With Bare Hands: The true story of Alain Robert, the real-life Spiderman

by Alain Robert

Overcoming vertigo - and countless injuries which have left him officially disabled - the 'Human Spider' has scaled nearly 100 skyscrapers from Chicago's Sears Tower to Taipei 101, from the Petronas Towers to the Golden Gate Bridge. Reward and punishment have been received in equal measure - the flamboyant Frenchman has gained international fame and raised thousands of dollars for charity, but has also been arrested, beaten and prosecuted. Many people ask whether it is madness to undertake such perilous ascents without the use of safety equipment. But in Alain's view, it is madness not to follow your dreams! This is the inspiring story of a man who has conquered fear and exceeded his own the world's greatest urban climber. "For Robert, tall buildings are his mountains. He eulogises the views from their summits and (police permitting) revels in the freedom." - The Guardian

Genres: Climbing

308 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Celine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alain Robert (aka the French Spiderman) is one of the most, if not the most, talented rock climber of his generation. He became famous outside of the climbing circles in the mid-90s for his building escalations, which earned him more than a few jail stints. Further to various unfortunate accidents, Alain Robert now has an official 60% disability status (!) and yet his enthusiasm for the sport is still intact. This book is the story of his life (and what a life!), his unwavering determination to overcome even the most difficult routes, and his passion for rock climbing. From early teenage climbs in the Verdon Canyon to the Petronas Towers in KL, you will embark on a detailed journey of each climb, the preparation, the anxiety, the unexpected obstacles and the joy of the final victory, sprinkled with witty observations from the author and quite a few hilarious moments. Alain Robert truly has an original outlook on life, and mainstream he certainly isn’t. One of the stories he recounts in the book is how Loik Le Floch-Prigent (then CEO of Elf Aquitaine, since then jailed for embezzlement) pursued him through the courts for years after Alain scaled the Elf tower in Paris la Defense – how could this guy possibly not be touched by the beauty and poetry of Alain’s endeavours ? A society whose leaders have lost their capacity to dream is doomed… can Spiderman rescue us ?

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story! It is so great to see someone following his or her dreams and doing something so unique and outside of the mainstream!

This is a true story of one of the world's greatest rock climbers that by happenstance began climbing buildings. He has climbed over 80 of the world's skyscrapers, many of the world's tallest! He climbs without ropes (With Bare Hands) and without safety equipment, risking his life on each ascent. The reward? - usually incarceration, but always he feels the greatest sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. He has traveled the world, met dignitaries, celebrities, criminals and slum residents...He has been injured numerous times, twice very seriously, but his mantra is that life is worth living to the fullest, and that involves taking calculated risks to prove your meddle. I'll never look at a skyline the same way again...Truly inspiring!

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book I get to the end of must be good. However I was looking forward to finishing so I could move on to another book waiting in the wings. The book was interesting and but covers and more philosophical than I would have expected, but it was somewhat repetitive. As I climber I enjoyed and was impressed and jealous of the authors achievements.

[Martin Sidgreaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great insight into the mind of Alain Robert. It covers his whole life, how he got into the world of climbing, his successes and failures. By the end of it you can truly understand his drive and desire to do what he does so well. Well written, entertaining, inspiring, funny and frightening... Certainly well worth reading.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational - That is one crazy French guy...