Rating: 
Summary: Conflict between a travel book and an insightful journey
Review: My reasons for purchasing this book were two-fold: One, to get a glimpse into the mind of a reclusive man that has left an indelible mark on me through his lyrics with Rush; and two, to see how someone faced with emotionally exhasting tragedies was able to recover.What I found was an interesting journey that led me to feel I understood him a little bit more and at the same time frustrated that the way the story is told is unresolved. I found following the journey from Canada to Mexico fascinating in and of itself. Mr. Peart handles the description of his journey extremely well...the first time around. I found the second trip left me anxious to get past it. I had heard it before and wasn't interested in following another adventure of that sort. I was also surprised at how much of the story-telling was left to his letters, which at times became reduntant from what he just wrote. In fact, the middle of the book almost exclusively contains a constant stream of letters to his friend Brutus. This became very tedious and a bit irritating in the vein of trying to understand a telephone conversation listening solely on one end. It also interrupted the normal prose of the rest of the story. His prose is well done, so the letters were an annoyance. I would have rather had him describe his feelings rather than dictate a letter. It is surprising how quickly he wraps up his struggle in a very short epilogue. It is strange to battle through 400 pages of grief and distress only to come to a few paragraphs that say "oh, and now I'm fine." I am not saying that Mr. Peart needed to or was obliged to explain his full recovery; however, considering how intimite he was with the tragedies, it felt normal to have a little more explanation to the recovery. In short, during his travels he didn't explain enough on his emotional struggles and understanding, and he expected his letters to do too much explaining. On the whole, though, I found the experience intriguing and insightful. It was a fascinating journey into the mind of a man for whom I have always had professional respect. I felt Mr. Peart's willingness to share his journey to and from the abyss heroic considering his introverted nature and reticence to reach out to those outside of his trusted circle. The shortcomings of this book, I believe, are due to these natural and instinctive urges. Therefore, it is a worthy read for anyone who understands those aspects of Mr. Peart's nature. One must be willing to give him a wide berth to air out his feelings on a very personal subject. For those not familiar with his personality, or his history even on a small level, may find this to be a meandering story that does not resolve the way they would like.
Rating: 
Summary: The story of a man determined to save his own life.
Review: In the interest of full disclosure, I admit to being a long-time Rush fan, which by extension makes me a long-time fan of Neil Peart, the author of this work and drummer and lyricist for Rush. I had been aware of the tragedies that he and his family had experienced, and knew that it was the reason behind the several-year gap between albums (Test for Echo released in 1996. Rush's next album, Vapor Trails, would not release until 2002.). However, I didn't know the story of what brought Neil back to Rush, and thus Rush back to the world until I picked up this book at a concert in July of 2002. When Neil Peart lost his daughter to a traffic accident in the fall of 1997, and his wife to cancer (though, really, he knew it was a broken heart that took his wife), he was an empty man, a man with no reason to live, and little desire to do so. To save himself from the loneliness and the emptiness of a life alone, Peart took to the roads on his motorcycle on a journey that would cover Canada, much of the western United States, and parts of Central America. As he wrote: "My little baby soul was not a happy infant, of course, with much to complain about, but as every parent learns, a restless baby often calms down if you take it for a ride. I had learned my squalling spirit could be soothed the same way, by motion, and so I had decided to set off on this journey into the unknown. Take my little baby soul for a ride." This book is a compelling combination of travelogue, literary journal, sarcastic wit, and honest soul- searching. It provides a number of insights to a complex and intriguing man, one who would be interesting even without his fame. His humor, his pain, his reflections, his irritation, his impatience, his fear... All of it presented for the world to see, and to learn from. I recommend this book not only to Rush fans, but to anyone interested in seeing how someone survives the losses Peart experienced and emerges a whole person on the other side.
Rating: 
Summary: IF YOU LOVE RUSH DON'T READ THIS BOOK
Review: Neil does such a good job of insulting anyone and everyone who grew up loving Rush that it makes you wonder if he should have just stayed in the tractor repair business. I still love rush, Neil is still my biggest drum influence, and I'll go see 'em every chance I get. However, I really would have been better off not reading this book. If your like me though, you'll read it anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: A meaningful step in my own recovery
Review: I find it interesting and sad how many people read this book looking for a story and insight about RUSH. I personally was deeply saddened after the Test for Echo tour to have heard about Neil's tragic losses, then just recently in December of 2002, a week before Christmas, I lost my 32 year old wife to cancer, and immediately have been thrust into a fraternity that nobody should have to join. A friend was kind enough to give me the book as a gift, and what a profound gift it was. As a lifelong fan of RUSH, Neil, and being a drummer myself, I took that book everywhere with me...it almost became my security. On planes, in my car, etc...until I finally forced myself to read the book closely. I feel much closer to Neil and certainly identify with his emotions, his feelings of anger, frustration, self-loathing, his "little baby soul" and everything else. Sure, the book delves too deep into certain things that may come across as "WHO CARES" to the reader, but that's the way grief is. You try to fill as much time with WHO CARES so you don't just sit around and cry and be miserable. I know, because I'm there RIGHT NOW. At this point, I'm almost feeling an additional loss from having finished the book. I agree that there was unfinished business in this book, but I can't help but feel happy for the guy for getting to the point of moving on. That was bittersweet reading for me and quite hard. Thanks Neil, for sharing your moving story, and making this reader feel and understand your pain, and through that process, anticipate and justify the feelings that I currently am going through. Well done.
Rating:
Summary: Ghost Rider : Travels on the healing road
Review: I have followed Rush and been a fan since 1976. I was 12 years old when I first became amazed at the talent of Neil Peart. Recently I was watching the DVD for Rush in RIO when I discovered that Neil had been through some real life challenges . As a fan I feel I have shared a journey through their music , as the years have passed I have grown up with Rush being a soundtrack from my youth. It is with that in mind that I purchased Neils book. All I can say is that my heart broke with the reading of the first chapter. Neil lost his daughter and within a few months later lost his wife. Feeling alone and with no recourse but to keep moving he took off on what this book shows as a life adventure to find himself and to deal with the loss of his love ones. Neil shares his journeys with you in this book as his heart unfolds. I was deeply touched as well as amazed with his extreme talent. This is a must read for any fan!
Rating:
Summary: The uncomfortable rock star takes an uncomfortable journey.
Review: Both physically and emotionally. Mr. Peart writes what must have been a most difficult book about recent tragedies he's suffered and the "healing road" he's taken to escape and embrace them. The book at times is gripping and insightful. However...he can also be hypocritical and abrasive. He longs for more open mindedness from people but those who may disagree with his point of view receives his derision. He and his band are staunch anti music trading and the illegalities of it while he financially and morally supports a non remorseful drug dealer. Placing the blame for his friend legal woes squarely on a constrictive government rather than on the man who has made the choice of pursuing this type of illicit career. But you do not have to agree with a writer nesscessarily to enjoy his writing. Mr. Peart is and engaging and concise writer. At times the book reads as a letter from a troubled friend. Admittedly aloof due to a lifetime of living in the spotlight. He finds more comfort in the words of a book than with many of the people he encounters. Those that are privy to his good nature are rewarded with lively conversation those that are not receive a cold reception unbefitting a man of his history. The book is a good read and the author capable. However, the book not only confronts the author but the reader. I found his previous book more enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Peart Offers Reader A Frustrating Parallel...
Review: Neil Peart - rockstar, mystery man, tireless traveler, deep thinker, lyricist, writer, flawless idol to percussionists and music fans worldwide and...human being. The usually private Peart opens up his thoughts and life following the two year span following unfathomable tragedy. While some will criticize Peart's contempt for others ( especially obese Americans!), others will find the book's continuous inclusion of letters to his imprisoned drug-dealing best friend, Brutus, to be tediously redundant. Having finished the 450+ page book in a weekend, I've come to the following conclusions. 1. The reader, as an admirer of Peart, is trapped inside the adventure, turning pages, looking for that revelation of Peart's personality and life secret that we've wondered about for so long. Just as Neil continues to search for the answer to the big "Why?" presented to him. I suppose any revelations this book offers are small ones, little clues for the reader to ponder and pick away at in search of a bigger answer. 2. The glimpse inside of Peart's personal world is an exciting adventure in itself, that of a self-made man of the world forced to re-invent his soul. In the end, one might be surprised at how a seemingly confident man like Peart could fall to the human frailties of rebounding in romance ( even bringing the new liason into failure, perhaps by desparate "pushiness", ) or how vulnerable to love he could become in such a state of confusion, contempt and hopelessness. While the "letters to Brutus" seemed, possibly, redundant, Peart's life at that time must have redundant in his often futile attempts to find renewed meaning. Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road is indeed a frustrating read that can only be truly appreciated in reflection after completed. With the last 5 years still fresh history, Peart has allowed us inside his life, a place he has kept closed to his adoring public for so long; and he has done so while still in a fragile state. If another 5 years had past, I doubt Peart would have written this book at all. Flawed and frustrating, Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road is a book that will make you cry, make you laugh, make you angry and make you think about it long after you've finished.
Rating:
Summary: The uncomfortable rock star takes an uncomfortable journey.
Review: Both physically and emotionally. Mr. Peart writes what must have been a most difficult book about recent tragedies he's suffered and the "healing road" he's taken to escape and embrace them. The book at times is gripping and insightful. However...he can also be hypocritical and abrasive. He longs for more open mindedness from people but those who may disagree with his point of view receives his derision. He and his band are staunch anti music trading and the illegalities of it while he financially and morally supports a non remorseful drug dealer. Placing the blame for his friend legal woes squarely on a constrictive government rather than on the man who has made the choice of pursuing this type of illicit career. But you do not have to agree with a writer nesscessarily to enjoy his writing. Mr. Peart is and engaging and concise writer. At times the book reads as a letter from a troubled friend. Admittedly aloof due to a lifetime of living in the spotlight. He finds more comfort in the words of a book than with many of the people he encounters. Those that are privy to his good nature are rewarded with lively conversation those that are not receive a cold reception unbefitting a man of his history. The book is a good read and the author capable. However, the book not only confronts the author but the reader. I found his previous book more enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Neils tragedy and triumph
Review: Good read, heartbreaking 1st couple of chapters that kicks off the book. Middle chapters bog down a little as lengthly desciptions of desert landscape becomes monotonous. Last sevral chapters are excellent as he emerges from the pain and finds a new life, new love, and re-discovers music.
Rating:
Summary: The road that heals could be ridden by anyone
Review: Although this book can be found in the Music section in stores, it should be allowed to occupy a space in the therapeutic section as well. Not just for the Rush fan, this book could have be written by anyone whose circumstances were, unfortunately, similar to Peart's. We are allowed to travel with Peart's "little baby soul" and see how it's possible to let our hearts, bit by bit, recover from trauma. Do not let the idea that this is a constantly depressing book, keep it from being read. It is a wonderful trip across America on a motorcycle but we never forget why the road is traveled.
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