One Wild and Precious Life: A hopeful path forward in a fractured world

Quote about solving problems with a new level of consciousness.

Family member who calls the manuscript 'Sarah’s Book of Everything'. Dad's anti-capitalist stance and personal history are detailed. Dad's frugal habits and car maintenance shaped the narrator's minimalist mindset.

Advised author to focus on altruism rather than mindfulness.

Quoted comparing society to a car heading toward a brick wall.

Poet whose technique of asking the 'more beautiful question' is highlighted. Leads the poetry‑and‑hiking trip in the Lake District and recites a new poem about ‘just beyond yourself’. Poet quoted on grief, comparing it to falling in love.

White police officer whose killing of George Floyd is cited.

Quote about walking to generate great thoughts. Philosopher whose cottage in Sils Maria is visited by the narrator

Victim of police brutality referenced.

Publisher the author calls during a panic about the book's concept.

Customs officer at LAX who chats with the author about her book, offers encouragement.

Referenced as source of a field concept for shared humanity. Sarah quotes Rumi while discussing personal spiritual practice. Rumi's quote appears, highlighting a call to abandon comfort and reputation.

Narrator, writer of the book, traveling to LAX for research. Narrator reflects on technology's role in disconnection, shares personal texting habits, introduces the compassionate phrase "I get you", and recounts a travel encounter in Slovenia. Narrator recounts Samaria Gorge hike, learns philotimo, undergoes insemination, pregnancy journey. Narrator experiences mania, undertakes a solo hike to Kirkstone Pass, reads Nan Shepherd's "The Living Mountain" and reflects on the healing power of mountains. Sarah discovers she is pregnant after insemination in Crete and a positive blood test in Slovenia, confronts a catch‑22 about her planned hike, reflects on radical aloneness and the concept of the edge. Narrator recounts her fourth month pregnancy and Julian Alps hike Narrator details her personal hiking philosophy and practices, emphasizing minimalist packing, train-hike-train flow, and the mental benefits of walking. Narrator discovers she is eight weeks pregnant, suffers miscarriage, and processes grief through a solo hike up Mount Gigilos in Crete’s White Mountains. Describes Sarah's daily spirituality practice via meditation in nature and esoteric spiritual therapy, and her critique of spiritual bypassing as morally shallow. Narrator hikes in Joshua Tree, experiences awe, visits Pioneertown and reflects on capitalism and soul care Narrator recounts Grose Valley hike, personal loss, and pivotal business decisions Sarah Wilson participates in a group hike on the Overland Track in Tasmania, reflecting on group dynamics and personal insights. Narrator recounts a four‑day solo trek on the John Muir Trail in the High Sierras, staying at four lakes and coping with grief after pregnancy termination.

Writer cited on fearing loneliness yet seeking aloneness

Contemporary artist referenced as part of shared breath of humanity

Historical figure referenced as part of shared breath of humanity Buddha is referenced as one of the spiritual traditions whose teachings include sacrifice, service, and radical faith.

Narrator’s nephew who described book’s meaning in childlike terms

Psychoanalyst who discussed moral isolation in 1956 Referenced for his ideas on freedom, love and work as antidotes to modern disconnection

Sociologist who labeled loneliness the ‘global warming’ of demographics

Historical scientist referenced as part of shared breath of humanity

Former First Lady noted for insensitively worded jacket at US‑Mexico border

Literary critic who described loneliness as a populated place

Artist quoted on newborn cries and humanity's search for connection

Writer who observed life feeling shallower during social distancing

13th‑century theologian linked moral loneliness to acedia

Former US Surgeon General and author of 'Together' released during COVID‑19 surge

Author of Eat Pray Love, whose book the narrator brought on the walk and quoted

Referenced as author of a book about the southwest England nomadic walk that inspired narrator's route

Mentioned as author who wrote famous works while walking the same paths; signed Woolf's book with misspelling

Cited for diary entry about the shadow of a sword and for fan‑girling Thomas Hardy

Goat herder in Ikaria with whom narrator had a two‑week affair, communicating without language

55‑year‑old radical journalist, contemporary of Slavoj Žižek, who joins the narrator and Nika on a gondola ride and discusses the loss of awe.

Millennial publicist at the narrator's Slovenian publishing house who invites her on a gondola ride to discuss philosophy. Companion on a gondola ride in Slovenia

Travel writer quoted on optimism inherent in travel versus despair in static life.

New York Times columnist quoted on how prosperity can lead to societal stagnation.

Deaton labels capitalism as visibly sick.

Glover’s quote about Hurricane Katrina used to illustrate systemic poverty.

Brooks discusses the moral burden of individualism in ‘The Second Mountain’.

Benioff declares traditional capitalism dead.

Krugman’s columns question the discredit of socialism and market supremacy.

Dalio comments on capitalism’s performance for most Americans.

Central literary figure inspiring the narrator's journey to the Alps

Author of the Heidi novel referenced by the narrator

Narrator's longtime friend who joins the Heididorf hike Longtime friend mentioned in passing during Swiss Alps recollection

Instagram friend in South Africa who received a message about love and humanity

Tough Ikarian woman friend who shared a pivotal insight about Greece Ikarian friend who gave a warning to the narrator in Greece.

Doctor who performed narrator's insemination and provided support during her pregnancy. Provides medical advice regarding pregnancy restrictions. Doctor in Chania who performed the early ultrasound, identified a knot in the umbilical cord, referred to the fetus as a girl, and arranged the D&C after the miscarriage.

Greek engineer who purchases narrator's ticket and shares the Samariá Gorge hike, exemplifying philotimo.

Local yoga teacher who posted on Instagram about philotimo as a lifestyle.

South Carolina dad on the hike who asks about the moral path forward.

Sister of William Wordsworth, noted for accompanying his walks.

Invites the narrator to dinner and introduces the Lake District poetry hike.

Author of The Living Mountain, referenced as inspiration for mountain meditation.

Romantic poet whose Lake District walks are cited as historical context.

Philosopher cited for ideas on absurdity, the plague, and confronting the edge of death.

Climate activist referenced for responding to criticism about her fitness to lead due to Asperger’s.

Researcher who conducted large surveys on US teen sexual abstinence and mental health trends.

Psychotherapist who defines anxiety in children as overestimating danger and underestimating coping ability.

Buddhist nun quoted on repeatedly going to one’s edge as a path to reconnection. Provided a quote that wherever you are is your vehicle for waking up, encouraging starting where you are.

Chef and co‑owner of Hiša Franko

Co‑owner of Hiša Franko with Ana Roš

Solo traveller who dined with the narrator at Hiša Franko

New Yorker essayist quoted describing walking in Manhattan as an expansive civic connection.

Cited for promoting urban green spaces to improve public health, distributing flyers to doctors.

Recalls teaching the narrator to keep walking in Manhattan, used as a metaphor for perseverance.

Cited among American naturalists who opposed capitalism and valued walking. Author whose essay collection provided reading companionship on the Sierra Nevada hike.

Mentioned as a 19th‑century naturalist and anti‑capitalist who walked in nature. His words appear on a journal in the park office, reinforcing the narrator’s sense of wildness as home.

Quoted on walking uniting belief with action and its role in moral and spiritual journeys.

Provided a 19th‑century reflection on walking’s ability to sink one into self and attract birds.

Quoted at the chapter opening to illustrate nature as the enduring element beyond human pursuits.

Narrator’s nephew who lives in Slovakia with his family.

Pete’s Slovakian wife mentioned during the narrator’s recount of her travel route.

Narrator’s niece who lives in Slovakia with her family.

Narrator’s brother living in Slovakia with his family.

Woman whose name appears on a memorial plaque at the summit of the White Mountains, indicating she fell to her death there.

Journalist who rides the gondola with narrator and Nika in Slovenia

Author and activist whose video warns humanity of an impending iceberg

British comedian who invites the narrator onto his podcast and discusses spiritual materialism

American Benedictine nun activist encouraging prophetic action and political engagement

Introduced as a venture capitalist the narrator meets in a cafe

Introduced as a board member helping with the sale plan

Introduced as another of the narrator's accountants

Introduced as one of the narrator's accountants

Organized transport for a climate strike, booked a minibus, scaled to two coaches, got 130 participants, inspired others to replicate.

Mum supported the narrator during a period of illness and helped pack belongings into a storage cage.

Feminist journalist and author of The Rules Do Not Apply

Referenced for the quote about possessions owning you via his character Tyler

Mentioned as a former resident of the Tinners Arms pub

Older man in a tweed cap and army-issue anorak, sitting with his sheepdog on the coast

Young woman who recently left her fiancé and runs the pub where the narrator stayed

The old man's companion, a sheepdog, about to be euthanized

Wife of the unnamed husband who was reluctant to hike without her

Mentioned in discussion of force majeure and stoic philosophy, referencing his work Meditations.

First appearance as philosopher and former financial risk analyst who coined 'antifragile' and argues stressors are essential for complex systems.

Introduced as the narrator's meditation teacher who uses the metaphor of watering roots to enjoy fruit.

Protagonist of a Netflix film about an avalanche, used to illustrate moral choices during disaster.

Introduced as a Yamabushi monk living on the Kii Peninsula who guides the narrator on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage Rob Watson, economist and former senior scientist at the US Natural Resources Defense Council, is cited on the nature of Mother Nature. Oadh, a Bedouin guide with nine children, leads the narrator and Kersti on a five‑day trek through Wadi Rum.

First appearance as a former NBC journalist who unexpectedly enters the narrator's cafe and engages in a brief conversation.

Introduced as the narrator's book agent in New York who notifies the narrator of Maria Shriver's declination.

Debra, an accredited forest therapy guide and former movie industry worker, leads the forest bathing experience

Anthia is the narrator’s friend who recommended Cafe Kitsune.

Clare Bowditch, a musician friend, sends an Instagram message about a mysterious business card and asks the narrator to investigate it.

Timothy Morton is referenced for coining the term 'hyperobjects' and linking it to climate crisis perception. Kersti is the narrator's longtime friend who fulfills a long‑planned adventure together in Wadi Rum.