What if the voice you've been silencing is the key to your freedom? Meet Monster - not a creature of nightmares, but the uncompromising, joyful, fearless part of yourself that knows how to truly live. Through intimate conversations between David and his inner Monster, this unconventional spiritual memoir takes you from the treacherous mountain passes of Nepal to the bustling streets of Bangkok, from Montana's snowy solitude to Japan's cherry blossom temples. Part travel adventure, part philosophical inquiry, Monster and Me rejects the typical self-help formula. Instead of telling you how to live, it shows you what happens when two parts of the same person - the careful, conditioned David and the wildly authentic Monster - engage in raw, honest dialogue about fear, freedom, death, and what it means to be fully alive. As David treks through the Kingdom of Upper Dolpo at 18,000 feet, facing imminent danger with each step, the boundaries between his cautious self and Monster begin to dissolve. What emerges is a profound exploration of how we cage ourselves with beliefs, wants, and cultural conditioning - and how we can break free. For anyone who has ever felt split between who they are and who they're supposed to be, this book offers no easy answers - just the revolutionary possibility that your inner "monster" might be your greatest teacher Join David and Monster as they: Trek through the Himalayas and navigate the chaos of Bangkok, always pushing the boundaries of comfort Explore deeply personal conversations on fear, freedom, death, love, ego, and the meaning of a "real" life Laugh at the absurdity of it all while sneaking profound truths into everyday observations This book will speak to you if you've ever wondered: Who am I really beneath all the noise? Can I trust my own voice, even when it sounds a little... monstrous? What if play, presence, and self-acceptance are the whole point? If you liked Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or the irreverent clarity of Michael A. Singer, you'll love this funny, touching, and subversively spiritual book. "Life is not about getting what you want! It's about being who you are, then doing what you do from there." - Monster David Alan Bardwick is a hunter of beauty, lifelong adventurer, and the founder of the famous David Alan Collection gallery in Solana Beach, California. When not trekking through remote villages in Asia or sourcing rare art, he's trading wisdom and wisecracks with his unfiltered inner companion, Monster. This is their first book together.