Cori’s Pick: The Adventurer’s Son by Roman Dial

 The Adventurer’s Son is a memoir, written by Roman Dial.  Roman is a professor, biologist, legendary Alaskan explorer, and National Geographic Explorer.  And until the publication of this book (February 2020), the only other book he had written was a how-to guide on packrafting.

Roman and his wife Peggy have two children, Cody and Jazz.  Much of their children’s young lives were spent in Alaska, but included travels around the globe.  Roman often brought Cody along for work-related travel expeditions to remote and exotic locations like Borneo and the Arctic.  So when Cody grew up with a strong spirit for adventure, no one was surprised and his travels and curiosity were encouraged by family.  Cody would always keep in touch via email, letting his family know what adventure was next – where he was headed, when he was leaving, what his intended course of travel was, what his return date would bet, etc.  On July 10, 2014, at age twenty-seven, Cody walked into Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica for what he had told his father would be four days in the jungle.  However, nearly 2 weeks after his expected return date, Cody had still not been seen or heard from.

This book recounts the lives of the Dial family, including their two-year quest to unravel the mystery of their son’s fate.  I found the entire story to be fascinating, gripping, and heartbreaking all at once.  At the very least, this book will leave you with an unyielding appreciation for nature.  At the most, insight of the raw bonds between parents and their children.