What a fascinating, insightful, inspiring story. Lawrence Hacking rode a Honda XR650R in the 2001 Dakar Rally, which takes motorcycles, racing trucks, cars, buggies and every other extreme off-road race vehicle on a tour from Paris to Dakar. I knew something about the Dakar rally before reading this book, but I am a fan for life now. Hacking and his writer tell a fantastic story, deeply engaging and emotionally charged.

If you only know the Dakar from Charlie Boorman (of Long Way Round and Long Way Down fame alongside Ewan Macgregor), read this also. Hacking is an experienced, pro-level off-road racer who faced serious challenges in his quest to become the first Canadian to finish the Dakar rally. And he did it as a privateer, without big sponsorship.

If you like adventure travel/gearhead/sport/trans-cultural stories, you'll love this one. I'll definitely re-read it many times.