John Long (1) (1953–)

One of my favourite books. These are mostly first-hand tales of people who have been where you will never go, and done things you would never do even if you did. You might one day visit Denali (Mt McKinley) in Alaska. Would you try and climb it? Unlikely. In winter? No. By yourself?? Get lost.

Story after story of ridiculous exploits totally beyond the realm of our experience and even comprehension. Any time you're feeling satisfied with some achievement, compare yourself against these guys show more and realise the total insignificance of everything you've ever done. A total perspective vortex, if you will. show less

Not a whitewater paddler myself, so I'm not sure I can fully appreciate the stories. And not all of them are memorable, I presume. But two or three indeed manage to get the thrill, danger and motivation across, even to a lake and sea kayaker (especially the last two!).

I love this little book and keep it by my computer or bedside for random inspiration as I pursue my writing - professional and personal. The quotes aren't just poignant but also practical. Example One: "Turn over parts of yourself that scream to be left alone." Example Two: "The relevancy of a word is not its history, but its face value in current usage. There are also quotes included from writers such as Coleridge, E.B. White and Jacob Bronowski.

Required reading for any climber. Setting decent anchors is far from intuitive even for experienced climbers, and this book helps a lot.