Review: Cold Beer and a Hot Dart

Cold Beer and a Hot Dart by Brandon Wolfe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn to this travel adventure memoir because I like reading of free-spirits on risky, daring explorations. There is plenty of that here focusing on a trek across Africa with a focus on easy-going Malawi and (then) dangerous Mozambique. I enjoyed that a lot - this scene of bare, hostel-like accommodations and strangers becoming friends as they meet on the road. Along the way, the author reveals multiple malaria infections which can be easily debilitating and even life-threatening. The author examines his attraction to what is really potentially suicidal behavior and ends up pharmaceutically controlling his serotonin levels leading to a new chapter of his life with greater stability and no regrets. He reflects back on his blog:

I would constantly say to my therapist, “but I used to be so _____ in my twenties”. That blank space would be: fearless, adventurous, spontaneous, worry free.

My therapist would respond along the line of-

Most live out their first period of life just like that, and there are aspects of our old self that we miss. And that’s natural. But when you look back on that period, you also acknowledge that you were insecure, avoided commitment, were unknowingly serotonin deficient, emotionally unbalanced, highly trauma reactive, and more…

This redirection and honest assessment helped me accept growth and appreciate that the first period was over and a different phase awaited. We can certainly pull strengths from our past period and incorporate them into our current period of action.

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