Two men, three years, seven countries, 3000 miles...
The Central American Sea Kayak Expedition 2000 (CASKE2000) is an inspiring journey of exploration, endurance, and self-discovery that takes Jean-Philippe Soulé and his traveling partner Luke Shullenberger from Baja California all the way to Panama.
During this unfathomably grueling expedition, they will face every manner of threat, from sharks, crocodiles, and bandits to stormy seas, malaria, and their own mortality all in search of a deeper connection to Mother Nature and the indigenous people who revere her most.
This is a tale of adventure, sacrifice, and physical endurance that will leave you breathless with excitement, mourning for our heroes' losses, and cheering their successes. The evocative, gripping narrative coupled with countless, award-worthy photographs makes this a must-read for those who love travel, outdoor adventure, and the exploration of other cultures.
But most of all, it's for the dreamers who've been told they can't, and stubbornly refuse to listen.
EDITORIAL REVIEW - The Wishing Shelf
'A fast-paced story that will grip you and inspire you. Highly recommended.'
. . . This is not just a travel book. The author who, I might add, has excellent writing skills, seems determined for the reader to see everything they saw, from braving waters infested with sharks and alligators to trying to understand the different ways of life they encountered . . .
All in all, this is an enthralling book that I very much enjoyed getting lost in. Would I recommend it? Oh, yes! . . .
Finally, in a world where so many 'give up', this is an example of two men who didn't. So, if you are looking for inspiration, here it is. Enjoy!
- A 'Wishing Shelf' / Star Rating: 5/5
EDITORIAL REVIEW - Best Sellers World
. . . Co-authored by co-adventurers Jean-Philippe Soulé and Luke Shullenberger, this dynamic read memorializes not only their experiences during their expansive sea kayaking journey, but also serves to help bring awareness to the cultures and history of the seldom seen or noted native peoples they encountered.
. . . I found the narrative an intelligently composed chronicle and compelling read that riled the senses with descriptive exposition and well-organized literate visions of superhuman determination, extreme traveling adventure, fraught with kayaking adventure, spine-tingling moments, exotic environments and intriguing people and cultures.
. . . Additionally, aside from portraying a phenomenal travel super-adventure, included in the book are some of the most stunning photos that I have seen ... However, the very best aspect of the book is the inspirational tone of the whole book. The authors, although faced with the adversity and danger of their expedition, did not quit. They simply followed their dreams, a must I think, for all travelers. I definitely and heartily recommend this for fans of travel books.
- Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Best Sellers World
EDITORIAL REVIEW - The Book Review Directory
In this diary-style memoir, Dancing with Death follows two men on an experience of a lifetime . . . What they take away from their journey are unforgettable memories and plenty of lessons learned about themselves and the world . . .
The story switches seamlessly between Jean-Philippe and Luke's perspectives and include intimate, up-close-and-personal details about the blood, sweat, and tears shed during the expedition. Transparent, honest, and emotional, the diary entries underscore the personal struggle each man undergoes individually and in their partnership . . .
How far would you push yourself to achieve the impossible? Jean-Philippe Soulé's story of what the power of human will can accomplish is inspiring, emotional, and empowering. The diverse people, delicious food, and fascinating cultural traditions in Dancing with Death will amaze readers. Filled with adventure and excitement, Dancing with Death will leave readers dreaming of clear water, lush nature, and an unforgettable surge of inspiration to step out of their comfort zone and into the great wide world.
- The Book Review Directory / Star Rating: 5/5
5 EDITORIAL REVIEWS - Readers' Favorite
. . . "We chose sea kayaking as a low-impact way to penetrate untouched jungles and their inhabitants without disturbing them. We won't meet indigenous people as high-tech tourists, but as people like them, living from the land and sea." This admirable and ambitious decision by Jean-Philippe Soulé and Luke Shullenberger lends David and Goliath drama to the epic tale of adventure related throughout Dancing With Death - not, in fact, a hyperbolic title.
Told as a recreated narrative by Jean-Philippe, but also spiced with present moment vividness from journal entries made at the time (including many enticing photographs and ecological observations), these two ambitious souls take the reader on an unforgettable escapade of ultimate danger and discovery, inspiring less intrepid souls . . .
- Joel R. Dennstedt, Readers' Favorite / Star Rating: 5/5
Dancing with Death gives the armchair adventurer a front row seat as the two explorers face massive waves, sharks and endless hordes of biting, stinging insects.
Soulé and Shullenberger's journal entries are interleaved throughout the book, and I loved seeing the journey through each man's perspective. Their vastly different world views and personalities underscore the team effort shown throughout their challenging trip, and hearing both participants' voices added dimension and nuances to the work. Both are solid and fluent writers, perfectly suited for adventure travel writing, and their photography is brilliant. Their accounts of interacting with the indigenous people they met were illuminating and powerful.
. . . Dancing with Death: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure is most highly recommended.
- Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite / Star Rating: 5/5
. . . It is a story of courage, perseverance, mental strength, self-discovery, endurance, and exploration, and the rawness and starkness of the narrative will leave readers in awe.
. . . The book is honest and straightforward and the authors are very vocal about the expedition, their experiences, and their exploratory journey, making it fast-paced and exciting to readers. The images capture the sights and sounds of their journey, making it palpable.
- Mamta Madhavan, Readers' Favorite / Star Rating: 5/5
. . . Dancing with Death: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure by Jean-Philippe Soulé is a wonderful travel memoir and I was hooked from page one. Having read many travel memoirs before, I found this one stands out as written by someone who obviously is a born adventurer at heart, one who also puts in the hard work necessary to actually make expeditions like this possible and successful.
- Gisela Dixon, Readers' Favorite / Star Rating: 5/5
. . . This is a journey of dreams, sacrifice, endurance and triumph, a journey of life that takes you to places you could only ever dream of, through three years of heaven and hell on earth.
Wow! Dancing With Death: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure by Jean-Philippe Soulé is one of the most amazing travel and adventure books I have ever had the privilege to read. What an adventure! . . . We see the journey through their eyes, experience their highs and lows, the danger they faced and their triumphs. The photography was amazing; it really added to the story, brought it even more alive than it already was.
. . . a personal kind of diary written in a tone that is warm and inviting, almost like you are listening to camp fire stories. You will laugh, you will cry, you will shudder in horror, gasp in terror and you will thoroughly enjoy this true story of a journey that many would only dream of and few would dare to undertake. Fabulous book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is highly recommended for those who love travel and survival stories but also for those who need to see that when you put your mind to it, anything is possible.
- Anne-Marie Reynolds, Readers' Favorite / Star Rating: 5/5
"Dancing with Death" is simply a great story. It combines the easy reading style of "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson with the adventure and excitement of "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. As I read, I could clearly picture everything, which makes it seem like watching a movie.
- Jim LeSage ★★★★★
Emotional rollercoaster...
It's also a great exploration of the human spirit and relationships and how we're all connected in some intangible way.
. . . it truly is a study of human endurance. Think "Naked and Afraid" but with more clothes and less fear
- Acesfull ★★★★★
'A paddle into the past with an eye to the future'
. . . In this inviting style of writing the three-year rigorous but enlightening journey unfolds, combining the style once the sole property of writer Richard Halliburton with the skills of thriller novels.
. . . Much more than an adventure journal, this is an enlightening book that tempts/stimulates the reader to forge ahead with dreams. First class book!
- Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame, Amazon Top 100 reviewer ★★★★★
An incredible adventure
This was one of those rare "can't put it down" books. Very well written, full of suspense and educational at the same time.
I particularly enjoyed the different perspectives of Luke and Jean-Philippe. It's hard to comprehend how they could actually complete this journey and live to tell about it. Highly recommended.
- Bill H. ★★★★★
A great trip putting two men against nature and more
- Jimmy Ray ★★★★★
It's a great inspiration for adventure and ecotravelers, and just a plain enjoyable read for people who prefer to read about adventure from the safety of home.
- Amanda ★★★★★
Get taken along for the adventure of a lifetime!
. . . An epic story well told!
- Coastal Eddie ★★★★★
An enjoyable and gripping tale well told
. . . a gripping story full of danger and emotions, to discover native peoples of Central America. Two thumbs (and a paddle) up
- Nuits Blanches in Seattle ★★★★★
Adventures like this, done in this style, don't happen this often. The fact we now have this book, memorializing this epic feat is a gift that needs to be shared
- Zamonation ★★★★★
A great book and an epic adventure! Covering 3,000 miles of paddling and seven countries, the book is inspiring for anyone who loves to explore and test the limits of endurance. Very enjoyable read.
- Victoria S Smith ★★★★★
A thrilling book of real-life adventure
- David Canford (Author of The Throwback) ★★★★★
Dancing With Death: A “Last-Ditch” Attempt at Indigenous Cultural Preservation, Following Closure of NGO
Jean-Philippe Soulé’s ‘DANCING WITH DEATH: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure’ takes readers on an almost unfathomably grueling journey alongside Soulé and his travel partner as they paddle three-thousand miles, through seven countries in three years. Fraught with experiences that nearly land them both in a watery grave, the expedition’s goal was to highlight the desperate need for indigenous cultural preservation. It was a trip that morphed into Native Planet, a non-profit focused on helping these native clans, especially the Indonesian Mentawai people, who are considered one of the oldest and most traditional cultures left in the world. In 2016, Native Planet was forced to close due to lack of funding…but this book keeps their mandate alive.
Contact:
Jean-Philippe Soulé
Email: pr@caske2000.org
Telephone: +33 6 06 65 25 00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United Kingdom – Jean-Philippe Soulé is one of only two people known to have lived among the Mentawai, an indigenous clan of hunter-gatherers who are considered to be one of the most traditional cultures still thriving on earth. During this time, Soulé became acutely aware of their plight, lack of representation in the west and the dearth of support offered to preserve their culture and the cultures of other indigenous populations.
Soulé never forgot his time with the clan and, between 1998 and 2001 put his life on hold to paddle 3,000 miles from California to Panama as part of the two-man ‘CASKE2000’ expedition, tasked with raising awareness of indigenous cultural preservation.
In his new memoir, ‘DANCING WITH DEATH: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure’, Soulé recounts that life-changing journey, the NGO it inspired, and how the organization’s recent demise has ignited a fresh fire in his commitment to preserve these cultures before they are lost forever.
Synopsis:
Two men, three years, seven countries, 3000 miles…
The Central American Sea Kayak Expedition 2000 (CASKE2000) is an inspiring journey of exploration, endurance, and self-discovery that takes Jean-Philippe Soulé and his traveling partner Luke Shullenberger from Baja California all the way to Panama.
During this unfathomably grueling expedition, they will face every manner of threat, from sharks and crocodiles, to bandits and stormy seas, malaria, and their own mortality – all in search of a deeper connection to Mother Nature and her guardians – the indigenous people.
This is a tale of adventure, sacrifice, and physical endurance that will leave you breathless with excitement, mourning for our heroes’ losses, and cheering their successes. The evocative, gripping narrative coupled with countless, award-worthy photographs makes this a must-read for those who love travel, outdoor adventure, and the exploration of other cultures.
But most of all, it's for the dreamers who've been told they can't, and stubbornly refuse to listen.
“The time I spent living with the Mentawai hunter-gatherers in 1992 is what ultimately inspired both the expedition itself, and the NGO that came after it,” explains the author. “Today, the Mentawai are under huge pressure to change their lifestyle from their own government, and from the surfing tourism taking place on their land. We were forced to close the USA registered Native Planet NGO three years ago, so I wanted to do something new – one extra push – to raise awareness of these people and the urgent help they need.”
Continuing, “Because the Mentawai have never received any help, they are at huge risk of vanishing rapidly and as quietly as they have lived. We must preserve them, their customs, traditions and trades – so I urge everyone to pick up a copy of the book. There really is something here for everyone.”
Early reviews have been extremely positive. Jimmy Ray comments, “Imagine facing giant waves or pirates or crocodiles, this book takes us on the trip of a lifetime discovering adventure and a culture that really opens your eyes.”
Readers’ Favorite adds, “Dancing with Death: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure by Jean-Philippe Soulé is a wonderful travel memoir and I was hooked from page one. Having read many travel memoirs before, I found this one stands out as written by someone who obviously is a born adventurer at heart, one who also puts in the hard work necessary to actually make expeditions like this possible and successful. The narrative is also interspersed with Luke’s experiences in his own words. There are many photographs in the book which complement the story very well and bring the actual landscape and people to life. This is a great travel book that I would highly recommend.”
Jack Magnus writes, “Dancing with Death gives the armchair adventurer a front row seat as the two explorers face massive waves, sharks and endless hordes of biting, stinging insects. Soulé and Shullenberger’s journal entries are interleaved throughout the book, and I loved seeing the journey through each man’s perspective. Their vastly different world views and personalities underscore the team effort shown throughout their challenging trip, and hearing both participants’ voices added dimension and nuances to the work. Both are solid and fluent writers, perfectly suited for adventure travel writing, and their photography is brilliant. Their accounts of interacting with the indigenous people they met were illuminating and powerful. Unlike most other travel adventure books I’ve read, I’m glad I wasn’t an actual participant in this journey. The sand flies alone were a sufficient obstacle, but I finished the book in awe of the journeyers and what they were able to accomplish. Dancing with Death: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure is most highly recommended.”
‘DANCING WITH DEATH: An Epic and Inspiring Travel Adventure’ is available now:
Kindle – https://amzn.to/2WG84bS
Paperback - https://amzn.to/2D6HHCL
About the Author:
Growing up beneath the soaring peaks of the Pyrenees, French-born American Jean-Philippe Soulé has dedicated his life to leading expeditions and guiding across the far-flung globe. After numerous solo mountain and jungle expeditions, he lived in the Siberut rainforest for seven months among the Mentawai, an indigenous clan of hunter-gatherers. This inspired him to conceive of the CASKE 2000 expedition and Native Planet NGO.
