means to “do it afraid.”
In July 2016, 66‑year‑old mental health writer John McManamy lay in bed, unable to breathe. With his phone in the other room and his heart failing, one thought surfaced: “I could die right now.” The next: “I’m good with that.”
But he didn’t die. Six months later, having weathered bypass surgery, eviction, and financial ruin, he did the only thing that made any sense: he packed three didgeridoos and other necessities into his ’98 Passat and drove 13,000 miles in a loop around America.
My Rather Improbable 2017 is a funny, unsentimental, and moving account of a man testing his refurbished heart on the open road. From panicking on high bridges and mountain roads to wordless didgeridoo “communions” with strangers, his journey is more than a travelogue—it’s a transformation.
Follow John through 30 states as he:
- Scales summits with a “raven woman” mentor in the Arizona desert
- Finds grace in an IHOP parking lot during a didgeridoo–ukulele jam session
- Discovers his power animal popping out of his car’s cup holder deep in a rainforest
Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson’s wit and Cheryl Strayed’s raw honesty, this is a story for anyone who has ever felt “done,” only to realize the best miles are still ahead.
Start reading today and see what it really means to “do it afraid.”
