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Thread: Best Books

  1. #1
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    Best Books

    Evening All

    I read recently that one of the ways our boys in Afghanistan are coping with the off duty periods is by setting up a book club. Apparently, it's been a great success. So, it's got me thinking; what do tough fellrunners read in the periods when they are 'off duty' between training and races? Don't be shy, let's have your recommendations for a good read. It could be something that's inspired you in your running or it might be a book that you've simply enjoyed. So come on forumites, whether you're a lover of Dean Karnezes' 'Ultra Marathon Man' or Jane Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' let's get a popular thread going here. Here are a couple of mine to get you started:

    The obvious one - Feet In The Clouds / Richard Askwith. Turned me from a fellwalker into a fellrunner. Totally inspirational.
    South / Ernest Shackleton. Beyond belief what these guys went through and Shackleton's motto is what I use as a mantra when I'm suffering in a race - 'By endurance we conquer.'
    Wuthering Heights / Emily Bronte - the most passionate description of Pennine moorland ever.

    Cheers

    Smoggy

  2. #2
    Senior Member stumpy's Avatar
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    Re: Best Books

    Another obvious one - 'Touching the Void', Joe Simpson. An ispirational and un-put-downable tale of just what is survivable!

    The best book about Shackleton's epics I've read (and there are many good uns to choose from!) is 'Shackleton's Boat Journey 'by F A Worsley, totally gripping and wholly atmospheric - made my armchair feel very cold and wet!!

    Another more recent running related read for me that was a bit of an eye opener is 'The Running Man' by Gilbert Tuhanboye - an interesting examination of what is both truly horrific and truly remarkable about the human spirit.

  3. #3
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    Re: Best Books

    Ok, submission #1:
    Ran Fiennes "Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know"
    Ran Fiennes "Captain Scott"
    Mike Stroud "Survival of the Fittest"
    John Krakaur "Into thin Air"
    Tolstoy "Anna Karenina"
    Steven Covey "The 7 Habits of highly effective people"
    Michael Crichton "Swarm"
    Lord of the Rings
    Lance Armstrong "Its not about the bike"
    Ellen MacArthur "taking on the World"

    I'll come back soon to add to this list!

  4. #4
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    Re: Best Books

    Highly recommend, 'Century on the Crags, by Alan Hankinson - a history of climbing in the Lakes.

  5. #5

    Re: Best Books

    What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami
    Into The Wild - Jon Krakauer
    Scott's Diaries (a good read even though you already know how it ends)
    Ghost Trails - Jill Homer

    A few I've read recently and really enjoyed.

  6. #6

    Re: Best Books

    The Wild Places, Robert Macfarlane.
    Gorgeous book. Captures the essence of those special moments when you find your own bit of wilderness. One of my favourite reads in years. Made me want to just get out there and explore. Spot on.

  7. #7
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    Re: Best Books

    Thought I'd read the lot on Shackleton, but that's a new one on me, thanks Stumpy, it's already on my birthday list. If tales of suffering are your thing then try reading some stuff about the polar explorer Douglas Mawson (if you already haven't done so). It's mind blowing what this guy had to suffer during a 1911 expedition to The South Pole. Best one I've found is Mawson's Will by Lennard Bickell. Lots of interesting suggestions posted that I've not come across before, thanks everyone for those.

    I'm also in total agreement with the recommendation of The Wild Places. A beautifully written book that gets to the heart of our need to escape to the wilderness.

    Thanks Everyone

    Keep the recommendations coming.

    Smoggy

  8. #8

    Re: Best Books

    Conquistadors of the Useless by Lionel Terray.
    Ten Years Under the Earth by Norbert Casteret.

    Something else ...

  9. #9
    Senior Member stumpy's Avatar
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    Re: Best Books

    Smoggy, I haven't yet read Mawsom's Will - shame, my birthday's just gone!

  10. #10

    Re: Best Books

    Quote Originally Posted by abd View Post
    John Krakaur "Into thin Air"
    The Krakaur book is excellent, as is Anatoli Boukereev's version of the same tragic events in "The Climb"

    "The Long walk" by Slavomir Rawicz is a good read although I have my doubts that it's a true story

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