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Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival | 
 enlarge | Author: Joe Simpson
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  138 reviews
Sales Rank: 10127
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0060730552
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.522092
EAN: 9780060730550
ASIN: 0060730552
Publication Date: January 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Slight warping. Spine ok. ACCEPTABLE with noted wear to cover and pages. Binding intact. May contain highlighting, inscriptions or notations. We offer a no hassle guarantee on all our items. Orders are generally shipped no later than next business day. We offer a no hassle gu
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Concise and yet packed with detail, Touching the Void, Joe Simpson's harrowing account of near-death in the Peruvian Andes, is a compact tour de force that wrestles with issues of bravery, friendship, physical endurance, the code of the mountains, and the will to live. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, Simon Yates, and to "those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned." What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few or none have gone before? Simpson's vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. As the author struggles ever higher, readers learn of the mountain's awesome power, the beautiful--and sometimes deadly--sheets of blue glacial ice, and the accomplishment of a successful ascent. And then catastrophe: the second half of Touching the Void sees Simpson at his darkest moment. With a smashed, useless leg, he and his partner must struggle down a near-vertical face--and that's only the beginning of their troubles.
Product Description
Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000-foot peak in the Andes when disaster struck. Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking his leg. In the hours that followed, darkness fell and a blizzard raged as Yates tried to lower his friend to safety. Finally, Yates was forced to cut the rope, moments before he would have been pulled to his own death. The next three days were an impossibly grueling ordeal for both men. Yates, certain that Simpson was dead, returned to base camp consumed with grief and guilt over abandoning him. Miraculously, Simpson had survived the fall, but crippled, starving, and severely frostbitten was trapped in a deep crevasse. Summoning vast reserves of physical and spiritual strength, Simpson crawled over the cliffs and canyons of the Andes, reaching base camp hours before Yates had planned to leave. How both men overcame the torments of those harrowing days is an epic tale of fear, suffering, and survival, and a poignant testament to unshakable courage and friendship.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 133 more reviews...
 Edge of your seat April 29, 2008
Even though I obviously knew he would live through the experience, I found myself on the edge of my seat hoping he would make it. A good story-teller telling an incredible story.
 (4.5 stars) Absolutely unforgettable - Not just for adventurers March 10, 2008
As many other reviewers have said, the subtitle of this book is true: the story is indeed miraculous. The book is a quick read, and the terror, desolation and troubling moral questions of the experience are palpable. I found myself squirming and uncomfortable at several points, and this is due mainly to Joe Simpson's talent as a writer.
It must be said that it is apparent that this is Simpson's first book, and this is why I deducted half a star. There is the occasional awkward sentence, and the book ends on a pretty weak poker analogy. Still, he displays a great clarity of insight throughout that easily overcomes these small problems. His craft may be in the fledgling stage here, but Simpson clearly possesses a writer's mind; he is able to clearly articulate complex ideas and emotions in a very immediate, engaging way.
I would hope people don't dismiss this as a book for climbers or outdoor adventurers. The story, as well as Simpson's writing, definitely transcends this narrow category and becomes a universal story of perseverance, moral ambiguity and courage. There is quite a bit of technical description of climbing here--which is absolutely essential to telling the story properly--but as someone who knows very little about climbing, it was not a hindrance to me at all. If you've seen even a few pictures of mountains, or caught a few minutes of climbing on the Discovery Channel, a quick read through the short glossary is all you need..you will find that things like cornices, abseiling, etc. are easy enough to visualize.
By the time you finish this book, you will be astonished. Joe Simpson's torturous ordeal, as well as Simon Yates' battle with his conscience over cutting Joe free, make for a terrifying and moving story. It's worthwhile to follow the book up with the excellent movie.
Quick and Amazing Read March 7, 2008
I read this book and could hardly believe what I was reading. It only took me one night to read this because I was so captured by the adventure.
Great quick read about making choices and having good luck on ones side.
It's a wonder November 23, 2007
Touching the Void begins with the story of Simpson and Yates's ambition to bag a Peruvian peak and, honestly, they come off a little cavalier about the whole adventure. The climb starts out well enough, and the pair gains a lot of confidence as they ascend. About halfway through the expedition, though, a terrible misstep by Simpson renders his leg useless and Simpson and Yates have to figure out how to cope with the descent. Eventually, Yates perceives Simpson to be lost and proceeds to base camp alone. With sheer will and survival instinct, Simpson also makes it out alive (obviously - we are reading his book) and his story is amazing. Knowing the basic plot outline does not take away from the book - it is not about what happened per se, but how where one man would have died, another survives. It is about what goes on in the mind of a man who is left in a dire situation, and in the mind of his partner, who did all he could to save him. Simpson's narrative is simply incredible, and while reading it, I felt like I was right there with him. A lot is added from Yate's short contribution, too. This book is an excellent addition to a "mountaineering library" or for anyone interested in the human condition at extremes.
Perseverance Pays Off November 16, 2007
In Touching the Void, Joe and Simon struggle to stay alive as they fight their way through extreme weather conditions while rock climbing. After a near death situation that left Joe with a broken leg they now must work together to climb down the mountain safely, until about halfway down another disaster strikes which separates the two friends.
Could you imagine crawling down a mountain, with a broken leg, all alone? You try to turn on your headlamp but the light just flickers and instantly goes out as you try to make your way through the pitch black night. You feel lost and ready to give up when that voice comes in your head that won't let you quit and tells you to keep going. Joe never gives up as he hangs on to his last chance of hope....and finally he is rewarded.
I would definitely recommend this book as it kept me interested the whole time. This book shows perseverance and the will to survive, which keeps you in suspense and makes you want to keep reading. It shows that you should hang on to every last chance you might have, as the unthinkable can happen. I admire the characters in this book as I remember how they never gave up and kept fighting, I now think of them when I am about to give up something. Overall, this book is exciting and will give you a better understanding of what it means to persevere and never give up.
Jake J
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