The Pants Of Perspective: One woman's 3,000 kilometre running adventure through the wilds of New Zealand (Anna's Adventures)

Phenomenal book! This gave me everything I wanted it was inspiring, motivational, humble and full of adventure. I read this post surgery when I was not able to do too much, and feeling rotten. It was just the boost I needed. So much so I have went on to read llama drama which I have loved just as much!! I am now seeking out her other books! My favourite parts of this is the balance of determination and the honesty of struggling set amongst travel and adventure. For me it's been harder to find these kind of books by women. Reading this feels honest and very relatable.

An inspiring and deeply honest account of the physical/mental challenges and the intense joys from Anna's Te Araroa run. When I finished the book I immediately read it again and enjoyed it even more the 2nd time. Bought another copy for my best friend's birthday because I want her to do the things she wants to do but believes she can't. Living life to the full is our own choice - it's not about proving ourselves to others it's wanting to grow from challenging ourselves. A very inspiring and fun book. Hopefully many more to come

I enjoy travel/adventure books, particularly about areas We have visited. A very enjoyable read, easy reading, informative, funny so why only four stars? I know it is being picky, but the book lacks s couple of areas to bring it to five stars for me, I could hazard a guess at their omission may have been too costly, and you can see what is missed via social media. In my very humble opinion the book lacked photos ( OK social media may be available if you use it and see them their ), likewise a few maps to see the trail as it was crisscrossing the islands, these would enhance the reading experience, but are available elsewhere. I would have liked to have read about the costings in an appendix, But, hey, just niggles in a very enjoyable book.

If writer Anna McNuff wanted to grab your attention with her book title The Pants of Perspective, she has certainly succeeded. Written and self-published in 2017, pioneer and explorer Anna McNuff ran over 3,000 kilometres on the gruelling Te Araroa trail in New Zealand – not walked, ran! Wearing a heavy backpack just to make things that little bit more ‘exciting’. Eschewing the comforts of being around family and friends, McNuff, who hails from Britain, went to what is arguably the furthest point from her home turf and fought a valiant battle against hail and wind, injuries and loneliness finally emerging triumphant having found her adventurous soul along the way. Brave and unrelentingly honest, McNuff relates every bloodied blister, every agonising shin-splint, each bruise to both body and ego along with some potentially life threatening injuries. Her hilarious anecdotes to banishing the blues (singing at the top of her voice) combined with a level of steely determination to keep running regardless, is an ode to the indomitability of the human spirit. Anna describes friends who hugged and the never-ending relaying of kindness shown to her as she travelled. One of the most amazing things McNuff did was to lay bare her vulnerability without flinching. In her writings, she has managed to merge the reader with the expedition. I truly felt I was on the journey with her. What an amazing book.

It's the style, the shape, the tone, of Anna's writing, and the sense of just the right balance that made the story (which you must read the book to learn more about) so absorbing. An epic journey worthy of Mark Beaumont, intimating a delightful unpreparedness that reminded me of Sean Conway, the erudite, well-read commentary of an Alastair Humphreys or a Tom Allen - and the downright joyful ridiculousness of, well, Anna herself! There's even a love theme, which will lead you on to another super book - they are often bought together, according to Amazon! Adventureman: Anyone Can Be a Superhero Via unicorn hair, an entire Avicii album (there was more than one?), named trainers, poo jokes and copious chocolate consumption, the reader is happily carried along on a journey that speaks with erudition right into the developing life experiences of a thirtysomething traveller. One for our children to read one day! By the end of the journey, both literal and metaphorical, both of us had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in the company of an accomplished storyteller. Anna's tale of an astonishing feat of endurance counterpoints serious contemplation on life and how we live it, with joyous silliness and observational humour. We can't wait for her cycling books, which must surely follow! PS - You can get the pants from Anna's own website. They're good, too.

As one who has at times engaged in a bit of running and very low level adventuring/climbing I found Anna McNuffs book an enjoyable read. Undertakings such as these are truly momentous but her grounded and self deprecatingly British attitude helps make it seem that it is a possibility for any of us. NOT TRUE!!! However, the life lessons that seem to me to emerge most readily from her recounting (primarily that we can for the most part look on others and know we are effectively looking a reflection of ourselves and that we should continue to try and realise at least some of our dreams) are those that I have gleaned from a little over 60 years living, many years pushing myself to find my personal limits, years spent acquiring the skills I wished to develop and a career spent working with people in extremis. Well done Anna for achieving these simple but important insights in a mere half year! Keep reminding yourself of these because our memories and attention spans are short! This book is a warm hearted, amusing, entertaining and insightful read. The only criticism I could level at it is over use of the "inhaling food" metaphor but one that is well worth overlooking in my opinion.

A brilliant adventure, all the way through u feel as tho u r in the mind and body of Anna. I loved the highs, the lows, the vulnerability , humility and jubilation the story brings. A vast amount of belief was based on the kindness of other humans, it delivered. In a world that is not so rosy right now, this book bought me joy and faith .

Despite it being 30 years since I backpacked around NZ, the memories came flooding back with Anna's vivid account of her run from the Bluff at the southernmost tip of the South Island to Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island. A very honest, funny account of her story; how she pushed her body through multiple injuries to achieve something truly unbelievable is quite incredible. She paints a picture of the NZers that I remember, friendly, welcoming, adventurous and a little bit crazy,( in the best way 😘) In all of this she paints herself as a very normal, unassuming person and as such I am sure will inspire many people to push themselves to follow in her footsteps.

I'm a kiwi, and I enjoy reading other people's experiences with nz, I especially liked the great descriptions, it is pretty hard to put into words some of the views we are treated to in places of the country, and the author made every place name a positive experience, which is pretty hard to do in places like Arthurs Pass when it's pouring down! I had only heard about this trail in passing, so I enjoyed doing some of my own research towards another amazing kiwi outdoors adventure that Ididn'tknow much about. Loved the honesty and the self motivation Anna talked about, I have no doubt she has inspired others with her attitude and determination.

Dear Anna, I will write a review in German, but say this in English: Thank you for baring your soul and owing up to weakness in great achievment. I loved it, well written and it's an adventure love story, so happy for both of you. Man bekommt Lust auf Neuseeland und es liest sich einfach abenteuerlich spontan und Anna's quirlige Art spring aus jeder Seite. Ich hätte mir ein paar mehr Karten und Fotos gewünscht und habe beim Lesen öfters mal gegoogelt. Eine spannender lustiger Reisebericht!

We learned of Anna's book only because my daughter is taking a great homeschool high school World Geography course and it was on a list of books to choose from for her spring book report project. To be honest we didn't choose it right away, the title doesn't do it justice. But when we had difficulty getting into the more well-known book about an expedition in the 1940s, we started reading the descriptions. And, we are SOoo GLAD we did! Anna's familiar, converstional style is ao engaging and she gives such amazing rich detail or the places, people, flora, fauna, and geography all along her journey. Glaciers in New Zealand? We would never have known. We made frequent bunny trail searches to look up pictures and videos and read articles and blogs about A.L.L. the places and people and even ANZAC Day. As if that were not enough, almost every chapter includes some inspirational gem, particularly for young ladies. Admittedly, there is a bit of language now and then (very, very mild) and one little racy historical legend that might warrant a parental pre-read if you are planning to hand this to your teen. But, I am so grateful that this class gave us the opportunity to become aquainted with Anna. And I feel as if we've just been through a whole class on New Zealand. You MUST read this book. [Even if your only option is the large print.]

Real good adventure Book!!! I love this author!

Anna is inspiring and takes you along for her incredible adventures! Buy her books. You wont be dissappointed