Overview

For Dr. Stacey Marie Kerr, a road is only worth traveling if it comes with some unexpected turns. In her midfifties, Dr. Stacey Kerr was diagnosed with osteoporosis and told to play it safe. Instead, she bought her first Harley. Over the next fourteen years, Stacey and her two best friends decided to give the finger to aging gracefully, ultimately embarking on seven epic motorcycle tours throughout the western United States filled with drama, introspection, and pure joy. Using her motorcycle adventures to guide her memories, Stacey travels the twisting road of her own past, in which the only constant is defying expectations. As a young woman, Stacey escaped an authoritarian childhood to join the counterculture of the sixties. On The Farm, the largest hippie commune in the United States, she spent a decade practicing intentional spirituality. There, she came to admire, and ultimately clash with, the mother of spiritual midwifery-Ina May Gaskin. In her midthirties, Stacey would reject convention once again by going to medical school and transforming her life. As Stacey rides the curving highways of the West, she reflects on marriage and motherhood; the cultlike energy of powerful spiritual leaders; the miracles, traumas, and lessons of a physician's life, including a near-fatal delivery of her own grandson; her long-held belief in the healing power of cannabis; and the vital necessity of love at every stage of life, from birth to death and beyond. Written with irreverence and good humor, Wild Heart is an inspiring memoir for anyone ready to make braver and bolder choices-at any age.

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9781959411307

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Reviews

“Stacey Kerr is my kind of woman (and writer). Sharp, dedicated enough to become a doctor and wild enough to saddle up a Harley-Davidson and lean into the turns in her search for freedom. The book’s a delight and made me wish I knew her personally. As a man who built and rode motorcycles until I was seventy-eight I share her affection for them. I’m delighted to recommend this book, especially to women who may be pondering what their search for freedom and service might become.” —Peter Coyote, actor, author, and Zen Buddhist priest 

“Stacey Kerr is my kind of woman (and writer). Sharp, dedicated enough to become a doctor and wild enough to saddle up a Harley-Davidson and lean into the turns in her search for freedom. The book’s a delight and made me wish I knew her personally. As a man who built and rode motorcycles until I was seventy-eight I share her affection for them. I’m delighted to recommend this book, especially to women who may be pondering what their search for freedom and service might become.” —Peter Coyote, actor, author, and Zen Buddhist priest “If you’re ready for a tour through the rolling hills and the valleys of 1960s and 70s culture, hitch a ride on the back of Dr. Stacey Kerr’s motorcycle and [go] for on a whirlwind tour of her life as a hippie mama, family doctor, medical cannabis practitioner and teacher. Full of fun, western landscapes and just enough redemption to keep you coming back for more.” —Joe Dolce, author of Brave New Weed  “I read and rode along with Dr. Kerr in Wild Heart and loved the ride! I loved that she named her motorcycles; the emotional connection to her wheels came through strong and clear, along with her beautiful writing—a winning combination that pulled me right along with her. I loved that she grew and gained confidence, realizing that she always had that power within but it just needed to come out . . . No one starts out as an expert rider, and Dr. Kerr wasn’t afraid to admit she was scared. Stepping out of our comfort zones and doing things that are scary are where we gain the most personal growth and confidence. Stacey really did that, and I felt like I was riding with her, cheering her on!”—Cris Sommer Simmons, moto journalist and author of The American Motorcycle Girls: 1900 to 1950, included in the National Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame, Sturgis Hall of Fame, AMA Hall of Fame, and the Top 100 Women in Powersports  “Funny, wise, heartfelt, healing, vibrant and innovative. Dr. Stacey Kerr just makes you wanna jump on a bike and ride. Her adventures in motorcycle riding, friendship, healing, being a parent, a daughter and ultimately beloved to herself, all allow us to catch a glimpse of what it means to live a truly authentic, vibrant life.” —Tanya Taylor Rubinstein, founder, Somatic Writing 

Author Information

Stacey Marie Kerr, MD, is an educator, a physician, a mother, and an adventurer. She has published essays in FringeWare Review, the Sun, and JAMA and has written on the safe and appropriate use of cannabis for Hawaiian Ethos. Dr. Kerr’s first book, Homebirth in the Hospital, shares dramatic birth stories encouraging women’s self-empowerment in every birthing experience, no matter where that birth occurs. Kerr lives in Santa Rosa, California.

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