The Masked Rider

Cycling in West Africa

By: Neil Peart

Narrated by: Brian Sutherland

Dysentery, drunken soldiers, and corrupt officials provide the background for Neil Peart's physical and spiritual cycling journey through West Africa.

The prolific drummer for the rock band Rush travels through African villages, both large and small, and relates his story through journal entries and tales of adventure, while simultaneously addressing issues such as differences in culture, psychology, and labels. Literary and artistic sidekicks such as Aristotle, Dante, and Van Gogh join Peart and his cycling companions, reminding the listener that this is not just another travel book - it is a story of both external and introspective discovery and adventure.

©1996, 2004 Neil Peart (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Just a book about real life..

This book is a real life story of Neil Peart's experience traveling in West Africa.
There's nothing too shocking in the story, but certainly serves to replace the trip in your life.
I'm personally a Neil Peart, and Rush fan, so I surely enjoyed it a bit more than the non-Rush fan.

Smart man.

Neil never disappoints. He’s such a smart worldly guy that whatever he writes is interesting.

Even if you aren't a Rush/Neil fan...

This is a pretty good read. If you like travel to unusual places, foreign cultures, etc... you should enjoy Neil's insight.

What a ride

This is not something I would attempt but I'm glad he shared the experience.

fabulous!!

exactly what I hoped for in an adventure and beautifully written took me right there the whole time

Great adventure I am glad I don’t have to take

Riding a bike in Africa sounds exciting. Peart’s descriptions bring the trip and Africa into clear focus. This adventure book does not lead me to research about how to follow on a similar trip. It does give me healthy respect for the accomplishment.

This book is another of Peart’s simple and insightful descriptions of travel. His insights into expedition life and behavior are deep clean and on target from my expedition experience.

I strongly recommend this boo.

interesting insight on his bike tour

This was a interesting insight on his bike tour through Africa. Some of the beauty and ugliest that you can run across. it is also nice to see his emotional progress and weariness as the trip progressed.

The professor

I really enjoyed Neil’s journey through Africa and the trials and tribulations that he had endured with his fellow travel mates. I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends.

Fascinating Trip Across Cameroon

As part of a college literature assignment before traveling to study in Tanzania I had to read the first chapter of this book. I found that one chapter fascinating then, and I find it even more so now. Having traveled to Africa several times, and having experienced the culture first hand, the author captures in accurate and factual observation the realities of life in Africa, and traveling there. His struggle and dynamic with other riders is also held my interest. Despite the author’s hardship, I kind of want to do a similar trip myself. Well written book with good perspective.

RIP Neil

Upon hearing of Neil Peart’s death, as a lifelong Rush fan I decided to listen to all of Neil’s books. I am a bicyclist, and decided to start with his book about a bicycling across west Africa. The book chronicles his experiences during his one month ride with 4 others. I was along for the ride mentally and could identify with his cycling passion and desire for challenging epic adventure. Neil shared some of his thoughtful insights into humanity, culture, society, government, and his own introverted feelings - which are also reflected in some of Rush’s lyrics. I came away from this book appreciating that I live in America and have no interest in enduring the social, political, corruption, health, and 3rd world reality challenges that came with this bike tour. This is one epic cycling adventure that I was happy to read about rather than experience. Much like with his lyrics, Neil had a couple of thoughtful profound passages that resonated with me. Thanks Neil.