Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon to Me!

More than likely, the R40 tour was Rush's last major one. The journey through this book carries the reader as a fellow rider along with Neil, as he "arrives" at his destination: retired from being one of rock's most noteworthy drummers ever, and certainly the most prolific lyricist/drummer. He seems upbeat and resolved in this collection of stories -- no more touring, as had been his goal for a tremendously long time. Picturesque stories between destinations, music and laughter, the joy of motorcycling and the freedom of riding are felt throughout this book. Neil's introspection is conveyed in intimate fashion onto the proverbial papyrus. Ever the shy guy who wanted to be "hidden in the background", his talent of writing, in both lyric form and these books have enriched our lives in so many rewarding ways. Whether it's a story about a particular venue, a ride on a certain backroad or pensiveness in Bubba's Garage, Neil has the gift of immersing the reader in the story being told. There were several points in this book that made me just not want to put it down. The hardcover version of this book is a coffee table masterpiece, illustrated with lots of memorable pictures to go along with the stories. It is the crescendo of a remarkable musical career that is the envy and admiration of thousands of musicians and hundreds of thousands of fans. As Neil describes the last concerts on the tour and other noteworthy musicians waiting to celebrate Neil's career after the last show, I felt the excitement from the reader's perspective, of one journey ending for Neil and another beginning. At this point in the career of Rush, as is the career of Neil Peart, nothing is owed to the fans. The sacrifices that Lee/Lifeson/Peart have made in the 40 years of music, physical/mental/personal, are immeasurable and a well-deserved retirement seems sensible at this point. I won't taint this review with the minor points of repetitiveness in this book, e.g. faith-bashing and avoiding fan contact. Sad that Neil feels the need to satirize and/or criticize those who practice religion in every book. Should we learn to laugh at it by now? In this instance, characterizing yarmulkes as "Jewish beanies" may be funny to some; offensive to others. Neil preaches (sorry, no pun intended) about tolerance and respect, yet he can sometimes only personally agree to the tolerance part of it and not always the respect. To me, that's just part of Neil's attempt at "amateur philosophy" regarding such matters. Hence, I apply the converse of Christopher Hutchens' formulation which translates as "What can be dismissed without evidence, can be asserted without evidence".

This is an incredibly well written and insightful look at a remarkable career as one of the world's most noteworthy drummers. It is bitter sweet to read this book because Neil goes through a lot of detail to explain to the reader *why* he has chosen to retire and why it is really non-negotiable. While some fans will chant "keep going, keep going," - he makes it clear that he is "done." And, while his drumming and writing have influenced me significantly since the 70's with All the World's a Stage, I completely agree with his reasons. Having suffered tragic and significant family loss in his past, he deserves to "tend to his own garden" now. If he were to ask me, I would have said "thanks for all the great work, drumming, writing, and entertainment - but... shouldn't you go be with your family since you know better than anyone that nothing in life is permanent and there are no guarantees?" The book is certainly a masterpiece of both design and writing, and is a crowning jewel in the king's crown (to further use the Farewell to Kings theme). In his previous blog-to-book efforts, Neil would take his blog posts, tweak them, and republish them in coffee-table format. Certainly not a bad thing, but it was a little weird to think "hey, I could read these exact same stories on-line..." Nonetheless, I bought the books, but that thought did cross my mind. It didn't cheapen the experience, but it did diluted it just a bit. With Far and Wide, only a few of the stories were distributed on his blog and greatly benefit from being interwoven together much more effectively (vs. being discrete stories) where the narrative of one story leads into the other. By the end of the book, you see why the life he has lead is so rich, and his achievements so fantastic, that you understand why "pulling out of the game" now is a worthy decision. At a certain point, with all the impact of age, hearing loss, physical stress, etc.. you have to ask "Rush are in their top form now - where else can this go but down?" Many entertainers, like cheese that has been left on the counter too long, become moldy parodies of themselves if they stay in the game past their prime. Anytime I read a Peart book (or lyrics), I get that much more motivated to be excellent and achieve all that I can within the scope of my life and to be that much more observant and curious. That is, and has been, Peart's influence on me since I was about 14 years old! What a fantastic thing that I have been lucky enough to have a "hero" who professed that it was OK to think for yourself, that it was ok to be driven and to rise above the norm (especially in a time when music (and art in general) was steadily turning more plastic and shallow.) So, this is a touching (often funny and always insightful) look into Neil's life, this last tour, the miles of travel to all kinds of interesting places and human interactions that go with that travel. It is a look at what drives (rewards and frustrations) someone who has accomplished so much and is surprisingly open in its observations inward and outward. From the very bottom of my heart, I am grateful for the inspiration he has given to me (and a whole generation) and thanks for this "going away" gift to readers, explorers and fans.

Peart is a gifted writer who is able to paint incredible pictures with his words, then you find photos that reinforce the image for you as well. With a subtle sense of humor, and honest wrestling with the challenges of life, and a desire to find more to a motorcycle ride than just a way to get to the next destination, Peart writes from the heart and engages the soul. Even as a non-motorcycle enthusiast, I began to sense the draw of winding down the roads on two wheels and often relieved to arrive at a simple motel to rest at the end of each day's journey. With a depth that comes from his own reflections as he rides, Far and Wide invites the reader into finding their own rhythm to travel the roads of life.

Any fan of Rush and Neil Peart, to whatever degree, should give this book a ride. I also play drums and have taken countless touring rides by motorcycle. There were many moments reading, that I felt a connection with his spirit. Ride on Neil.

If you do or don't like Neil Peart, this is a great read. His writing is excellent and very descriptive. I now have all his books and glad I do.

Chegou até mim em ótimo estado.

Es fantástico leer a Neil. Ya sea que esté contando una anécdota de la infancia o describiendo un paisaje desde su moto, lo hace con mucha inteligencia y buen humor. Siento que aprendo mucho de este gran músico y humano cuando leo sus libros. Además, frecuentemente cuenta anécdotas de Rush y da un buen vistazo a todo lo que sucedía tras bambalinas. Recomendado al 110% para cualquier seguidor de la banda.

This for me is the best thing ever. I love anything Rush related and after the sad passing of the author in January this year I am getting every book he has written. Neil Peart's writing is just so good that even if you didn't know he was a rock drummer you could appreciate his work. I highly recommend any of his books but particularly Ghost Rider. Extremely happy with this book.

I am not a literary expert but I know what I like and that includes motorcycles, music by RUSH and stories to make me smile. I found all this and more in Mr. Peart's book, " Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon to Me". Previous books by Mr. Peart, "Ghost Rider", "Far and Away" and "Roadshow" took me to travels across North America by motorcycle and car(s) in weather good and bad. Vignettes to his drumming in the band RUSH, The Guys at Work, cars and the "state" of America found in interactions with people and situations. Some parts will make you smile while at other times you feel the loss of values to corporation and indifference. I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. More on this book. The theme or vein running with the mind's eye of motorcycles and adventurous pavement is Neil Peart's decision to, at the very least, stop touring (with the band) as time catches up from years of pounding the kit with pain and exhaustion. Ultimately, it is his passion for a home life with his wife and daughter that pushes his decision to "hang 'em up". Recommended!

Apart from being an incredible drummer ( for Rush , in case you didn't know) , he is also a great writer. With great pictures to accompany his writing, the way he tells his travel stories , it makes you feel you're there traveling with him or at least I wish I could see and visit all these great sites with him. Very entertaining.