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Strange and Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure and Madness
* Explores the darker psychological drama behind the exploits of eleven adventurers, famous and lesser-known
* Written by a practicing clinical psychologist
* Accounts include heretofore unpublished information provided by archival witnesses, friends, and family
Every culture, in every era, has its adventure The golden hero willing to walk through fire elevates us all beyond our fears and limits. But more often than readily seen, there are darker reasons for dangerous pursuits. Where falls the line between adventure and madness? Geoff Powter, a practicing clinical psychologist, looks into the stories of eleven troubled adventurers, divided into three The Burdened, The Bent, and The Lost.
* Polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott has been called a "willing martyr" ready to die for the mystical deliverance of adventure.
* Meriwether Lewis, convinced that he had failed to achieve the objectives set by mentor and father figure, Thomas Jefferson, died by his own hand.
* Maurice Wilson's plan for climbing Everest included deliberately crashing his plane as high as possible on the mountain.
* Jean Batten was a remarkably driven early aviator whose clothes and make-up were always more perfect than her flying technique.
* Polar balloonist Solomon Andrée was certain that his rigorous understanding of scientific principles would overcome any challenge posed by nature or equipment failure.
* Aleister Crowley, a brilliant mountaineer who founded the Golden Dawn cult, was labeled pathologically, and even fatally, arrogant.
In each of these stories, darkness of some kind -- ambition, ego, a thirst for redemption, the need to please others -- carried these characters in a perilous direction. In the end, understanding these difficult but utterly human stories helps us comprehend the deepest purpose and allure of adventure, and, ultimately, to more honestly measure ourselves.
* Written by a practicing clinical psychologist
* Accounts include heretofore unpublished information provided by archival witnesses, friends, and family
Every culture, in every era, has its adventure The golden hero willing to walk through fire elevates us all beyond our fears and limits. But more often than readily seen, there are darker reasons for dangerous pursuits. Where falls the line between adventure and madness? Geoff Powter, a practicing clinical psychologist, looks into the stories of eleven troubled adventurers, divided into three The Burdened, The Bent, and The Lost.
* Polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott has been called a "willing martyr" ready to die for the mystical deliverance of adventure.
* Meriwether Lewis, convinced that he had failed to achieve the objectives set by mentor and father figure, Thomas Jefferson, died by his own hand.
* Maurice Wilson's plan for climbing Everest included deliberately crashing his plane as high as possible on the mountain.
* Jean Batten was a remarkably driven early aviator whose clothes and make-up were always more perfect than her flying technique.
* Polar balloonist Solomon Andrée was certain that his rigorous understanding of scientific principles would overcome any challenge posed by nature or equipment failure.
* Aleister Crowley, a brilliant mountaineer who founded the Golden Dawn cult, was labeled pathologically, and even fatally, arrogant.
In each of these stories, darkness of some kind -- ambition, ego, a thirst for redemption, the need to please others -- carried these characters in a perilous direction. In the end, understanding these difficult but utterly human stories helps us comprehend the deepest purpose and allure of adventure, and, ultimately, to more honestly measure ourselves.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
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November 19, 2021Climber and psychiatrist Geoff Powter tells the stories of explorers and climbers, from Meriwether Lewis to Aleister Crowley, who may have suffered from psychological ailments. In many of the cases, the individuals may have been driven to their desperate adventures by their mental and emotional suffering. Powter gives engaging sketches of their lives and addresses the difference between them and the risk-taking mountaineers and explorers who may be labeled 'crazy' by the public, but in fact are entirely sane. He has a relatively good sense of historical mentalities and the contexts in which his subjects lived. In the cases where he suggests clinical diagnoses, they seem sensible (he doesn't accuse anyone of having a random 'death wish') and based on evidence.
As interesting as I found the book, I wish that Powter had compared the experiences of his subjects with his own extensive mountaineering experience. So many of the emotions felt by the troubled adventurers, and so many of their decisions, seem similar to those of less troubled individuals engaged in the same activities -- only more exaggerated. I suspect there's a gray area between the two groups, not a sharp dividing line, and I think some discussion of that factor would have enhanced the book.
As interesting as I found the book, I wish that Powter had compared the experiences of his subjects with his own extensive mountaineering experience. So many of the emotions felt by the troubled adventurers, and so many of their decisions, seem similar to those of less troubled individuals engaged in the same activities -- only more exaggerated. I suspect there's a gray area between the two groups, not a sharp dividing line, and I think some discussion of that factor would have enhanced the book.
May 5, 2017
A collection of interesting biographies of some of history's most extreme and unprepared adventurers. Fascinating reading, but a long way from inspirational as the book is very focused on these individual's troubled histories and struggles. It would have been nice to see some positive (or even, more marginal) stories for balance; by itself only one side of the "fine line" is explored.
August 31, 2017
Recommended to my mountaineer friends....which type of adventurer are you? I think I found my answer in this book, but it's a bit of a mixture and luckily toned down from the worst reasons found in this book.
December 10, 2023
very enjoyable read.
June 13, 2008
An overview of history's most fascinating extremists.
November 20, 2010
Pretty bad writing but the stories are crazy and the theme hits way to close to home. Scary and fascinating.
April 7, 2014
An interesting overview of a number of adventure stories. Engaging stories thought the larger themes the author attempts to address feel a bit forced or under engaged. Worth reading for sure!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews