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Bird Dream: Adventures at the Extremes of Human Flight
Bird Dream( Adventures at the Extremes of Human Flight) Hardcover MattHiggins PenguinPress
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2014
4 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 3, 2018
This is a nonfiction biography. The book jacket sounded so much more promising. This started so slow and the mentality of the people rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know much about the people mentioned or this sport, and the start wasn't shedding a positive light on either. I did however like the last half. The part about the wing suit was kind of fascinating. The science and design sounded like pure genius.
September 10, 2014
After a too-long and somewhat boring introduction, this book got pretty interesting.
I read it not because I want to be a BASE jumper or fly in a wingsuit, but because I always wonder about the people who do want to do things like this, the adrenalin junkies of the world.
This book follows the history of wingsuits, and to a lesser extent, BASE jumping. More interesting to me are the bits about some of the key players in the sport. And I got that, but not to the extent I would have liked.
I also got quite a bit about sewing wingsuits, and glide ratios, and technicalities that I found midly interesting, but not in so much detail.
The men and, to a lesser extent, women who jump are interesting characters, lots of nerve, a certain amount of ego and hubris, and a bit of selfishness that costs their families.
The writing was solid, nothing spectacular, and the book is a good one to be read by those interested in trying the sport. And by those, like I am, who have no intention of jumping off a perfectly good structure or out of a well-functioning aircraft, but who like a little bit of vicarious living.
I was given an advance readers copy of this book for review.
I read it not because I want to be a BASE jumper or fly in a wingsuit, but because I always wonder about the people who do want to do things like this, the adrenalin junkies of the world.
This book follows the history of wingsuits, and to a lesser extent, BASE jumping. More interesting to me are the bits about some of the key players in the sport. And I got that, but not to the extent I would have liked.
I also got quite a bit about sewing wingsuits, and glide ratios, and technicalities that I found midly interesting, but not in so much detail.
The men and, to a lesser extent, women who jump are interesting characters, lots of nerve, a certain amount of ego and hubris, and a bit of selfishness that costs their families.
The writing was solid, nothing spectacular, and the book is a good one to be read by those interested in trying the sport. And by those, like I am, who have no intention of jumping off a perfectly good structure or out of a well-functioning aircraft, but who like a little bit of vicarious living.
I was given an advance readers copy of this book for review.
August 23, 2014
A fast, fun, non-fiction introduction into a totally different slice of the most "out there," wild, if not crazy, adventure-oriented life some lead. Higgins does a more-than-efficient job of sucking you in quickly and then propelling you on a rollicking ride alongside a committed and skilled cadre of thrill-seekers as they progress from parachuting/skydiving to BASE jumping to wing suits, all the while pushing the adventure/risk envelope towards a strange, but nonetheless remarkable, goal.
It's been decades since I jumped out of airplanes, and the sport (and profession) has dramatically evolved - particularly recently - and I find the recent advances with foils and wing suits utterly captivating. (I'm not saying I'm interested in trying a wing suit, but I am intrigued with the folks who do, and what they do with them.)
Higgins writes like the reporter he is - tight and efficient, in easy to digest increments - all of which makes the book easy to read (quickly). It's easy to connect with, and become invested in, the protagonists (even if you can't understand or relate to them). Plain and simple: I read the Washington Post review of the book this weekend, downloaded the book the next day, and finished it in short order (in a busy week at work with minimal sleep).
Bonus points - if you care about this kind of stuff - for extensive, interesting, and informative references (with hot links in the Kindle version), a handful of fun color photos, and a fulsome index.
It's been decades since I jumped out of airplanes, and the sport (and profession) has dramatically evolved - particularly recently - and I find the recent advances with foils and wing suits utterly captivating. (I'm not saying I'm interested in trying a wing suit, but I am intrigued with the folks who do, and what they do with them.)
Higgins writes like the reporter he is - tight and efficient, in easy to digest increments - all of which makes the book easy to read (quickly). It's easy to connect with, and become invested in, the protagonists (even if you can't understand or relate to them). Plain and simple: I read the Washington Post review of the book this weekend, downloaded the book the next day, and finished it in short order (in a busy week at work with minimal sleep).
Bonus points - if you care about this kind of stuff - for extensive, interesting, and informative references (with hot links in the Kindle version), a handful of fun color photos, and a fulsome index.
January 15, 2022
People are crazy
September 14, 2014
The Good. The passion in which the adventures of human flight are conveyed was not missed, even if…
the Mmeh Okay part was my initial trying to justify this type of adventure at the extremes in which the jumps begin. The irony is I selected reading this book just for that purpose. To understand what motivates men, and women, who make these jumps. And admittedly too, I wanted to vicariously share in their experiences, except the more I kept reading, the more I started looking for justifications other than siding with "whatever happens, happens."
That's where the Best Part comes in. I learned there are a number of useful purposes resulting from extreme sports of this nature. Air-brake methods... suit designs... and the testing of equipment are potential benefits to science and technology; and too, there is the obvious entertainment value. This was very interesting reading. One thing for sure is any quest or dream I had for giving this sport a try, has since been satisfied, as well as I have to give it to one of the greatest challenges on Earth!
the Mmeh Okay part was my initial trying to justify this type of adventure at the extremes in which the jumps begin. The irony is I selected reading this book just for that purpose. To understand what motivates men, and women, who make these jumps. And admittedly too, I wanted to vicariously share in their experiences, except the more I kept reading, the more I started looking for justifications other than siding with "whatever happens, happens."
That's where the Best Part comes in. I learned there are a number of useful purposes resulting from extreme sports of this nature. Air-brake methods... suit designs... and the testing of equipment are potential benefits to science and technology; and too, there is the obvious entertainment value. This was very interesting reading. One thing for sure is any quest or dream I had for giving this sport a try, has since been satisfied, as well as I have to give it to one of the greatest challenges on Earth!
Read
September 16, 2014This is the fascinating true story of sky diving, BASE jumping (buildings, antenna, scans [bridges] and earth [cliffs])and wing suit development and flying. It culminates in the first ever landing of a man in his wing suit without a parachute. I loved getting acquainted with a brand new concept and the people involved with it. After reading this book, I enjoyed surfing youtube and watching various videos of the men in the book and some of their historic flights. I would recommend this book to anyone.
August 8, 2014
I loved this book! The subjects of skydiving, BASE jumping and wing suit flying are inherently thrilling; but the combination of this thrilling topic, fascinating characters, and Higgins' impeccable skill as a writer make this book a must read!
December 16, 2014
There are lots of these wing-suit vids on youtube. These guys (& a few gals) are nuts. This book starts with a short history of skydiving and the first wing-suits and ends with the race and attempt at the first wing-suit landing without a parachute.
August 4, 2014
Really enjoyed this one!
October 27, 2014
This book is for anyone who has dreamed of flying!
March 7, 2015
Listened to CD. Chronicles BASE jumpers and wingsuit jumpers and their crazy exploits.
June 14, 2015
Wow! This is about BASE jumping. Everyone in it was getting killed left and right, and one of the guys in the book (Dean Potter) even got killed while I was reading the book. What a crazy sport!
November 13, 2019
A heart-stopping narrative of risk and courage, Bird Dream tells the story of the remarkable men and women who pioneered the latest advances in aerial exploration—from skydiving to BASE jumping to wingsuit flying—and made history with their daring.
By the end of the twentieth century BASE jumping was the most dangerous of all the extreme sports, with thrill-seeking jumpers parachuting from bridges, mountains, radio towers, and even skyscrapers. Despite numerous fatalities and legal skirmishes, BASE jumpers like Jeb Corliss of California thought they had discovered the ultimate rush. But all this changed for Corliss in 1999, when, high in the mountains of northern Italy, he and other jumpers watched in wonder as a stranger—wearing a cunning new jumpsuit featuring “wings” between the arms and legs—leaped from a ledge and then actually flew from the vertiginous cliffs.
Drawing on intimate access to Corliss and other top pilots from around the globe,Bird Dream tracks the evolution of the wingsuit movement through the larger than life characters who, in an age of viral video, forced the sport onto the world stage. Their exploits—which entranced millions of fans along the way—defied imagination. They were flying; not like the Wright brothers, but the way we do in our dreams.
https://www.fahasa.com/
By the end of the twentieth century BASE jumping was the most dangerous of all the extreme sports, with thrill-seeking jumpers parachuting from bridges, mountains, radio towers, and even skyscrapers. Despite numerous fatalities and legal skirmishes, BASE jumpers like Jeb Corliss of California thought they had discovered the ultimate rush. But all this changed for Corliss in 1999, when, high in the mountains of northern Italy, he and other jumpers watched in wonder as a stranger—wearing a cunning new jumpsuit featuring “wings” between the arms and legs—leaped from a ledge and then actually flew from the vertiginous cliffs.
Drawing on intimate access to Corliss and other top pilots from around the globe,Bird Dream tracks the evolution of the wingsuit movement through the larger than life characters who, in an age of viral video, forced the sport onto the world stage. Their exploits—which entranced millions of fans along the way—defied imagination. They were flying; not like the Wright brothers, but the way we do in our dreams.
https://www.fahasa.com/
October 10, 2018
This is an outstanding book and the best non-business book I have read so far this year. This book gives you the adrenaline rush that I have found from reading many military combat books.
Perhaps part of the adrenaline rush came from the fact that I stopped and Googled Jeb Corliss and others to watch their YouTube videos and found myself entranced with them.
This book is well written and researched and provides a very broad overview of the sports (Skydiving &Wing Suit Flying, and B.A.S.E. jumping) and covers many people though focuses mostly on Jeb Corliss and Gary Connery.
The other thing to keep in mind is that these guys (mostly) and gals don't usually live into the late 40's and still maintain activity in these sports because like alpine climbers or moutaineers many die by that age and the reader must keep this in mind when reading or listening to this book.
I highly recommend this book and I believe most will find it and the YouTube videos available riveting.
https://www.youtube.com/results?searc...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF214...
Perhaps part of the adrenaline rush came from the fact that I stopped and Googled Jeb Corliss and others to watch their YouTube videos and found myself entranced with them.
This book is well written and researched and provides a very broad overview of the sports (Skydiving &Wing Suit Flying, and B.A.S.E. jumping) and covers many people though focuses mostly on Jeb Corliss and Gary Connery.
The other thing to keep in mind is that these guys (mostly) and gals don't usually live into the late 40's and still maintain activity in these sports because like alpine climbers or moutaineers many die by that age and the reader must keep this in mind when reading or listening to this book.
I highly recommend this book and I believe most will find it and the YouTube videos available riveting.
https://www.youtube.com/results?searc...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF214...
November 1, 2024
Not compelling writing, too many measurements in feet to keep me fully focused, but informative on the risks and mortality rates. For the participates in base jumping, it is worth it, to receive the rush. One thrill seeker even explained that what people thought of him had no weight to it, because the world was hostile to him since birth, so why not take your chances and experience something beautiful and dangerous.
July 25, 2018
If you've ever wanted to go behind the scenes of BASE jumping and modern human flight potential, this is a good place to start.
August 19, 2022
Fairly slow, though it picks up in the second half.
January 20, 2025
Nice look into a sport I've always admired and been fascinated with.
February 10, 2016
Chronicles the lives of mostly guys who go from jumping with parachutes to wing suits as they aspire to fly. Eventually they aspire to land without a parachute. The author uses words that get the reader right there, at times I felt physically ill as to where thy were and what they were doing. Insightful, some swearing.
December 2, 2020
Found this at a Little Free library in PHL. I have this dream all the time, hoping this embedded reporter bio of 2 competing sit flyers and there compatriots .. And plenty of death and injury, breaks the cycle.
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February 28, 2019I thought this was a great book. I have always wanted to go skydiving and I have always thought it would be so cool to be up there in the clouds. I've always loved jumping of cliffs into the water and I feel like I would really love base jumping which is talked a lot about in this book. This book talks about a lot of in depth details on how skydiving and base jumping was started. This book has lots information on the early years of the sports. These are dangerous sports as the books talked about especially base jumping, lots of people died attempting these jumps. The book talks about the first people to be in these sports and it talks about the early designs of the wingsuits and the parachutes. I think this book is a great read especially if you like stuff like this.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews