Back Story Alaska: Reflections on the Wild Beauty and Characters of the Alaskan Bush is a nonfiction collection of travel memoirs written by Lance Brewer, with photography by Ugashik Bob. Brewer, a California attorney, lucked into his first Alaskan experience when his dad backed out of a ten-day trip he had planned with a number of his colleagues. He offered the spot to his son just a few days before the departure date, and Lance quickly accepted the offer. Brewer loved the outdoors, and the idea of being in the Alaskan bush during the salmon run was a dream come true. Even before he even got near a river or lake, he knew he was going to get his pilot’s license and a float plane. Alaska had gotten into his blood, and it was only going to get better from there. After those first ten days were over, he went home determined to get that license and start planning a second trip north.

Lance Brewer’s Back Story Alaska: Reflections on the Wild Beauty and Characters of the Alaskan Bush is a breathtaking and inspiring book filled with the author’s experiences in Alaska both as a tourist and after building his private fishing retreat. I loved reading about his interactions with the animals he encounters, and found his descriptions of his Campers’ adventures in the bush to be insightful and memorable. Ugashik Bob’s photography is stunning, especially those photographs that show foxes, eagles and bears in their natural environment. Brewer also includes his own inspirational poetry as well as his insights into native traditions in the bush. Anyone who loves the outdoors and has wondered about traveling up North to Alaska should grab this book -- it’s awfully hard to put down once you do. Back Story Alaska: Reflections on the Wild Beauty and Characters of the Alaskan Bush is most highly recommended.

Back Story Alaska: Reflections on the Wild Beauty and Characters of the Alaskan Bush by Lance Brewer is a non-fiction travel memoir and adventure book based on Lance’s times and experiences in the Alaskan bush. In Back Story Alaska, Lance takes us through his very first trip to Alaska from California and how it hooked him for life. Over time, he made several regular trips to Alaska, being drawn to its beauty, the ruggedness, the remoteness, and the natural, free wildlife in abundance in addition to, of course, enjoying the outdoors, hunting, fishing, etc. Lance details the people he meets and forms lifelong friendships with, his own motivation for learning to fly, operating his own lodging, transportation, etc. while truly living off the land for some part of the year, getting a close up look at the Iditarod, a unique event native to Alaska, his hunting and fishing adventures, and much more.

Back Story Alaska: Reflections on the Wild Beauty and Characters of the Alaskan Bush is a good book that depicts the untouched natural beauty of Alaska. It is hard to believe the entire earth was once a remotely populated place filled with natural life, but in today’s world, places like Alaska are the last few truly remote places left away from the grip of human technology and civilization. I enjoyed reading about Lance’s adventures in the wild and more about the history of Alaska, and his dry, humorous writing style makes this book entertaining. The book also contains numerous photographs taken in Alaska of the scenery and wildlife as well as some of his poems. I thought the book was a fun, engaging, and entertaining read.