Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women

by Louise Minchin

'Incredibly moving and inspiring' Gabby Logan

‘Prepare to be blown away… the most incredible examples of girl power’ Judy Murray OBE

'It’s brilliant – I loved it' Lorraine Kelly

'Brilliant … impressive and vividly told' The Times

'Louise is such a positive and uplifting presence. Her fearlessness should inspire us all' Susanna Reid

'A celebration of the strength, power and determination of women' Giovanna Fletcher

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JOIN LOUISE MINCHIN ON 17 EXHILARATING ADVENTURES WITH TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WHO ARE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, SMASHING RECORDS AND CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES.

'To get to the heart of who these women are… I decided to do it the way that I know best, by taking part, spending time right beside them to experience the things they love.'

Driven to bring more attention to female stories of courage and endeavour, Louise Minchin pushes herself to the extreme and embarks on thrilling endurance adventures with trailblazing women.

She freedives under the ice in the dark in Finland with Cath, the first woman to swim a mile in the Antarctic Circle; she cycles across Argentina with Mimi, one of the world’s most famous female endurance runners; and she swims from Alcatraz with Anaya and Mitali, two young sisters who have braved the shark-infested waters over 70 times.

With her natural empathy and sense of humour, Louise forms close bonds with 18 incredible women. She explores what drives them and how they find the resilience and determination to go on despite life’s setbacks. Lizzie overcame a life-threatening illness and now paddleboards whilst cleaning up the planet with her community; Rhian set up a charity in the face of grief and fundraises through hikes; and Zee took up rugby alongside her busy nursing career and motherhood.

Louise reminds us of the bravery inside us all, and how essential it is to celebrate women’s achievements. Prepare to be touched and inspired by these fearless women.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

240 pages, Hardcover

Published July 25, 2023

Reviews

[Nicola Whitbread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book, I listened to this on audiobook and it was narrated by Louise - this added warmth and joy in abundance. Fearless does what it says on the tin, it spotlights incredible (and normal!) women doing incredible things. Louise joins them on their adventures and gives everything a go - this was quite a unique approach to this kind of book and stopped it being too autobiographical and really fun and engaging.

[Kasia Kulma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly inspirational. I loved these 17 stories of extraordinary women who redefine stereotypes, dare to push themselves hard and do it with a big smile on their face! I loved that Minchin often chose women who achieved amazing things while coming from unexpected backgrounds and/or who ended up doing what they're doing almost by accident. There are so many important lessons in these stories, but the quotes that resonated with me most are:

"One life, live it. One day I will not be able to do this. Today is not that day." and

"In races, when it's hurting, I can remind myself how lucky I am to have a bkdy that I can push enough to make it hurt. I am able to choose to suffer and choose how long I suffer for. It is s privilege."

At the beginning, I struggled a bit with Minchin's narration as I felt there was too much of her in every story and not enough of the women she was describing. But the balance changed in later chapters and I also learned to accept that by doing all the adventures with these amazing women - including the arduous 1200km cycle across Argentina! - she earned her place among them and her voice and experiences are also valid. I'll be coming back to this book for inspiration during my low points, I'm sure!

[Melanie Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book - highlighting just a few of the inspirational women across the country who have taken on extraordinary adventures and succeeded.

I really enjoyed how the author told each woman's story alongside joining them on an adventure. Providing their back story, the joy they found in adventure, the highs and the lows all helped to magnify their amazing achievements.

And each story was told in such a way that it encourages us, as readers, to believe that we too can live more adventurously and achieve what we set our mind to.

So many pearls of wisdom in the book, so need to read through it again and be inspired!

[Heather Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspirational read, I absolutely loved this book. It completely changes your mindset and makes you believe that you can do whatever you want to in life. Louise highlights some incredible women and their inspirational stories. A must read for all ladies out there.

[Turlough Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Louise!! Would give this audiobook 10 stars if I could! Incredibly inspiring & will definitely be recommending to many people in the future

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book featuring 18 amazing and inspirational women doing great things in their chosen field - some I had heard of but many I hadn't. Makes me feel bad about not wanting to go to parkrun today 😆 Thank you to The Pigeonhole and to the author for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Leah Mauger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this excellent book in 3 days and that’s unheard of seeing as I work long hours! I just couldn’t put it down the woman are awesome. fearless is the perfect title for these women. Inspiring women that made me want to challenge myself more with my seaswimming. Thank you Louise I saw you at your book launch locally and the book didn’t disappoint. Great read. 🤩

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was just my kind of read - inspirational and empowering. I was worried it would be all about superhuman elite sports woman but Louise showed the human face and weaknesses of each one as well as the fantastic achievements - and each story is written with warmth and humour. She not only writes about 18 extraordinary women but also takes part with them, from nighttime free diving under the ice, paddle board litterpicking to cycling across Argentina - each story makes you want to get up off the couch and achieve your own goal, however modest.
I read Fearless with the Pigeonhole digital book club.

[Wendy Leo-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational easy read

I bought this book because I have always admired Louise’s sense of adventure and I now respect her even more as she has the honesty to admit that to be “fearless” is not to be scared.

This books recounts the stories of 18 basically unknown women who have used adversity, in many shapes and forms, not only to make them more resilient and courageous but to also empower others to do likewise. Some of which, I found so interesting I will now be supporting on Social Media.

I highly recommend this inspirational read which, not only highlights the remarkable power us ladies have, it also encourages you to “face your fears and live your dreams” whatever they may be.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following her fight at the BBC for equal rights of female newsreaders to be given more headline/top of the hour slots, compared to male counterparts.
Louise felt driven to highlight the stories of extraordinary women and their extreme, adventure-seeking, courageous endeavours - to be the best versions of themselves.
Loved how she formed close empathic bonds with 18 incredible women - who in their adventures are trailblazing and breaking down barriers.
Incredibly awe-inspiring and moving - powerful reminder of the female spirit.
Thanks @louiseminchin, @bloomsburybooks & @netgalley for the eARC

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this on Pigeonhole over the past few days as I feel very strongly about getting women’s stories out there, especially when it comes to adventures and physical challenges. Fortunately, Louise Minchin feels the same so spent time with 18 inspiring women and experienced their adventures both on land and in the water. Climbing, paddleboarding, swimming, cycling, running and many more activities feature as Louise gives everything a go, including some things that take her right out of her comfort zone. Perfect for fans of adventures and challenges.

[Michael Frankland · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into really inspiring people

Really enjoyed this as it made me look at some of the other women who inspire me.
I recommend this book but would say to be careful as it enthuse you to look up the many women who you probably have walked past on the bookshelf 😀

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't very familiar with TV presenter and triathlete Louise Minchin, as I don't watch breakfast TV, but the concept of this book sounded interesting. In her introduction, Louise observed that as a TV presenter she would often interview people who'd achieved feats of daring or endurance, but noted that those featured were nearly always men. (You know the sort of thing - 500 marathons in 500 days while barefoot and balancing a tin of soup on your head.)

Women were surely also achieving similar feats, but it clearly wasn't being reported as much. Louise, therefore, set out to find - and indeed become part of - these stories.

Probably because I hadn't read the synopsis particularly carefully, I hadn't initially realised that Louise would be undertaking these challenges herself, alongside the women who devote their lives to doing terrifying stuff. This definitely adds a great dimension, as we follow Louise's experiences of being cold, scared, knackered and - frequently - exhilarated.

In the course of this book she tries out all manner of often terrifying and usually uncomfortable activities including climbing, caving and freediving under a metre of ice in the dark, along with less immediately dangerous but also challenging activities like walking across Dartmoor and playing rugby. Oh, and cycling across Argentina with legendary endurance athlete Mimi Anderson.

There are loads of inspirational women featured here, many of whom have overcome considerable obstacles to achieve what they have - ultrarunner Susie Chan, trailblazing rugby player Zainab Alema, Paralympic cyclist Kadeena Cox, ice swimmer Cath Pendleton, and many more.

In the words of Belinda Kirk: "It is not an adventure unless there is adversity. If you aren't suffering a bit… you haven't left your comfort zone. It is beyond your comfort zone, where you stretch yourself, that you learn."

Definitely worth a read, especially if you're in need of inspiration. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

[Lizzie]

Louise Minchin accompanies eighteen different women on unique, brutal and life changing adventures.

This book was broken into eighteen chapters (plus introduction and conclusions). Each chapter, recounted by Louise, covered her time accompanying an adventure or challenge: cave diving, ice swimming in Finland, cycling across Chile. As well as Louise's own experiences as she attempted to complete the activities, the chapter also covered briefly the women she was with and their motivations.
The stories were touching, particularly those of women who had experienced tragedy and were now doing what they were doing to help others experiencing similar.
This book highlighted the importance of role models who are representative. As a disabled person, I can count on one hand how often I have seen people in the media, in positions of influence, I see myself reflected in. Several paralympians were featured in this book, and I agree that it is so important to have that physical representation - not just of disability, but body type and skin colour and a whole host of other things too. Rhiane Fatinikun's story was one of my favorites: she founded Black Girls Hike, and has encouraged girls and women up and down the country to get outdoors, breaking stereotypes and giving confidence.
I did think there was too much in this book - or it was too short. Each adventure lasted only a few pages. I would have liked to have know more about the physical and mental training both Louise and her companions had to go through. I'd have liked more on the motivations for the women taking on these challenges, and the ongoing impact their work has today.
This was an interesting, inspirational and quite unique book.

[Melissa Cashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible
Putting my cards on the table I have to admit I’m abit of a Louise fan girl. I love Louise Minchin and BBC breakfast is just not the same without her. She’s smart, sporty and calls out discrimination against women both in sport and in life. I’ve listened to her being interviewed on a couple of podcasts and she always comes across as smiley and honest but with an inner toughness and grit thats taken her on some tough sporting challenges in her Middle Ages. She’s one tough cookie who’s completed some of the hardest triathlons and I really admire her. ( Dare to Tri is another good book documenting her triathlon journey) . I’ve also witnessed first hand her smiley, cheerful disposition cheering her on at a local triathlon here at the Cotswolds Lakes looking like she was having the best time despite there being side ways rain.
When I discovered she was writing this book about Fearless women taking themselves out of their comfort zones and undertaking extraordinary challenges and adventures I knew I had to read ( listen ) it.
SUP boarding, ultra running, long course triathlons, caving, mountain swimming and long distance cycling are some of the challenges these women undertake with Louise tagging along . It’s an inspirational book from 18 women who as Louise states had they been men would have been household names .

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had enjoyed watching Louise when she presented BBC Breakfast and was pleased to have the opportunity to read this via the Pigeonhole and find out some of what she had got up to since leaving the programme.
The book was inspired by noticing that they were always interviewing men who had done these amazing things and decided to do something to start correcting the media bias by finding extraordinary women who had also been doing amazing things.
Out of the 18 women she interviewed (whilst completing a physical challenge), I had only heard of the para-cyclist Kadeena Cox. I was able to live vicariously through Louise as she completed triathlons, free-diving under ice in Finland, and went caving to name just a few of the challenges alongside interviewing these ladies.
It's definitely an inspirational read and I hope this book achieves Louise's aim of correcting the gender bias. Perhaps a (BBC) series can be commissioned as a follow on?
Highly recommended reading and hats off to Louise for undertaking these challenges whilst having a dodgy knee that required surgery and the subsequent recovery.
With thanks to Louise and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.

[Gail]

Former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise doesn't disappoint. As you'd expect from someone who does triathlons, Louise doesn't just profile women who have amazing adventures: she joins them. So we see her caving in the dark, free diving under the ice in Finland with the first woman to swim a mile in the Antarctic Circle, and swimming from Alcatraz with two teenage sisters who have braved the shark-infested waters over 70 times.

You have to wonder why these incredible women don't have more public awareness, but wasn't this always the problem? How can we inspire young girls when the patriarchs who dominate publishing, film production and the media make all the decisions? Minchin's book is a must-have for parents of teenage girls.

An inspiring and motivating read.

[Sarah Truckell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fearless is definitely the right title for this book to describe the fantastic women whose stories Louise Minchin tells. Women who have had life struggles who have come back fighting and overcome many problems. The activities described sound terrifying and I was impressed by Louise’s have a go attitude to get alongside these women and try their chosen sport / activity. From swimming in the dangerous waters by Alcatraz to cave diving, cycling and hiking so much to the backstory of the women is incredible

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fearless:Adventures with Extraordinary Women by Louise Minchin is a fabulous, inspiring book about women who are extraordinary.
There are 18 women all doing amazing, inspirational things and Louise tells their stories as she interviews them doing their own things along side them and participating whether it is swimming, running, diving, hiking.
One of the best books I have read this year.
Highly recommended

[Susan Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really important book. The journalist realised that not only was she paid less than her male colleagues but would never introduce items or have the serious items. Another observation was that only male adventurers would be featured on news items. Thus book features incredible females who are achieving significant things. Often they have challenging or tragic back stories or they are supporting others. An inspiring book

[Catalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when women are brave and push themselves outside their comfort zone. And this women are just unimaginably courageous, not only pushing themselves out of their comfort zone but actually pushing themselves to the limits of the human body and conquering new territories. Despite some of this activities being a big fat NO-NO for me, I still found this women truly remarkable and inspirational. We don't have to undertake extraordinary adventures, but any adventure that pushes us just a little bit is enough. Start small and you will still rep rewards.

*Book read on ThePigeonHole with many thanks for the opportunity!

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of inspirational, fearless women undertaking sporting challenges. I am in awe. But there are many things here I am far too scared to try! I do love a determined woman though, and this book is full of them. Read with The Pigeonhole

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas fun slot on BBC Breakfast reignited the passion for sport in Louise Minchin, since then she’s been on a mission to stretch the boundaries of what she can do. This book sees her take on 17 challenges with some inspiring women, who are smashing stereotypes and making a difference.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Louise Minchin is such a great role model, calling out bias and discrimination and inspiring others to get out there and live that one life that we have. The stories were so moving - so many amazing women. It makes me want to get out there and be more active!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - a book that needed to be written, celebrating the achievements of these incredible women. A book to be shared with others so I’ll definitely be passing this on and recommending it to others - it certainly makes me want to go out and have an adventure.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and inspiring read - 18 truly inspirational and empowering stories of achievement. This premise with Louise as the host would make a wonderful TV series too...hint hint...

Read with Pigeonhole, with thanks as always to the author and the Pigeonhole team for the opportunity.

[Sheila Wyver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read! All stories of women who are fearless in their pursuit of adventure and changing women’s lives. Inspiring, heartwarming and incredibly brave stories of women who have changed their lives and are helping other women change theirs. An excellent read.

[Gail Danks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I would usually read but I’m glad I did. Thanks to pigeon hole and Louise.
Some inspiring and brave women feature in this book and it’s well worth a read

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring read.

[Fran Whyte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very basic and poorly written. I was expecting so much more about their stories and adventures. It felt like a GCSE kid had written it. Very disappointing.