Bear Grylls - Mud, Sweat and Tears

[AimlessWanderer]

I know there's plenty on here who don't hold this guy in the highest regard or at least in respect of his TV shows, but I'm now over halfway through reading his autobiography.

So far I have found this to be a really good read, accessible but not patronising, and quite a humble account of himself really without being artificially self-depricating. There's been a few laugh out loud moments for me too. Though probably not intentional at all, there's some insights there of why his style of TV show is the way it is in respect of his character ... in my mind at least.

I've not got as far as him starting his TV career yet, so not sure what his comments will be around that, and whether he'll make comment regarding other peoples comments    I'm quite enjoying reading about what Edward (Bear is a nickname from his sister, which he prefers to his "stuffy" real name) has to say about himself

[AimlessWanderer]

I've sprained my back somehow this week, and seeing as I can't do much useful stuff today (spent a lot of it just laid flat on the floor trying to straighten my spine out) I managed to finish the book. I think he did a good job of answering the haters, not that any of them will change their minds  ... and he lives on a boat ... didn't know that.

Regardless of what you think of his TV shows I thought this was a good read on the whole. The stuff about the Everest expedition was ... Don't read it expecting to find out what jobs he did in the Special Forces though, it ain't in there  He doesn't come across as all "superhero" either. Just an average (he uses that word a lot) bloke who is very determined and got lucky ... several times.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm trying to snag a copy of it now- I hadn't realized it was out yet.  I'm interested in reading it, especially since I was under the impression that SAS members were forbidden (or at least greatly discouraged) to write about their exploits- or does he gloss over his time in the SAS?

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

He describes what he can about the selection process, but there are elements of that he cannot reveal. As for his actual career in the forces - nope, that topic is off limits. He clearly states he cannot reveal anything about some of the training and endurance (such as resistance to interrogation), nor about any of the "jobs" he did.

He describes his life up to that point, as much as he can (peripheral stuff mainly in the public domain already) about the selection and his own experience of it, breaking his back in three places in a parachuting accident, the Everest expedition, and gives a flavour of his perspective of life after that point (I'm being intentionally vague to avoid ruining it for anyone who wants to read it). It's a nice comfortable read that isn't too "heavy", and it's almost written as if you're sat having a pint with him. I enjoyed it 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just finished the Hunger Games trilogy last night and was wondering what to read next. I now have a copy of this one and problem solved!

Thanks for the heads up!

Def

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[sergemaster]

Amici,
If you really want a good read and like non-fiction, pick up, "Missing 411: The unexplained disappearances of ordinary people in North America" by David Paulides. His research uncovered so much information of folks disappearing while hiking or backpacking from National and state Parks all over the the US and Canada, he had to break it down into to separate volumes, one for the western US and Canada, the other the Eastern US and Canada. Absolutely unbelievable..

Cheers,
Serge

[Grant Lamontagne]

Looking through this book I saw there was like a hundred chapters and I thought it would be a good long read. Then I realized its less than a hundred pages, which means each chapter is only a few pages long, and really aren't in places where chapter breaks should logically be.  That seems kind of silly to me, but I'm enjoying the book so far.

Def

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[Mercury]

I look forward to reading this one as well.  I'm one of the few Bear fans I know of, he is really entertaining to watch IMHO.  While I take his show with a grain of salt(some of that stuff is just not smart for the average hiker) I do enjoy watching it.

[AimlessWanderer]

Def, I'd agree with that. It's written in a very "bite size" way. Remarkably easy to read for a biography.

Sean, it's definitely "look at that nutter!" TV rather than an educational "how to" series  (and he comments on that in the book too    )

[Mercury]

Def, I'd agree with that. It's written in a very "bite size" way. Remarkably easy to read for a biography.

Sean, it's definitely "look at that nutter!" TV rather than an educational "how to" series  (and he comments on that in the book too    )

That's what I think at least.  I HATE seeing negative comments about how crazy he is or how irresponsible some of his tips are.  Of COURSE it's a retarded idea to pole vault down a mountain, but would you rather watch that or watch him stroll down the bunny slope? 

His show does provide good descriptions of Danger though, and I like that.  The solutions he provides are a bit nuts, but that's the fun.  If you go hiking and all you have to go on is "Man Vs Wild" episodes, your stupid arse is gonna die.  If you wanna learn the right way, read a book or three and shut up about Bear and Les. 

The problem is, at least here in the states, the public wants to watch the most crazy, "Oh no he didn't!!" crap on TV, then they criticize it as if they were experts. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah! Can you imagine how rivetting the show would be if he started out an episode by saying that he'd told somone exactly in advance where he was going, he'd got plenty of spare water and food and a space blanket, and then they filmed him for an hour sitting in one place merrily whittling on a stick waiting for help to arrive 

 

[Mercury]

Yeah! Can you imagine how rivetting the show would be if he started out an episode by saying that he'd told somone exactly in advance where he was going, he'd got plenty of spare water and food and a space blanket, and then they filmed him for an hour sitting in one place merrily whittling on a stick waiting for help to arrive 

 

 

 Or if he took plenty of spare food and water, maybe even a small alcohol stove, and we watched him set up a campfire and cook a freezedried MRE for himself. 

No.  I wanna watch bear eat that walnut that was in some bear crap, because it's gross and edutaining.  I wanna see him throw rocks at pine cones to get at some pine nuts, but most of all I want to watch him make a spear with his knife( very  ) and spear a live trout, then eat it raw.  Man card!!

[Grant Lamontagne]

While I've really not got much against Bear and I've never really watched his show, I do find the concept interesting.  To be honest though, I have not really ever been a huge fan of Les Stroud's either.  Not that I have anything against him either, I just don't watch much TV and therefore never really watched their shows.  When I do watch TV it's to be entertained by Mythbuster explosions, Family Guy or South Park style potty humor or Big Bang Theory type "Nerds getting pretty girls" type sci fi.... 

Still, I found this pic funny as hell:



Regardless of what you think of which of these guys, this is just funny!

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

  Very 

[Frankctz]

Good to see that its a good read, at least its an enjoying book.
I will buy it and read.
Thanks

[dks]

  passaround anybody??

There is an economic crisis going on, you know!

[Mercury]

passaround anybody??

There is an economic crisis going on, you know!

+1 

[AimlessWanderer]

Count me out, I never get chance to get to the post office. I've got a huge box of chocolate covered kendal mint cake at work destined to got to mvyrmnd in Oz ... and I'll be lucky to get it there by the best before date at this rate 

[dks]

Count me out, I never get chance to get to the post office. I've got a huge box of chocolate covered kendal mint cake at work destined to got to mvyrmnd in Oz ... and I'll be lucky to get it there by the best before date at this rate 

Not very fond of passarounds then ?

I am sure we will all be able to get the book and read it at some point. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Count me out, I never get chance to get to the post office. I've got a huge box of chocolate covered kendal mint cake at work destined to got to mvyrmnd in Oz ... and I'll be lucky to get it there by the best before date at this rate 

Not very fond of passarounds then ?

I am sure we will all be able to get the book and read it at some point. 

Not fond of making promises I cant keep and letting people down, and I've been avoiding trades for a while for this reason  otherwise I'd do it 

[dks]

Count me out, I never get chance to get to the post office. I've got a huge box of chocolate covered kendal mint cake at work destined to got to mvyrmnd in Oz ... and I'll be lucky to get it there by the best before date at this rate 

Not very fond of passarounds then ?

I am sure we will all be able to get the book and read it at some point. 

Not fond of making promises I cant keep and letting people down, and I've been avoiding trades for a while for this reason  otherwise I'd do it 

No worries mate. We all know it was not in any way your fault. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm about halfway through the book and I am enjoying it quite a bit.  Regardless of what you think of the guy, he has had an interesting life so far, and I'm only up to him trying to pass the SAS selection process.

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

Glad to hear you're enjoying it too.

I found it quite easy to seperate BG the author from BG the bloke on the telly, and I feel he puts himself across really well

[Grant Lamontagne]

Having never really watched his show I really only am familiar with his reputation.  I knew a few things about him already, like his SAS training and broken back but it's completely different to hear him talk about them than just knowing the cold facts.

It's a really good read.

Def

[bushidomosquito]

When I do watch TV it's to be entertained by Mythbuster explosions, Family Guy or South Park style potty humor or Big Bang Theory type "Nerds getting pretty girls" type sci fi.... 

Sounds like you have good taste in TV. That's my exact lineup ever since House ended.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I never watched House- or any other hospital drama type show.  And very few other drama shows.  I tried watching Boardwalk Empire with my wife and I really didn't care for it, but I stuck with it as there are so few things we do together these days that it seemed like I should make the effort.

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

House is great. All I'd watch on telly (when I had one) was House and the BBC news channel. They were the two least boring/annoying things being broadcast at the time 

Then I started getting the House box sets as I was missing episodes, and it wasn't long before I decided having a telly was pointless. That was about 3 or 4 years ago. I think I've got up Series 2 to 6 on box set, and it's probably time I started looking for Series 7

[nuphoria]

I've always thought of Bear as more, Suds, Sheets and Beers

I know he has fans here.... sorry!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I finally finished this book and it was actually an enjoyable read.  Regardless of what one thinks of him, the man has had some interesting experiences and I found it interesting to see what makes him tick.

I've still never seen his show though...

Def

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[turnsouth]

I've still never seen his show though...

Def