Motorcycle Man

Motorcycle shop owner Ben Makowski offers a three-day class for new riders. When he finds out one of his students doesn’t even like motorcycles, he’s irritated but drawn to the man at the same time. Though he can clearly see the new student is dealing with something difficult, Ben sets out to get to know what that might be and if he can help in any way. Writer Angus Winter’s publisher has insisted he learn about motorcycles for an upcoming book, which is the last thing he wants to do. His fear of motorcycles stems from a tragedy in his past. But something about his sexy new teacher makes him want to open up to the man. Can Angus trust Ben with the burden he’s carried for so long?

“Pierson is an even better writer than she is a rider.”—Boston Globe “World’s Toughest Motorcycle Riders”—long-distance motorcycling is not a pastime but an obsession. In this candid, eloquent, sharply observed book, Melissa Holbrook Pierson introduces us to this strange endeavor and the men and women who live to ride impossibly long distances, eating up road, almost without cease. And who find it nothing but fun. Perhaps the most determined of them is John Ryan, a magnetic, enigmatic man who loves nothing better than breaking records of amazing distance—at no small risk to himself and his health. But why? Pierson, who rediscovered the joys of motorcycling in the midst of a personal crisis, puts on her helmet and joins Ryan in his element in order to understand his singular desire and discipline, his passion and his obsession. The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing offers an intimate glimpse of an unusually independent yet supportive community as well as a revealing, unforgettable portrait of its most daring member. In electric, pitch-perfect prose, Pierson gives us rare insights into not only a subculture but also the deeply human craving for something more that drives it.

Herb Shreve's mother always said he would be a preacher. He fought this destiny until he heard the voice of God say "Herb, preach!" Many sermons later, a late night return from a revival ended in an altercation with his teenage son. Realizing the emotional distance between them, Herb purchased two motorcycles to rekindle their bond. Traveling to rallies, Herb saw hurt and pain masquerading behind black leather and roaring engines. Here were thousands who would never enter church doors. His wife gave him thirty days and the promise of Tupperware income. Discover for yourself how $17 and submission to God's will built the Christian Motorcyclists Association - now a global ministry, serving all 50 states and 30 countries worldwide.

Our 1972 motorcycle ride took us on a four-thousand-mile trip from Arizona to Canada and back. Some nights we camped out along the highway; other nights we found a motel. Some days the rain was fierce and debilitating… but every day was fun and filled with great experiences and amazing landscapes. Each of us rode a 500cc two-stroke motorcycle on the journey. We had no cell phones, roadside assistance coverage, custom ear plugs, or sound systems. The attractions of the open road, Canada, and Yellowstone Park were very powerful. None of us worried about breaking down or the costs of the trip. We were filled with youthful confidence in ourselves and our machines. The three of us had places to go and places to see. And we made it!

Ride with a father and his son on an amazing journey through America's past. In the summer of 1939, with the nation balanced between the Great Depression and the gathering winds of war, young Jack Newkirk set off on a rickety Harley to see both the New York and San Francisco World's Fairs. He had no way of knowing it was to e the autumn of his youth, and that his entire generation would soon be thrust into the most devastating conflict in history. Seven decades later, author John J. Newkirk retraces this epic ride with his father, Jack, in a silent hope the old soldier will still be proud of the America he fought for. Each mile brings discovery as the author learns of his namesake, the heroic Squadron Leader of the legendar Flying Tigers, and of his father's life on the road and in the jungles of the South Pacific during World War II. The result is quintessential Americana, a sweeping portrait of the grit, guts, ingenuity, and sacrifice that defined a nation, and a timely lesson from the Greatest Generation on how we can overcome our most pressing challenges and reclaim the American Dream.