Facing Up: A Remarkable Journey to the Summit of Everest |
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Author:
Bear Grylls
By Pan Books
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £7.99
Our Price: £3.02
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
EAN: 9780330392266
ISBN: 0330392263
Label: Pan Books
Manufacturer: Pan Books
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2001-03-23
Publisher: Pan Books
Studio: Pan Books |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
"No Western climber or even any Sherpas had been this high, so far this year. We were treading on virgin territory on the ever-changing surface of the glacier. The excitement welled up, and I felt strong. Here I was with those I knew so well, alone and isolated in the rawness and wonder of nature; and it made me feel good." Facing Up tells the remarkable story of Bear Grylls' ascent of Everest, making him, at the age of 23, the youngest British climber to survive the adventure. Bear is at sometimes quirky and at others reflexive in his account of his months on Everest. "Nobody minds pain occasionally, but the prospect of being at my wit's end for the next two months terrifies me". Bear battles against all the odds in the pursuit of his childhood dream--to stand on the summit of the world. Somewhat akin to an emotional roller coaster, Bear shares his elation and his despair, from standing on the summit, to swinging precariously in a crevasse in the Icefall. We are witness to the loss off hope being swept aside by grim determination and a restored faith; the pain and discomfort are quashed by his spirit, sense of humour and eccentricity. Written in an amazingly personable style, incorporating extracts from his diary and select photos from his expedition, Facing Up takes you every extraordinary step of the way. This book is a must for climbers and adventurers everywhere; a remarkable tale. --Chris Hall
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couldn't put this down!!, 2008-04-29
like the others i saw Bear on tv and thought heres someone with a good sense of humour and would make a brilliant uncle with his adventure stories, this book relates to much more than climbing Everest it could be paralleled to lifes struggles and your own personal Everest, what i took from it is that if you have the tenacity,determination and the burning desire to conquer something thats seems insurmountable it can be done, i liked Bears references to his faith (i am of no religion) but it struck me that if you have a belief it certainly will help get you through, good luck to him, this book left me wanting more Uncle Bears tales!!
Bear is Brilliant !, 2009-01-03
Bear Grylls has a writing talent equal to his incredible reputation for endurance and survival.
This book, written when Bear was only 24, not only tells the story of his remarkable achievement at reaching the summit of Everest when he was just 23, it is written in a way that makes it difficult to put down from beginning to end.
Always a modest man, Bear speaks from the heart throughout, constantly acknowledging the support of those who helped him attain his childhood dream of standing on the world's highest point.
This book gives a marvellous insight into how incredibily hostile an environment awaits any prospective Everest climber. From the perils of hidden crevasses to the appalling lack of sanitation, Bear paints a vivid picture of life at altitudes that would be fatal to most.
From time to time books are written by a gifted writer having experienced something very unique. This is one such book.
Well done Bear.
Response to Shotoff, 2007-07-18
Shotoff - thankyou so much for your insightful review of this book. Unfortunately the only thing I learnt was that you should probably consider getting out more. Critisising the book as you did is ludicrous - this is not Pulitzer prize winning novel and nor does it make any pretence to be. It is simply a story of someone who has challenged himself to the extreme to achieve his dream. Pulling the book apart for grammar and criticising the climbing techniques of someone who climbed everest at 23 seems rather peculiar. Add to the the reference to him having been in the TA, when actually he spent 3 years in the SAS where he broke his back - only to then later take part in this climb - and your misguided comments become laughable. Take the book as it is intended and enjoy it - if you want a literary masterpiece then there's plenty of Chaucer around to keep you quiet for a good few years.
 Pretty good - but dwarfed by others in the genre, 2008-11-01
If you like Bear then you'll like this book. He's obviously made of strong stuff and he has a story to tell but unfortunately he isn't really a writer and doesn't capture the real essence of high altitude mountaineering and its inherent risks as succinctly as other writers within the genre.
The book holds its own but never grips in the same manner as Into Thin Air, The Climb or Forever On The Mountain (to give but 3 examples). It's a worthy addition to any mountain enthusiast's bookshelf but if you are looking for just one mountaineering book you'd walk past this one to get to others.
What an incrediable book., 2008-12-30
This book is a great insight to how tough climbing a mountain is and is a really good personal heart felt true story.
I cannot recomend this beek enough, if you are looking at this because you have seen the Born survivor series you will not regret purchasing this beauty.
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