On The Edge - Richard Hammond > Reviews

Advantages: Beautifully written
Disadvantages: Not a complete autobiography

...who just happens to be on TV, especially on "Brainiac" and "Top Gear", where his cheeky sense of humour and his natural enthusiasm are given full rein. Whenever you watch him, it feels like he's about to walk out of the studio, into the pub and say "you'll never guess what I just did/drove/exploded" and have you in fits of laughter for the rest of the evening telling you all about it. We get a brief look at how the cheeky young boy became the cheeky ... Read review

Advantages: Great book, "unputdownable"!
Disadvantages: Subject matter is pretty miserable

...honestly and with courage. On The Edge is the biography of Ricahrd Hammond, TV presenter and journalist. who (until September 2006) is most famous for presenting Top Gear. Whilst filming for Top Gear, Richard had a crash in a jet powered car, whilst travelling at almost 300mph. The effects were devestating, and he was airlifted to hospital with serious brain injuries. This book deals with his life, before and after the accident. The book does ... Read review

Advantages: A compelling and interesting read
Disadvantages: The pain his family must have suffered

On the 20th September 2006 an event would happen that would change Richard Hammond's life forever. The High Speed Jet car crash that occurred that day became front page news instantly and rallied public opinion and support around Hammond. For the first time since then this is Hammond's full story, his memories of what happened and his struggles with the recovery process and all the in-betweens. Rather than being a full history of Richard's life the ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic writing, amazing story
Disadvantages: You will probably cry (I did!)

...we would ever see him on tv again, would he be the same person? The first television appearance was on Jonathan Ross, and I tuned in eagerly, to see if the Hamster we all loved was still there. It seemed yes he was, apart from a new love for celery, and an uncanny ability to recall everyone's phone number! What relief. During this time we had been watching the media storm against the BBC and more specifically Top Gear, claims it was dangerous, ... Read review

Advantages: Fabulous insight on so many levels
Disadvantages: None

...due to other things going on have only just finished it. Like most I only became of aware of Richard Hammond, or the Hamster as he has become know because of his small stature (well physically anyway), when he first started as one of the 3 presenters on BBC's Top Gear. More recently he hit he headlines when the jet powered car he was driving (for a Top Gear feature) crashed at 300 miles per hour leaving him with severe head injuries. However as ... Read review

Advantages: Heartwarming, and genuinly likeable.Not your average 'celeb story'
Disadvantages: Need more information on what happened next

...wanting to get my hands on this book for a while. I hadnt really heard anything about it, and in my opinion it would just be another standard biography for all those celebs, who in the run up to christmas, need to get a bit more cash in their back pocket. As it was,when i began to read, it did look like it was going to turn into one of the afore mentioned biographys, with details of where they were born, what their parents were like and token tales ... Read review

Most people who've read this book seem to think the book is upsetting. Of course, there are many time I was reduced to tears and the subject matter is, well, you can't say it's cheery. But what I took from the book seems to be very different to most people. I found it renewed my faith in humanity, this is one family where the love is very evident. It's almost a love story. Richard's longing to see his kids, the way Mindy could barely leave his side, the whole book touched me. Their love is beautiful, you don't have to be a Top Gear or Richard Hammond fan to appreciate that!

A great read and insight into the life of Richard Hammond. This book is easy reading and is about Richards life prior to starring in his dream job presenting Top Gear, the big crash and his personal life. If your a fan its well worth it.

Got this book for christmas but didnt buy it when it came out because I couldnt. Its a awesome book and a great insight into the life of Richard, Mindy and the life after the crash. He says about his childhood, Top Gear, the crash, the retreat after it and the recovery Recommended to everyone

Advantages: Gripping tale of his life so far
Disadvantages: There will be another!!!!

Hammond: On the Edge Pick it up from a fiver used to a tenner new. The cheeky little chap from such shows as Brainiac and most noteably Top Gear provides us with the story of Richard Hammond from Birth to ( well just about finish ) current. Wriiten with his wife Mindy this tells the story of the little chain smoking yorkshire lad, who has gone on to be a fans favourite within the motoring world. Starting from his childhood troubles and his love ... Read review

Brilliant book, I really like the way we got to see how Mindy was coping with the tragedy. Definately one of the best book of its kind. I would definatley read this book again.

Advantages: Great to find out the details of the recovery after accident
Disadvantages: Gets muddled between his and wife's text

...with a bit of background on his career and leads up to the day of his accident. I would warn anyone with a family themselves that the story gets difficult to read at times as the tears that you can't seem to stop blurr the words a little, but as the story told from his wife's perspective continues where his memories stop you can't help but feel the worry that she felt and be aware of the great love between them as a couple. The only thing that ... Read review