The Spirit of Adventure - Towards a Better World . . .

Colin Mortlock has been involved in outdoor adventure all his life, and is now in his 70s. For him, outdoor adventure is also an inner adventure as we discover more about ourselves and others. The book is partly autobiographical, and contains many episodes that help make his points. The big questions of who we are, where we are going and how we get there are at the forefront of his consideration, as are values, virtues and the corresponding vices. It was with a sense of déjà vu that I looked down his list of values and virtues, which corresponds almost exactly to those found on the Learning for Life website. His explanation of qualities associated with each virtue and vice is extremely helpful, as are the stories from his own experience that illustrate them. There is an extended section on wisdom and specific wisdom that one can derive from nature. In the wider context, life is seen as a quest for beauty, love and friendship, and the author stresses the importance of transcendent experiences. There are great many inspiring quotations in the text, many from writers who have also inspired me. There is even an index of authors quoted. I can think of no better volume giving insight into the relationship between inner and outer aspects of life. It is a book to which I shall return often.