Best Books

[smoggy]

Thanks for your replies folks. I've got loads of great stuff for my birthday and xmas lists. But here's another question for you all - just today the new syllabus for GCSE English was published (okay, so you now know what I do for a living) and I whooped with delight when I saw that one of the recommended texts for study is Mr Joe Simpson's Touching the Void. Basically what that means is that if you've currently got kids under the age of 13 then chances are they may study this in the future. So it got me thinking once again, what other great texts would we like to see as being recommended reading for the younger generation???

Up the 'Boro!

Smoggy

[FellShoeShuffler]

Has anyone read 'Joss Naylor MBE Was Here?' It's fiendishly hard to get hold of. Is it any good?
Keep the recommendations coming
Smoggy

Rathbones in Keswick ought to be able to sort you out a copy. Well worth the read.

[jimbob]

Just finishing this. Not much about the running, more just the experiences. Easy read. Can't believe it's only 3 quid now, only been out a month and I paid full price on pre-order

[Stolly]

I agree with wheezing donkey about 'feet in the clouds'. I've read it three times now and wouldn't have had a bad word said about it first time round. Now though I think there was far too much droning on (and on) about the BGR, a bit too much about the races and not enough on just pure running in the hills. I think there very first chapter is the one I like the most - him having a near death experience running solo in bad weather.

And anyway does everyone here just read 'inspirational' mountain related books? Whats wrong with normal books?

[Graham Breeze]

I agree with wheezing donkey about 'feet in the clouds'. I've read it three times now and wouldn't have had a bad word said about it first time round. Now though I think there was far too much droning on (and on) about the BGR, a bit too much about the races and not enough on just pure running in the hills. I think there very first chapter is the one I like the most - him having a near death experience running solo in bad weather.

And anyway does everyone here just read 'inspirational' mountain related books? Whats wrong with normal books?

Al last other voices in the wilderness! I have maintained from the outset (I read it the week of publication) that it was over rated but clever journalism. (Even though he is kind about the Lakeland Classics Trophy).

As for inspirational books? Well I am reading America, Empire of Liberty and I have raced 44 times so far this year. Go figure?

(and yes, DT, you were right!)

[IainR]

Now though I think there was far too much droning on (and on) about the BGR, a bit too much about the races and not enough on just pure running in the hills. I think there very first chapter is the one I like the most - him having a near death experience running solo in bad weather.

And anyway does everyone here just read 'inspirational' mountain related books? Whats wrong with normal books?

Do you not think the OTT (over the top) on the BGR was part of the story? People do go OTT on the BGR, it becomes their life, him writing a book so dominated by his attempts just outlines how much it does take over many people's lives. I thought it encapsulated it so well.

I thought it was a superb book. OK it did open up the BGR but in the grand scheme of things so what?

We live in a society where doing a lot of excersise is seen as quite odd, we're an increasingly fat nation, any book which inspires people to get out is worth its weight in gold. I was chatting to a fell race organiser (probably the best short race in Wales) on Wednesday and he'd been away in Corfu and took the book to read again, and he said it inspired him to get out running when he said he was going to do nothing. It's an inspirational book noone can question that.

re not enough running on the hills. I think a lot of fell runners are predominantly fell racers and only venture out into the hills occassionally in a non-racing capacity. For most of the book that's the impression you get of him. he wrote his book, his story, I thought it was superb.

Just read 'Tour du Force' probably the best book I've read in years.

[philgreen1968]

white spiders a good read, heinrich harrier

[Alf]

white spiders a good read, heinrich harrier

Yes it is a great read and there a German film out called The North Face(2008) that covers the Toni Kurz and Andi Hinterstoisser attempt in 1936 that Harrer describes so well in the book. The film gives you a lot more of their background and its very much in the Touching the Void style. Well worth a watch if only for the 'Hinterstoisser Traverse' which gives you a much better appreciation of it than the book does.

[Rob]

Heinrich Harrer - Seven years in Tibet is also a superb book a must read as good as white spider.

[Swoop]

Al last other voices in the wilderness! I have maintained from the outset (I read it the week of publication) that it was over rated.

Woefully overrated in my opinion.