Adventure Biographies (38 books)

The under appreciated genre of adventure biographies has grown in the past number of years thanks to the success of The Climb, Into the Wild, and similar stories about adventure, disaster, and discovery. These books highlight extreme athletes and extreme individuals doing extreme things. Whether it's a divorcee embarking on the Pacific Crest Trail or a group of rugby players crash landed in the Andes, these stories enthral and inspire the reader.

flag

All Votes Add Books To This List

1	Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart by Tim Butcher (Goodreads Author) 3.98 avg rating — 12,054 ratings score: 1,495, and 15 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Trigger: Hunting the Assassin Who Brought the World to War by Tim Butcher (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 4,069 ratings score: 1,085, and 11 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Edge of the Map: The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff by Johanna Garton (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 568 ratings score: 400, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	By Any Means: His Brand New Adventure from Wicklow to Wollongong by Charley Boorman 3.71 avg rating — 620 ratings score: 198, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival by Joe Simpson 4.23 avg rating — 64,468 ratings score: 185, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read 4.14 avg rating — 81,879 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy 4.06 avg rating — 4,611 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	In Some Lost Place: The first ascent of Nanga Parbats Mazeno Ridge by Sandy Allan 4.26 avg rating — 367 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Finding Elevation: Fear and Courage on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain by Lisa Thompson (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 216 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (Goodreads Author) 4.02 avg rating — 1,189,803 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Walking Home From Mongolia: Ten Million Steps Through China, From the Gobi Desert to the South China Sea by Rob Lilwall 3.79 avg rating — 331 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Right to the Edge: Sydney to Toyko by Any Means by Charley Boorman 3.71 avg rating — 280 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Punk in the Gym by Andy Pollitt 3.81 avg rating — 47 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 566,528 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Extreme Frontiers: Racing Across Canada from Newfoundland to the Rockies by Charley Boorman 3.58 avg rating — 275 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Mountaineer: A Lifetime of Climbing the Great Mountains of the World by Chris Bonington 4.35 avg rating — 48 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 865,915 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Man Who Climbs Trees by James Aldred 4.16 avg rating — 566 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Race to Dakar by Charley Boorman 3.89 avg rating — 765 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Ogre: Biography of a mountain and the dramatic story of the first ascent by Doug K. Scott 3.82 avg rating — 266 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson 3.93 avg rating — 17,642 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Last Hours on Everest by Graham Hoyland (Goodreads Author) 3.77 avg rating — 433 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka by Bernadette McDonald 4.23 avg rating — 962 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest by Anatoli Boukreev 3.99 avg rating — 18,315 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Bond: Two Epic Climbs in Alaska and a Lifetime's Connection Between Climbers by Simon McCartney 4.58 avg rating — 281 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle For Survival at the South Pole by Jerri Nielsen 3.99 avg rating — 3,906 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	No Easy Way: The challenging life of the climbing taxman by Mick Fowler 4.33 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	End of the Rope: Mountains, Marriage, and Motherhood by Jan Redford (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 493 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	As You Do: Adventures with Evel, Oliver, and the Vice-President of Botswana by Richard Hammond 3.78 avg rating — 1,191 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers 3.61 avg rating — 8,185 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	West with the Night by Beryl Markham 4.15 avg rating — 40,923 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall 4.30 avg rating — 233,477 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston 3.85 avg rating — 23,645 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson 4.07 avg rating — 444,808 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride by Daniel James Brown (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 38,340 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 118,581 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Red Sky in Mourning: A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea by Tami Oldham Ashcraft 3.76 avg rating — 6,088 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei by Junko Tabei 4.55 avg rating — 234 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars