Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3198 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-20
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Synopsis
Ranulph Fienneshas travelled to the most dangerous and inaccessible places on earth, almost died countless times, lost nearly half his fingers to frostbite, raised millions of pounds for charity and been awarded a polar medal and an OBE. He has been an elite soldier, an athlete, a mountaineer, an explorer, a bestselling author and nearly replacedGeorge Lazenbyas James Bond. In his autobiography he describes how he led expeditions all over the world and became the first person to travel to both poles on land. He tells of how he discovered the lost city of Ubar in Oman and attempted to walk solo and unsupported to the South Pole -- the expedition that cost him several fingers, and very nearly his life. Hismost recentchallengewasscaling the north face of the Eiger, one of the mostawesome mountaineering challenges in the world. Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes OBE, 3rd Baronet, looks back on a life lived at the very limits of human endeavour.

Customer Reviews

A fascinating insight into a life of adventure
I usually read at light speed, but this book was so enjoyable I slowed right down and savoured it bit by bit for two weeks. It was like having Fiennes himself there in the room telling the story of his life. There is not much by way of self psycho-analysis but that's fine. We are allowed to draw our own conclusions. Instead events are described in excellent detail allowing the reader to accompany Fiennes on his adventures and share in his triumphs and tragedies.

outside of the bible
Outside of the Bible, this is prob the best book that I've read,(and I've read a few). A few months ago me and my son went into a charity shop, I saw a book by RF (Mind Over Matter),and, for whatever reason (as I basically knew next to nothing about him), I bought and read it (in snatches), then in Dec (07)we went into a shop where RF had done a book signing (for 'mad, bad and dangerous to know') in the days prior. My son said would you like this for xmas? I said (cos it was signed,)'yes'. NOW the review, it is 'intoxicating, thrilling and well written', you can feel the cold as he walks off into the distance. A 60 yr old coming to within such a very short distance of Everest summit,yet shortly after climbs the Eiger, and the commentary is so good that you are on the rock slab with him. The 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, (inspiring). As per cromwell, it is open, (ie warts and all). A man who did not as such 'lose' parts of his fingers, but rather decided to take things into his own hands (no pun intended). In re: the book itself, the photo pages (in my edition, at least) soon started to tear, in fact one page is completely torn out. but the text more than makes up for that (esp since mine is signed). Highly recommended.

Mad Bad and the eye catching title
Ranolph Fiennes' achievements as a traveller cannot be disputed. However, there is little examination of motives and psychology behind them in the book, which is what I like to see in an autobiography and this is ultimately disappointing. So, he's a man of action and I am impressed by his achievements and he writes quite well. But I felt that everything was written from a very conservative viewpoint( summed up in Appendix 1 of the book ) with little of the insight that you can find in a biography like Andy Cave's great " Learning To Breathe" or Stephen Venables' "Higher Than the Eagle Soars". In the end I thought "Mad , Bad..." was just a bit superficial. Good eye-catching title though.
Great traveller. Average book.