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Brilliant Non-fiction
Regions of the Heart: The Triumph and Tragedy of Alison HargreavesRegions of the Heart: The Triumph and Tragedy of Alison Hargreaves by David Rose
Buy used from: £0.01
The first mountaineering book I read - biography of Alison Hargreaves. Good, but a little tedious if you just want the climbing.
Round Ireland with a FridgeRound Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks
Buy new: £4.82 / Used from: £0.01
A fridge. A man. An unlikely but successful combination! Funny and well written.
Playing the Moldovans at TennisPlaying the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks
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More bizarre stories from the man who shares his name with a skater. Hawks is as likeable and amusing as always.
Notes from a Big CountryNotes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson
Buy new: £5.37 / Used from: £0.01
One of my favourite Bryson books. Had me laughing pretty much continuously.
A Walk in the WoodsA Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Buy new: £6.96 / Used from: £0.01
My other favourite Bryson. This first introduced me to hiking, climbing etc. - I loved it.
Touching the VoidTouching the Void by Joe Simpson
Buy new: £5.84 / Used from: £0.01
I would put all of Simpson's books on. But that would be dull. They're all brilliant, this being the first one I read. Simpson writes like he was born to do it.
The Beckoning SilenceThe Beckoning Silence by Joe Simpson
Buy used from: £0.05
Put this in as well because it drew together everything I love about Simpson and climbing. Sad in places, but funny and descriptive throughout.
Against the WallAgainst the Wall by Simon Yates
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £0.01
I read this when Yates featured heavily in 'Touching the Void'. Different style to Simpson, but the climbing description is wonderful.
The Flame of AdventureThe Flame of Adventure by Simon Yates
Buy used from: £12.31
Yeah. I whacked this in as well. Read it.
Into Thin Air: Personal Account of the Everest DisasterInto Thin Air: Personal Account of the Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
Buy new: £5.36 / Used from: £0.01
Krakauer bored me in 'Into the Wild', to be perfectly honest, but this is about ten times better. Excellent, moving account of the '96 storm on Everest.