(LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE) BY [BACKSHALL, STEVE](AUTHOR)HARDBACK

by Steve Backshall

How do you become an explorer? It's a question every child has asked, and Steve Backshall was no different. After a rainy day visit to an exhibition of artifacts from Papua New Guinea, it was a question that began to obsess the seven-year old Backshall. But surely he'd been born a century too late? And yet through boundless enthusiasm, determination, and a refusal to accept defeat. Backshall was soon carrying business cards from National Geographic describing him as their "Adventurer in Residence." The vast, untamed wildness of Papua New Guinea was where Backshall forged his unlikely path. From crushing lows of early failures to the extraordinary highs of the BBC's Lost Land of the Volcano expedition, it was this dark island which gave Backshall his opportunity. Full of incredible wildlife, extraordinary wilderness, jungles, cannibals, pitfalls, triumph, danger, and excitement, Looking for Adventure is the irresistible, inspiring story of a little boy who let his heart rule his head.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Science, Adventure, Biography

Hardcover

First published August 18, 2011

Reviews

[𝔅𝔢𝔱𝔥 ☽⋆ ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ oh wow to like a life like Steve Backshall… he’s always reminded me of a mix between action man and David Attenborough. I greatly admire Steve and have watched deadly 60 and all the amazing shows he has been apart, and wanted a further read into his amazing and interesting life working alongside nature and discovering new animal species. This book did not disappoint from the first few chapters it was all go go go! Steve has such a great sense of humour as well and I appreciate his self deprecating humour. It was great to have an insight on how Steve got into the business and his early childhood. The reason the book did not score higher for me was it was quite descriptive in areas and that’s something that personally does tend to bore me but otherwise it’s a great read, and definitely came at a good time for escapism.

[Wayne Jordaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have seen Steve Backshall in a number of wildlife (adventure-type) documentaries and I always found him likeable without wondering to much about the person. This book gives the reader insight into his character, and all credit to the author, he does not try to hide his warts. The value of the book, for this reader at least, however, is not in the glimpse it provides into the psyche of the adventure-seeking explorer, but in the far-reaching changes initiated, not always beneficial, by scientific explorations into environments previously "unseen".

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy book to read, mostly because of the sheer mass of information about random things to us mere mortals. I enjoyed it though - it was worth plodding through. It's good to know that even the relentlessly cheerful Steve Backshall - on TV and at author events - is not relentlessly cheerful. I really liked the devil-may-care attitude towards life and 'risks' - it's a refreshing change in today's sanitised world. A perfect read for an adventurer turned armchair explorer.

[AJ Foiret · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. What a privileged, entitled arsehole. Talks about how unhappy he is because he can’t be a colonial explorer in a previous century. Acts like one anyway. Very racist descriptions of the people he meets on his travels. Absolutely no concern or care for others, eg told about a flight that will deliver aid to a famine-ridden zone once smoke and fog of land burning clears. Only writes about he felt irritated that he couldn’t get a flight to where he wanted to go.

This is why we need more diversity in publishing. Let’s hear other, better writers. Women. People of colour. Anyone but him!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Steve in general and expedition type books it was a bit of a win. He's explained his own life as a backstory but the more interesting stuff is in New Guinea itself. I remember seeing the main expedition on TV so it was easy to visualise. I enjoyed it. Really good read.

[Adam Della Rocca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as his other memoirs mostly because I was not as interested in the expedition, which felt fairly redundant.

[Mick · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing read enjoyed it from start to finish

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin I was a little disappointed with this book. I thought Backshall arrogant, however upon getting into his tale I came to realise that he was just exceptionally honest. While a lot of nature/adventure books try and glamorise both the people and the lands Backshall doesn't. In some situations he can be rather blunt but this is refreshing and makes his praise seem all the more genuine.

Following his expedition(s) was brilliant. This quickly became a page turner and I learned several interesting facts about New Guinea. Well worth a look!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written with the intelligence, humour, enthusiasm and general love of life and the world around us, that anyone familiar with Steve Backshall's work would have come to expect. A very well written book, very descriptive (beautifully so), funny (had me laughing out loud) and exciting (couldn't put it down!) all rolled into one!

I did find the ending a little abrupt, but an excellent read nonetheless.

[Anita Naik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring read about how you can take your childhood dreams and turn them into reality. Also very impressive account of the reality of travelling to unknown areas of the world, seeking out new species making wildlife programmes to save endangered species and doing some pretty scary things. Loved it.

[Matthew Ogborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not many books in life I would recommend to all ages, however this is one. Steve's refreshing take on life goes against the modern penchant for capitalist excess and gadgets, while his passion for exploring the world jumps off the page. Will make you think long after you have finished his adventure.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insight into the organisation of a modern-day adventure and all of the issues which arise in trying to go on one. It sat on my shelf for a long time as it was initially a gift to a Deadly 60 obsessed kid, who struggled with picking it up. I am glad I got around to reading it, although it didn't keep me quite as engaged as other biographies I've read.

[Gerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Bought this partly to bond with my 6 year old son who is obsessed with Deadly 60.

We've always been fans of Steve in our family, but I found this very inspiring. He can write, and he's had some great adventures in some amazingly beautiful places.

A family adventure holiday beckons.

[Jane Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Backshall tells the story of his fascination with Papua New Guinea, from his first disappointing expedition to the TV-sponsored trip to Bosavi crater. I'm surprised that some reviewers call him arrogant; I didn't get that at all.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, really want to try and see some of the documentaries mentioned in the book so I can see it for real.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good biography of Steve Backshall's life of exploration. Can't believe he came from Bagshot!

[Lisa Hodgkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read although he comes across as particularly arrogant. I will follow up by watching the documentaries though.

[Je Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was beautifully written and a very honest account of Steve's motivations and adventures. Very interesting especially if you love wildlife and adventure.

[Alexandra Esmond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Backshall is a very affluent writer and his similes were second to none. The story, however, could have been written in half the page-count.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real. Full of absolute characters. A great laugh.