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Rating: 
Summary: I laughed out loud -- and then went to run my first marathon
Review: Being your average, near-40, near-couch potato, I loved this book. I didn't know squat about any of the sports, so I enjoyed his descriptions of what they require and some of the main events. Best of all, his writing style is seriously funny. I laughed out loud so many times that my wife wanted to read a few chapters just to see what was entertaining me so. Once I was done reading the book I decided that it really was time for me to run that marathon I'd been talking about for the last 25 years. And you know what? I did it. Thanks Michael Bane.
Rating:
Summary: Discover your own undiscovered
Review: Have you ever felt that there must be more out there than the rut or routine you are in? Ever wonder what it is like to complete something which really looks cool and exciting? This book is the story of a "middle aged" man who decided to push himself over the edge, and to see what it was like out there. In a pizza den or a bar, Michael Bane scribbled a list of 13 extreme activities that he knew nothing about, but which he was determined to do. Michael Bane takes the reader through THE LIST, through the emotions and feelings he encountered, through the sweat, the pain and the failure of achievment. If you need some additional motivation or some get-up-an-go this would be the hassle free way of starting the discovery of what you, normal person, can achieve if you really want to. On the other hand, for the couch potatoes, this would be a great way to experience a part of the Extreme Lifestyle, which you sometimes hear about, or see on TV!
Rating:
Summary: Bane is either driven or crazy
Review: I started reading "Over the Edge" the Saturday of Labor day weekend thinking that I would read it around the weekend activities and ended up not being able to put it down to the detriment of some activities. Bane draws you in and you become as obsessed with the LIST as he was. From cave diving to climbing Mt Mckinley Bane weaves an autobiography that only someone that is partly crazy could write. But the more that I read the more I started to reevaluate my life. At 51 I am no longer young enough to punish my body like he did but he has motivated me to make my own list of things that I have wanted to do in the past and always found an excuse not to do. Banes' book shows you that your only limited by your own limitations and that risk is relative to reward. "Over the Edge" gives desk jockeys like myself a new insight into the meaning of Risk. After reading Banes' book you will look at risk with a whole new perspective. A cross between story and philosophy "Over the Edge" should be read by anyone that wants to make a profound change in their life, be it loosing weight or starting the next billion dollar dotcom company.
Rating:
Summary: Bane is either driven or crazy
Review: I started reading "Over the Edge" the Saturday of Labor day weekend thinking that I would read it around the weekend activities and ended up not being able to put it down to the detriment of some activities. Bane draws you in and you become as obsessed with the LIST as he was. From cave diving to climbing Mt Mckinley Bane weaves an autobiography that only someone that is partly crazy could write. But the more that I read the more I started to reevaluate my life. At 51 I am no longer young enough to punish my body like he did but he has motivated me to make my own list of things that I have wanted to do in the past and always found an excuse not to do. Banes' book shows you that your only limited by your own limitations and that risk is relative to reward. "Over the Edge" gives desk jockeys like myself a new insight into the meaning of Risk. After reading Banes' book you will look at risk with a whole new perspective. A cross between story and philosophy "Over the Edge" should be read by anyone that wants to make a profound change in their life, be it loosing weight or starting the next billion dollar dotcom company.
Rating:
Summary: I laughed out loud -- and then went to run my first marathon
Review: I stumbled accross this book accidentally in a book shop, and I have to say it has totally changed my outlook on life. I have always been the sort of person who wanted to do crazy things like parachuting and cave diving, but was never sure if normal people like me could. After reading this book I know the only limiting factor is your own mind. All things are possible. Thank you Michael for an inspirational read. I read it through the night as I couldn't put it down. I would recomend it to anyone with a sense of adventure and a sense of humour!
Rating:
Summary: Be prepared to be inspired!
Review: Inspiring reading that makes you take a good hard look at your own list! If you can read this book without telling others about it and wondering exactly how crazy this guy is you should be signing up for your place in the Death valley Marathon!Personally I will stick to the local fun run!
Rating: 
Summary: Readable, inspiring, and NOT a good role model!
Review: The book is fairly short, extremely readable, and a good example of how NOT to do this sort of thing. The author wrote up a list of extreme sports events he wanted to experience, despite being a self-described "couch potato". Bane did several items on his "list" without anything like the proper training or preparation. The short length of the book means that a disappointingly brief chapter covers each item on the list. There's not a lot of technical or "how to do it" information in here, though I doubt many will read this book for that. I admit I'd hoped for some discussion of the boring old administrative stuff involved in setting up adventures like these. There is some discussion of his internal mental experience, and a sort of rough-and-ready sports psychology. I enjoyed the book, but it scared the bejeezus out of me that anyone would do these things this hastily! An entertaining read for armchair extreme sporters, but not much more than that.
Rating:
Summary: Readable, inspiring, and NOT a good role model!
Review: The book is fairly short, extremely readable, and a good example of how NOT to do this sort of thing. The author wrote up a list of extreme sports events he wanted to experience, despite being a self-described "couch potato". Bane did several items on his "list" without anything like the proper training or preparation. The short length of the book means that a disappointingly brief chapter covers each item on the list. There's not a lot of technical or "how to do it" information in here, though I doubt many will read this book for that. I admit I'd hoped for some discussion of the boring old administrative stuff involved in setting up adventures like these. There is some discussion of his internal mental experience, and a sort of rough-and-ready sports psychology. I enjoyed the book, but it scared the bejeezus out of me that anyone would do these things this hastily! An entertaining read for armchair extreme sporters, but not much more than that.
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: This book is an exciting and enjoyable account of how Bane challenged himself and overcame (or in some cases, didn't overcome) the challenges. Contrary to the one unfavorable review here, this isn't supposed to be a how-to book, so if the terminology about crampons is a little simplistic, it's not a fatal flaw. One of the things Bane clearly shows, especially in the later chapters on deep wreck diving, mountain climbing, and the "Iditabike" race, is that you have to be trained and prepared to do some of these things -- and not coincidentally, the ones he completes successfully are the ones for which he is best trained and in proper condition. (Even in the early chapters, he doesn't actually attempt to run the entire Death Valley ultra-marathon.) A major theme of the book is that learning process and interaction with instructors. This book may not inspire you to climb Mt. Denali, but it may make you want to get off your duff and learn the skills to take on some challenges in your life!
Rating: 
Summary: Worst outdoor sports book ever written
Review: This is a really excellent book about extreme sports. Being 38 myself and rushing towards the mystical 40 years and middle age I really found this book to be capable of giving me a new focus on life. Last year in a fit of "I can't stand this work any more" I went up to Nottingham for a week (and a number of extra days to make up for the weather) to the British Parachute School at Langar where I took the accelerated freefall training course. I completed the course and am now a qualified skydiver. The last qualifying jump required a solo exit from the aircraft at 13500 ft, a backloop, swoop, right and left 360? turns and after 50 seconds and 9000 feet of freefall, a four minute canopy ride to the ground. As a result I have to admit I am totally hooked on this adrenaline stuff. There is no way without the encouragement of this book that I would have done this. Even if, like Michael, you are a couch potato reading this book will put you right up there with him!
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