In 2022, Cameron Hanes released his book, Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering. Part biography and partly about Hanes’ unique approach to fitness and hunting, the story details the hardships and successes of the author. Raised by his mother and abusive step-father, Hanes is the son of a former Olympian, alcoholic, and generally absent father. Life seemed bleak before Hanes found inspiration in bowhunting. Today, he is world-class bowhunter and marathon runner who shares his approach to exercise and hunting with others.
I had never heard of this person before stumbling upon his book and it’s not something I would normally seek out. However, I became enthralled with the story and Hanes’ ability to rise above life’s circumstances to channel suffering into personal success and inspiration for others. I also didn’t believe that Cameron runs a marathon daily, while holding down a full-time job as a father of three and achieving a high rate of success in bowhunting, which alone is incredibly challenging to accomplish. But after verifying his trials and triumphs, I became even more impressed with his journey and fortitude.
Hanes weaves his life’s experience in and out of a narrative about his endurance through pain, accomplishment, and loss. Rife with expletives, personal observations, and touching moments, this book details one man’s relentless pursuit to be his best. Whether it involves Hanes’ story about beating Lance Armstrong in a marathon, literally carrying a boulder up a mountain for exercise, or honing his craft as a writer, Hanes continually sets an example for exception. The book also offers an intriguing glimpse into a distinct perspective. For instance, even if you can’t relate to the act of hunting, Hanes makes the points that it enables him to better provide for his family and that animals who die by his arrows would likely meet a more grisly demise in the wild. Hanes illustrates a paradox about taking life while cherishing it, such as when he painstakingly lifted a carcass from a cliff because he could not bear the loss of sustenance, let alone a meaningless loss of life.
It may not be the right book for everyone, but Endure is a title that should not be discounted. On its face, it seems like a self-help book about summoning the strength to get in shape, but a closer examination reveals something much deeper: a story about a person who wants to be closer to his father, excel in this ambitions, and share what works for him so that it might help others. If it appears to be worthy of your time, I recommend this title for those seeking inspiration for improvement, or just an interesting life story. The title is available as an eAudiobook or book within the Marmot catalog.