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Accidental Adventurer
Ben Fogle's life has been action-packed to say the least. He has rowed across the Atlantic, walked to the South Pole, run the Sahara and ice-skated across Sweden. He has encountered isolated tribes in deepest Papua New Guinea, caused a Boeing 747 to dump 100k of fuel before making an emergency landing in Sao Paolo, and frequently been mistaken for Prince William along the way. So how did a cripplingly shy, geeky, perennially homesick boy end up doing all this Ben's still not entirely sure himself, but this wonderful book tells his story and will strike a chord with anyone puzzling about life, and how to live it differently. This is a book about defying expectations, conquering fears, battling laziness and, just occasionally, winning.
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
135 people are currently reading
1045 people want to read
About the author
Ben Fogle
39 books113 followersBen Fogle is a presenter, writer and adventurer. His achievements include racing 160 miles across the Sahara desert in the notorious Marathon Des Sables.
He has rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossed Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole.
He has presented numerous programmes including BBC’s Animal Park, Wild In Africa, Countryfile, Crufts, One Man and His Dog and Extreme Dreams.
He writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent and has written four bestselling books. Ben’s latest book, The Accidental Adventurer will be published by Transworld in 2011.
He is an ambassador for WWF, Medecins Sans Frontier and Tusk, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the President of the Campaign for National Parks.
Ben is a special correspondent for NBC News in the United States, reporting from all over the world for Today, Dateline and MSNBC Nightly News.
http://www.benfogle.com/biography
He has rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 49 days and crossed Antarctica in a foot race to the South Pole.
He has presented numerous programmes including BBC’s Animal Park, Wild In Africa, Countryfile, Crufts, One Man and His Dog and Extreme Dreams.
He writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph and the Independent and has written four bestselling books. Ben’s latest book, The Accidental Adventurer will be published by Transworld in 2011.
He is an ambassador for WWF, Medecins Sans Frontier and Tusk, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the President of the Campaign for National Parks.
Ben is a special correspondent for NBC News in the United States, reporting from all over the world for Today, Dateline and MSNBC Nightly News.
http://www.benfogle.com/biography
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 18, 2022
I know Ben Fogle from his long-running television show New Lives in the Wild, where he visits people living in remote and unusual places and stays with them a week to get to know how they manage there. Sixteen seasons it has been running!
Beyond that I knew little about him - I thought he was a former Olympic rower (he is not, that is his mate James Cracknell, with whom he did some of his charity races), and that was about it. This book was published in 2011, before his New Lives in the Wild project began, and covers his early life and his career path up until that point.
My impression from the tv series is that he is an all-round nice guy. Empathetic, understanding and charismatic. Fogle is also a communicator who is able to draw the stories from others. There was nothing in this book to contradict any of that - in fact it reinforced that Fogle is an all-round nice guy.
While he doesn't consider himself a sportsman, he has proven time and again that he has the fortitude to perform endurance events in extreme conditions, and is driven and focused such that he doesn't permit himself to give up. Examples of this are rowing the Atlantic (with Cracknell); the six day Marathon des Sables desert race in the Sahara; and the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race. Subsequently in 2018 he also climbed Everest (and came back down, which is half the achievement).
His marriage and children feature lightly in this book, and for the most part it is, as the title suggests, largely a book about how he became an adventurer - and a television adventurer at that. The chapters are almost all chronologically arranged, but with some flash back and forwards where it fits the narrative, and a mostly short accounts of each travel opportunity or adventure sports event he is involved with.
Fogle is pretty open about his experiences, he shares where he got things wrong, where things became dangerous and where he took risks. He shares what he learns from his experiences and plugs various charities on the way through. Overall, it is a light read, but a quick and enjoyable one. I would read more of his writing given the chance (well I have read most of his kids books to my daughter, but beyond those he has written more books about his adventures).
A solid 3 stars.
Beyond that I knew little about him - I thought he was a former Olympic rower (he is not, that is his mate James Cracknell, with whom he did some of his charity races), and that was about it. This book was published in 2011, before his New Lives in the Wild project began, and covers his early life and his career path up until that point.
My impression from the tv series is that he is an all-round nice guy. Empathetic, understanding and charismatic. Fogle is also a communicator who is able to draw the stories from others. There was nothing in this book to contradict any of that - in fact it reinforced that Fogle is an all-round nice guy.
While he doesn't consider himself a sportsman, he has proven time and again that he has the fortitude to perform endurance events in extreme conditions, and is driven and focused such that he doesn't permit himself to give up. Examples of this are rowing the Atlantic (with Cracknell); the six day Marathon des Sables desert race in the Sahara; and the Amundsen Omega 3 South Pole Race. Subsequently in 2018 he also climbed Everest (and came back down, which is half the achievement).
His marriage and children feature lightly in this book, and for the most part it is, as the title suggests, largely a book about how he became an adventurer - and a television adventurer at that. The chapters are almost all chronologically arranged, but with some flash back and forwards where it fits the narrative, and a mostly short accounts of each travel opportunity or adventure sports event he is involved with.
Fogle is pretty open about his experiences, he shares where he got things wrong, where things became dangerous and where he took risks. He shares what he learns from his experiences and plugs various charities on the way through. Overall, it is a light read, but a quick and enjoyable one. I would read more of his writing given the chance (well I have read most of his kids books to my daughter, but beyond those he has written more books about his adventures).
A solid 3 stars.
May 22, 2023
It is a funny thing with Ben Fogle. After he appeared in the BBC ‘reality’ series Castaway in 2000 he became the corporation’s golden boy and it seemed he was never off the screen. We would pay this young man a lot of money through our TV licence. It seemed he would do just about anything to keep himself on the TV and I mean anything. Then he rowed across the Atlantic with James Cracknell and that is when my opinion of him changed. He showed an unbelievable spirit in that race. ‘This time I had managed to change public perception. I had proved that I was more than just a posh daytime presenter from a reality show. Suddenly I became Ben the Atlantic Rower.’
Ultimately this is a very average work detailing the challenges he took part in and the BBC programmes he appeared in like ‘Extreme Dreams’ which I have never seen. Although he professes not to be a sportsman he certainly shows the capacity and tenacity to be one. Here is another lucky man who is able to go off and do what he wants leaving the wife at home to raise the kids.
If you are into travel writing there is a little bit here to get your teeth into but not enough.
Ultimately this is a very average work detailing the challenges he took part in and the BBC programmes he appeared in like ‘Extreme Dreams’ which I have never seen. Although he professes not to be a sportsman he certainly shows the capacity and tenacity to be one. Here is another lucky man who is able to go off and do what he wants leaving the wife at home to raise the kids.
If you are into travel writing there is a little bit here to get your teeth into but not enough.
August 15, 2020
Ben Fogle is a well known British TV personality and this account of his life is a good read, albeit more detail about some of his expeditions would have made it much better. He became known for being in a TV reality show as one of about thirty people abandoned on Taransay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, on the last day of the millennium and left to fend for themselves for a year. The author has always come across as a likeable personality and this is evident in the book too. You’ll read about him rowing across the Atlantic, running across the Sahara and walking to the South Pole as well as many other adventures. His trip to Ethiopia where he meets those suffering from Noma - a condition where half a person’s face is missing and the skull exposed - is very poignant. What I found a bit irritating was his casual unpreparedness for many of the dangerous expeditions he undertook, only discovering when he was already underway that he hadn’t trained properly or brought the right equipment. Maybe this was exaggerated for the book but it did seem foolish.
August 6, 2013
Ben Fogle is a guy that I only really knew the name of until he recent presented Harbour Lives, and a friend left this book for me to read. So I did.
He is an adventurous and spirited guy, and he has done all sorts of things, from walking to the Antarctic, the world longest race, rowed the Atlantic with James Cracknell, with no rowing experience and presented an awful lot of TV programmes, that I have some how managed to completely miss! This book give details of all the adventures, along with the work he did for victims of Noma, a debilitating and disfiguring illness.
It was a nice easy read. He writes from the heart, and, as he says he wears this on his sleeve then you are pretty aware of just how he feels. He describes some of the scrapes and very nears misses that he has had, and is some ways he is lucky to be alive. I would have preferred that the timeline of events in the book was more consistent, as it does tend to jump around a lot. Other than that it was ok, and a good solid three stars.
He is an adventurous and spirited guy, and he has done all sorts of things, from walking to the Antarctic, the world longest race, rowed the Atlantic with James Cracknell, with no rowing experience and presented an awful lot of TV programmes, that I have some how managed to completely miss! This book give details of all the adventures, along with the work he did for victims of Noma, a debilitating and disfiguring illness.
It was a nice easy read. He writes from the heart, and, as he says he wears this on his sleeve then you are pretty aware of just how he feels. He describes some of the scrapes and very nears misses that he has had, and is some ways he is lucky to be alive. I would have preferred that the timeline of events in the book was more consistent, as it does tend to jump around a lot. Other than that it was ok, and a good solid three stars.
August 26, 2013
I bought this for a quid in the local pound shop and thought it might be mildly entertaining as Ben fogle has always struck me as a thoroughly "nice" guy! I have to say it surpassed my expectations and I could not stop turning the pages. It was funny with Ben frequently taking the mick out of himself and his inabilities to be adequately trained for his adventures!!! I especially liked the fact he put his name down for the marathon des sables, and was gobsmacked when he actually had to do it, after being told he was 1001 on a waiting list!!! I found it quite inspiring, especially as I have a trip to Kilimanjaro imminent!!! ❤ Ben!!!
October 14, 2023
I really enjoyed his laid-back style of storytelling!
August 28, 2023
Very interesting and exactly what it says in the title, one of the few times you can judge a book by its cover. There is very little time talking about irrelevant details of Fogle’s life and everything that is discussed is either a story of adventure or a story that leads to adventure. Even talking about family life it doesn’t feel out of place. I really enjoyed this book as it reminds me of why I’ve always been drawn to going on adventures.
January 17, 2012
Note to self . . .I need to do more with my life! An inspiring account of living life to the full. This book should inspire every reader no matter what their ability to get up and do more.
November 17, 2012
Fantastic read -really interesting and inspirational especially as a fellow traveller. Recommend!
January 2, 2025
Such an inspiring book and man, love him on TV and equally in writing now. Makes me want to be an explorer / travelling maniac x
August 21, 2013
I have admired Ben Fogle since I saw him on Castaway many years ago so was interested to see his autobiography in the library. What an interesting book, combining adventure travel details with succinct explanations of the political background of a number of places, together with inspirational stories of individuals Ben has encountered over the years. I would have liked to read more about Castaway though. He comes across as a very interesting man combining tough, and to my mind crazy, physical endurance with reflective and sensitive ideas and values. The poem about risk that he includes very near the end of the book, read to him on Taransay, was inspirational.
January 15, 2012
I'm not a great fan of Ben Fogle so I was never going to find this a 5 star book, but nevertheless I enjoyed reading about some of the adventures he's been on. I particularly enjoyed the bits on Papua New Guinea and Mount Roraima. I'm not convinced he is an 'accidental' adventurer though - not when he went on boats up the Amazon and spent years in Latin America before he was even 20! There is a part where he comments on the intense criticism he received after presenting Crufts. I feel a little bad having been one of those critics, but really he was terrible at it...
May 8, 2014
A thoroughly enjoyable ramble through the adventures Ben has undertaken for work and for himself. Whilst Ben doesn't boast about writing as one of his talents, he takes a stab at it and we can follow along. Like all his adventures, this book is a hodge-podge of tales that aren't always chronological. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to find out what to do with their lives after school - Ben couldn't decide either but it always helps if you are good-looking, single, game for adventure and just a little bit posh.
December 29, 2017
I really like Ben Fogle as a TV presenter, so when I saw this book in a charity shop I thought I’d give it a go. It really lived up to expectations, being down to earth and really humorous whilst describing the most amazing adventures anyone could hope to complete. Ben Fogle is similar to me in terms of sporting prowess and belief in himself physically, ie not at all physical! And yet I don’t think I could achieve half of what Ben Fogle has done.
A really interesting and inspiring book.
A really interesting and inspiring book.
April 15, 2014
A wonderful book that is truly unputdownable and although I truly don't usually like autobiographies I loved this one. He had led such an interesting life and with so many influential characters I admire his strength and fierce determination to keep on going no matter what obstacles are in his way.
April 10, 2017
I won this book in a raffle and started it as I had finished my library books. I found it beautifully written, very enjoyable and surprisingly informative. I haven't taken much notice of Ben's exploits on TV but this was a very personal and emotional description of some of them, with plenty of photographs. It was almost like listening to the man himself.
October 4, 2011
Really enjoyed this autobiography - and I don't usually read this sort of book. I like Ben Fogle on the TV and I like his style of writing - he comes across as a really nice bloke - who has had some amazing adventures.
June 16, 2012
I love Ben fogle and have read all his previous books
Unfortunately whilst each story was interesting the book was very disjointed and disorganised so it was impossible to follow the thread
His adventures were interesting nonetheless so that's why it gets 3*
December 20, 2012
I'm a big fan of Adventurers and Ben Fogle ever since I saw him in Castaway. I loved the sheer madness of some of his exploits and the passion he has for living life to the full. It is about defying expectations and conquering shyness which I can relate to!
March 7, 2013
Sorry Ben but I would not have cpicked this up myself it was a Christmas present. However the fact I read it all say somthing about the book. Really enjoyable book and it was nice to see the otherside of this accidental adventurer.
December 8, 2017
Fantastic read. It is most certainly a book that shows that by saying ‘yes’ to opportunities you can really make things happen and as Ben has demonstrated you can lives dreams and make a career out of it along the way.
September 24, 2012
Picked this book up in a book shop while on holiday Malta
A nice easy holiday read.
And inspirational
A nice easy holiday read.
And inspirational
October 24, 2012
virtually took me to all the places. first time reading an auto biography and liked it.
December 26, 2012
Big Ben fogle fan! Love his stories and enthusiasm for adventure! Makes me want to throw my backpack on again!
June 14, 2013
Absolutely bloody well loved it!!
February 28, 2014
A great read. Ben is really great of explaining his adventures as fiction although they are immensely real.
October 17, 2015
A truly remarkable person with an amazing story to tell
January 10, 2016
This is an interesting lifestory of a guy you may have seen on TV (BBC). He has done some really crazy stuff!!
January 31, 2016
Enjoyable. He comes across as down to earth and not celebrity in anyway. His honesty about his own failings, feelings and emotions made the read so much more enjoyable.
September 6, 2024
A fantastic, interesting book. I am very jealous of the adventures Ben has been on. Inspirational stuff!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews