“Will to Wild will help you spot the signs, show you what is possible, and give you the confidence to take the first step.”
— Melissa Urban, New York Times best-selling author, The Book of Boundaries and Co-Founder/CEO Whole 30
"... This book may very well change your life!"
— Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey
“A rollicking operating manual for navigating modern malaise.”
— James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art
"... Shelby Stanger knows her stuff."
— Christopher McDougall, author Born to Run
"… Had I known of this book, it would have saved me years of doubt and research."
— Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, Explorer and Author of In The Shadow of The Mountain
"Beautiful, profoundly inspiring, and laugh-out-loud funny ..."
— Jaimal Yogis, author of The Fear Project and Saltwater Buddha
"... The ultimate guide for anyone looking to try something new and have more nature in their lives."
— Captain Liz Clark, Author of Swell: A Sailing Surfer's Journey of Awakening
"... A great trail map for inviting more wild into your life, or just taking the first step."
— Mary Turner, Deputy Editor at Outside magazine
WILL TO WILD
ADVENTURES GREAT AND SMALL TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Available To Purchase Now. In Stores June 6th, 2023. Published by Simon &Schuster
About The Book
Embrace adventures both big and small and pursue your wild ideas with this motivational guidebook from seasoned adventurer and podcaster Shelby Stanger.
Will to Wild is an instruction manual to adventure. Your guide: enthusiastic outdoorswoman Shelby Stanger. Stanger has been teaching folks how to leap into the unknown since she taught her first surf class over twenty years ago. Over the years, she watched many of her students quit their jobs, end dysfunctional relationships, and move across the country for a healthier work-life-balance—all after spending a bit of time in nature. Shelby marveled at the phenomenon. Being outside was changing the lives of her students, her peers, and herself. Shelby was so intrigued, she began to tell their stories, first as a writer and journalist, then as a podcast host for Wild Ideas Worth Living, REI Co-op Studio’s flagship podcast.
With her first book, Will to Wild, Shelby shares all she’s witnessed and learned in her years covering adventurers. It’s the book she wishes she’d had when she’d first felt the urge to leap from familiar to wild terrain. The one that takes you step-by-step from the first inkling of inspiration for your own wild idea through fear and self-doubt and on to the finish line.
In these pages, you will find stories with practical tips and tactics from world-famous rock climbers and ultra-runners, to longtime thru-hikers, surfers, desk-jockeys-who’ve-figured-out-how-to-get-off-the-clock, and even a suburban mom who started teaching women to scale frozen waterfalls in her mid-fifties. Along with Shelby's stories, they will show you how to get unstuck, how to pay attention to “trail signs” that point you toward your adventure, how to face your fears, and what to do when everything goes haywire (which will likely happen, never fear!). With Shelby’s characteristic strength and vulnerability, Will to Wild encourages you to break out of your comfort zones, get out into nature, and bring their own wild ideas to life. Whether you’re already an adventure junkie or someone who’s never set up a tent, there’s something inside these pages for you.
About The Author
Shelby Stanger is the host and creator of the hit podcast, Wild Ideas Worth Living, an REI Co-Op Studios production. Over the years, her work has appeared everywhere from Outside Magazine to ESPN, and she has spoken to organizations like The Girl Scouts of America, NPR, and Creative Mornings. Always chasing adventure herself, Shelby has surfed from Canada to Costa Rica; sand-boarded down desolate dunes in Cape Town; paddled down a remote portion of the Amazon River (so many bug bites); and interviewed countless CEOs, athletes, activists, and thought leaders. She regularly consults with highly motivated individuals and brands to tell better stories and even launch their own podcasts and wild ideas.
– UPCOMING EVENTS –
December 2, 2023 - Pure Brewing, Northpark, San Diego
Shelby will be speaking and signing books with Navy Captain and Author of Surf When You Can Brett Crozier. Details to come.
– Previous events –
October 12, 2023 - The Women’s Surf Film Festival, Venice Beach, CA
Shelby will be speaking and signing books. Event starts at 5pm at Deux Ex Machina in Venice Beach. More info here.
October 20, 2023 - Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 4pm, Encinitas, CA
Shelby will be speaking and signing books with Surfer Magazine Photo Editor Grant Ellis. Event starts at 4pm. No RSVP Necessary.
August 19, 2023 - The San Diego Union Tribune Festival of Books with USD
Shelby will be speaking and signing books. More info here.
June 23, 2023 - HOBY Youth Leadership Summit
Shelby to Keynote the Youth Leadership Summit at USD, Joan Kroc Center (Private Event for the kids!).
June 20, 2023 - Outdoor Retailer Show, Salt lake City, Utah
WHY ADVENTURE IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. Melissa Urban, Whole30 co-founder and CEO will now be joining Shelby Stanger, author of Will to Wild and host of REI Co-Op's Wild Ideas Worth Living Podcast about why adventuring, time in nature, and going for walks is good for your leadership, team, and business. The Ranger Station (in Venture Out), 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Click here for more information.
June 19, 2023 - REI Book Event, REI Salt Lake City, Utah 5pm-7pm
Book signing and conversation at REI Co-op, Salt Lake City, Utah 3285 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. Click here to register for this FREE event! Event starts at 5pm. *If the event is sold out, we will make room for you!
June 13, 2023- Los Angeles Book Party With BOXUNION and DIESEL Bookstore
A conversation with BoxUnion’s Felicia Alexander and Shelby Stanger, Brentwood, California about the will to wild and your own wild ideas. Click here for more info and to get tickets.
June 11, 2023 - TEDx San Diego, Conrad Prebys Theater, La Jolla, CA
SOLD OUT. More info here. Replay coming soon. Go to TedxSanDiego.com for updates.
June 6, 2023 - WARWICK’s Book Signing, Warwick's, La Jolla, CA at 7:30pm
Click here to reserve a book and seat. Book launch party + Talk and reading.
WILL TO WILD IN THE PRESS
Recent Article Features
Recent Podcast Interviews
Praise for Will To Wild
“A priestess of adventure for our times, Shelby Stanger inspires us by curation, example, and her generous good sense. This book may very well change your life.”
“A rollicking operating manual for navigating modern malaise.”
“Whether your “call to the wild” is a solo hike, a new hobby, a career change, or a radical overhaul of your whole damn life, Will to Wild will help you spot the signs, show you what is possible, and give you the confidence to take the first step.”
“True story: I’ve written more books (5) than blurbs (4). I almost always refuse because c’mon, when’s the last time you read a blurb you actually believed? You can tell it’s mostly friends blowing smoke for friends.
That’s why I only blurb if I read the entire book and believe the writer has something special to say and the chops to say it — and it’s why WILL TO WILD just evened the score at five all.
Shelby Stanger isn’t a motivational speaker; she’s a motivational listener. She’s interviewed scores of people over the years who’ve cracked the code for turning their dreams into their day jobs, and she lays out her discoveries in a book that’s beyond inspirational: it’s instructional.
Stanger digs into the tough how-tos, first by sharing stories of all kinds of everyday folks who’ve broken free and “gone wild,” and then detailing how you can follow in their footsteps. She tells you how to finance your wild dream; why it may radically change your personal life and even romances; and what to do “When it all goes haywire,” as she puts it, and you hit that “Oh F— moment.”
This is the first book that ever made me stop reading, walk out the door, and try one of Stanger’s tips (singing in the face of anxiety). And guess what? It works. Shelby Stanger knows her stuff.”
“Will to Wild is just as captivating as informative for anyone who has ever dreamed of taking that leap outside their comfort zone. An intimate memoir written in a candid, playful, and illuminating style, you will feel compelled to search your will to wild. Had I known of this book, it would have saved me years of doubt and research. So grateful it is available for you all to read!”
“Beautiful, profoundly inspiring, and laugh-out-loud funny, Will to Wild feels like being on an awesome outdoor adventure with your best friends. After every chapter, you find yourself planning a new adventure.”
“Will to Wild is the ultimate guide for anyone looking to try something new and have more nature in their lives. Shelby makes it fun and relatable—skillfully weaving practical tips, effective advice, hilarious stories, inspiring examples, and heartfelt encouragement into a clear step by step format that will make you feel supported as you take the leap into whatever endeavor is calling you.”
“Shelby Stanger’s signature optimism, curiosity, and joy shine brightly in this inspiringly adventurous book—a great trail map for inviting more wild into your life, or just taking the first step.”