Gnar Country

Growing Old, Staying Rad

By: Steven Kotler

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

The New York Times bestselling author and human performance expert tests his knowledge and theories on his own aging body in a quest to become an expert skier at age fifty-three.

Gnar: adjective, short for “gnarly,” def: any environment or situation that is high in perceived risk and high in actual risk.

Country: noun, def: any defined territory, landscape or terrain, fictitious or real.

Cutting-edge discoveries in embodied cognition, flow science, and network neuroscience have revolutionized how we think about peak performance aging. On paper, these discoveries should allow older athletes to progress in supposedly “impossible” activities like park skiing (think: jumps and tricks.) To see if theory worked in practice, Kotler conducted his own ass-on-the-line experiment in applied neuroscience and later-in-life skill acquisition: He tried to teach an old dog some new tricks.

Recently, top pros have been performing well past a previously considered prime: World-class athletes such as Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer of all time, is winning competitions in his fifties; Tom Brady can beat players half his age. But what about the rest of us?

Steven Kotler has been studying human performance for thirty years, and taught hundreds of thousands of people at all skill levels, age groups, and walks of life, how to achieve peak performance. Could his own advice work for him?

Gnar Country is the chronicle of his experience pushing his own aging body past preconceived limits. It’s a book about goals and grit and progression. It’s an antidote for weariness that is inspiring, practical, and, often hilarious. It is about growing old and staying rad. It’s a feverish listening experience that makes you put down the book, get out there, and move. Whether hurtling down a mountain side, running your first 10K race, or taking your career to new heights, Kotler challenges us to test ourselves, surpass our limits, and achieve our own impossible, whatever it might be. Part personal journey, part science experiment, part how-to guide, Kotler takes us on his punk rock, high-velocity joy-ride for a better life in spite—and often in defiance of—the perceived limitations of the aging human body.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Steven Kotler (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

How to overcome aging told from a personal perspective

SK’s personal journey explores how challenging one’s limits can lead to flow, but more importantly, how to counteract the degenerative effect of aging; to not go quietly into the night.

One more reason to stay positive

I must say, I’ve been impressed with Steven’s work for ages now.
This reminiscence of the challenge he served to himself (along with the scientific insights) brought goosebumps to my system. Yep, also inside of my brain cells.
So it is true, once again proved, that age doesn’t mean decline in the common belief. This means having a choice. This means taking ownership of our own life.
Perhaps not for the ski challenge, but I definitely am in for making sure my system is taken care of to live a good, high quality life as long as possible.
Thanks Steve, onward 🔆
Maggs, THiS iS iT.

Flow State infused Storytelling

Loved it and it's instantly one I will re-read often.
There are so many nuances on how to level up aging throughout the book that it's easy to miss from enjoying the storytelling adventure.

In the mid 40s staying gnarl

This book was amazing highly recommend it. Talks about the science of staying active in sports where you are injury prone as you get older. Talks about everything from how your body and mind decline at what rate what it effects in terms of skiing and how to counteract a lot of effects that you will run into. From fighting stress of getting injured which produces cortisol to managing norepinephrine to help fight anxiety for large trick training. Also training fast fibers at and training for longer skii runs and stack training

Awesome

Simply an awesome follow-up to all his others books, very entertaining and super motivational.

Loved it

Awesome story. This book is instrumental if you’re trying to learn some new sports and you’re over 50.

SurfSnowStreet

Amazing storytelling meshing doses of flow theories and practical flow tips into the personal journey of Kotler himself to the extreme park skiing! Loved it ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Start Living vs Waiting to Die

Beautiful testament to our ability to continually pursue goals and aspirations throughout life!

Flow On!

Any desk jockey should take note

I can’t even spell Narly , but I get the critic in the head thing . Doesn’t everyone?? This isn’t a skiing book. It’s a metaphor. The whole book is about winning or not . Listen closely you might hear it .

Great listen story meets science!

I am a fan of Kotler so for me listening to the book gave me a chance to know the thought process. It was a great listen following The Art of Impossible. Regardless throughout the book there are plenty of nuggets about the science of flow. The book is easy to understand despite including a variety of subjects related to neuroscience, psychology, and physical endurance. Oh, and punk rock sports culture. Opens the mind about pursuing challenges and accomplishing high hard goals. Loved it!