Answering the call of the open road
An adventure memoir about waking up your life.
A Silicon Valley founder points his motorcycle at the horizon and rides 40,000 miles to ask better questions—about success, identity, and what a life is for. Coming Alive on the Ride blends an immigrant story with road-tested wonder, crossing deserts, borders, and boardrooms to find a voice worth following. If you’ve ever built everything you wanted and still felt off, this inspirational true story shows how motion becomes meaning—and how coming home can feel brand new.
About the Author
Michael Yang is a Silicon Valley founder and first-generation Korean American whose search for meaning took him 40,000 miles by motorcycle across deserts, borders, and back roads. After founding, scaling, and selling a half-billion-dollar tech company, he traded noise for purpose—and wrote Coming Alive on the Ride, an inspirational true story and adventure memoir that blends immigrant roots, entrepreneurship, and the open road.
Today, Michael enjoys travel and writing, speaks at conferences and companies, and builds community around the questions that matter: Who am I and why am I here? What’s success for? And how do I come alive—both on and off the bike.
Keynotes & appearance opportunities
Invite author Michael Yang to speak to your group – either in person or virtually – about:
- his cross-continental motorcycle adventure across North and South America
- stories from his 40,000-mile motorcycle road trip across North America, including Alaska and Canada
- exploring his Korean-American heritage and roots
- leadership lessons learned as a Silicon Valley founder w/ a half a billion dollar exit
- the importance of curiosity and embracing uncertainty/fear
- how lead an exciting and purposeful life
Early praise for Coming Alive on the Ride
"With honesty and grace, Michael Yang weaves together stories of motorcycle roads, immigrant challenges, and Korean heritage into a powerful meditation on resilience and renewal… the reflections on resilience and identity stayed with me long after I finished."
Yul Kwon
“Michael’s life is a testament to the idea that adventure isn’t reserved for holidays—it’s a way of living. Whether navigating the remote backroads of the Arctic or stepping into the high-stakes boardrooms of Silicon Valley, he shows that adventure thrives wherever someone is brave enough to say, 'Let’s give it a go.'”
Chad Horton
“In this full-hearted memoir, Yang blends his life experiences—immigration, entrepreneurship, the open road, deal-making—and weaves them together in vivid colors… he invites you to take the journey with him. A wonderful read!”
Jane Hyun
“Told with fascinating detail, this is the story of five worlds… written with honesty and warmth, it allows the stories to come alive with depth and meaning. It’s a real page-turner.”
Sam Manicom
“Michael Yang’s Coming Alive on the Ride reminds us that while we physically age, our curiosity and love for adventure can stay young and be vibrant. Through his Korean American immigrant story, family history, bold entrepreneurial endeavors, and endless motorcycle adventures, he shows how embracing uncertainty—with courage, friendship, and openness—keeps life meaningful and exciting. His road and life adventures prove that wonder can thrive at every stage.”
Dr. Abraham Kim
“A fast-paced, inspiring read full of heart, grit, and motorcycles. Not a traditional travelogue, not a conventional moto-book — it’s one man’s life story with motorcycle therapy baked into every other chapter. I loved it. Go forth with an open mind and most importantly an open heart and remember that self-care is not selfish.”
David "Tiger" Coward
As Michael’s riding companion on several of these unforgettable trips, I can say firsthand that Coming Alive on the Ride captures the true freedom we felt as the open road awakened parts of our souls we didn’t know were sleeping. His storytelling reminds us that the miles we ride are not just distances traveled but moments where life expands, faith deepens, and friendship becomes a sacred bond. I’m grateful for Michael’s friendship and for the privilege of sharing the road together as fellow sojourners pursuing the ride—and the life—that God has given us.
Rev. Robert Oh
Christopher P. Baker
Day 1: May 21, 2020
“By mid-morning, California’s Central Valley was behind me, the tarmac unwinding toward desert light. Somewhere along the way, it happens—the calendar noise drops out, and the questions that drove me here soften into something like direction.
I think of my parents leaving Korea, of building a company I loved, of the day it was no longer mine. The past stops chasing me and starts riding alongside—every mile a small surrender, every view a fresh opportunity.
In the quiet between towns, I feel it rise: not a finish line, but a voice worth following.”
Latest News
Coming Alive on the Ride selected as an NIEA Finalist
Coming Alive on the Ride selected as a Finalist Coming Alive on the Ride by Michael Yang has been selected as a Finalist in the Travel category for fhe 20th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. From the NIEA website: "The National Indie Excellence® Awards (NIEA)...
Michael Yang to present at Horizons Unlimited Adventure Motorcycle Travel events
“Coming Alive on the Ride” author Michael Yang will be sharing some of his motorcycle adventures at the Horizons Unlimited Adventure Motorcycle Travel events in Virginia on April 23-26, 2026, and in California on September 17-20, 2026.
Book Launch Party for “Coming Alive on the Ride”
Check out photos from the book launch party on Saturday, March 7th at EK Art Gallery in Los Angeles.
FAQ
I’m not a motorcyclist—will I still love this?
Yes. Coming Alive on the Ride is an adventure memoir and inspirational true story first; the motorcycle is the vehicle, not the subject. Readers come for the questions it tackles—success, identity, belonging—and stay for a voice that makes motion feel like meaning.
Will there be an audiobook, and who narrates it?
Audiobook releases the same day as hardcover and eBook (March 10, 2026). It will be read by Edward Hong.
How do preorders work—when am I charged and when will it ship?
Do you offer bulk orders or book club resources?
Yes—bulk orders for teams, founder groups, and book clubs are available through Porchlight Books. We can coordinate discussion questions and author Q&A for events.
Can I get a signed copy or host an author event?
Limited signing opportunities and select events are planned. If you’re a bookstore, company, or community group interested in a signing or talk, reach out through the Speaking page.