New Book! “100 Things I Learned as an Everyday Adventurer”

Published on October 30, 2013 (↻ November 2, 2024), filed under (RSS feed for all categories).

EPUB and PDF, with updates, at Leanpub (other options).

I wrote a new book! Not about web development, again, not about philosophy or social sciences, yet, but about all the different activities I’ve been doing over the last few years, in all my infinite free time. And what I learned in one hundred of them.

Format and price Ebook (EPUB and PDF), $9.99
Kindle ebook (free app for Android and iOS), $9.99
Extras 20 photos
Preview Select chapters (PDF, 312 KB)
Length 146 pages (PDF)
Sellers Amazon
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play Books
Leanpub
Gumroad
ISBN 978-0-9911480-0-4
Latest version 1.2.55 (bought the book, but reading an old version? contact me, maybe I can help)

Terrific piece of self-introspection and adventure.

…readers say on Amazon.com.

Description

The cover of “100 Things I Learned as an Everyday Adventurer.”

This is the book that the most boring person would write when they discovered life’s possibilities. Meet Jens, a hectic, neurotic self-proclaimed adventurer, and his very individual account of one hundred different activities he tried over the course of three years (2010–2013). From rafting to security guard certifications to crocheting, everything had a lesson, and these lessons are shared in this book. Look forward to the German answer to Winston Wolfe explaining one way to live life.

→ This is the book if you decide to break out of your routines and discover the abundance of what you can do in your free time.

The outline:

  • Introduction
  • Acknowledgments
  • 100 Things I Learned as an Everyday Adventurer
    1. Flying Helicopters
    2. Skydiving
    3. Manicure and Pedicure
    4. Visiting a Psychic
    5. Learning to Ride a Motorcycle
    6. Go-Kart Racing
    7. Shooting Handguns
    8. First Aid Training
    9. Doing Improv
    10. Kickboxing
    11. Welding (TIG)
    12. Chocolate Baking
    13. Machine Sewing
    14. Speed Dating
    15. Riding a Hot Air Balloon
    16. Open Water Diving
    17. Rock Climbing and Bouldering
    18. Sailing
    19. Archery
    20. Salsa Dancing
    21. Bungee Jumping
    22. Horseback Riding
    23. Hunting Education
    24. Learning Bear Identification Basics (Online)
    25. Cocktail Mixing
    26. Security Guard Training
    27. Learning Photography Basics
    28. Pepper-Spraying and Handcuffing
    29. Stock Car Racing
    30. High Performance Driving Training
    31. Shooting Rifles and Shotguns
    32. Kayaking
    33. Aerial Conditioning
    34. Floating
    35. Doing Acrobatics
    36. Cooking
    37. Filmmaking
    38. Kiteboarding, Sort Of
    39. Acting
    40. Flying in a 3-Axis Flight Simulator
    41. Wakeboarding
    42. Caving
    43. “Painting”
    44. Mastering Batons
    45. Electronic Measuring
    46. Tactical Shooting
    47. Jet-Skiing
    48. Driving in Left-Hand Traffic
    49. Parasailing
    50. Learning How to Work with Kitchen Knives
    51. Airsoft Shooting
    52. Candle Making
    53. Vacuum Forming
    54. Ice Skating
    55. Paintball
    56. Soap Making
    57. Glass Blowing
    58. Snowboarding
    59. Trike Gliding
    60. Bookbinding
    61. Visiting Choirs, Ballets, and Poetry Readings
    62. Flying an Airplane
    63. Arranging and Binding Flowers
    64. Writing
    65. Perfume Making
    66. Getting a Straight Razor Shave
    67. Camel Riding
    68. Beekeeping
    69. Motocross
    70. Letterpress Printing
    71. Stand-Up Paddleboarding
    72. Krav Maga
    73. Indoor Skydiving
    74. Playing Laser Tag
    75. Fencing
    76. Doing Ikebana
    77. Rafting
    78. Drawing
    79. Learning How to Operate a Taser
    80. Body Butter Making
    81. Learning How to Operate Radar
    82. Doing Pilates
    83. Photopolymer Platemaking
    84. Acupuncture
    85. Watching a Film in a Drive-In Theater
    86. Facial Expressions Identification Training (Online)
    87. Crocheting
    88. Jewelry Making
    89. Composting
    90. Brush Lettering and Sign Painting
    91. Sand Blasting
    92. Powder Coating
    93. Snowshoeing
    94. Learning About Edible and Medicinal Weeds
    95. Surfing
    96. Learning to Play the Ukulele
    97. Segway Riding
    98. Canoeing
    99. Singing and Voice Training
    100. Filipino Martial Arts
  • How to Become an Everyday Adventurer
  • About the Author
  • About 100 Things I Learned as an Everyday Adventurer

Behind the Scenes

The idea for the book came when I noticed that not only had I tried a ton of different activities (I’ve been meticulously maintaining a very comprehensive list), but that I had truly learned a lot of things in the process. So I figured I might get those things on paper, and be it as a reminder for myself.

I’m not just sharing lessons alongside heart-wrenching stories and gorgeous pictures and extra-tough grades but also how everything came about and how I got a bit loco in my head—and how one generally can become a bit of an “everyday adventurer.”

I wrote one half of the book on Google shuttle buses and the other half in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Everything else kept me in irons then in Quito, Ecuador.

I had three awesome helpers. Sarah M. Tyrrell, my editor, Julia W. Tang, cover design inspiration and reviewer, and J. Felix Desroches, also reviewer. â™Ą

I wrote 20 more chapters just to kick 20 out after I read the first draft. I wanted to have some choice. Alas, the 20 chapters that didn’t make it already form a skeleton manuscript for part 2! But I’m not Hollywood, and we’re not going to talk about a sequel just yet.

Writing the book using Google Docs and publishing it through Kindle Direct Publishing has been quite an experiment. And an experience. I’ve shared thoughts and tips in an extra post.

❧ But, that’s it for now! I’m seriously exhausted. And excited. Please check out the book: 100 Things I Learned as an Everyday Adventurer. Thank you!

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About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on November 9, 2024.

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a frontend engineering leader and tech author/publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead for companies like Google and as an engineering manager for companies like Miro, I’m a contributor to several web standards, and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development (and engineering management), but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (Please be critical, interpret charitably, and give feedback.)

Comments (Closed)

  1. On October 30, 2013, 19:17 CET, David said:

    Congrats Jens! Purchased! Looking forward to reading this!

  2. On November 1, 2013, 1:07 CET, Simon Y. said:

    Jens, congrats to this! Excited to learn more….!!

  3. On November 2, 2013, 1:58 CET, jason warrett said:

    I love it! Wish we had managed to do paragliding together. Kudos from Santa Rosa!