Still Sideways, Devon Raney
Still Sideways, Devon Raney
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Still Sideways
Riding the Edge Again after Losing My Sight

Author: Devon Raney

Series: Patagonia

Narrator: Jesse Bernstein, Devon Raney

Unabridged: 7 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/04/2020


Synopsis

Before a surfing accident caused thirty-three-year-old Devon Raney to lose all but 15 percent of his vision, he had already lived an extraordinary life. Time and again he'd gone against the grain to maximize time for his passions--surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding--bringing him into the direct path of colorful characters, unexpected adventures, and even the occasional brush with death. Through it all, Devon's commitment to outdoor adventure never wavered. If anything, he learned to approach the other commitments he would make in life--as a husband and as a father--with the same passion and dedication he'd applied to board sports.

So when facing a devastating mid-life challenge, Devon once again went against the grain -- sideways. Instead of retreating into a life made smaller by the things he could no longer do--drive, build houses, read to his young daughter--Devon resolved to keep his commitments to the same passions that had defined and sustained him. Using his remaining peripheral vision, he developed a style of tandem snowboarding, figured out how to read the waves, and carried himself through his daily life in such a way that few people other than his close friends and family were aware of his vision loss.

Still Sideways makes the case for the sustaining power of nature for a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts: the late Gen X / early millennial generation that has one foot firmly in adulthood and the other foot buckled into a binding. Readers will relate to Devon's stubborn refusal to organize his life around convention and will be inspired by how his dogged devotion to shredding brings him salvation, not comeuppance, when it all hits the fan. A must-read for any mid-life adventurer, Still Sideways intersperses a gripping narrative of Devon's incredible decade and flashbacks of formative experiences from his youth and young adulthood with humor, candor, and authenticity.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Gray

An inspiring story and glimpse into the life of Devon and his family & friends. This book resonated with me in many ways but most of all it speaks to the good in people. Be it friends or family it goes to show what humans are capable of when loyalty and dedication are prioritized in ones life. While......more

Goodreads review by Jessica

A very honest depiction of what it means to lose your independence but want to fiercely retain it as well. While I appreciated that, I didn’t really enjoy the writing style as it was way too conversational. It ended up sounding a bit too narrative which made his story less impactful to me as a reade......more

Goodreads review by THOMAS

Okay...all I can say is this. We are in the middle of the Covid pandemic and people are losing their minds over having to wear a mask or not go here or not do this etc. Devon lost his eyesight and has dealt with things so much better than most are dealing with their current “hardships”. Devon didn’t......more

Goodreads review by Gino

Written with passion and authenticity, Still Sideways will leave you laughing, crying, and at the edge of your seat after each chapter. Whether you're a surfer, skater, snowboarder, mother, or father, everyone can relate to the stories told by Devon Raney! His story is a testament to the power of lo......more

Goodreads review by Tobias

So many emotions packed into this. Being a snowboarder and surfer myself this is very hard to read without being absolutely touched by the events and friendships described here.......more