Being cynical by nature, I always scoff at “self help” or “inspirational” books. I feel that bookstores and digital media are bulging with inspirational books but the world in which we live seems so gritty and unchanged by this phenomena. I knew Tamela was a rider but also an outsource communications specialist and I wondered just where this book containing life lessons from those faced with breast cancer would take me. Well, it took me all the way!!

Tamela goes the distance presenting tales from women who have survived cancer, those that did not, the family of those fighting cancer or those left behind. She does this in an amazing celebratory style, with gorgeous photographs throughout the book belonging to both her and Christina Shook whose book “Chicks on Bikes” beautifully portrays women riders.

Live Full Throttle, is a celebration of life that begins with Tamela’s personal journey while joining a group of Canadian and American motorcyclists raising money for breast cancer research. After two years of hearing stories from people she met along the way and feeling their pain and joy, she decided to put it into a book hoping to inspire others both ill and healthy to re-examine their lives. Within the pages, at the end of each chapter, are a series of exercises that stimulate illumination of the previous read chapter. The exercises also allow us to apply the thoughts found in the chapter to our own lives. All the while, it’s written in a casual friendly manner that makes its reading a true pleasure.

Aside for the pleasurable reading, it’s full of absolutely gorgeous photographs both large and small making it a visual feast. It also succeeded in suspension of disbelief by transporting me, the reader, straight to the back of Tamela’s motorcycle as her pillion on this momentous journey. I wanted to laugh and cry both during the reading and at once I realized I was not only moved by the stories, but by Tamela’s personal quest to find and re-define herself along the way. The book provides a true celebration of spirit bursting with joy!

I LOVED this book. I found it both stimulating and moving and one I will pick up again and again and just open and read. Thanks, Tamela and Christina for your energy and beauty. It radiates from Live Full Throttle.

I had an afterthought to this article, in my own mother is a breast cancer survivor. I believe I’ll be contacting Flo creator of The Conga Riders for some future volunteering!