Book Review: Perseverance by Steven Harrison

Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

A memorable journey to Alaska, brimming with feel-good stories

To follow a dream or burning desire, one needs bravery, preparation, and perseverance. Leaving everything behind to follow that dream is even more difficult, yet it’s exactly what Steven Harrison did in pursuit of a greater life. 

Perseverance details Harrison’s journey to see his fiftieth state, Alaska, during the height of COVID-19 on an e-bike. He begins in the state he resides in, California, and continues north. The book reads like a snapshot or postcard from a trip-full of lucky moments, instantaneous human connections, and descriptions of a world yet unseen. There’s even inclusions of actual photographs from the journey, allowing the reader to grasp all the things Harrison believes are important to immortalize. 

What makes this reading experience so great is the author’s voice and commentary throughout. A lot of the story is a recollection of the trip, but it is nicely supplemented by a number of internal quips. While it can be difficult to understand the narrator’s personality and motivation in the travel recounting, the internal thoughts reveal much about Harrison. A lot of the book is driven by a solitary Harrison and little dialogue, so amplifying the protagonist’s voice is essential to fostering the strong reader connection I had here. 

I also really liked how forthcoming and unique each place turned out being. This memoir isn’t filled with only happy–go-lucky moments that people dream of when planning a trip like this. It breaks down cost, set-backs, and dangerous moments that can occur. Rather than add an air of romance and fun to every incident, Harrison prioritizes candor. It really rounds out the journey as a human one, with all the bumps and bruises. 

The actual story itself is quite short. At times, I wished for more variety in description and less repetition. We are told multiple times about how COVID-19 shut down many businesses and borders at the time, and Harrison repeatedly praises women who also underwent a similar journey alone.

All that being said, this book would be great for someone standing in front of diverging roads. This book can offer courage to make a decision, from a small change to something life-altering. I would also recommend this book to memoir lovers, especially those who enjoy unorthodox traveling and camping. This book will certainly ignite the flame for any trip. 

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