On Trails: An Exploration

Hikers and armchair travelers alike will love this thoughtful meditation on all things trails. A true work of literature on par with some of the great nature writers, including Barry Lopez, Robert MacFarlane, John McPhee. I look forward to more works from this gifted young writer and explorer.

Good book. Unexpected focus. Will reread slowly after first speed reading and update review.
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Updated after first speed reading.
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You are warned that this is not a fun-filled Bryson book and likely will not be made into a Hollywood movie. But after 75 years of hiking globally from Allegheny mountains to Rockies to Inca trail with Cusco hometown amateur guide that played the flute for 4 days backpacking to ancient ruins never found (and thus never "improved") by the Spanish I finally "got it." And this book is a bigger deeper personal exploration story that imparts almost academic depth to the why how when where of trails and the details of geology and biology over eons that one can see in fossil records and terrain and climate history that can bring deeper meaning to any trail hike.

It reminded me of John McPhee "Annals of a Former World" which turns roadside geology across the US via route 80 into a pleasant if lengthy lesson that adds plate tectonics to your mental pictures of mountains and basins and rangeland. That got McPhee a Pulitzer Prize (huge book) and after reading all of it over 3 years I then bought the shirt paperback sections of those annals and gave then as gifts to friends who lived along Interstate 80.

But if you want to add more meaning to your hiking or globehopping this "first book" by great writer is recommended. If you are a fundamentalist "young earth" believer stay away. If you are just looking for escape reading stay away. But this is an important book to fill in gaps in your knowledge of exploratory science of our current planet that has trails everywhere that have stories to tell the educated and still open mind.

I love this book not only because it's a fascinating journey in its own right. I love this book because the author resists overstating the case and mythologizing his topic. We see conflicts and confusions among academics, as well as critical findings, making research look less like magic and more like the groping it really is. If he wows us, it's with his words and his willingness to live in the real world, which is as muddy as some of the trails he writes about. His authenticity, which often reveals compassion, and sharp intelligence doesn't reduce trails to one pithy idea. It reveals them to be grand, mysterious and essential.

Starts out with some eye opening factoids on trails and "traces" as a fundamental function of nature and goes on to extrapolate from that, some truly profound reflections on the social, historical, metaphorical, psychological, etc., correlations. Intriguing reading for the most part but gets a little heavy handed and redundant with the euriditious philosophy towards the end.

The book is a mashup of essay, memoir, and extended magazine article. In an offputting journalist's style, the author starts off by telling all about himself in a lengthy introduction without simply getting right down into the story he has to tell. But the writing is good. Occasionally Moor's flights of fancy are a bit much, but some of the trail characters and others Moor meets and describes are interesting or entertaining, and Moor has some good insights into trails, human nature, the tension between wilderness and civilization, what in fact wilderness and civilization are, and so on. He should have cut out the personal history, eliminated the prologue and epilogue or simply made them regular chapters, and included a bibliography and index. Thoughtful hikers who like to read will enjoy the book.

Moor's tales of trail experiences and the characters he met along the way are wonderful, and his discussions of the science of trail development are fascinating and reminiscent of Annie Dillard's style -- but his ponderous philosophizing gets boring. Skip the latter parts and this is a great read.

I rarely fail to finish a book. I almost exclusively read non fiction. I love the outdoors, and constantly read books about wanders. But I am not a scientific person. The first chapter and half is about fossils, slime, and ants. I simply can't read it. I am sure there is value to it, but I will never know because it is that dull. But if you suffer from insomnia....this will be an excellent anecdote.

Once again I have to ask, after reading all of the glowing reviews here and elsewhere (the WSJ review was the one that made me purchase the book) did I miss something?
All in all an average book with, to my skeptical eyes anyway, the idea or theme of "trails" stretched beyond the breaking point. Personally I prefer a rambling dialogue but to link the trails of ants and amoeba with the Appalachian Trail? Like I said, the narrative link feels artificially made to hold true to the theme.
Having said that, there are some truly enjoyable passages; the 30 plus page epilogue (!) finds the author trekking across Texas and Louisiana with a 75 year old man who has spent a good portion of his life hiking, and Mr Moor's tale of scouting out an extension to the AT in of all places, Africa, almost but not quite make me want to forgive him for constantly repeating how important trails are and what exactly trails are in the first place. Maybe 100 pages of memorable narrative fluffed out to 300 plus pages.
the store buyers, your money could be better spent else where. Bill Bryson's A Walk In The Woods which covers his partial walking of the AT immediately springs to mind, now that is a book on trails worthy of 5 stars.

Robert Moor 'ON TRAILS'

I thought this would be a book about the joy of hiking

instead, the author's journey(s) in search of the how and why that trails develop, led him to discover philosophical truths, uncover tidbits of social, geographical, zoological & historical relevance, and observe scientific knowledges!

for example: who knew that the earliest trail-blazers were the previously unknown ancient Ediacarans; Robert Moor's path crossed w/ their 600million year old fossil record @Mistaken Point in Newfoundland-> he shares w/ us some scientists believe these primordial animal organisms were the first to become motive, taking the very first steps in history!

we may have known that elephants are great trail makers, laying down the most optimal paths utilized by other animals in the wilds, but 'ON TRAILS' also contains information about the cultural history of elephants.

Moor recounts how elephants in captivity develop foot problems due to fidgeting to release excess energy normally expended in long-distance hikes of up to 50-miles-per-day; unfortunately-> this fidgeting movement releases endorphins that over time lead to foot injuries so severe as to often result in pre-mature death!

and Moor shares that elephants use their feet to listen for messages from distant members of their herd!

his description of trails leads into a treatise on how hunting by royals in England created an impression in the American colonists the native American hunting techniques were primitive because "..they were not sporting".

Moor provides vast historical research concerning the impact that economic development has had upon the American ecological state. In contrast to Earth First!ers "..tendency to take to a logical extreme the paradox that was built into wilderness from the beginning: if nature dies because we enter it, then the only way to save nature is to kill ourselves," Moor's view is more inline with that expressed by William Cronan in 'UNCOMMON GROUND: RETHINKING THE HUMAN PLACE IN NATURE': "..the belief that only by exploring this middle ground will we learn ways of imagining a better world for all of us," and "..any way of looking at nature that encourages us to believe we are separate from nature—as wilderness tends to do—is likely to reinforce environmentally irresponsible behavior. On the other hand, I also think it no less crucial for us to recognize and honor nonhuman nature as a world we did not create, a world with its own independent, nonhuman reasons for being as it is."

Robert Moor: "It may sound strange (even sacrilegious) to some, but in a very real way, wilderness is a human creation. We create it in the same way that we create trails ... we delineate the place, by defining its boundaries, its meaning, and its use."

This book surprised me. My expectations led me to think I would discover an entertaining description of nature and hiking, two of my interests, but I instead found a moving work of philosophy and physical science. Well, not "instead" so much as "in addition." Moor is an incredibly gifted writer with a gift for explaining difficult concepts, especially in the scientific and philosophical realms. He is also a fearless adventurer, willing to go anywhere and do nearly anything in the service of writing a compelling story. Every sort of pathway you can imagine is mentioned here: prehistoric, underwater, neural, animal, forest, desert, paved, and on and on. Rarely have I been so excited and pleased with a random airport bookshop purchase. What a fortuitous discovery.

This exploration of trails by environmentalist Robert Moor leads the reader into a rhapsodic review of our world from the microscopic to the global. Reflecting through philosophy, literature, science, anthropology, history, and his perceptive observations, this author demonstrates how the creature and man-made paths have shaped history. Ant trails serve as an information track, animal trails lead to fodder, early American Indian footpaths fostered communication, and many of these trails were eventually widened for wagons and then paved into roads and highways. Stitched into this exceptional saga about the evolution of trails is his accounts of his hiking addiction, especially on the Appalachian Trail which he has covered from bottom to top. He joyfully recounts his progress along the trail, and even reveals his misadventures. Currently he is pushing for an international Appalachian Trail. Anecdotes about other hikers spike the stories, as he tries to expose the inner calling that induces this walking obsession. This phenomenal book is magical reading, Robert Moor has an extraordinary gift for meshing a scholarly background with insightful environmental awareness. This writer joins David Quammen as a magnificent nature writer.

Combines a personal look at the authors experiences and acquaintances while on various hiking trails along with a more scientific look at trails themselves, in all forms. The author really has to stretch his definition of trails, with chapters on prehistoric animals that created lines (which the author admits look like trails but aren't trails) and on the methods of organizing information like a trail being examples of this. And a lot of the stories about his experiences on trails get well off topic and into character studies. Which many people may have liked, but I kept feeling that this book was sort of artificial, just a way to get wrap together some interesting stories together.

I've hiked thousands and thousands of miles on trails throughout the world, and run many thousands more. "On Trails" fully captures the essence of the trail life, the characters we find on it, our willingness to open up to our deeper selves, and why we will be connected to trails forever -- because we always have been. His explorations of the extended Appalachian Trail offer a great motif for a study of one of our greatest treasures -- and our most endangered in the face of development, unloading National Forest lands, and the like. "On Trails" is not only a fantastic nature read, but also a deeper read into the essence of who we are as human beings. What a treasure. -- Robert Yehling, Author, "Just Add Water," "Beyond ADHD" and "The Champion's Way"

A spur-of-the-moment purchase in an airport book store turned out to be one the most interesting, unique, thought provoking, and adventurous books I have read in a long time. A page turner, author Robert Moor had me at the first sentence of the prologue: “Once, long ago, I left home looking for a grand adventure and spent five months staring at the mud.” A thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail lead Mr. Moor to investigate the creation of trails- from those created by small insects and large mammals, to Native Americans and beyond.
I found his inquisitive nature and honest approach in researching how trails came to be very refreshing. You’ll meet Harry and Bessie, two Navajo sheep herders from Arizona. As well as Lamar Marshall, the gun-toting, hunter/trapper/environmentalist/ historian from Alabama. And my personal favorite, M.J Eberhart, who calls himself Nimblewill Nomad, an eternal thru-hiker, who saw natural beauty everywhere, including busy highways, by-ways and heavy industrialized areas.
This book is adventurous yet scientific, philosophical yet practical, ancient yet contemporary. It takes the reader from remote isolated corners of the earth, to crowded urban and industrial landscapes. After reading "On Trails", I now find myself driving around my home state of NJ wondering how the roads and highways I now drive on came to be. Once, long ago, they were trails, trails became paths, paths got wider and became dirt roads, and dirt roads became paved roads, most of which are now by-passed by major highways.
My own personal trail led me to wander into that small bookstore at Logan Airport. I’m so glad I did.

One of the best books I have read in a long time. I brought it along on an off road bicycle tour in the southern Arizona desert. It was read by head lamp with frequent pauses to turn out the head lamp, gaze at the night sky and think about what I just read. Read it, if there is a shred of wanderer in your soul you will see parts of yourself you never knew existed or thought about. Congrats to the author.

Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give to a book is that it has changed the way that I see the world. On Trails has done that. I finished it a week ago and the idea of trails has suffused my imagination. Whether reading an article on the Underground Railroad in the New Yorker, or day dreaming of my friendships as being similar to ant trails, I see trails everywhere. So does Mr. Moor. From the wonderful prologue, detailing his personal journey (and ours) to the the foot of the Appalachian Trail, we meander (and I mean that in the best possible way) with Moor and his cast of scientists, historians, thinkers, writers, hikers and others exploring the nature and wisdom of trails. From the discovery of the pheromone trails left by fire ants to the touching exploration of elephant trails, from the layered significance of Cherokee trails and one man's attempts to map them out in North Carolina to the invention of the modern hiking trail and creation of the Appalachian Trail (and IAT), Moor's writing is soulful and erudite. What a joy to trail in Mr. Moor's curious mind. This way . . .`

I received this book as a (heavily hinted about that I would like to receive) holiday gift. I am an avid and lifelong reader. You know that feeling when you are loving a book, and are sad that it ends...I remedied that by immediately going back to the beginning and reading it again. There are so many things that personally resonated with me about this book, but I have also appreciated it professionally. I teach academically gifted 8th graders, and our grade level gifted theme is order vs. chaos. I teach Earth Science, and we are currently studying geomorphology, and also considering the nature of science and inquiry. I shared with my students pages 52-56, and it has extended our thinking considerably. An incredible read for many reasons...well written narrative, thoughtful philosophically, and asks us all to explicitly consider the path we choose. As a lifelong reader, at the mid-century mark myself, it is in the top 3 books I have ever read.

"On Trails" is an extremely well-written, accessible, and entertaining read. Moreover, it has challenged my preconceived notions of nature, my relationship with nature, and offered new lenses through which to observe nature (i.e. eastern/western/first nations thought and practices). Moreover, I found Moor's book to challenge other aspects of my life outside of the trail like personal relationships, life's hardships and victories, work life--you name it--"On Trails" is a such an applicable book. I think I was able to relate to and open my mind to his argument because of his writing style. It read as if he was having a conversation with you. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who is looking for inspiration, education, facts for trivia night, an escape, or challenge themself. Toi! Toi! Toi!

Rob Moor has really given us a Field Theory of trails - what connections mean in our minds, our technology, and our world. Like others, I picked this up first as a devoted hiker, but quickly realized this was about much more than walking or trails. Even someone whose longest hike is to the car in the parking lot will benefit from reading this book. I think we will come to know Moor as the 21st Century Muir. He is a peerless commentator on the relationship between people, nature, and human innovation. The extended meditation on desire lines alone is worth the price of admission - their tie to design theory and crowd-sourced ideas. We all think better when we’re walking, but Robert Moor’s thoughts just seem more interesting and artfully curated. I was motivated to go hike more, and also to read Moor’s other essays. Can’t wait for his next book, whatever its subject.

At times the book is intriguing, but more often it meanders through disorganized commentary about the origin of life, fossils, ants, caterpillars, the writings of Hanshan (a Chinese mountain hermit), as well as elephants, Navajo sheep herding, the Cherokee language, Alabama deer hunting, and the planning of the “IAT” (which, like the book, consists of several disconnected segments). The most interesting parts of the book are the prologue (which is exceptionally well-written), and the epilogue (which focuses on Nimblewill Nomad, a wandering hobo). This book is titled “On Trails,” but I think the author mostly got lost.

Rented the book from the FLoPh (via Hoopla).
Excellent book.
This is not just a history of certain trails, it's a general overview of all trails.
That includes ones that man didn't make.
A really cool view at the very basic elements of what makes a trail and why.
A definite must-hear.

Robert Moor's 'On Trails: An Expedition' is a must read for the camper/hiker/outdoorsman who desires not only to learn more about the history of trails but to also glean a sense of why we might follow them. Accessible without ever being overly simplistic, Moor masterfully weaves his own personal experience with hard science, history, humor, philosophy and a disarming self-awareness - a feat perhaps more difficult than the astounding hikes he underwent while writing this book. And he's never overly idealistic either, weighing both sides of each topic he chooses to broach (this, I think, is essential to a truly worthwhile nature/travel novel) in a way that leaves you thinking with each page. Pick up 'On Trials' - you wont be disappointed with the humanity that shines through Moor's thoughtful words.

On Trails is one of those books that somehow offers a wealth of information, captivating narratives, and personal insights all at once. I was sad when I finished it and can only hope Robert continues to write!

If you're a fan of [author: Michael Pollan], [author: Dan Barber], [author: Candice Millard], or [author: Helen Macdonald], I think you would particularly appreciate [author: Robert Moor]'s ability to take a seemingly simple (potentially boring) topic and transform it into an avenue for exploring history, science, personal growth, local cultures, etc.

If I could only write a two word review, it would be "read it!"

This is a very interesting read, but quite rambling in many places. The author takes many tangents, while examining nearly every aspect of trails. Recommended especially if you are interested in the Appalachian Trail.

My sister had recommended this book and even suggested it for my book group. She apparently did not remember that my book group only reads fiction. This book was so tiresome that the only reason I could keep myself plowing through was because of the family connection. I found it deadly.

Robert hooked me with the first sentence,and kept me going until the very end. I even slowed down as I neared the end because I didn't want it to be over. I am a career trails worker for the national parks so anything related to subject is intriguing to me, but this book is like lounging in an old comfy sweater by a warm fire on a cold night- something anyone can like. We travel with him on the AT, go back to the very first creatures crawling out of the sea, all the way to trails on the internet, and back to were we started. The entire trip is time well spent, fun, funny, and full of insights that resonated with me as truth. It's not often that I reread a book, but my first thought after the last word was,"I think I'll start it again." Mostly, I like Robert as a storyteller, maybe that's why I didn't want it to end.

I enjoyed reading the book very much. I started reading the book with some misgivings since I am not a hiker. The first chapter was so captivating that I continued to read on. The author writes beautifully. I learned a lot about trails. The author connects hiking and trails with science, history and life.

I adored this book. Not only is the writing superb, with the startling imagery of a poet, but the book's deeply pondered insights will bring you—trail like—to unexpected vistas you did not know you wanted to visit. This is a book that should be included among the nature "must reads" on every bookstore shelf now and fifty years from now.

On Trails is a wonderful book that explores the meaning and the founding and the philosophy of trails. I like the way Robert Moor meanders through the evolution of trails from many different aspects. Great read.

Impressive book on ALL things trail. The history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, physiology and practical application of trails. Being a trail lover and a writer I admire Roberts extensive adventure/work creating this excellent, expansive work.

One of the best non fiction books I've read in a long time. An exploration of how we are interconnected, and how we follow those that came before us. Of the many books related to one's experience walking trails that others have taken, this one makes me want to follow the most!

Wow. Just wow. This is an amazing book. I received it for free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.

I'm actually not quite sure where to begin with this one. This book sort of transcends mere categories; I've never read anything quite like it. It is a fascinating, meandering, entertaining rumination on trails, on life, and on what connects us all as citizens of our earthly home. Moor manages to connect evolutionary biology, sociology, anthropology, personal travel experiences and research, and even poetry in this book, and somehow it all flows together into something beautiful, enlightening, and at times, even funny.

Moor has enviable research synthesizing skills; he seems to have an inexhaustible supply of perfectly relevant quotes at his fingertips as he writes. A great deal of book research as well as field research obviously went into the making of this book. It largely centers around his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, but this book has many facets, is not chronological, and is much more than just a travelogue.

One of my favorite things about this book is Moor's uncanny ability to make connections with people that would on first glance seem to be his polar opposite. In his travels, he meets esteemed scientists in Canada, as well as hunters and hikers deep in the American South. He meets an elderly Navajo couple who speak no English, (while he speaks no Diné Bizaad), and a Moroccan man who has no concept of hiking as a recreational endeavor. Near the end of the book, he finds "The Nomad," a drifter of near legendary status, for whom natural and urban landscapes are but one entity. With all these diverse people, he is able to find common ground. Even if he disagrees with them in fundamental ways, he finds the beauty in their world view and ways in which the paths they have taken in life often, surprisingly, merge harmoniously with his own.

You will be a better person for having read this book. I highly recommend it.

Robert Moor's treatise On Trails is like a natural history of paths and a philosophical discussion on life. It is well researched, well written, and thoroughly engaging. It is an elegant, humorous, and at times a moving book.

What a great book. I picked it up, thinking it was going to be about hiking trails, but it was so much more. Moor did a wonderful job of tying together a wide range of seemingly varied ideas and concepts. It really was "an exploration" and a real pleasure to read.

A marvelous journey of a book, beautifully written, imaginatively crafted. Not only did I learn about "trails" - I learned more about "journeys" for which I remain most grateful. I will watch for any add'l work by this author; my hope is that he will continue to research, reflect and write again and again.

The author goes beyond recalling the experiences of one trail to describe the nature and meaning of trails, how they connect places and how they transform the people who follow them. Each chapter gave me a new appreciation for trails in a different way. I would recommend this book to the casual as well as the seasoned hiker.

A remarkably beautiful prose essay on the nature of trails—actual and metaphorical. The author is himself a walker of trails and uses his experience of trails, most especially the Appalachian Trail, as a jumping-off point to investigate their meaning—the trails of insects, animals, native peoples, and wilderness lovers. In the process, he shows us what we gain and lose as modern life removes us from close contact with our environment and the cultural and human costs of that separation.

I had no idea when I opened this book what a rare experience lay ahead. "On Trails" takes us on many surprising and surprisingly fascinating journeys. Robert Moor’s endlessly inquisitive mind coupled with his beautiful and artful writing reveal to lucky readers a whole new way of seeing the world and a whole new way of thinking about it.

Moor's journalism is captivating. His writing is intelligent and almost microscopically descriptive. I find it very genuine the way he can interact with people of all backgrounds and give them a voice. Nothing seems to stand in Robert's way to get at the meat of a story or topic. You will think differently about the world around you after you read this book, which is what great journalists should strive for. I think Moor will be in the conversation for a long time to come.

I bought this recently after seeing it reviewed in the Economist and started it as a break between other books I'd been planing to read for some time. It was superb. One of the most beautiful and fascinating books that I've ever read. It starts out in the realm of natural history but then like the trails it describes branches off in so many equally fascinating and moving directions. I can't recommend it enough.

What an enlightening, thought-provoking and fascinating book! Robert Moor is able to take a subject that on its surface perhaps sounds esoteric or even dull, and weave it with philosophy, history and most importantly his own experiences to create a fascinating page turner that will make you look at trails and even worn-down grass in an entirely new way!

Fantastic read. Moor weaves history, stories and personal accounts into his incredible work. Couldn't put it down. I feel I have gained a much greater appreciation of the trails I have walked on after reading this book. Can't wait to get out on trails I have yet to travel. Highly recommend this book.

Rob Moor's book, 'On Trails' was recommended to me by a hiking friend, Gilliam Jackson who is mentioned in Rob's book. Based on the title and Gil's recommendation I was expecting another recounting of a hiker's Appalachian Trail adventure but what I received was much, much more. Rob's book goes into depth on how trails are created, evolve and become part of our lives and how humans as well as animals choose the trails in their lives. I will never look at a trail again without thinking of how and why the trail came to be and highly recommend this book.

Fantastic, eloquent writing. Great mix of history, science, and beautiful experiences in the outdoors. Almost every page has a level of depth that makes you want to read it a second time so that you're not missing anything. If you enjoy nature, hiking, or just appreciate great writing, this is definitely worth reading.

Moor writes with the eloquence and creativity of someone destined to be one of the great writers of our time, and yet the book remains accessible, a page-turner even! At turns both deeply contemplative and funny, the book is a perfect balance and execution of the genre. If you're looking for a different way to see the world around you, or for a new take and/ or a deeper meditation on the environment, On Trails is the perfect book.

Robert Moor is in possession of a rare and powerful gift, an insightful mind coupled with pure, raw talent. It's hard to believe this is his first book. I hope and pray he writes many more. I'll be thinking about this book and this author for a long time.

Robert Moor writes with thoughtfulness, and a penetrating eye. This book is endlessly engaging, serving more of a springboard for further inquiry than an exhaustive thesis on any of its topics. It's mix of information and personal tale are beautifully woven together and its has the same kind of wit as David Foster Wallace's essays. I'm glad this book exists.

Review On Trails by Robert Moor

“On Trails” starts with a fascinating introduction as to the author’s experience in his first through hike on the Appalachian Trail. Here he lays out his emotions, his physical changes, his growth in maturity gained by a through hike on the Appalachian Trail.

The introduction is followed by a analysis of how trails, both physical on the Earth, and metaphorical trails are developed with a wonderful spread of examples and philosophy. One of the most interesting was the author’s experience in an area devoid of trails.

Then the author returns to the Appalachian Trail with more examples of through hikers and their experiences.

So far very good. And if the book ended there, it would be wonderful. Then we get a detailed history of the Appalachian Trail. This is followed by a meandering journey into a vast international expansion the Appalachian Trail into Canada, and into Europe and Africa complete with details of a guided hike in Morocco. In my opinion the author lost his focus and his philosophy. Both the focus and the philosophy in the first half of the book are well worth an essay reader’s time. The second half is well written and interesting, but extraneous and detracts from the book.

I loved this book. The title is a little off-putting for a not terribly athletic 70 year old woman. But it received excellent reviews so I kindled it. I never expected to be pulled into reading about trails...but I was. Creative and well written....I will give it as Christmas gift.