Living Dangerously

by Ranulph Fiennes

First published in 1987, this book takes Ranulph Fiennes from his South African boyhood and army career to the series of breathtaking expeditions which have justly earned him the title of "the world's greatest living explorer". Since then, however, his determination to seek new challenges and, more importantly, to conquer them has led him to attempt to reach the North Pole without dogs or motorized equipment, to find the lost city of Ubar, hidden in the Arabian desert, and most recently, his extraordinary journey across the Antarctic to the South Pole. Writing with honesty and good humour, Ranulph Fiennes gives us a taste of the excitement, the hardship, the vital teamwork and the sheer courage that is the life of the modern explorer. He is an English hero in the classic mould - a man of whom it can be said that he has been everywhere and done everything.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Biography

263 pages, Hardcover

First published November 18, 1988

About the author

Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE, better known as Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records.

Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.

Reviews

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Living Dangerously” by Ranulph Fiennes (read 8/16/20)

Recommended to me by Alastair Humphreys, a British adventurer whose books I enjoy, this is a classic biography from legendary 70’s and 80’s explorer. It isn’t something I normally would have read. Indeed, it isn’t something I would have ever even heard of, had it not been for the chance mention in a Humphrey blog post, but I am glad I did. Fiennes was, among other things, the first man to circumnavigate the Earth vertically, through both poles, without use of aircraft. This sounds somewhat trivial until you realize that at the time he did it, few people had ever crossed the relatively tame Antarctica, let alone the Arctic. His tales of that journey are among the book’s best and most gripping. His early life is the most boring segment, but even that was shocking at times. Especially his descriptions of how he dodged continual rape attempts at his all boy’s Eaton school, as well as his later service in the SAS against communists in Dofar. This biography rarely suffers from the inanity of its source material. Further there is no philosophizing about the meaning of life or any grand picture musings of that sort. It is just adventure after adventure. That may not be to everyone’s taste, but it was to mine. 8/10

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

After 150 pages, I'm sorry to say, this book is soooooo boring. I'm sure Fiennes has an interesting life and the stories he tells are well worth listening to, but the way they are written is terrible (sorry!). I had to really force myself to pay attention to what the author was talking about because the stories he tells are a bit all over the shop.

I gave this a go and I'm still excited to see his presentation later this year in Sydney, but this book is just too boring for me and hard to read.

[Emily Hume · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one obtained from the closing down second hand bookshop. Not my normal kind of read, a bit boring at times (I internally cheered when he finally left Oman), but Ran Fiennes has certainly lived a colourful life.

[Anthea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The man is quite mad. Crazy exploits from an adrenaline junkie old school baronet. Fascinating book though slightly plodding writing. 3.5 stars.

[Stephen Litt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a life and an adventure this fella had,really enjoyed the book from start to finish.

[kunkku · Rating 5 out of 5]

unbelievable...

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing life story, yet reading becomes quite tedious during some extremely slow parts.