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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
Buy New: $13.12
You Save: $1.83 (12%)
New (4) Used (9) from $10.92
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 67160
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revis
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7
ASIN: B00066R4T8
Publication Date: December 31, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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.
Book Description
"A truly astounding account of suffering and fortitude."
--The Times (London) 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 hopped, hobbled, and crawled over the cliffs and canyons of the Andes, reaching the base hours before Yates had planned to break camp. How both men overcame the torments of those harrowing days is an epic tale of fear, suffering, and survival; a poignant testament to unshakable courage and friendship. "Told with lyrical quality and stunning immediacy, Touching the Void transcends its genre and becomes accessible to readers who have never had any desire to climb a glacier."
--New York Newsday "A gripping narrative that should excite armchair adventurers everywhere."
--Cleveland Plain Dealer "Simpson touches a nerve of the mountaineering community and the hearts of others."
--Los Angeles Times "Riveting, even compulsive reading."
--Minneapolis Star Tribune
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| Customer Reviews:
 EXTREME ADVENTURE IN THE PERUVIAN ANDES... March 25, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
An amazing tale of courage, fortitude, and a desire to live, despite dire circumstances. The author, Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, ascend a perilous section of the Peruvian Andes. Near the summit, tragedy strikes when Joe, up over 19,000 feet, falls and hits a slope at the base of a cliff, breaking his right leg, rupturing his right knee, and shattering his right heel. Beneath him is a seemingly endless fall to the bottom. Simon reaches him but knows that the chances for Joe to get off the mountain are virtually non-existent. Yet, they fashion a daring plan to to do just that.
For the next few hours, through a snow storm, they work in tandem, and manage a risky, yet effective way of trying to lower Joe down the mountain. About three thousand feet down, Joe who is still roped to Simon, drops off an edge, and finds himself now free hanging in space six feet away from an ice wall, unable to reach it with his axe. The edge is over hung about fifteen feet above him. The dark outline of a crevasse lies about a hundred feet directly below him.
Joe couldn't get up, and Simon couldn't get down. In fact, Joe's weight began to pull Simon off the mountain. So, Simon was finally forced to do the only thing he could do under the circumstances. He cut the rope, believing that he was consigning his friend to certain death. Therein lies the tale.
What happens next is sure to make one believe in miracles.
Harrowing Story Of Heroism And Survival February 15, 2008
Dispite some views of other readers, I feel that this book was an amazingly detailed and heartfelt account of Joe Simpson's amazing struggle for survival and Simon Yates' unflinching support and heroism when placed in a certain death situation.
Though heavy in detail and mountaineering lingo,(which a glossary is provided in the back of the book) this book tells not only a story of climbing one of the most dangerous first accents in the Peruvian Andes but does it in a manner in which can make you feel the heartfelt passion both climbers have for their sport. This accompanied with the misery and pain that is scarily discribed, gives insight to what is common place for climbers above 20,000 ft.
This book gives and indepth look at not only the sport of mountaineering but the emotions,physical,mental, and personal pain that can be endured by the human body and will. For those who have not read this book are surely missing out on one of the greatest adventuring climbing epics of all time, and those that have, are surely not to forget.
Climb, Joe, Climb!!! January 4, 2006
7 out of 13 found this review helpful
True Story of overcoming the mind and the mountain.
Joe, and his buddy Simon, climb a mountain, a big cold mountain. Just the two of them, out in the wicked cold conditions. Me - I'd rather be home warm and snug, thank you. But, this book is about Joe.
They set off on their adventure with high hopes, of course. We get to feel the cold, the sore muscles, the wind, the rocks, the footholds, the ice screws, the rope, the clamp-ons... Every step is documented. I can feel the cold wind and numb fingers.
They reach the summit, yea! Then, on the way down, there is trouble. Oh NO!!! But, I'm not going to give it away! Will Joe and Simon make it back? Will they loose toes and fingers to frostbite? Will they run out of rope, clips, food, strength?
The book was good reading, but, I must admit, There was one point, where poor Joe was crawling, and he described every inch. And, I mean every inch. I skipped ahead 2 pages, and he was still crawling and describing every inch. (Hence, 4 stars not 5, sorry Joe!!) Aside from that tiny part, very gripping story.
Pure endurance, the fight for life, in slow motion. So cold, and somewhat disorientated, Joe is near death a few times, but he doesn't mind. He is too darn cold and tired to care. But he persists. Will it be enough? Will they get out alive?
In bed, reading this, last night, my dear hubby, Norman asked me, "So, does he make it?" I laughed, "well I think he does, sweetums, or he wouldn't have been here to write the book!"
Finished it up, and got to sleep about 3:00 this morning. It was good. But, the next true adventure book I read... I think I'll read that one about the kid that gets his arm stuck between a bolder and the cave wall. Not so darn cold!! Burrrr, wear a heavy coat when you read this one!!
sally
 Too much detail, too little pizzazz October 21, 2005
2 out of 23 found this review helpful
The problem with this book is it pales in comparison to many other adventure/survival stories, most notably another mountaineering debaucle "Into Thin Air." I'm sure if you are a climber the technical detail (ad nauseum) is riveting. If you read these stories for inspiration and to attain some insight into the thrill-seeker mind, it will be a tough 218 pages to get through.
An amazing tale of courage and endurance! August 7, 2005
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
Touching the Void will take you on an incredible journey with the author as he struggles to overcome a disasterous accident in the Peruvian Andes. From when he arrives in the area and begins with day hikes to the accident and through to the end, the author paints such a realistic picture that it easy to imagine yourself there. That makes this a hard book to put down.
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