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Summary: Joe has passion!
Review: Joe Simpson has the drive and heart of a lion. I could not put the book down. I read it cover to cover. An amazing account of someone pushing the limits! The stark truth of the mental strenght needed for the sport of Mountaineering.If you like to climb or are just interested, this book will give you some perspective on the extreme edges of this great sport.
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Summary: Heart Wrenching!
Review: Racing throught the last chapter on a crowded commuter train out of London - I was on the verge of tears and almost missed my stop. I would recommend this book to anybody, it's not just for people interested in adventure and climbing. It's truely outstanding.
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Summary: Absolutely Incredible!
Review: My heart pounded wildly, my muscles tensed, my hands sweated, and I could not put this book down. I felt awe, fear, frustration, sorrow, and a great deal of sympathy. The writing is descriptive and amazingly personal. This is not a book one can wander through haphazardly. Each step must be paid close attention to and every movement through the book is carefully guided by the horrific events explained therin. Simply one of the finest books I have ever had the immense pleasure to read...that is to say...to LIVE through!
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Summary: For climbers, by a climber
Review: A great story, perhaps not a great literary work, but captivating enough. My impression was that this book was written by Joe Simpson as part of a cathartic process of sorts, to deal with the trauma of the experience. Scathing reviews such as that of lazza are completely misguided, as this book wasn't written for such an audience. If you are interested in the extremes of mountain climbing and want a little insight or perhaps inspiration, then this modern mountaineering classic is the book for you. Otherwise, you may still find it to be a gripping read, but don't expect delicately crafted prose.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This is, quite simply, the greatest mountaineering book ever written.
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Summary: 'stupid is, as stupid does'..
Review: Reading 'Touching the Void' by Joe Simpson I was left with some very strong impressions, most of which are probably not what the author intended. Firstly, the book is full of jargon not used outside of the niche world of climbers; I found myself looking up many words in the dictionary (hint to Simpson: how about having a glossary in the next edition of the book?). Secondly, the book reads like nothing more than a collection of glib diary entries. Fine for the likes of Anne Frank, but this book would have been a better if written by someone else (hint to Simpson: climbing mountains and writing books don't mix). Lastly, I am ASTOUNDED at how such an obviously intelligent man like Joe Simpson got himself into such a horrific mess climbing a mountain ... with the end result he is left with injuries he'll live (and suffer) with the rest of his life. I did NOT get the feeling "gee Joe, you're one helluva survivor". You shouldn't have gotten into the life-threatening situation in the first place. For those who haven't guessed, this book is the real-life adventure of Joe Simpson as he and a friend climb an icy peak in South America. Even though both individuals have climbing experience, both acted wrecklessly (IMHO) whilst on the climb. Joe suffers a serious fall and, no doubt enduring pain that perhaps only a holocaust victim can relate to, manages to make it back on his own. Inspiring? No doubt for some, but not so for this reader. Bottom line: the book delivers both "how not to climb mountains" and "never, EVER give up" messages. Unfortunately it is not well-written. Perhaps best left to climbers and, more so, wannable climbers.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing & Hard to Follow
Review: Although this book kept me on the edge of my seat, I was very bored just waiting for the ACCIDENT to happen (~p. 63 of paperback). The descriptions of the terrain, etc. were confusing, even with helpful glossary in the back. Joe's agony seemed to go on and on (intentional & effective), but I also couldn't wait until the end, which was extremely abruptive & disappointing. I wonder when the Postscript was added; it helped somewhat, but was not enough for me to be satisfied with this book. I only hope the best for Joe, (didn't care for Simon's attitude), but there are better mountain-climbing adventures out there.
Rating: 
Summary: A will to survive
Review: This is an incredible story of one man's determination to survive after a terrifying climbing accident in the Andes. However,I find the recap of his experiences rather empty. I cannot imagine being this desperate for survival without some kind of spiritual awaking. Instead, Simpson continually unleashes a string of curses for his bad luck. Additionally, after surviving, there is no mention of his recovery, his thankfulness for making it through, nor any plans for future climbing. It was a disappointing book that leaves the reader hanging.
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Summary: the diction brings the Peruvian Andes to you
Review: "Touching the Void" is a non-fiction suspense account by Joe Simpson. It all begins when Joe and his best friend, Simon, decide they want to climb the unforgiving Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes. To get warmed up, they do a smaller climb that takes them two days and two nights. After carefully watching the weather patterns, they choose a departure date. The first two days of the journey are beautiful sunny days without despair. As the third day rolls around and they push for the summit, they come upon bad weather. Maybe this proves to be a bad omen. The two climbers successfully reach the summit, but on the way down run into a terrible blizzard. As the two men slowly wander off course, Joe takes a horrifying fall and badly injures his knee. The incredible part of the story is how they overcome the physical challenge and keep on descending. When Joe and Simon believe they have almost made it to the valley floor, everything goes wrong. Joe is left for dead as Simon has to make an unforgettable decision. Fortunately, Joe has an unusually strong will to live. Never giving up and staying calm and in control will always prevail; in "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson, Joe survives a horrendous fall and hangs on until the bitter end. Joe Simpson wrote this book to share with all readers his true account of a terrifying adventure and a miraculous ending. The strongest device used to bring the Peruvian Andes right to the living room of the reader is the diction. Simpson's word choice is what makes the book worth while reading. "As the hammer came out there was a sharp cracking sound and my right hand, gripping the axe, pulled down. The sudden jerk turned me outwards and instantly I was falling . . . the rushing speed of it confused me. . . then the pain flooded down my thigh- a fierce burning fire coming down the inside of my thigh, seeming to ball in my groin, building and building until I cried out at it, and my breathing came in ragged gasps. My leg! Oh Jesus. My leg! (P. 71-72)." These lines stand out because it brings the adventure right to the living room. This incredible sensation is all due to the excellent choice of diction. Simpson also added excerpts from Simon's journal to add another perspective here and there. "Touching the Void" reaches the necessary literary level simply because of Simpson's word choice.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: What I find most amazing about this book is the fact that he can recall so vividly everything that happened after the accident. What is even more amazing is that he lived to tell about it. This is a must read for anyone interested in mountaineering and expeditions as it paints you a picture of what reaching one's limits can be about
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