Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventure

Jon Katz, a respected author and family man, arrived at age 50 feeling sedentary and uneasy. His wife was busy pursuing her own demanding career, his daughter was preparing to leave home for college, and his writing career had taken a dubious turn. A modern-day Walden, Running to the Mountain chronicles Katz's wonderfully witty and insightful search for renewed purpose and meaning in his familiar world. Armed with his two faithful Labradors, and the writings of Thomas Merton, Katz trades in his suburban carpool-driving identity and escapes to the mountains of upstate New York. There, as he restores a dilapidated cabin and experiences the humorous trials of small-town life, he confronts his lifelong questions about spirituality, morality, and his own self-worth. He ultimately rediscovers a profound appreciation for his work, his family, and the beauty of everyday life -- and provides a glorious lesson for us all.