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  • The Pants of Perspective

  • One Woman's 3,000 Kilometre Running Adventure Through the Wilds of New Zealand
  • By: Anna McNuff
  • Narrated by: Anna McNuff
  • Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (605 ratings)
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The Pants of Perspective cover art

The Pants of Perspective

By: Anna McNuff
Narrated by: Anna McNuff
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Summary

"A thrilling, coming-of-age journey that will make you yearn to go on your own adventures.” (Runner's World)

Anna was never anything like those "real" runners on telly - all spindly limbs, tiny shorts, and split times - but when she read about New Zealand’s 3,000-kilometer-long Te Araroa Trail, she began to wonder...perhaps being a "real" runner was overrated. Maybe she could just run it anyway? 

Travelling alone through New Zealand’s backcountry for 148 days, she scrambled through forests, along ridgelines, over mountain passes, along beaches, and across swollen rivers. Running up to 52 kilometers in a day, she slept wild most nights and was taken into the homes and hearts of the Kiwi people in between. 

The Pants of Perspective is a witty, colorful, and at times painfully raw account of a journey to the edge of what a woman believes herself to be capable of. It is a coming-of-age story that will lead you on a roller-coaster ride through fear, vulnerability, courage, and failure. 

For anyone who has ever dreamt of taking on a great challenge but felt too afraid to begin - this story is for you.

©2017 Anna McNuff (P)2018 Anna McNuff

Critic reviews

"Beaming with limitless ambition, positivity and enthusiasm." (Women’s Running)

What listeners say about The Pants of Perspective

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

High octane guff with a dangerous message

I admit I’m only about a third of the way through, so I’m hoping the key messages change by the end. If the writer is as badly prepared for her long distance wilderness run as she (repeatedly) tells us then surely she will be a lot wiser by the end. Now I don’t mind a bit of feel-good story polish but so far I’ve leant:
1. It’s fine to set out into the wilderness badly prepared.
2. Maybe don’t bother researching the trail you are doing, cos hey, that’s just amusing ditziness and not at all dangerous to you or others
3. Don’t take a GPS, because you not liking the way they ‘look at you funny’ is more important than not getting lost and putting others at risk when they try to find you. Ditto, help your folks back home feel you will be a bit safer if you get lost.
4. It’s fine to start out on something this strenuous and isolated without fully training with all your gear
5. In fact it’s fine to set out when you are injured because - presumably- positive thinking will help you. Putting people at risk to find you because you didn’t listen to your body is, again, fine.

So, the story. A lot of over the top ‘hey awesome’ and very little content or reflection. The descriptions of the landscape sound like they were added by another hand. Maybe they were and the author’s strength is running, not writing. But the disjunct is jarring at times.

I kind of wish I hadn’t paid money to encourage more of this.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely fabulous adventure

Anna McNuff is a legend! She’s got more enthusiasm in her little toe then I have in my whole body and it’s infectious. You can’t help get drawn in and invested in her journey (both the physical one and the emotional one). Please, please do yourself a favour and buy this book or the audio book read by Anna herself (or both, hey just buy both!!)

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A glimpse into the sort of adventure most of us just dream about!

I really enjoyed Anna’s book. She has accompanied me on my daily commute for the last few weeks and I’ve enjoyed it so much. Thanks, Anna. Looking forward to your next expedition!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Adventure envy

I am currently running 12 half marathons one every month to raise money for the Brain Tumour Charity. Before December my long runs were 5 or 6 miles so its been a huge leap physically and mentally. Alongside my physical training I have been immersing myself in others adventures and challenges for inspiration. Anna's books stand out for the additional humour as well as the adventure. Rather than dry science you can get in some overly serious challenge undertakers she makes you want to be more resilient with her approach to adversity and her enjoyment of the adventure. Time on the treadmill or roads, definitely goes more quickly and you feel like you are on the adventure as she paints a great picture of the people and terrain.

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1 person found this helpful

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Lovely

This book was lovely and Anna's narration made everything so much more personal. Totally recommend it

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome listen!

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in running/ adventures/ challenges.
Read by Anna herself and if you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting Anna in person it’s great to hear her reading this.
I have been listening to this whilst running and now I’ve finished it I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment once completed the Barefoot Britain challenge! Go Anna - enjoy your adventures and I can’t wait to hear all about it!

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Amazing, inspiring, down-right brilliant!

Absolutely LOVED this book! Anna reads aloud in a very animated and enthralling way - love the accents! This book has everything - even a love story!! An inspiring read and just loved listening to it on my commute - don't know what to do now that I've finished it!!

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Great story about a great adventure.

Excellent storytelling. Inspiring and funny. I still need to write five more words now though.

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Hilarious and motivating book. You'll be wanting to go to NZ after too!

I had so much fun listening to this on walks, runs, commutes to work (and sometimes at work). Tons of funny stories and this book probably only captures half of the adventures Anna had on the run.
Thanks for such a great read/listen.

Becky

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Absolutely Fantastic

What a book! I was gripped from start to finish. Anna is honest, whitty and courageous. I cannot recommend this book enough. As someone who has recently started trail running I have been inspired to get out and explore more places and see the world different

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