How to Climb Series: Climbing Anchors Review

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(More customer reviews)The big problem with Chockstone/Falcon's "How to rock climb" series is that too many of their books, particularly those written by John Long, seem to contain huge sections cut-and-pasted from other titles in this series.
Alas, "Climbing Anchors" is no exception. If you have a copy of the book "How To Rock Climb", you already have about 50% of the matter covered in this book. What remains is useful, but hardly justifies the cost of a full book.
If this book contained a section on setting up pulley systems, it might be more worthwhile.

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Includes complete instructions on placing and configuring solid secure anchors in a variety of situations.

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With Bare Hands: The True Story of Alain Robert, the Real-life Spiderman Review

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(More customer reviews)In an increasingly politically-correct world, one that threatens to turn us all into either mice or robots, Alain Robert stands out, as someone determined to go his own way & do his own thing - in spectacular fashion: by climbing urban skyscrapers - up to 500 metres tall - without gloves, suction pads, ropes, safety equipment - or (generally) permission. To him, life is a game, a challenge, and he usually comes out on top - literally.
At a time when we've begun to doubt our traditional heroes, he, by his extraordinary feats, gives ordinary people something to aspire to & emulate, daring us to rouse ourselves, to shake things up a little (or a lot, which is perhaps why he has never endeared himself to the Establishment).
As this books clearly illustrates, there are no strings attached to his exploits - they are there for all to see. It really is a gripping read - the 16-page section covering his assault on the Chicago Sears Tower being particularly exciting - & downright scary! All this while he bears the injuries, scars & handicaps acquired from a life spent climbing & (occasionally, though never from a skyscraper) falling.
A truly amazing & unique individual. Buy & BE ELEVATED.

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Overcoming vertigo - and countless injuries which have left him officially disabled - the 'Human Spider' has scaled nearly 100 skyscrapers worldwide: from Chicago's Sears Tower to Taipei 101, from the Petronas Towers to the Golden Gate Bridge. Reward and punishment have been received in equal measure - the flamboyant Frenchman has gained international fame and raised thousands of dollars for charity, but has also been arrested, beaten and prosecuted.
Many people ask whether it is madness to undertake such perilous ascents without the use of safety equipment. But in Alain's view, it is madness not to follow your dreams! This is the inspiring story of a man who has conquered fear and exceeded his own limits: the world's greatest urban climber.
"For Robert, tall buildings are his mountains. He eulogises the views from their summits and (police permitting) revels in the freedom." -The Guardian

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Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain Review

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(More customer reviews)I own 6 of the most popular books on avalanche safety; this is by far the best. The core information needed to assess avalanche risk is given in some detail but the explanations are presented in "everyday" terms and are quite easy to understand. None-the-less,Tremper never talks down to his readers and the full level of complexity inherent in the subject matter is maintained. This is simply a very well written book by an author who appearantly is able to write well naturally. He would probably do very well writing about any subject.

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Winter recreation in the backcountry has increased steadily over the years and so has the number of deaths and injuries caused by avalanches. As search and rescue teams are increasingly strapped for funding, self-education has become a larger necessity for snow-sport enthusiasts. The new edition of Bruce Tremper's seminal book is organized according to the structure of American Avalanche Association classes and all chapters have been updated and reviewed by peer experts.

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Classic Survival Stories: Thirteen Tales of Strength, Determination, and the Will to Live Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was really a joy to read. These are some of the best survival tales ever written. I even enjoyed the ones that I had read earlier as a boy. Indeed, I found that rereading them now at a much later stage of life I got more out of them. I think that this is because I could draw on personal life experiences that were at least mildly similar and recognize the truth and accuracy of the details.
The stories are:
1) To Build a Fire- Jack London
2) The Great Unknown- John Wesley Powell
3) The Battle of the Marten and the Porcupine- Mayne Reid
4) Robinson Crusoe- Daniel Defoe
5) Love of Life- Jack London
6) Shipwreck of the Whaleship Essex- Owen Chase
7) An Adventure with a Dog and a Glacier- John Muir
8) The Boat Journey- Sir Ernest Shackleton
9) Battle with the Giant Octopus- Victor Hugo
10) Encounter with the Blackfeet- Osborne Russell
11) Around the Horn- Richard Dana Jr.
12) The Worst Journey in the World- Apsley Cherry-Garrard
13) On Dangerous Ground- Lamar Underwood
Most of these are extracted from larger works and a list of sources is included in the back in case you want to track down the original book.
One last thing, as the author points out in the introduction, these stories are a much different thing than what one sees in "survivor" game shows on television. It isn't just that they represent real life or death trials. It is the fact that most often survival isn't about stabbing others in the back like rats- it is about selfless sacrifice for the other to see that everyone gets through. Touching on the edge of the abyss should bring out the highest, and not the animal-like lowest, in people.

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Anyone with a thirst for adventure and a courageous spirit will be captivated by the fifteen tales of endurance, determination, strength of mind, and perseverance recounted in this outstanding compilation. The stories in this book, be they fact or fiction, represent some of the most gripping and illuminating writing ever penned on the subject of survival. These tales take place across the globe, from the tops of mountains to deep inside canyons, from the North Pole to the South Pole.Included, among others, are:- To Build a Fire by Jack London- The Great Unknown by John Wesley Powell - The Open Boat by Stephen Crane - The Battle of the Marten and the Porcupine by Mary Reid - Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe - Battle with the Giant Octopus by Victor Hugo - On Dangerous Ground by Lamar UnderwoodTravel to the Arctic and battle minus-75-degree Fahrenheit temperatures, navigate treacherous, uncharted territory along the Colorado River in 1869, overcome the high seas in a ten-foot dinghy, or simply survive being stranded on a mysterious deserted island. All this and more can be found in these pages as you read about men testing the limits of human endurance and how truly, it is only the strong who survive.

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Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why Review

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(More customer reviews)Laurence Gonzales has written a riveting book, not about survival technique, but survival philosophy. The points he makes can be applied to any situation in which you find yourself endangered physically, mentally, or emotionally. He weaves together the tao te ching, chaos theory, musings on Roman military tactics, biological lessons on how the brain works to help us preserve the species by preserving ourselves, true-life experiences from people who have endured some of the more bizarre "accidents", and his own taste for thrills.
Gonzales bookends the essays with the story of his father, a scientist who, as a young flier during WWII, was shot down over Germany. He FELL out of his plane--he didn't parachute, he literally fell--and lived through a harrowing recovery as a POW.
Why did his dad make it when the rest of his crew was killed?
Some of this has to do with events you can't control, and some of it has to do with how to control yourself so that you can find a way out of dire straits. He points out that some people can make every correct decision and end up being killed, while others make every wrong decision and walk out of the woods (or off a mountain...) unscathed. But, you can learn to THINK like a survivor, and greatly increase your chances of getting through what may seem, even to others in the same sinking boat, like a no-win situation.
Gonzales's dad taught him, "Plan the flight. Fly the plan, but don't fall in love with the plan." Being prepared is only part of the equation; being able to adjust to changing circumstances is what a lot of us forget about.
Reading this book is an adventure in itself. If you're a city dweller, like me, and don't anticipate not having the Sears Tower in your line of sight if you get disoriented, it's still enjoyable, and applicable to what you will eventually experience.
This book should be on every high school reading list. (Preferably BEFORE the kid takes driver's ed.)
I also recommend Gavin DeBecker's books, such as THE GIFT OF FEAR. He discusses some of what Gonzales does, insofar as honing your inner resources so they work FOR you, but he is also very specific regarding cases of direct threats from other people. Gonzales does discuss how non-survivors can compromise a survivor, but most of what he talks about is environmental.
If you are planning a wilderness trip or just a seemingly innocuous weekend hike, this book is a great reality check. It's also an inspiration. Some of these stories are just amazing, and they prove how tough, and sometimes dumb, a species we are.

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