Reviews for My Top 40 at 40
The list of glowing reviews for My Top 40 at 40: Making the First Half Count continues to grow!
"In this entertaining nonfiction collection, voice-over artist Loya celebrates his 40th birthday with 40 wide-ranging tales from his own life... a man in his prime who always tries to enjoy life to its fullest."
Publishers Weekly
"An uplifting portrait of one man's lust for living."
Kirkus Indie Review
"A 'lead by example' log of what is possible to do with one's life and the attitudes that will enable it."
Heartland Reviews
"Football is about winning the day. Loya shows us how to apply that to life. Great read!!"
Chip Kelly, Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles
"Story by story by story, Kari Loya’s My Top 40 at 40 becomes a primer on the alchemy of adventure. After he’s carried you up mountains crawling with tarantulas, plunged you in mud volcanoes and man-eating Cuban potholes, taken you on a sleep-over atop a Guatemalan pyramid, introduced you to frightening Serbian giants and Japanese sumo wrestlers and taught you how to transform an Argentinean beauty into a wife, it dawns on you: the tarantulas and mud volcanoes and pyramids and giants are all just wonderful props. The magic all occurs in the spirit and imagination of one human being…who could be you."
Gary Smith, Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated and Four-Time National Magazine Award Winner
"If the purpose in life is to live it with full gusto to take advantage of all it has to offer, then Kari Loya has found his purpose in life…and then some. Lessons learned are plentiful and, when applied to your own life, there are takeaways that are invaluable. Read it and integrate it."
Dan Ginsberg, Former CEO of Red Bull, North America
“Loya’s tales sparkle with the enthusiasm of a man who enjoys life, embraces adventure, and relishes sharing a good story.”
Eric Greitens, The New York Times Bestselling Author of The Heart and the Fist
“Loya pushes the creative envelope of life!”
Lisa Marber-Rich, President of Atlas Talent Agency
“It was a privilege to read this book. Loya’s character, uncommon self-knowledge, insight, and boundless capacity to smile shine through the pages. He is someone to admire and emulate.”
Edes Powell Gilbert, Former Head of The Spence School and Strategic Consultant for Resource Group 175
“Buckle up! Loya takes you down an adventure-packed road, so rich and diverse in experience, you will want to leap into the world and explore.”
Peter McBride, Award-Winning Photographer, Writer, and Filmmaker for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Outside Magazine
“Loya’s Olympic-size appetite for adventure has made for great stories—and an inspiring life.”
Rudy Chapa, Co-Founder and President of Axon Sports, Founder of SPARQ, and Former Global Director of Sports Marketing for Nike, Inc.
“The best video games integrate action, adventure, and fun with effective educational content. Loya does this with his life.”
NT Etuk, Founder and CEO of DimensionU and 2010 Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute
“This young adventurer shares seminal life experiences that resonate with the reader on many levels. I was reminded more than once of Tennyson’s Ulysses—‘To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.’ Touching, funny, authentic, and inspiring, it’s the ultimate ‘no regrets’ collection of vignettes and stories.”
Susan Nelson, Head of School at The Webb Schools of California
“What a fun romp into the world of a healthy, spirited, and ambitious man…Like Chicken Soup for the Soul, Loya’s tales provide the perfect big brother sensibility for my children and take-life-by-the-horns nudge for myself.”
Kimberly Mitchell, Director of Partner Engagement, Teach For All – Argentina
“Loya has made the world his classroom, as both teacher and student. These great stories will inspire others to do the same.”
Seth Reynolds, Partner at The Parthenon Group
“Like an epic movie with adventure, drama, love, and wisdom—you won’t want it to end. A completely new perspective on what is possible.”
Tony Byrd, Assistant Superintendent, Student Learning Division at Edmonds School District, WA
“A master storyteller turns 40 and shares his journey of fun, continual growth, and global citizenship. There is an awesome smile on each page.”
Peter Briggs, Director of the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State University
“A breezy read, like those Choose Your Own Adventure books we read as kids, only Loya’s adventures are real. A great page-turner.”
Arick Wierson, CEO of Occidental Atlantica and Record Emmy-Winning Former General Manager of NYC TV
“Loya has seized every opportunity for adventure, and tells his stories with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. He inspires us to live life to the fullest.”
Jeff Shumlin, Co-Director of Putney Student Travel
“When you’ve finished, you’ll want to get to work on your own list of adventures!”
Geoff Wheeler, Coach of Men’s Soccer at Wesleyan University
“Loya has packed a lot into his first 40 years—what a story he has to tell. I’m his admirer.”
Simon Clifford, Founder and CEO of Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS
“Loya runs his life like a kick-ass tech start-up: he's always on the hunt for new opportunities, exudes high-energy optimism, and makes every day count.”
Matt Compton, CEO of Shopigniter
“Forty stories of pure joie de vivre!”
Richard Matusow, VP of Business Development at Sambazon
“A modern version of the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
John Addrizzo, Director at GlaxoSmithKline