About Scott Stoll

I really dislike having to quantify who I am, partially because I am bored of wondering who I think I am, and interested in what I might become. Isn't that why we travel? To find out who we are. To re-create ourselves. To grow in ways unimaginable and previously believed to be impossible. That being said....

Scott says, "I changed my world once by asking myself a simple question: If I could do anything, what would I do?"

That question propelled Scott Stoll on a spiritual quest around the world on a bicycle seeking the meaning of life, and is chronicled in his entertaining book, Falling Uphill, a tale he describes as having moments from pure survival to pure enlightenment.

Scott was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in Waukesha before returning to the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for his degree in the fine arts. Scott has also worked and lived across the US and England; however, after living life like the indigenous inhabitants in over 60 countries, Scott has been called "a citizen of the world".

Before embarking upon his world bicycle tour, Scott spent a decade working in advertising from Washington, DC to San Francisco, being labeled at times as an art director, graphic designer, production artist, photographer and/or copywriter. Scott has freelanced in over 100 ad agencies, including TBWA/Chiat/Day when they won the prestigious "Agency of the Year" award. Scott has also won a handful of industry awards for his design and writing, and is proud to have written for the New York Times. Scott has also held a couple hundred odd jobs ranging from cancer researcher to making horse food.

Currently, Scott is an Honorary Committee Member of Hostelling International USA, and continuing his bicycle adventures not only to promote his book, but as he says:

After discovering the meaning of life, I realized the obvious irony that I still have to live my life. I don't think I've experienced anything more than a handful of enlightening moments, but I am reminded of one of my favorite Zen sayings, "Before enlightenment chop wood carry water, after enlightenment chop wood carry water." So, I'm putting into practice what I learned and riding around the country to prove that if an average guy like me can bicycle around the world, then anyone can live their "impossible" dream.

As Scott's adventures continue he is working on a sequel further expanding upon his quest for self-actualization, answering more of life’s questions with humorous, dramatic and spiritual anecdotes about his mis-adventures. Heis also working on a children's picture book Falling Uphill: The Secret of Life.

In fact, Scott has so many ideas for travel and children's books that one of his main goals is simply to build a community of people passionate about bringing great ideas to life in a way that is mutually beneficial to everyone involved and the world at large, thus www.theArgonauts.com.

Winner of the 2007 Spirit of Adventure Award

Presented by the Los Angeles Council of Hostelling International USA. Thanks for giving me the opportunity for sharing my adventure.