Top Book Recommendations by Cheryl Strayed: Best Books for Success

Cheryl Strayed is an American author, memoirist, and essayist best known for her memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Her writing style has been described as raw, honest, and emotionally charged. Her work has been widely praised for its open-hearted exploration of difficult topics such as addiction, grief, and self-discovery.

Born in Minnesota in 1968, Strayed was raised in a working-class family and experienced a great deal of hardship and tragedy throughout her childhood. She was estranged from her father and his family, and her mother died of cancer when Strayed was 22. In her twenties, she became deeply involved in drugs and alcohol and experienced a period of radical self-destruction.

It was during this period of her life that Strayed decided to embark on a difficult and transformative hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. This journey, which she documented in her memoir Wild, was a transformative experience for Strayed as she worked through her past traumas and grew into a new sense of self-knowledge and self-empowerment.

Since the publication of Wild, Strayed has published numerous books and essays on topics ranging from love, loss, and recovery, to feminism, motherhood, and community. She is also a regular contributor to the advice columns Dear Sugar and Tiny Beautiful Things, which offer insight and guidance to those struggling with their own difficult journeys.

Strayed has also become a powerful advocate for the environment and has written extensively on the need to protect and preserve public lands. In addition to her work as an author and public speaker, Strayed is a founding board member of the Women's Wilderness, a nonprofit organization that provides outdoor experiences for women.

Today, Strayed continues to write and speak about the power of resilience, courage, and self-discovery. She has become a powerful voice for those seeking to find their own paths and for those who are brave enough to share their stories.

In addition to her writing and advocacy, Strayed is an avid traveler and hiker. She has completed the Pacific Crest Trail twice and has hiked extensively in the United States and around the world. She has also completed the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. Strayed is a passionate advocate for the outdoors and recently launched a project called “Outdoor Education for All” to make outdoor education accessible to all students.

Strayed also serves on the board of the National Parks Foundation and is a member of the National Parks Conservation Association. She is a passionate supporter of conservation and public lands and has worked to promote access to the outdoors for all.

Strayed is an inspirational figure for many who her story and her work have inspired. She has become a powerful voice for those who are seeking to find their own paths and for those who are brave enough to share their stories.