Two of the many reviews of Miscalculated Risks posted online: “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this awesome book… Mr. Cooper’s compelling writing style is somewhat reminiscent of some of Jon Krakauer’s better books." "It is one of the rare books that I may start again immediately. It's that good.”

I have been selected as a 2026 Featured Author by the American Writing Awards, a commendation conferred on only 15 authors. The honor comes on the heels of my wins in the 2025 American Writing Awards and the 2025 Literary Global Book Awards for my outdoors-adventure memoir Miscalculated Risks.

My outdoors-adventure memoir Miscalculated Risks has been selected the Winner of the prestigious 2025 Literary Global Book Awards for Narrative Nonfiction. Last month, Miscalculated Risks was judged the Winner of the 2025 American Writing Awards for Best New (Debut) Nonfiction.

I’ve added a new montage to my adventure website, showing a hardcore backpack I did in the core of Zion National Park (Utah), far from the nearest trail. The video shows the start of a descent from the high country down to lower desert 2,000 vertical feet below. michaelcooperadventurer.com/deserts

I will be signing copies of my award-winning memoir Miscalculated Risks this Sunday at the Oregon Historical Society’s 56th Annual Celebration of Oregon Authors. The event (free and open to the public) will be held from 12 noon to 4 pm at 1200 SW Park Avenue in Portland. I hope to meet you there!

My memoir chronicling my many near-fatal wilderness expeditions, Miscalculated Risks, was this week selected as the Winner in the 2025 American Writing Awards for Best New (Debut) Non-Fiction and was also a Finalist in AWA's Narrative Non-Fiction category. michaelcooperadventurer.com

A blowout success: Forty-eight patrons attended my reading from my outdoors-adventure memoir Miscalculated Risks at Paulina Springs Books last night, and the bookstore's remaining stock (25 copies) was quickly sold out at the event! My book is in the Top 10 New Releases (#1 in Rafting) on Amazon.

The Nugget Newspaper (reporting from Sisters, Oregon) published a wonderfully informative interview of me about my recently published memoir Miscalculated Risks: Attacked, Crippled, Paralyzed, Drowning, Unconscious and Freezing in The Wild (Just Not All at Once): www.nuggetnews.com/story/2025/1....

I'm so happy with this beautiful, collectible bookmark (click images to see full-size front and back) that New Zealand-based Damonza designed for my memoir Miscalculated Risks!

Miscalculated Risks reached #6 last week on Amazon's list of new Extreme Sports books and has been awarded placement in a juried show of books at the Oregon Historical Society.

Amazon ranks my memoir Miscalculated Risks their “Top New Release in Rafting”(#1), and #2 in newly released Mountaineering books: www.amazon.com/Miscalculate...

Miscalculated Risks is now shipping—and making a splash! My outdoors-adventure memoir ranked #13 in books about (whitewater) Rafting and #28 in books about Extreme Sports on Amazon over the weekend. Thank you to everyone who is helping to make my book’s launch a success!

Leading literary critics are raving about my new memoir Miscalculated Risks, calling it “nothing short of remarkable,” “gripping,” “lyrical,” and “immersive.” Midwest Book Review says it "will leave readers on the edges of their seats." Kirkus Reviews says, "The wilderness comes alive on the page."

I backpacked cross-country into the trail-less core of Zion National Park to stand on the edge of a sheer 2,000-foot cliff. Few people have ever made it to this remote place. Enjoy the 1-minute video on my adventure website: michaelcooperadventurer.com/deserts

My memoir will be published on Oct. 13. It's receiving praise from advance readers: “Harrowing and engaging.”—Jedediah S. Rogers, author of Roads in the Wilderness “Outstanding and inspiring . . . A beautiful story told remarkably well.”—Courtney Purcell, author of Zion National Park: Summit Routes

Many people know me as a recording engineer/producer, longtime pro-audio journalist and a Contributing Editor for Mix magazine, the recording industry’s preeminent publication. But I’ve also led a private life dedicated to the pursuit of hardcore adventure: michaelcooperadventurer.com