Product Description

At the age of twenty-three, Bear Grylls became the youngest Briton to reach the summit of Mount Everest. At extreme altitude youth holds no advantage over experience, and it is generally acknowledged that younger climbers have more difficulty coping with the adverse effects of mountaineering. Nevertheless, only two years after breaking his back in a freefall parachuting accident, Bear Grylls overcame severe weather conditions, fatigue, dehydration and a last-minute illness to stand on top of the world's highest mountain. Facing Up is the story of his adventure, his courage and humour, his friendship and faith.

'No one could fail to be gripped by his heartfelt excitement and emotion over what was the adventure of a lifetime.' Independent

'Bear's tale is by turns hilarious and horrific.' Daily Telegraph

'Written with refreshing humility, this is a briskly told account, not of conquering Everest, but of realizing its power.' Daily Mail

'A remarkable tale.' Daily Express

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4411 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

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

Review
"'Bear's tale is by turns, hilarious and horrific.' Daily Telegraph 'Written with refreshing humility, this is a briskly told account not of conquering Everest, but of realising its power.' Daily Mail 'He writes convincingly of fear and doubt. This is an honest and compelling story.' Ranulph Fiennes"

About the Author
Bear Grylls was brought up on the Isle of Wight where he learnt to climb with his father. He spent three years in the British Army and then went on to study Spanish at Birkbeck College, London University. He is a martial arts expert and now writes and lectures all over the world on his experiences. His latest adventure was to complete a round Britain jet ski challenge for charity (August 2000), the launch of which was shown on the Big Breakfast. He lives with his wife Shara on a boat on the Thames.

Customer Reviews

Well Worth A Read
I decided to buy this book after watching Bear Grylls in his Born Survivor/Man vs. Wild role as I found him to be quite a likeable guy. I was also impressed when I heard of his attempt to scale Everest after breaking his back in two places.
I had never really been all that interested in mountain climbing but after reading this book I have a huge amount of respect for the men and women who attempt to climb this beast of a mountain.
The book is written in a very 'easy to pick up' way, you need no prior knowledge of moutain climbing to enjoy it and my suspicions about Bears likeability were confirmed.
It is a great read and a great introduction to both Everest and the world of extreme mountaineering and I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Superb !!
Until I saw Bear speak at a business conference I had not heard of him. I was so inspired by the story of his achievements that I bought this book. I can quite honestly say that no matter how impressed I was by the story he told, it could not have prepared me for what I read in this book.

I have had numerous challenges to overcome in my life and to read of the challenges that Bear and his friends went through, albeit they chose to face those challenges, it just shows that when faced with adversity you should never, never give up.

An extraordinary book by an extraordinary man
A beautifully written book which flowed well and was written with real honesty.
This book shows what can be achieved with hard work and determination and is a must for any motivational bibliographies.
The book tells the story of a young man who comes bouncing back from near disaster after a parachute accident to realise his ultimate ambition - to climb Everest. It is by no means a technical text book for the serious climber but is a must read for anyone who wants to know how to achieve in life and succeed