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Touching the Void
 
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Touching the Void [Audio Download]

by Joe Simpson (Author), Stephen McGann (Narrator), Simon Chandler (Narrator)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (130 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Audio Download
  • Listening Length: 2 hours and 56 minutes
  • Program Type: Audiobook
  • Version: Abridged
  • Publisher: Random House AudioBooks
  • Audible Release Date: 12 Sep 2005
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B002SQ4YP6
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (130 customer reviews)

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Product Description

A Radio 4 Book Club Selection.

Joe Simpson, with just his partner Simon Yates, tackled the unclimbed west face of the remote 21,000 foot Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in June of 1995. But before they reached the summit, disaster struck. A few days later, Simon staggered into base camp, exhausted and frostbitten, to tell their non-climbing companion that Joe was dead.

For three days he wrestled with guilt as they prepared to return home. Then a cry in the night took them out with torches, where they found Joe, badly injured, crawling through the snowstorm in a delirium. Far from causing Joe's death, Simon had paradoxically saved his friend's life. What happened, and how they dealt with the psychological trauma that resulted when Simon was forced into the appalling decision to cut the rope, makes not only an epic of survival but a compelling testament of friendship.

©2004 Joe Simpson; (P)2004 Random House Audiobooks
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Touching the Void 23 Jan 2006
Format:Paperback
I think this is a wonderful book and I am only a teenager. Simpson gives you a detailed account of his ordeal on Siula Grande. It is one of the few books that have you looking upon life differently and consider that maybe there is more to life and death and anything in between. He tells us how terrible dying alone is and how much he longed for company on those fateful nights.
Simpson gives good descriptions on the technical side of mountaineering and the photos of Siula Grande are absolutly wonderful. I was also quite shocked to hear that Simon Yates, Simpsons climbling partner, was harshly criticised about cutting the rope, as to me it was the only option to save at least one of their lives, and as a catch22 situation, one of them or both of them was bound to die. However but got away with it and I'm sure it is something no human could ever even imagine was possible.
All in all, a superb book and I recomend it to anyone, climber or not, because I honestly could not put it down and kept re-reading it for a month.
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92 of 96 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
In 1985 two English climbers set out to climb the remote western face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. The face had repulsed several previous attempts, and despite the odds the two experienced Alpinists made the summit. It was during the descent that the author fell down a small ice cliff and broke his leg. The few paragraphs describing what happens when his climbing partner reaches him, and the descriptions of what is going through their minds and what is said and what is not said is perhaps one of the most tense things in the book. What follows is perhaps one of the most outstanding and dramatic accounts of the human will to survive ever written. Simpson wrote the book whilst recovering from his injuries and has admitted that he found reliving the ordeal painfull. Consequently he wrote the book in a very succinct fashion; he does not use ten words if he can use one, and he always chooses the words well. This book is real edge of the seat stuff, and I read it through in one night, dosed up on coffee, and turned up at work the next day babbling about the book. My advice is don't start reading it if you have work the next day. I have spoken to several other people who have read it and without exception they have found it memorable. A truly remarkable book, one you will remember for a long time. Now move the mouse to the order button !
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is addictive. You just can't leave it alone once you start it.

Although I have no head for heights, Mountains & those who pit themselves against such awesome and spectacular obstacles hold a deep fascination for me.

When Joe Simpson fell and injured himself, he was a dead man.
In such an extreme environment as the Peruvian Andes, if you can't help yourself you are doomed. Yet Joe's partner, Simon Yates, took the first of some very courageous decisions & set about extricating himself & Joe from a very precarious situation...

Such determination & the sheer guts displayed by these two men in the face of such overwhelming difficulties makes your heart soar, when set against the normal world in which most of us live.

If Gallantry, Humanity, determination to survive against and defeat an implacable foe, the indomitability of the human spirit despite the frailty of it's physical shell are the qualities that inspire you then read this and be uplifted.

Joe Simpson & Simon Yates faced their demons together and alone, fought them and defeated them. I wish them well.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dire
one of the WORST books ever, i couldnt even bring myself to read all the way through it, absolute rubbish, completely fake story, unless you want to be bored senseless do not buy... Read more
Published 7 days ago by AVFC
A book that will devide its readers
Because this book is based on true story, it makes you question yourself: "What would you do in the same situation? Read more
Published 1 month ago by EcO
Remind me never to climb mountains!
I thoroughly recommend this book. Well-written and absorbing. Mountaineers are clearly undertaking a hugely dangerous expedition, however the courage both men reveal, Joe in... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Freddie
Fab read.
Great read, a must have for anyone who enjoys factual books. This is a fantastic insight into one mans strength and courage that keeps you gripped from start to finish.
Published 2 months ago by legodaft
Gripping true story of a mans determination to survive.
I found this book highly enjoyable to read. It isn't a huge book and it maintains interest with ease. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dave Bulley
Touching The Void Review
I think this is a marvellous and truly fantastic book of roughly 200 pages.This is a true story of a mountain expedition on Siula Grande where two British partners take risks... Read more
Published 3 months ago by AndyNibs
Touching the Void
This is the best book I have ever read. It is a brilliantly written book about an amazing escape in the mountains. I thought that the book was much better than the film. Read more
Published 6 months ago by James Fleming
An especially inspiring read
This book is well written and inspiring. These survival stories are always so much better when the subject is the author and that's the same for this book, with broken limbs and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by D. J. PITT
an absolute classic
This is easily one of the best books i have ever read. There is never a dull moment throughout. Great stuff.
Published 9 months ago by Chris
Good holiday book
not much to add as there are already extensive reviews. A good read - think I'll try and track down the film. Wasn't quite as 'heart stopping' as I'd been led to believe
Published 9 months ago by Marc Warburton
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