NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “With winning candor, Jedidiah Jenkins takes us with him as he bicycles across two continents and delves deeply into his own beautiful heart.”—Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things On the eve of turning thirty, terrified of being funneled into a life he didn’t choose, Jedidiah Jenkins quit his dream job and spent sixteen months cycling from Oregon to Patagonia. He chronicled the trip on Instagram, where his photos and reflections drew hundreds of thousands of followers, all gathered around the question: What makes a life worth living? In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Jed narrates his adventure—the people and places he encountered on his way to the bottom of the world—as well as the internal journey that started it all. As he traverses cities, mountains, and inner boundaries, Jenkins grapples with the question of what it means to be an adult, his struggle to reconcile his sexual identity with his conservative Christian upbringing, and his belief in travel as a way to wake us up to life back home. A soul-stirring read for the wanderer in each of us, To Shake the Sleeping Self is an unforgettable reflection on adventure, identity, and a life lived without regret. Praise for To Shake the Sleeping Self “[Jenkins is] a guy deeply connected to his personal truth and just so refreshingly present.”—Rich Roll, author of Finding Ultra “This is much more than a book about a bike ride. This is a deep soul deepening us. Jedidiah Jenkins is a mystic disguised as a millennial.”—Tom Shadyac, author of Life’s Operating Manual “Thought-provoking and inspirational . . . This uplifting memoir and travelogue will remind readers of the power of movement for the body and the soul.”—Publishers Weekly

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 I told my friends and coworkers about my plan to cycle to Patagonia in 2011. Some were supportive, while others laughed. My parents were not happy about it. They were famous for their walk in the 1970s, and now I was following in their footsteps. #2 I knew I would be leaving as soon as I turned thirty, so I started preparing for the big adventure. I stopped feeling trapped and took on more responsibility. I didn’t do anything to prepare, though, because I was confident that I could ride a bike and learn as I went. #3 I had to leave my job in 2013, and I was thirty years old. I had looked down and it was time to leave. I had learned a valuable lesson: You are not an idiot. It’s okay if you don’t know everything. Don’t pretend. Ask all the questions you want. #4 I bought a bike that could get me to Chile. It was heavy but sturdy. I didn’t want a fancy carbon bike that would break if I was hit by a car or a bus. I bought panniers, which are saddlebags that you hang from the side of your bike, and a reflector pad to keep me warm at night.

'Liberating and life affirming' Fearne Cotton 'A thrilling, tender, utterly absorbing book. It's an unforgettable debut' Cheryl Strayed A soul-stirring read for the wanderer in each of us, To Shake the Sleeping Self is an unforgettable reflection on adventure, identity and a life lived without regret. On the eve of turning thirty, terrified of being funnelled into a life he didn't choose, Jedidiah Jenkins quit his dream job and spent sixteen months cycling from Oregon to Patagonia. He chronicled the trip online, where his photos and reflections drew hundreds of thousands of followers, all gathered around the question: What makes a life worth living?

Harper's informs a diverse body of readers of cultural, business, political, literary and scientific affairs.

Important American periodical dating back to 1850.