Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. On September 20, 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash, and the nation held its breath. On the Edge is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his year of recovery, full of drama and incident. It is also, perhaps, his explanation of why, as a married man and father of two young daughters, he was prepared to risk all by strapping himself to the front of a jet engine with the power of eleven Formula One cars. A daredevil and a petrolhead long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life as an adrenalin junkie, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear, one of the world's most popular shows, upgrading his car with each step up the ladder. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and, of course, the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear, driving a jet-powered dragster at speeds over 300mph, that a tyre burst and the car left the track and rolled over, burying him in the earth. He was airlifted to hospital and hovered near death for several days. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed, leaving him sometimes lucid and plausible, sometimes confused and angry, and often exhausted. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.
On The Edge: My Story
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"Stuffed with his unique wit on just about everything to do with motoring." --"Ladsmag, " on Richard Hammond's "Car Confidential"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Gripping account by Richard Hammond of life before and after his terrifying high-speed car crash - abridged for young adults.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By MorganaNK
Format:Hardcover
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, after all, with all the press coverage you would think that you knew pretty much everything that there was to know about "The Hamster" and his accident on the 20th September 2006. However I was surprised and incredibly moved. The brutal honesty with which both Richard and Mindy described what they went through during that difficult time was compulsive if sometimes a little uncomfortable reading, and once I started the book I couldn't put it down. I ended up reading it in one sitting and am not ashamed to say that at times it reduced me to tears.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Casper
Format:Hardcover
I got this book on Saturday morning, started reading it on Saturday afternoon and finished Sunday morning. It is very well written and keeps you engaged all the way through. It is the true story of "That Crash" and The Hamsters remarkable recovery. There are some very touching moments that will make you laugh and cry. I chuckled at the picture of Richard Hammond sitting on the floor of his hospital room playing with lego, not only with his children, but with his grown up serious brothers, wonderful. It certainly turns that cocky little motoring journalist that we all know and love, into a much more three dimensional character. The idea that Richard Hammond could be reduced to a gibbering wreck at the thought of meeting strangers was very thought provoking. I also wanted to rage at the intrusive press who besieged his home and forced him and his family to take refuge in remote Scotland. They can't even respect the privacy of one of their own when they most need it. He gives us access to the all emotions he experienced, whether it be as father son or spouse and the doubts and fears regarding assuming those roles in everyday life again. I hope that one day when they are older, his brave little daughters read this book, and realize what truly remarkable parents they have. Thank you for the book Richard, and Mindy thank you for sharing your Richard with us.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For a couple to go into so much depth about their most personal moments is very brave, Richard and Mindy Hammond have done so with great dignity. I enjoyed this book very much because I knew that the ending was a happy one, but the book takes you through so much it is sometimes hard to remember that fact. I hope it really does help families going through similar trouble.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, insightful, interesting read on Richard and his brain injury.
A brilliant insight into Richard and the devastating effects of a brain injury. Having suffered a bad concussion myself(not in a jet car and less serious! Read more
Published 10 days ago by Susanne McCabe
1.0 out of 5 stars
Groan
Oh my goodness, this is tedious. Chosen for my book club-WHY WHY WHY?
I'd give it no stars if I could. That's a couple of hours of my life I won't get back.
Ferrari? Read more
I'd give it no stars if I could. That's a couple of hours of my life I won't get back.
Ferrari? Read more
Published 20 days ago by Nom de plume
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than Clarkson
Much better than Clarkson. Christmas present for my son who says tjhat Hammond is far more interesting than he thought.
Published 1 month ago by Diana Longshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
I read this book after a friend wrote holding on for dear life and mentioned this book. I fantastic read, giving a clear insight into how brain injury can affect the whole family... Read more
Published 2 months ago by gizmo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely worth a read!
I bought this book as I was going away for a week and thought it would have lasted me the time we were away. How wrong was I? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. A. Barr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Read
Great detailed account of where it all went wrong for Richard Hammond and his recovery from his accident. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Middy2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
emotional and gripping
Ok so you already no the outcome but his description of events coupled with his wife's view on how events were unfolding keeps you in a strange suspense and the love they have for... Read more
Published 11 months ago by campbellblade
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliantly emotional
I loved this book & the way Richard & his wife Mindy give such an emotional, honest insight into their life & the difficult time of Richard's accident.
Published 14 months ago by Cheryl
4.0 out of 5 stars
On the Edge
Weeeeelllll It would be interesting to hear how he gets on ....... It's a personalish account of how he came to do what he does and a little insight into how the brain injury... Read more
Published 19 months ago by E. Eldridge
5.0 out of 5 stars
On the Edge Richard Hammond
This is an autobiography, and is absolutely brilliant. I have other autobiographies that are very difficult to read, but this one you will never want to put it down.
Published on 9 May 2011 by musical1954
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