Defying Gravity: Land Divers, Roller Coasters, Gravity Bums, and the Human Obsession with Falling

by Garrett Soden

"Riveting....A must-read history of daredevilry and gravity sports."― San Francisco Chronicle Defying Gravity tells the astonishing story of how gravity pioneers transformed an ancient terror―the sensation of falling―into the modern thrill that powers extreme sports, monstrous amusement rides, and a youth culture obsessed with "getting air." It's a hair-raising tour, with nineteenth-century parachutists plummeting to their deaths before thousands, British lords tumbling from Alpine peaks, Hollywood stuntmen dropping from biplanes to freight trains, drunken carousers outrunning police to make the world's first bungee jump, and X Games athletes such as stunt bike rider Mat Hoffman explaining their bone-breaking passion. Garrett Soden follows the evolutionary trail back to our acrobatic primate ancestors and delves deep into the psychology of sensation seekers.  Originally published in hardcover under the title Falling . 12 illustrations

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Science

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[George Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a mountain climber, skateboarder, surfer, skydiver or daredevil of any kind. I've never much liked roller coasters, especially as I get older and experience vertigo. But that didn't stop me from appreciating this book. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, Garrett Soden weaves together a wide-ranging exploration of the human fascination with the effects of gravity--a reckoning which covers more ground than you'd ever imagine. Personal favorite sections include those devoted to high-wire acts over Niagara Falls; the fatal attraction of the Golden Gate Bridge; the relentless minimalistic push of wall climbers to return to our primate origins; and the sections exploring our biological and anthropological roots, which gave rise in me to a surprising pride that our most distant ancestors were not complete physical pushovers. They were, in fact, the most versatile acrobats in the jungle. This book reminds me a bit of Longitude by Dava Sobel, or Salt by Mark Kurlansky. Where those works examined a scientific breakthrough, or a particular substance, and remarked upon its role in the development of the world, Mr. Soden's focus is on a physical experience and its relentless grip on our imagination.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not a book I would normally be drawn to, I found Falling to be a very engaging quick read. The chapters were eclectic; addressing everything from the history of extreme sport to the use of "falling" as a metaphor in our language to the role of gravity in the evolution of humans. Some chapters I found more interesting than others, but overall it was a pleasure to peruse.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining mix of stories about tight rope walkers, snowboarders, acrobats and rock climbers. My favorites were the original British bungee jumpers who jumped dressed in tails and top hats. As someone who's afraid of heights, this was a good armchair read.