Nord DDB Develops a Wanderlust-Inspired AudioBook That's 55 Miles Long

Rebecca Solnit, mostly known for her book Men explain things to me, in which the term ”Mansplaining” was coined, is now launching her book Wanderlust: a history of walking, in a revolutionary audiobook app format. 

The listener has to walk to be able to hear it, in total it’s a 55 mile long listen, which aims to get more people moving and experience all the positive effects of walking.

The campaign is made for the Swedish publisher Daidalos by advertising agency NORD DDB. 

"Instead of launching just another audiobook, we tried to redefine what an audiobook can be. Since Wanderlust explore the history of walking and the relationship between thinking and walking we decided to put the insight to the test for real in our version of the book", says Martin Lundgren, creative DDB Nord.

Rebecca Solnits’ book, Wanderlust, illustrates how walking has changed humanity. Through pilgrimages, protest marches or by simply being out for a walk. Now the book is released in a revolutionary audiobook app format, with a function that will force people to get out walking. The audiobook is driven by your phone’s pedometer and GPS, which makes the reading stop if you don’t move. It won’t play if you walk too fast either, so no bicycle, train or car cheating. Hiking is the way to go.

While walking, the body and the mind can work together so that thinking becomes almost as physical, rhythmic act,that inspires me, says Rebecca Solnit, author of Wanderlust.

Wanderlust: a history of walking is available on the App Store and Google Play for 3 Euro, for now only in swedish.