200,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Black Friday Sale on Now! Save up to 25% off Books, Toys, Board Games, & Puzzles! ✨

The Outrun

Series: Canons
3.98 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 16,979 ratings, 1,868 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot is a deeply personal memoir recounting the author's recovery from addiction. After returning to her childhood home in the Orkney Islands, Liptrot explores themes of nature, healing, and self-discovery. Her narrative intertwines her struggles with alcoholism and the transformative power of the wild landscape around her.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Outrun. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate deeply personal stories of recovery and redemption set against the captivating backdrop of the Scottish islands. It's perfect for readers who cherish lyrical prose and a profound connection to nature.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A Canons edition of the exhilarating nature memoir about recovering from alcoholism in Orkney.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot is a deeply moving memoir that beautifully narrates the journey of a woman seeking redemption and recovery amidst the rugged, untamed landscapes of the Orkney Islands. After a harrowing decade-long struggle with alcohol addiction, thirty-year-old Amy returns to her childhood home in Orkney, seeking solace and healing. In this hauntingly honest account, she immerses herself in the island's wild beauty, discovering the profound connections between nature and personal renewal.

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE 2017 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZE

WINNER OF THE 2016 WAINWRIGHT PRIZE

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 ONDAATJE PRIZE

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2016 WELLCOME PRIZE

As Amy navigates through the powerful natural elements of Orkney, she engages in a series of therapeutic routines. She braves the icy waters for morning swims, attentively observes the unique wildlife of the island, and spends her nights captivated by the celestial display of the Merry Dancers. Each of these moments of profound connection to her environment acts as a stepping stone in her recovery, offering glimpses of hope and renewal.

The memoir is not only a testament to Amy's resilience but also an evocative exploration of how the natural world can aid in healing the deepest wounds. Her lyrical prose and candid storytelling invite readers to reflect on their own lives and the potential for change and recovery within us all.

The Outrun is a potent mix of keenly observed natural history, personal memoir, and unflinching reflection. Amy's journey will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost or in need of reconnection with the world around them. This critically acclaimed work is a must-read for fans of nature writing and personal transformation stories.

Series: Canons

View all
  • Bird by Bird
    Bird by Bird is not just a guide to writing; it's a deeply moving, insightful journey through the mind and spirit of a writer. Anne Lamott, acclaimed novelist and memoirist, shares her wealth of experience in this witty, honest, and profoundly down-to-earth book. A compendium of advice, anecdotes, and encouragement, it has remained a timeless resource for writers and aspiring...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Garden of Evening Mists
    The Garden of Evening Mists is the international bestseller shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and the winner of both the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Walter Scott Prize. Teoh Yun Ling was seventeen years old when she first heard about Aritomo and the garden. But a war would come to Malaya, and a decade would pass before she...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Gift
    The Gift by Lewis Hyde is a profound exploration of the role of creativity in a world increasingly dominated by money and materialism. At its core, this modern masterpiece delves into the very nature of a "gift" and examines how it can inspire and transform our lives, art, and culture. Hyde weaves together insights from literature, anthropology, and psychology to...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Hope In The Dark
    Hope In The Dark by Rebecca Solnit is an inspiring exploration of the power of hope amidst the turbulence of contemporary life. In a world often overshadowed by political unrest, environmental challenges, and social inequalities, Solnit presents a compelling argument for maintaining optimism. Through vivid storytelling and profound insight, she unveils the latent potential of social and political movements, illustrating...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The First Bad Man
    The First Bad Man is a Guardian literary highlight and a Huffington Post 'One to Watch'. 'Astounding', says Lena Dunham, creator of Girls and author of Not That Kind of Girl. The First Bad Man brings together all of Miranda July's talents. It's a book that must be read and purchased in duplicate—one for you, one for a friend. Don't...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • To the River
    Over sixty years after Virginia Woolf's tragic drowning in the River Ouse, Olivia Laing embarks on a journey that intertwines the natural world with poignant reflections on life and literature. In To the River, Laing sets out to walk along the banks of this historic river, tracing its path from its source to the sea. This journey is not just...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How to Lose a Country
    How to Lose a Country is a warning to the world that populism and nationalism don't march fully-formed into government; they creep. Award-winning author and journalist Ece Temelkuran identifies the early warning signs of this phenomenon, sprouting up across the world from Eastern Europe to South America, in order to arm the reader with the tools to recognise it and...
    Paperback
    $5400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Under The Skin
    With an introduction by David Mitchell. Isserley spends most of her time driving. But why is she so interested in picking up hitchhikers? And why are they always male, well-built, and alone? An utterly unpredictable and macabre mystery, Under the Skin is a genre-defying masterpiece.
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • My Father's Notebook
    When he was a boy, Aga Akbar, the illegitimate, deaf-mute son of a Persian nobleman, travelled with his uncle to a cave on nearby Saffron Mountain. Once there, he was to transcribe a cuneiform inscription over three thousand years old. Decades later, his son, Ishmael - a political dissident in exile - attempts to translate a notebook filled with a...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Abundance
    Annie Dillard has spent a lifetime examining the world around her with eyes wide open, drinking in all things intensely and relentlessly. Whether observing a sublime lunar eclipse or a moth consumed in a candle flame, the trembling of lily pads on a pond or hundreds of red-winged blackbirds taking flight, Dillard's awe at the fragility of the natural world...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Black Lamb and Grey Falcon
    Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West is an extraordinary blend of travel memoir and historical analysis, undertaken during a six-week journey through Yugoslavia in 1937. Spanning over 1,000 pages, this epic work offers a detailed exploration of the landscapes, cultures, and political tensions of a region on the precipice of war. West meticulously documents her travels while engaging...
    Paperback
    $5500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Sea Around Us
    The Sea Around Us is a seminal work that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the vast and mysterious oceans that cover our planet. With the deft touch of a seasoned storyteller, Rachel Carson reveals the origins of the seas, their dynamic processes, and their profound impact on life throughout Earth's history. Her narrative gracefully interweaves scientific facts with...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot is praised for its lyrical and brave storytelling, skillfully intertwining personal struggles with the wild landscapes of Orkney. Reviewers commend Liptrot's powerful prose and her honest, moving account of addiction and recovery. The memoir is noted for its sensual depiction of nature and the healing journey, making it a standout in contemporary nature writing.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786894229

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 October 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Canons

Edition: Main - Canons

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 205g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Amy Liptrot has published her work with various magazines, journals and blogs and she has written a regular column for Caught by the River out of which The Outrun has emerged. As well as writing for major newspapers including the Guardian and the Observer, Amy has worked as an artist's model, a trampolinist and in a shellfish factory. The Outrun was awarded the 2016 Wainwright Prize and the 2017 PEN Ackerley Prize and was shortlisted for the 2016 Wellcome Prize and the 2017 Ondaatje Prize.
@amy_may

Also by Amy Liptrot

View all
  • The Outrun
    NOW A MAJOR FILM STARRING SAOIRSE RONAN WITH A NEW AFTERWORD FROM THE AUTHOR THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE PEN ACKERLEY PRIZE AND THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE After spending her twenties in London, Amy Liptrot returns to her home in Orkney where she comes to terms with the addiction that has consumed the past decade of her...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Instant
    Building on the acclaim of her previous work, Amy Liptrot returns with The Instant, a transcendent memoir that beautifully interlaces themes of nature, isolation, and human connection. Seeking to escape the solitude of her life on Orkney Island, Amy makes a bold decision and books a one-way flight to Berlin. In the pulsating heart of the city, she finds herself...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today

Browse lists from our team

More from Biography & Memoir

View all
  • New Release
    One Helluva Ride
    "This book is about where I came from, what I fought against, and what I chose formyself. Fame can blur the truth; this is my attempt to bring it back into focus." A legendary actor and Hollywood Icon whose five-decade career spans film, television,and producing, Michael Douglas has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, fiveGolden Globes, a Primetime Emmy,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Nothing to Lose
    New Release
    Nothing to Lose
    There's no one as dangerous as someone who believes they have nothing to lose. Eight years ago, Nix Adams started posting videos on Facebook while she was freshly out of jail, in order to show her kids that she was sober and on the path back to them. It was after her youngest child, Alaska, died suddenly of a virus...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?
    The book we've all been waiting for, national treasure Judi Dench opens her almost inexhaustible collection of memories from life and acting. Join Judi as she lifts the curtain on cherished memories and hilarious anecdotes from seven decades of performing with some of the greatest names in theatre. Step behind the camera as she reprises her most famous roles, such...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Drive
    New Release
    Drive
    A thrilling, candid and uncompromising memoir covering over twenty-years at the pinnacle of Formula 1, Drive sees Christian Horner, one of the sport’s biggest characters, take readers into the heart of Red Bull Racing as he reflects on his extraordinary career. For over twenty years Christian Horner built and ran Red Bull Racing, transforming a rookie team acquired for £1 into one...
    Paperback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Book cover for 'Swan Song: Diana, my sister' by Charles Spencer, featuring a black-and-white portrait of Diana with white and gold text on a gray background.
    On Sale
    18% off
    New Release
    Swan Song
    Beautiful. Beloved. Hunted. The extraordinary life and death of Diana, as told by her brother, Charles – available to pre-order now. ‘When asked, ‘What was it like, growing up with Diana?’, my first thought is always, But I don’t know what it was like not to grow up with her…’ In September 1997, Charles Spencer stood in Westminster Abbey before...
    Hardback
    $4500
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Fictional Selves
    From the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Sex and the City comes a candid and deeply personal memoir. In this highly anticipated memoir, the beloved actor and star of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Sex and the City and more shares his utterly original account of his offbeat journey in Hollywood, his battles with fear and...
    Hardback
    $4799
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Steps
    The long-awaited memoir from a true Hollywood icon. We know Sylvester Stallone as one of the most revered actors, writers, and directors of all time, yet his life story is every bit as dramatic, intense, and inspiring as his greatest creations on screen. Bringing together a no-holds-barred account of a fascinating life with messages of hope, positivity, and resilience, in...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    12% off
    New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    24% off
    Dogs, Boys and Other Things I've Cried About
    From the social media superstar behind @SimonSits, Isabel Klee--known for her heartwarming tales of dog rescue--comes an utterly winning memoir about a twentysomething woman's search for true love in New York City and the dogs who helped her find it. A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    12% off
    Famesick
    Chronicling the tumultuous decade between the premiere of Girls to her 2021 shotgun wedding (minus the baby, because she has no uterus), Lena Dunham takes us through her journey with her trademark mix of humor, unsparing honesty, and keen eye for detail. We peek behind the scenes - of her work, her family, her relationships, and her battle to reclaim her body...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • On Sale
    25% off
    This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 200,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.