What do you think?
Rate this book
Sons of Thunder
BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 12, 2012
After an exhausting Leh-Ladakh trip in 2008 on a rented motorcycle (RoyalEnfield TB 350) , the motorcycle obsession took root in me. I resisted it long (4+ years) but finally gave up a month ago and got a brand new RE Classic 500. For a novice , an anthology is always the best to get a hang of whole new world of motorcycling(anything) through reading.This was the only thing I could find in the book store which is a collection of stories related to motor cycles.Turned out to be a very engrossing and interesting collection of biker stories.With stories/poems from/on Lawrence of Arabia , Che/Granado , Ted Hughes to Valentino Rossi and many more bike riders; this book works really well as an anthology.The best thing is that I started loving my bike rides even more after reading this.In short , a brilliant collection and a very good read even for non bikers.
April 23, 2018
Inspirational. Intelligent and inspired choice of writers. Time to get on the bike and just ride.
June 13, 2018
If you ride - if you know the peculiar alchemy of poetry and physics that happens on two wheels, then you will relish this book. If you've never sat astride a motorcycle and felt the relentless pull of the far horizon, then this will likely be little more than a collection of foolish, romantic notions. All in all, this is a very enjoyable and easy read. My only criticism is that the selections don't always mesh well with each other. Such is the nature of anthologies. Some selections could be a bit longer or need a little more context.
March 28, 2022
A fine read but can't fairly rate it more than 2 stars as a compilation album.
I think the best part of this book is that I've added more books to my to read list. The excerpts from Travelling With Che Guevara, Lois on the Loose, and Me and My Bike and Why all seem like great reads.
But all the excerpts have something which captures the romance and realities of owning and riding the right bike. The freedom of the open road the versatility when faced with rough terrain, the smiles and open arms that greet you as a touring rider...
Sounds great, but I drive a dacia
I think the best part of this book is that I've added more books to my to read list. The excerpts from Travelling With Che Guevara, Lois on the Loose, and Me and My Bike and Why all seem like great reads.
But all the excerpts have something which captures the romance and realities of owning and riding the right bike. The freedom of the open road the versatility when faced with rough terrain, the smiles and open arms that greet you as a touring rider...
Sounds great, but I drive a dacia
August 12, 2018
2.8 - 5* So I awarded it 3 out of good faith.
It is not by any means a bad book! Some of the stories are great, and some are very boring. It wasn't for me and after committing through 200 pages I seriously struggled to finish it. Even the Hunter S Thompson extract, which I was most looking forward to, was a serious disappointment.
This might be the ideal book for someone...just not me.
It is not by any means a bad book! Some of the stories are great, and some are very boring. It wasn't for me and after committing through 200 pages I seriously struggled to finish it. Even the Hunter S Thompson extract, which I was most looking forward to, was a serious disappointment.
This might be the ideal book for someone...just not me.
March 15, 2022
The book suits all kinds of Motorcycle riders, there is something for everyone. There are multiple writers/poets extracts woven together, and reading from first to last does not register a difference. We are with the riders when they on the bike be it the place or era. I suggest this book for anyone who is intending to buy a motorcycle or own one, or intend to sell one.
November 7, 2022
Starting with T. E Lawrence, Bradford collects a couple of dozen short stories and excerpts from writers (some well-known, some less known) on motorcycling. If the idea of speed on the open road appeals to you, you will find plenty of selections to dip into.
January 30, 2017
This book is a collection of extracts from other motorcycling writings and is a good taster to see if you want to buy the books the extracts come from.
July 3, 2017
Wonderful book of short stories and adventures!!
February 25, 2021
I couldn’t put this down, so many great adventures. If you ride then this book is for you
August 19, 2012
By Neil Bradford. Grade: B
Sons of Thunder, Neil Bradford’s exhilaratingly high-octane collection of motorcycle writing, makes a persuasive case for the unique excitement and emotional experience offered by one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Featuring full-throttle tales by T.E. Lawrence, Roald Dahl, Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Robert Hughes and many others, and ranging from Hunter S. Thompson’s rip-roaring prose to lyrical contributions from Ted Hughes, Thom Gunn and Robert Pirsig, the groundbreaking Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance author, Sons of Thunder is a thrilling tribute to the pleasures and perils of riding this awesome machine.
Sons of Thunder is a motorcycling anthology about various experiences from people from various walks of life, about how those machines gave these people unforgettable experiences which would last through their lifetimes.
When I first got this book to review, the title Sons of Thunder, gave me an impression of some intriguing concept. Quite satisfactorily, I can say that I couldn’t have been more right and more wrong at the same time. Sons of Thunder is a collection of biker stories. But make no mistake, this is not just a collection of bikers showing off their muscles – saying stuff about high speed, great torque; nor is it about the technical stuff around which the functioning of every bike involves. This anthology is about experiences – intimate, touching, soulful experiences that these people have had with their motorcycles, for whom motorcycles have become important and inseparable parts of their existence.
Since this is an anthology, comments about writing, flow, structure of the book become moot. They become very specific – specific to each and every entry of the collection. Some of the names included in the collection have already made waves in different spheres of literature, but their stint in motorcycle writing is due to their undeniable passion towards the machine.
Apart from the inherent uniqueness of the concept of a motorcycle anthology, there are certain excerpts which deserve special attention and go a long way to clarify the kind of intentions the book goes to convey:
“The rider knows to run through all the lights… The rider pulls in the left-hand lever, then presses down with the left foot…” – The Perfect Vehicle, Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Repeated use of the word “the” goes to show the kind of particularity existing in a generic term. Although “rider” is a generic term, “the” is used to specify the thin line between a passionate and a non-passionate rider.
“The rider splits into two, navigating between vacation and dire responsibility” – The Perfect Vehicle, Melissa Holbrook Pierson
The kind of personification which has been given to a shadow of a rider, who could be anyone, is really amazing. It goes to show the depth of the imagery in one’s mind.
“But sometimes, in the midst of more tasteful activities, I miss the mournful howl of that big single engine… I have a FM radio and the car doesn’t get bad mileage” – Me and My Bike and Why, Thomas McGuane
This is like Robert Frost’s The Road not Taken of this book. It is a story of regret of a man, who chose to lead a more sedentary lifestyle over the hardcore, adventurous life of a motorcyclist, thus showing the flip side as well.
“With a motorcycle, the biker would argue, you attempt to harmonise, establish some sense of balance and rhythm, even mutual understanding.” Travels with a Harley, Jim Perrin
This is the height of personification. But the interesting thing is, it is not wrong or inaccurate in any sense. Everyone has seen so many instances where one tries to gel with the bike as if it had a spirit. One of the most basic, yet most difficult to explain qualities of a biker to identify with.
Sons of Thunder has so much to offer – poetry, letters, diary entries, conversations, memoirs. Towards the end, like a crescendo, it even contains a story from the pen of Valentino Rossi, the MotoGP champ (who better to represent motorcyclists of the world than the fastest one himself?). It is the sheer variety of offerings unified by a single topic – motorcycles – is what makes this book so unique and readable. It contains journeys of people across geographical boundaries, in a quest of adventure and purpose. Somehow, this collection of motorcycle stories gives us a glimpse of the learning experiences that one can have, and that is why this book should be read atleast once.
Originally reviewed at http://the-vault.co.cc
Sons of Thunder, Neil Bradford’s exhilaratingly high-octane collection of motorcycle writing, makes a persuasive case for the unique excitement and emotional experience offered by one of mankind’s greatest inventions. Featuring full-throttle tales by T.E. Lawrence, Roald Dahl, Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Robert Hughes and many others, and ranging from Hunter S. Thompson’s rip-roaring prose to lyrical contributions from Ted Hughes, Thom Gunn and Robert Pirsig, the groundbreaking Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance author, Sons of Thunder is a thrilling tribute to the pleasures and perils of riding this awesome machine.
Sons of Thunder is a motorcycling anthology about various experiences from people from various walks of life, about how those machines gave these people unforgettable experiences which would last through their lifetimes.
When I first got this book to review, the title Sons of Thunder, gave me an impression of some intriguing concept. Quite satisfactorily, I can say that I couldn’t have been more right and more wrong at the same time. Sons of Thunder is a collection of biker stories. But make no mistake, this is not just a collection of bikers showing off their muscles – saying stuff about high speed, great torque; nor is it about the technical stuff around which the functioning of every bike involves. This anthology is about experiences – intimate, touching, soulful experiences that these people have had with their motorcycles, for whom motorcycles have become important and inseparable parts of their existence.
Since this is an anthology, comments about writing, flow, structure of the book become moot. They become very specific – specific to each and every entry of the collection. Some of the names included in the collection have already made waves in different spheres of literature, but their stint in motorcycle writing is due to their undeniable passion towards the machine.
Apart from the inherent uniqueness of the concept of a motorcycle anthology, there are certain excerpts which deserve special attention and go a long way to clarify the kind of intentions the book goes to convey:
“The rider knows to run through all the lights… The rider pulls in the left-hand lever, then presses down with the left foot…” – The Perfect Vehicle, Melissa Holbrook Pierson
Repeated use of the word “the” goes to show the kind of particularity existing in a generic term. Although “rider” is a generic term, “the” is used to specify the thin line between a passionate and a non-passionate rider.
“The rider splits into two, navigating between vacation and dire responsibility” – The Perfect Vehicle, Melissa Holbrook Pierson
The kind of personification which has been given to a shadow of a rider, who could be anyone, is really amazing. It goes to show the depth of the imagery in one’s mind.
“But sometimes, in the midst of more tasteful activities, I miss the mournful howl of that big single engine… I have a FM radio and the car doesn’t get bad mileage” – Me and My Bike and Why, Thomas McGuane
This is like Robert Frost’s The Road not Taken of this book. It is a story of regret of a man, who chose to lead a more sedentary lifestyle over the hardcore, adventurous life of a motorcyclist, thus showing the flip side as well.
“With a motorcycle, the biker would argue, you attempt to harmonise, establish some sense of balance and rhythm, even mutual understanding.” Travels with a Harley, Jim Perrin
This is the height of personification. But the interesting thing is, it is not wrong or inaccurate in any sense. Everyone has seen so many instances where one tries to gel with the bike as if it had a spirit. One of the most basic, yet most difficult to explain qualities of a biker to identify with.
Sons of Thunder has so much to offer – poetry, letters, diary entries, conversations, memoirs. Towards the end, like a crescendo, it even contains a story from the pen of Valentino Rossi, the MotoGP champ (who better to represent motorcyclists of the world than the fastest one himself?). It is the sheer variety of offerings unified by a single topic – motorcycles – is what makes this book so unique and readable. It contains journeys of people across geographical boundaries, in a quest of adventure and purpose. Somehow, this collection of motorcycle stories gives us a glimpse of the learning experiences that one can have, and that is why this book should be read atleast once.
Originally reviewed at http://the-vault.co.cc
November 30, 2015
These entries, selected by motorcyling enthusiast Bradford, are a real mixed bag. The title features several touted writers, but not their best work: T.E. Lawrence published “The Road” under the pseudonym “352087 Ross” and Roald Dahl’s “My Year” is a chummy exercise in sentimentality. Ted Hughes’s single entry is the poem “A Motorbike.” Other writers’ intentions are obscure. Novelist Tom McGuane, for example, couldn’t even ride when he bought his bike, and L.J.K. Setright’s descriptions of componential specifications, “tyres” and rhapsodies about “…pressed-steel chassis, formed as a monocoque backbone of generous proportions and admirable stiffness” are a little too exacting. Most entries, like Jonathan Gregson’s evocative “Bullet Up the Grand Trunk Road” and Jonny Bealby’s “Running with the Moon” are extracted from larger works and function as travelogues that happen to take place on motorcycles. And Hunter S. Thompson does what he does best: display how big a jerk he was. In “Song of the Sausage Creature” he writes, “Some of us are decent people who want to stay out of the emergency room but still blast through neo-gridlock traffic in residential districts whenever we feel like it…” Ending the collection on Robert Hughes’s potent “Myth of the Motorcycle Hog” helps, as it emphasizes bikes as fun transportation. It even pulls in a relevant quote about going solo from Leonardo da Vinci: “If you are alone, you are your own man.” VERDICT For diehards only.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
June 10, 2013
If you never rode a motocycle in your life, the first 3 pages of this book will make you get out there and find one for yourself.
Although not an original piece, but a collection of passages from seasoned travellers, overlanders or famous figures of the motorcycling world, the book is still interesting, and it opens up a whole new wave of authors to discover and read. Personally, i started tracking down the various books from which the excepts came from. Mr. Ted Simon is acclaimed here, and, of course, TE Lawrence, with a vivid and blood-pumping take on riding his Brough Superior.
The one excerpt that really captures the true essence of riding a motorcycle comes from Melissa Holbook Pierson, from 'The Perfect Vehicle'.
Although not an original piece, but a collection of passages from seasoned travellers, overlanders or famous figures of the motorcycling world, the book is still interesting, and it opens up a whole new wave of authors to discover and read. Personally, i started tracking down the various books from which the excepts came from. Mr. Ted Simon is acclaimed here, and, of course, TE Lawrence, with a vivid and blood-pumping take on riding his Brough Superior.
The one excerpt that really captures the true essence of riding a motorcycle comes from Melissa Holbook Pierson, from 'The Perfect Vehicle'.
October 13, 2012
I've enjoyed it a lot. Even with extracts so short that there is no time for gripping the soul of each story, it's still a good anthology, and it has discovered for me a good amount of books to read about travels and motorbikes.
November 14, 2012
Caught it first gear.
Expected a hi-octane book on bikes, rides & travel but was disappointed after reading it. The extracts from other writings were too very short & discontinuous that it fails to accelerate. Felt like hitting a speed bump at every mile.
Expected a hi-octane book on bikes, rides & travel but was disappointed after reading it. The extracts from other writings were too very short & discontinuous that it fails to accelerate. Felt like hitting a speed bump at every mile.
September 15, 2012
enjoyed reading it. reminded me of my long rides on a bullet 350. must get a bike again.
Want to read
June 17, 2013this book reminds me of a movie I have watched.
February 12, 2015
This book was interesting and kept my attention.
July 12, 2016
A motorcycle anthology with some of the best names in the genre - but still doesn't live up to the expectations. The chapters selected were mediocre.
October 5, 2016
Riveting on most occasions & brings out the romance that the motorcycle inspires in those who seek adventure. A good introduction to all the great works that have laced the genre over the years.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews