Inside Passage: Living With Killer Whales, Bald Eagles, and Kwakiutl Indians

In "Inside Passage", Michael Modzelewski bounds bravely into adventure in a way many of us have merely fantasized about. Living on a remote island in the inner corridor of Alaskan wilderness, Modzelewski pits himself against Mother Nature, not as opponent, but with reverence and great humility at heart. Having the courage to endure and survive "outside the box", Modzelewski's impassioned and inspired stories communicate a spiritual depth, awareness and understanding that nourishes the soul. With the wonder of a child and the wisdom of a warrior, we are taken on a journey that awakens all our senses, leaving us with awe and respect for a rugged and unrelenting land overflowing with magic and mystery.

I'd like to start out with my favorite quote from Michael Modzelewski, "Sometimes you have to lower your standard of living to reach a higher level." I have sailed the inside passage via cruise ship 5 times and every time I read "INSIDE PASSAGE" brings back all the wonderful memories and magical moments I have experienced in this wild and untamed wilderness.Michael lived with killer and humpback whales, bald eagles, Kwakiutl Indians on the surrounding Islands, Tuffy the cat, Cottonwood the ridgeback dog, and my favorite raven named Blackie! On page 59 is a hilarious story about Blackie!! Michael lived in Will Malloff's 12x34 ft. home with no t.v., indoor plumbing, electricity,no car or grocery store. No traffic jams,pollution or noise of any kind, and all you can eat fish in the sea was the trade off! You will learn what Michael needed to do to survive 18 months on Swanson Island.This is one of those books you read over and over and underline everything. I'm going to close with another of Michael's quotes,"I touched the whale; she touched me; and what passed between us changed me forever." Reading this book and meeting Michael changed me forever. This book inspired and motivated me to take some risks in life, to travel, and to dream big because dreams do come true,look at Michael's!

With words of heartfelt passion and exuberance the author brings the Inside Passage to Alaska totally alive. Not since the soaring prose of John Muir have we had a man to match these mountains, ocean, northern lights. And Modzelewski goes just as deep as Muir, realizing that it is Nature that gives life form; and both authors fill those forms with spirit as magnificent and inspiring as a multi-hued, prismatic glacier! I gush over very few books, but this is definitely one deserving of sky-high praise.

At first glance, Michael Modzelewski's book appears to be an account of his experience in the pristine and unforgiving wilderness of a remote island. Upon deeper look, we find that not only does he share with us the spirit of adventure, but even more, he shares an adventure of the spirit. Michael's fresh, open approach to his environment provides us with a new awareness of nature, an awareness of its pure mindfulness and the danger that civilization imposes on it. We learn that to commune with the spirit of the earth and sky is to develop a sense of humble appreciation for its energy, intelligence, and beauty. Told with a sense of humor at times and with awe always, this story reveals the author's reverence for all life and his growing spirituality. He enthusiastically and tenderly paints for us a picture with words; a picture even more meaningful to us than one on canvas, as each of us has the opportunity to use those words to paint our personal adventure.

When I first read INSIDE PASSAGE it touched my heart. After reading it cover to cover I sat and stared at it for over an hour -- then read it again. The book felt very personal -- I didn't think I'd ever share it with anyone. Even when my best friend came to town a few days later. We talked about INSIDE PASSAGE but I wouldn't give him the book. Shortly after that Bill's grandfather was put in the hospital. I spent several long weeks in the ICU with Grandpa (14 years of friendship earns family status) fulfilling my promise not to leave him alone. When I ran out of things to reminise about I began to read INSIDE PASSAGE to him. For over a week the doctors had been telling me Grandpa was unaware of anything and incapable of any response. He responded to this book. Despite the respirator, heart monitors, IV's, etc. he heard every word. He would open his eyes, sometimes reach over and take my hand and try to smile. I wouldn't trade those hours for anything. Grandpa died less than an hour after I finished reading him INSIDE PASSAGE. I know his last hours were spent sharing a great adventure; not dwelling on the pain and fear of dying. He slipped away after a squeeze of my arm -- he had tears in his eyes. We buried him -- with a copy of INSIDE PASSAGE and the well-worn copy of ILLUSIONS that he gave me 14 years ago. In it he had highlighted the lines: "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each others life. Rarely do the members of one family grow up under the same roof." What INSIDE PASSAGE gave Grandpa and me will be cherished; and the author has made himself a member of this family forever.