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Home > Books > Non-fiction > Sport Books > Mountain Climbing Sport Books > Touching the Void - Joe Simpson
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9 Reviews

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I picked this up after reading a brief synopsis of the events in "The Dangerous Book for Boys". The book tells of an ill-fated expedition to the summit of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985... more

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for Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

Rating Summary based on 9 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		7
  • 4 Stars
    		1
  • 3 Stars
    		0
  • 2 Stars
    		1
  • 1 Star
    		0

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  • How interesting was the book?
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  		• 3.9
  		• 3.9
  		• 4.5
  		• 2.6
  		• 4.6
  • 72 of 72 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of Soho_Black

    Level 9 Soho_Black

    Member since 30/08/2002

    Reviews written: 516

    2 Stars Best A-Void-ed Review with images 13/04/2005
    User doesn't recommend the product

    Advantages Advantages It's probably a great read if you're a mountaineer

    Disadvantages Disadvantages I'm not

    I came into possession of a copy of “Touching the Void” in much the same way I found the music of Matchbox Twenty for the first time. I saw a copy of the book on sale, vaguely recalled reading positive things about either it of the film that was made from it and figured I’d take a chance. Again, in much the same way as finding Matchbox Twenty, I couldn’t locate the positive comments I thought I’d seen and worried it might not be as good as I was expecting. This is where the comparison ends. Whereas Matchbox Twenty turned me into a fan very quickly, “Touching the Void” doesn’t have enough about ... more
  • 25 of 25 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of PJE_

    Level 5 PJE_

    Member since 06/08/2000

    Reviews written: 93

    4 Stars Left For Dead 28/02/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages An incredible story of human survival against the odds.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Technical mountaineering terms go unexplained (no glossary).

    Joe Simpson is an experienced mountaineer, and a Greenpeace activist. In June 1985, along with his climbing partner Simon Yates, he reached the 21,000ft summit of the Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes, via the previously unclimbed West Face. This is the story of their unforgettable expedition. The ascent itself is tricky enough - at one point they are hit by a rock-fall which brings back bad memories for Joe of a previous climb in the Alps when a rock face gave way and left him hanging helplessly for twelve hours beore he could be airlifted to safety. They take three days to reach ... more
  • 18 of 18 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of mandyhaley

    mandyhaley

    5 Stars An amazing true life story 05/06/2001
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Gripping from start to finish

    Disadvantages Disadvantages You won't be able to put it down

    Joe Simpson’s book, Touching the Void, is a true story of two men’s attempts to climb a previously unconquered mountain in the Peruvian Andes. It is an autobiographical account of Joe’s struggle for survival once he became injured and had to try to get back down. It is extremely well written, and is a highly personal account of the emotions he experienced at each stage of the "adventure". It graphically explains the challenges they faced, and describes the physical conditions they endured. It contains some stunning photographs which show the enormity of what they attempted ... more
  • 10 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of battery

    Level 1 battery

    Member since 21/04/2007

    Reviews written: 7

    5 Stars touching the void touches the emotions 08/05/2007
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages horrowing, moving, epic, well written, inspiring and an unbelieveable story

    Disadvantages Disadvantages many climbing terms used that arent explained, no respite from main plot

    Touching the void is perhaps the most well known and extreme tails of mountain survival around. once picked up this is a hard book to put down. ***caution plot details given - i'll try not to give too much away*** it tells the true story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates on their climbing trip in the Peruvian Andes, where young and ambitious they attempt the near vertical west face of Siula Grande, previously unclimbed. After a successful assent, while traversing the ridge for an easier descent disaster strikes. falling down an ice cliff high up on the ridge Joe Simpson breaks his leg. this ... more
  • 5 of 5 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of awwallace

    Level 1 awwallace

    Member since 26/01/2007

    Reviews written: 5

    5 Stars Inspiring Tale of Survival 22/01/2008
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Incredible story, wonderfully written, genuinely inspiring.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Only lasts about 3 days on the commute as its so easy to read!

    I picked this up after reading a brief synopsis of the events in "The Dangerous Book for Boys". The book tells of an ill-fated expedition to the summit of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985 by Simpson and his companion Simon Yates. Following an accident, Yates found himself forced to cut the rope which suspended Simpson over a hundred foot drop and a huge crevice, an act which has proved controversial ever since. I'm no mountaineer by any standard, but one needn't be in order to appreciate what is essentially a testament to the human ability to survive in the most unlikely of ... more

Product information

for Touching the Void - Joe Simpson

Product Details

Type Non-Fiction
Genre Sport
Subgenre Mountain Climbing
Title Touching the Void
Author Joe Simpson

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