Bear Grylls

Man vs. Wild: Season 2
$24.98
Discovery Channel is planing to have some real wilderness survival experts on in the 2010 season. I will believe it when I see it.

Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques from the Most Dangerous Places on Earth
$26.99
I tried to read the whole book but just couldn't stomach it so I ended up skimming through. One interesting thing to note is that the book often contradicts what he has presented on the show. I suppose that fact does make it worthy of a single star. I've been studying survival skills for many years and the information given on his show is ludicrous to be generous. The book does contradict much of this info but there is constantly some sort of excuse provided to justify his ridiculous behavior. Aside from the bad advice on the show there are also subtle clues that indicate that Mr. Grylls really doesn't know much about basic survival skills. For those who doubt this it can be easily proven. Just go online and buy yourself a ferrocerium rod (what Grylls calls a "flint). They're less than $20 and kind of a cool toy for anyone interested in this stuff. Now get yourself a bundle of dead grass and try to start a fire with the ferro rod the way Bear does. After you finally give up, get yourself a little piece of Kleenex or toilet paper and gently wad it up in the center of your grass bundle, where no one can see it, and try again. Presto; now doesn't that look like something you've seen before? Of course the point here is that if someone can't even perform basic survival skills without "cheating" then how on Earth could that person be qualified to write a survival book? I suspect the book was ghost written with Grylls' sappy comments added in latter. If you're the kind of person who is motivated by pseudo inspirational comments given by someone who is probably just making the stuff up, then this probably would be an ok book for you. But if you're into serious survival skills I would definitely pass because of all of the extra drivel. Finally if you're expecting a book offering advice on how to cross a ravine with an old rope you found under a rock, held in place on one end with an old bone and on the other end with a homemade, scrap metal "grappling hook", you are going to be disappointed and should just stick to watching the show.

Man vs Wild: Season Three
$24.98
I definitely enjoyed the season. I was hoping that the episode with Will Farrell was going to be in it but to my dismay, i will have to wait for the next season. there was a little bit of stagnancy in the situations Bear had to face. a lot of the situations that were left for him didn't pan out as unexpected. must say that the bee-sting in the face on the salt pans was a test of endurance. made it through just as the WILDMAN always does. this season is definitely a good addition to the collection.

The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest
$16.95
I love the show "Man vs. Wild." The star of the show is Bear Grylls. As I was looking through the local book store, I noticed this book by Bear about climbing Everest. I love two things, Bear's survival in the harsh conditions and Everest stories. It seemed like a book I would love. The book starts with a little background information. Bear (which is a nickname) was in Britain's special forces. But an accident in which bear was parachuting out of the plane, and his parachute did not open completely and he broke his back; this caused him to get out of the military. He was doing little until he was asked to climb Everest. This was his motivation to start life again. The book journeys into the heart of the high country. This is dangerous territory, and a unforgiving landscape. The account is interesting and scary at times. There are close calls, sickness, and weather that is going to stop everything. But in the end, Bear makes it. He was the youngest Briton to do so. Though I might never climb Everest, these books always provide for me some powerful inspiration to climb the mountains that I travel. Bear is the man!