Product Description

Ranulph Fiennes has 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 replaced George Lazenby as 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. His most recent challenge was scaling the north face of the Eiger, one of the most awesome 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.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17344 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Review

'If you ever struggle to drag yourself out of bed on a winter's morning, pick up a copy of Ranulph Fiennes' autobiography. It's an inspiration.'

(Mail on Sunday )

'Rip-roaringly readable'

(Guardian )

'Even readers with a broadly low tolerance for macho heroism will find themselves gripped . . . compelling'

(Time Out )

'This is the memoir of a supreme sportsman, an uber-earthling who could show the Martians a thing or two about what the best of us can achieve'

(Financial Times Magazine )

'"Ran' epitomises British phlegm, and he puts all other glory-seekers to shame. His dry wit, self deprecation and steely determination never to feel a scrap of self-pity are in the very best tradition of British travel writing. Long may he continue tomake us glad that we are not him, while we stand in awe.'

(Country Life )

'Rip-roaringly readable'

(Guardian )

'Even readers with a broadly low tolerance for macho heroism will find themselves gripped . . . compelling'

(Time Out )

'It's exhausting just reading about his exploits, so it is a perfect bedtime book. It's delightful to plump up one's duck-down pillows while vicariously enduring Fiennes's successive plunges into the deadly waters of the Artcic, and his festering crotch-rot.'

(Helena Drysdale, New Statesman Books of the Year )

'It is lively and vivid, and often exciting as we anticipate each plunge into deadly Arctic waters. There are some wonderful throwaway lines . . . So, not an alien species after all but - as they say - a national treasure.'

(Spectator )

Synopsis
Ranulph Fiennes has 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 replaced George Lazenby as 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. His most recent challenge was scaling the north face of the Eiger, one of the most awesome 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.

About the Author
Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first man to reach both poles (by surface travel) and the first to cross the Antarctic Continent unsupported. In the 1960s he was removed from the SAS Regiment for misuse of explosives but, joining the army of the Sultan of Oman, received that country’s Bravery Medal. He is the only person yet to have been awarded two clasps to the Polar medal for both Antarctic and the Arctic regions. Fiennes has led over 30 expeditions including the first polar circumnavigation of the Earth. In 1993 Her Majesty the Queen awarded Fiennes the Order of the British Empire (OBE) because, on the way to breaking records, he has raised over £10 million for charity.

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Customer Reviews

Good book but heavy reading
I enjoyed this book overall, but found it a bit heavy going at times. The early part where Fiennes describes his upbringing, school life and time in the armed forces was very good and was at just the right pace. However, when he goes on to write about the various expeditions and races he subsequently took part in, I found the level of detail uneccesary. Its almost like he recounts each trip day by day from his diaries. This made for quite heavy reading, and certainly slowed the pace of the book right down. By the end it had become quite hard work, and I was glad to finish it. Overall a good read, but not one you'll be able to get through without a lot of time and concentration!

Outstanding
Wow. This man is absolutely incredible. I'm sure others have been through the examples from the book, so I won't repeat, but if you have respect for someone who can push their body to the absolute limit, then this is a must read.

What a legend!
This is a must read for everyone who needs motivation
Fiennes tells his story with brutal honesty and his adventures are amazing achievements