Things I Learned from Falling: The must-read true story Paperback – 27 May 2021

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Thank you Claire for sharing your inspiring, insightful story

Apart from not falling down a hole - I feel seen. 👀 I found the book affecting.. it was beautifully written and very relatable. I love a good adventure story and this held my attention. I got worried about her in my daily life out in that desert in the searing heat. I've felt that heat. It was like I needed to get back to her and help her out. Mind you it took me ages to read the book so I would have been no use. I love her outlook and attitude and zest for her life. It was an inspiring story, a great pick in these strange pandemic times.

I really enjoyed this. Very well written and emotional.

I'm into reading Trail books at the moment and I reckon I have read about a dozen, both good and others, not so good.But Wow ! This book knocks them all into a cocked hat ! The story gently led me into a spell binding climax that left me unable to put the book down. As the story continued to unfold at a more gentle pace, Claire gives us an insight into her enlightenment wholly brought about through her incredible ordeal. She reaches into our consciousness explaining how her experience has brought the acceptance of the happy life that she had been searching for. That the happiness she craved was already within her grasp, and therefore it maybe the answer that we are all searching for. The happiness we seek, is the happiness we already have.Claire shows us that we do not have to go through her most harrowing experience to understand that. A great read.

A story of determine survival, which I enjoyed, but did feel there was a lot of repetition. Often just skim read.

I was expecting to read about the authors horrendous accident and how she survived, but this book is so much more than that.‘What I Learned From Falling’ is a beautifully written account of a true story as well as being part biography, part thriller, part therapy book and part travel guide. The part I wasn’t expecting was the therapeutic side. I identified with a lot of Claire’s honest and open writing about her mental wellbeing. My tears were not only from reading the vivid description of her survival, they were from reading about her day to day life before her travels.I am proud to say the author, Claire, is a friend. A friend I now understand more than ever before. She is bold, wise, fiercely independent and has a cracking taste in music- this book will convey this and more.

Enjoyed this book, a remarkable true story, that is well written, highly recommend!

Couldn’t recommend it enough, brilliant book

An engaging story of personal growth that was triggered by a hiking accident and near death experience. The story of Claire’s “before “ life is skillfully interwoven with the drama of her hiking accident to share the insights she has gained.

The writer thinks and reflects about her life, going from the situation that led her to go on a trip, the accident she sufferened and her recovery.There isn't really anything new that people don't already know (go offline, see if your life reflects your values, take care of personal relationships, accept that you can't or have to always be independent) but the book is engaging, interesting and a reminder of what you already know but decide to ignore. A must read

I enjoy biographies, especially ones describing exceptional courage, so this was right down my alley. I could really relate to Claire on many levels; her inner struggle, her pain, the way she sucked it up, her demise, her resurrection. Claire’s eventual rescue was as cathartic for myself as it was for Claire. I was on the verge of tears. Claire’s survival and comeback story is nothing short of inspiring and the advice to trekkers so heartfelt. Being a keen mountain trekker myself, made me reflect. Well done ,Claire. I truly wish you all the best!

So, I don’t *know* Claire Nelson but I have been following her on Instagram for years now. I followed her as she lived and worked in London and I wished her well as she turned her back on her London life and the burnout it resulted in, heading first to Canada but then ending up in Joshua Tree National Park where she was to house and catsit for friends for a couple of weeks. She’s excited to be out in the middle of nowhere with space to think and recharge and spend time in nature. Having visited the park a number of years ago, I can see what a great place it would be to take a step back from life to reconsider, well, everything.Claire is an experienced hiker but on the day of her accident, though she takes care to bring enough water with her, she doesn’t formally let anyone know where she is going. Her walk doesn’t go to planned and she falls, off the trail and knows immediately that the likelihood of being found (quickly) is very low. And so, she is alone. With very little food and water and, importantly, no shelter in the middle of a desert. Alone with her thoughts. For four days.As I already knew the outcome of this story and had followed along her dramatic rescue (I remember being SO surprised when I saw her rescue photo on Instagram – thinking “Wow, that’s right, it’s been a few days since she posted…”), I wondered how an account of her time in the desert as she awaited rescue might translate to an actual book. I’d read plenty of interviews with Claire but – a whole book?In fact, it’s one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a long time. It’s raw but not in an over-the-top way that a dramatic rescue story might be. Claire spends her time in the desert thinking back on her old life – so many “what ifs” and regrets about things she could have, should have done… She regrets, ironically the thing that ends up saving her – spending so much time on the social media. It was her lack of posting on social media for a few days that alerted people to to the fact that something might be wrong… It’s an intimate look at the inner workings of someone who is facing near-certain death but who has so much fight in her she literally will do anything to keep herself alive.This is a gripping, tale that will make your heart race. Even if you know the outcome, it’s a tense read that will have you turning the pages, wanting more, needing to make sure Claire’s ok. Don’t start it late at night – you won’t be able to put it down. I read it in a few hours on a flight to Australia, the week it came out and have since read it again.An uplifting tale of determination and hope. Which we could all use more of right now.

Amazing book that reminds the reader of the fragility, awe, and wonder of life. Thank you for sharing your journey Claire!