Book excerpt: Some life stories beggar belief . . . even those of people we may yet to hear of. In this astonishing memoir, author Guy Marchi recounts the truly extraordinary story of his life. Born and raised in small-town British Columbia, Marchi’s experiences have been unbelievable. He enjoyed a successful musical career, travelling much of the world, spending years touring Southeast Asia and earned his name into the Guinness Book of World Records for most instruments played (186). Not only did he have an incredible musical career, though—he also became a high-ranking athlete, running marathons, setting power-lifting records, placing nationally as a cyclist, and winning the Fitness Canada competition. Beyond this, Marchi has had a number of other extraordinary experiences, including living in India as a beggar, being forced to run—on foot—from a criminal inquest, sailing the Caribbean for two years, and building an immaculate two-story authentic log house with the logs cut from his own land. Striking, evocative, and dynamic, Marchi’s is a truly incredible story of what one might accomplish in a single lifetime—if only you set your mind to it.