Editorial Review
Four years ago, a twenty-one-year-old soldier in the British Army named Bear Grylls was flying over an African desert on a routine parachute jump. He had a lot to look forward to - a long career ahead of him in the Army, a beautiful girlfriend back home. But those dreams were cut short when his parachute failed to open at eleven thousand feet.
He had cracked three vertebrae and come within a fraction of severing his spinal cord, which would have paralyzed him for life. A grueling eight months of physical therapy followed. Bear had to retrain his muscles to do all of the things we take for granted - how to sit, stand, walk, even breathe.
Bear endured over seventy days on Everest's southeast face. Eighteen months after his accident, at the age of twenty-three, he overcame extreme weather conditions and months of limited sleep to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain.
The Kid Who Climbed Everest is a tale of courage, perseverance, and determination, and climbing the world's tallest mountain is only half of this remarkable story. Bear's quest for funding for his expedition (including an unannounced raid for sponsorship money at the mansion-home of the president of Virgin Airways, Richard Branson), his seventy days on Everest's southeast face, and a narrow brush with death after a fall into a crevasse at nineteen thousand feet make the story of the youngest Englishman to climb Everest an essential read for anyone who's ever had a dream and made it come true.
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Customer Reviews
Outstanding Tale by an Outstanding Human Being. 
2008-05-29
I have just finished TKWCE and I am totally blown away. I have been a fan of Bear Grylls ever since I saw my first episode of Man vs. Wild and this book has elevated him greatly in my eyes. He is a man to be admired.
Bear's storytelling style made the entire book sound as though it was his interior monologue from Man vs. Wild which made for a quick and entertaining read. As a military man myself as well as an amateur mountaineer, I had no trouble identifying with Bear and his team as he described the pain, fear, exhaustion, and sense of adventure intrinsic to an assault on Mt. Everest. I enjoyed the humor, humility, and introspection throughout the book.
Obviously since Bear wrote this at age 23, it is not Into Thin Air as many previous reviewers have mentioned. However, I enjoyed it a great deal more than ITA as Krakauer had a MUCH different climb and was surrounded by a great deal more controversy than Bear Grylls. Additionally, I think that the editor should be roundly thrashed for merely spellchecking and submitting the manuscript to the publisher!
For somebody new to mountaineering or in the lower age bracket, this is a great book to start you off into Mountain Literature. It is not the flowing epic of Into Thin Air by Krakauer, nor is it the intensity driven, nihilistic assault of Kiss or Kill by Twight. This book is very simply about "A Kid" with a young man's perspective and worldview talking about scaling Everest. Bear makes no secret of the fact that he is a church going man, true, so if that turns you off, this might not be the book for you. However, all would do well to remember that there are no atheists on battlefields,...or in deserts,...or across oceans,...and certainly not on mountaintops!
Great Adventure 2008-04-06
Read the book in 2 days, I could not put it down. Exciting, dramatic, laws of brotherhood and courage. I have always been into mountain climbing (never been at high altitudes) and pushing myself to the limit and farther and this book is just a reminder to never give up until you have made it home. Great motivator--5 out of 5
Awesome adventure! 2008-03-11
I watch Bear on his show Man vs Wild and so I wanted to learn more about him. I learned a lot about Everest and its relationship to the people who climb it. Bear wrote in a journal-like format, and I loved that! I felt like I was there with him going through this experience too. It has inspired me to take up hiking. The man is amazing and I want to read more of his experiences. I definitely recommend this book.
John 2008-02-29
Great book. 5 stars from me.
The editor should be fired though. I think all he did was run spell check and loaded it into the press.
Excellent Book! 2008-02-14
An excellent book. Bear Grylls recounts his experience starting with his overwhelming desire to raise the funds to climb Mount Everest, his training in order to fulfill his dream and then the ultimate struggle for survival in climbing the world's tallest peak. I admire Bear for not only recovering from a parachuting accident that should have claimed his life (and indeed broke his back) but for having the sheer willpower and determination to face his fears and scale Mount Everest. I almost felt like I was on the mountain with him as he describes his treachorous accent.
A great story and fascinating adventure read. 
2008-02-11
Four years ago, a twenty-one-year-old soldier in the British Army named Bear Grylls was flying over an African desert on a routine parachute jump. He had a lot to look forward to - a long career ahead of him in the Army, a beautiful girlfriend back home. But those dreams were cut short when his parachute failed to open at eleven thousand feet.
He had cracked three vertebrae and come within a fraction of severing his spinal cord, which would have paralyzed him for life. A grueling eight months of physical therapy followed. Bear had to retrain his muscles to do all of the things we take for granted - how to sit, stand, walk, even breathe.
Bear endured over seventy days on Everest's southeast face. Eighteen months after his accident, at the age of twenty-three, he overcame extreme weather conditions and months of limited sleep to reach the summit of the world's tallest mountain.
The Kid Who Climbed Everest is a tale of courage, perseverance, and determination, and climbing the world's tallest mountain is only half of this remarkable story. Bear's quest for funding for his expedition (including an unannounced raid for sponsorship money at the mansion-home of the president of Virgin Airways, Richard Branson), his seventy days on Everest's southeast face, and a narrow brush with death after a fall into a crevasse at nineteen thousand feet make the story of the youngest Englishman to climb Everest an essential read for anyone who's ever had a dream and made it come true.
Outstanding book 2008-01-18
This is one of my favorite books. If you like Bear Grylls or Mt. Everest you will certainly like this book. It gives you an understanding of what it is like on the mountain.
Haven't Read Book Yet 
2008-01-07
I bought this book for my husband for Christmas. It arrived in a timely manner, and I read the first page. It seemed interesting. He hasn't had time to read it yet, so we can't comment.
Great Read! 2008-01-06
Exciting story. Kept me interested throughout the whole read. Enjoyed it very much and would very much recommend this book.
man vs. wild 2007-12-03
We love Bear Grylls. Excellent - arrived fast. Very pleased. Description was accurate and was delivered as described
