Born an adventurer at heart, Soulé charts the rocky course of his life through this immersing memoir. It begins with a TV and the discovery of Jacques Cousteau's "incredible underwater images." But while Soulé dreams of heroic and fearless worlds, the reality of his childhood nearly crushes his aspirations. He considers the myriad challenges of his vision impairment, earning him the nickname Binocleux (four-eyes). He shares openly about his parents' strained and abusive relationship and their neglect toward their children. He conveys his propensity for fighting, developing a thick skin, and avoiding outward displays of weakness. During these early years, he hides behind the "bad-boy, tough-kid attitude" until endurance sports and running save him, pushing him to new limits and delivering him renewed mental and physical strength.

As Soulé probes his grueling military training and service among the elite Mountain Special Forces, which serves the bulk of the second half of his book, readers will admire this pivotal period that turns his "imaginary world into reality." Here, he confronts and comprehends his rare opportunity to explore the world in a way most can never imagine while pushed to ever more extremes mentally and physically, facing death in more ways than one. This experience and this part of the book help the reader understand Soulé and what forms the man he is today. He is always a free spirit, one who longs for adventure beyond confined spaces, walls, and relationships.

This is an inspiring and effective coming-of-age story about facing towering odds and making sacrifices to achieve lifelong dreams. Soulé's prose is accessible and carries his readers along this wild journey as if he were their personal guide. Each chapter is prefaced with inspirational quotes, helping to shape this fascinating account about the power of mind over matter.

Return to USR Home