Rating: 
Summary: Good read, in a grim sort of way.
Review: This collection of fatal and near-fatal incidents in the Grand Canyon might make one hesitate to ever do anything again-- don't go near the edge! Don't fall in the river! Don't hike alone! Don't ride in a helicopter!And yet... This book has a strangely positive side. By reviewing and analyzing accident after accident at Grand Canyon National Park, the writers give a picture of how to mitigate one's risks while still enjoying this fabulous place. Their analysis of risk factors seems somewhat clinical, but also saves the book from being one long gruesome body count, and allows the reader to learn by others' bitter experiences. Do watch your step. Do wear a life jacket. Do hike with friends and bring lots of food and water. And mule rides are safer than helicopters (the question of whether mule rides or helicopter tours are appropriate activities for a national park are left for the reader to contemplate). The "darwin awards" tone of the book keeps it from getting too grim, and on the other hand, there is a compassion to the writing that reminds us that these cautionary tales are about real people whose deaths were genuinely mourned by their families and by those who tried to save their lives. Why not five stars? I reserve that for pulitzer prize quality writing-- this isn't quite there (and where were the car wrecks?) -- but it's darned good, and worth your time and money.
Rating: 
Summary: Nature Will Always Win If You Let It
Review: This is a MUST-READ for anyone attempting to hike Grand Canyon. So much has been written about its grandeur and beauty. It surely is all of that, but we needed to have a book describing, in vivid detail, the "wrongs" that occur there every year because people just can't comprehend that NATURE is in control if you don't heed the warnings posted by the park service. It is so easy to think that the warnings won't affect you. I have hiked through the Canyon several times knowing about its dangers, and I have seen people suffer on route of well-marked, common trails, but you truly are on your own out there and must do the most necessary to assure a safe and fun hike. You must know your limits. This book is not meant to "scare" people because Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular places in the world to visit and surely should be experienced from below the rim, but it is vital that people know about its potential dangers. This book illustrates that many people who suffered and died had the same attitudes that many of us have when we don't know what we're getting into. "Oh, I think I have enough water", or "Let me just step out on this rock for the perfect photo", or "I'm a good swimmer, I just want to wet my body in the Colorado", and so much more!! Grand Canyon is NOT a casual "walk in the park". It remains as nature designed it, and you will surely have a rewarding experience IF you take precautions. This book is well organized and has a good summary of all the mishaps at the end of each section. So interesting to read. You'll find yourself wanting to read it at every free moment. It could, however, have used photos where they were available to really drive the message home. Still, this is a serious and gripping book, and I like the amount of detail utilized in describing each situation. This book is necessary in a world that's become a place where we depend on others to think for us and to be at our every bek and call. This book brings the message home that "nature will always win if you let it".
Rating:
Summary: A must read for Grand Canyon lovers
Review: This is a surprisingly long (368+ pages) and delightfully readable compilation and explication of hundreds of deaths within the Grand Canyon. This is a must read for Grand Canyon hikers and river runners, and an interesting read for anyone else who has an interest in understanding how nature can fatally surprise any of us. Through this book you'll discover the specific circumstances of accidental and not-so-accidental death for dozens of individuals and learn, in many instances, ways to avoid similar problems in your own journey to the Canyon. The authors include well-written narrative, easy to read tables and statistics, and lots of references for those bent on further research or reading. Whether you've already been to the Grand Canyon, are planning to go, or are simply interested in the sometimes deadly impact of this incredible landscape on people I think you'll enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, Dark, but Instructive
Review: This is a very well researched book that lists all of the people who have perished in the Grand Canyon. The book is morbidly fascinating. It starts with tumbles from the top (what many visitors want to know about) and death on the trails. The book also covers air crashes into the canyon, drive-offs (think Thelma & Louise), river drowning, suicides, murder and a few other odd ways people have perished in the natural attraction Teddy Roosevelt said was the one site every American should visit in their lifetime. There are even one or two snakebite victims and two or so people who made tea from a deadly canyon flower with enough toxicity to kill a mule. Speaking of mules, the mule rides down the canyon trails are very safe when compared to other modes of enjoying the canyon. If you don't go in winter (when snow can bury the trail), I believe the record will show that mules never go over the edge. The book is most interesting in the beginning. The topic of death and tragedy are new, and the deaths are the most shocking (including people who backed up right over the edge posing for pictures and men who went over trying to create their own waterfalls when nature called). One does get used to the constant morbidity and toward the end the air crash vignettes, suicides and murders lack the grip of the earlier free-fall victims. The authors also sometimes throw in annoying "got-cha" lines that seem out of place (but not too often to ruin the book). Where this book is instructive is in its analysis of death in the canyon. Stupid behavior, ignoring warnings, not taking enough water on canyon hikes and swimming in the off-limits Colorado River account for about 90% of the deaths recorded. It is clear that the Grand Canyon could be remarkably safe if people exercised commonsense and obeyed park rules. It is also interesting to note that males perish way out of proportion to their numbers, indicating that risky and show-off behavior is still unfortunately our birthright. This book would be an excellent read for anyone contemplating a hike into the canyon or river trip through it. I'm sure both the edges of the canyon and the river looked placid and safe for too many would be adventures that wound up as statistics in this book. Just obeying the rules (stay behind the railings, take recommended amount of water, don't swim in the Colorado) would have saved a lot of lives. Those visiting soon would be well warned by the mishaps listed from typical "vacation" and adventurous behavior that the Grand Canyon can be a killer if not respected. Even with the 500 plus deaths recorded in the book (not counting air crashes) it is important to note that the Grand Canyon remains a safe place to enjoy one of nature's great monuments. With the millions of visitors who have taken in its charms, statistically it is not much more dangerous to the average visitor than a walk in the park. But for those who exercise extremely bad judgement it can be a killer. This is a recommended read -- fascinating, enjoyable and with worthwhile lessons.
Rating:
Summary: Instant Grand Canyon Classic!
Review: This is an outstanding addition to the literature of the Grand Canyon in at least three respects. First, it's a comprehensive report on all 550 known accidental deaths below the rim of the Grand Canyon from the beginning of historic times up to the end of last year, with a thoughtful analysis of the lessons to be learned from these tragedies. Second, it's a veritable "Who's Who" of colorful canyon personalities, from James White and John Wesley Powell to Georgie Clark and Whale. And third, it's immensely entertaining. If you been following the literature of the Grand Canyon, you'll probably recognize Michael Ghiglieri as the author of "Canyon" (1992) - a popular collection of river related tales told by a veteran Grand Canyon river guide - and Tom Myers as co-author (with Chris Becker and Larry Stevens) of "Fateful Journey: Injury and Death on Colorado River Trips in Grand Canyon"(1999). As a long-time guide for OARS, Ghiglieri has seen some of the incidents (and/or their aftermath) at first hand, while Myers - a boater as well as a serious explorer of the Grand Canyon backcountry on foot - is an MD at the clinic at the South Rim, and consequently has a lot of first hand experience with both survivors and victims of various Grand Canyon mishaps. Combining their interests, experiences, and talents, they've assembled an "instant classic" that's bound to be popular for years to come. Move over, John Hance: your story telling reputation has now been eclipsed. Forget the Darwin Awards for awhile, and go grab a copy of "Over the Edge": these are true stories. While there are a lot of ways to die in the Grand Canyon, the authors have found that most fatalities fit into a few general categories: falling off of the rim (hence the title) or elsewhere in the canyon, deaths related to the environment (heat or cold), flash floods, drownings in the river, aviation accidents, suicide, murder, and a catch-all category of "freak accidents". There's a lesson to be learned from the story of each victim, and the authors hope that one lasting value of this book will be to alert canyon fans to the things that have gone wrong repeatedly. One thread that links many disasters is just plain bad judgement: ignorance, inexperience, testosterone, and gratuitous risk taking have claimed a lot of victims in the canyon. Bad luck has also figured in some of these disasters, but - overall - most of these deaths were in some real sense preventable. Throughout this book, you'll find mention of many other well known Grand Canyon figures: hikers, river runners, park rangers, park Superintendents, even - God Forbid! - the long lost Ambrose Bierce. They appear in the roles of searchers and rescuers, victims of accidents and survivors of near misses, heros, villains, accused (as well as excused) murderers, and more. There are stories with names and dates for which there were no bodies, and bodies for which there are no stories or names, just mysteries. While "Over the Edge" is rich in entertainment value, there's plenty of serious stuff as well. Most of us have stood on the very edge trying to get that perfect picture, or we've been distracted by the incomparable beauty of the canyon, oblivious to the fact that rocks fall into the canyon every day, sometimes taking a tourist with them. We've hiked too hard and too far when it was too hot, had too much to drink at camp, and survived bad runs at Crystal. While I hope we've never actually murdered anybody below the rim (or anywhere else, for that matter), if you've done enough river trips, you've probably been tempted. When you turn the last page, you may - like me - find yourself wondering why you are alive to read these stories, and some of the victims are not. While some victims made incredibly bad decisions, others just had really bad luck, just as some of the survivors of the "near misses" owe their survival to incredibly good luck that won out over the consequences of really bad judgement. But a large proportion of these stories provide a lesson for anyone who will listen: be prepared, be alert, don't take unnecessary chances, know the risks of what you are doing and do your best to minimize them. Many of these tales would be great to tell, or read, around the campfire, next to the river, or safely at home in front of the fireplace. And there are unanswered questions as well: if people ignore the signs, and climb past the fences and guard rails, how do you keep them from falling off the rim? Should the numbers of scenic air flights be limited for reasons of safety, or should we sacrifice "natural quiet" in the canyon to make room for more tourists who will be on their way out of the park in an hour? What's more important: cold beer at camp, or hypothermic swimmers dying in the rapids? - abridged from a review published in "The Waiting List", the publication of the Grand Canyon Private Boater's Association. The author of this review has been running Grand Canyon river trips since 1974, and has written book reviews for "The Waiting List" and "The Journal of the Southwest".
Rating:
Summary: That takes care of that
Review: This is another one of those "review this while you're at it" thing. I don't remember reading this or even buying it for that matter, but I'll give it five stars anyway coz I'm sure it's good.
Rating:
Summary: Good Reading for Grand Canyon Visitors
Review: When I visited the Grand Canyon in 2001 I picked up a copy of this book - Over the Edge. It languished on my to read list until now. Overall it's a fascinating book, if a bit tedious at times. I suspect someone who has never been to the Grand Canyon will not appreciate the grandeur and dangers the book describes as much as this reader. Having been there myself and being at least a little familiar with it made the book come to life that much more. This book details the actual events around numerous deaths in the Grand Canyon, and offers detailed summary tables. Whether it's falling off the edge, crashing in a plane or helicopter, getting lost and dying of dehydration, drowning in the Colorado River, getting caught in a flash flood, getting smushed by big rock falling in the canyon, being struck by lightning, getting murdered, or deciding you're life is not worth living and taking a plunge over the edge to end it all - this book covers it all. The key theme of the book is that most deaths in the Grand Canyon can be avoided if you use common sense and don't take unnecessary risks. Most of the deaths detailed in the book are a direct result of people doing stupid things, liking jumping around or goofing off on the edge of the canyon, hiking very difficult trails (or areas with no well maintained trails) without the experience required and without enough water and food, or trying to run rapids that are too dangerous without life jackets or other safety precautions. There are other numerous examples of unnecessary deaths as a result of carelessness or bad decisions. Most of the deaths in the book could have been prevented by just plain ol' common sense. Not surprisingly, most of these types of death are disproportionately young males who are over confident in their abilities. I would highly recommend this book to those who have visited or plan to visit the Grand Canyon. Its lessons may save you from going over the edge.
Rating:
Summary: Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon
Review: While I do not like to read or hear about real life death, this author made the book educational. Makes one think twice about whether your actions are intelligent or foolhardy. Great group campfire read aloud book. Quite a surprise.
Rating:
Summary: "Just take a couple of steps back, and Smile!"
Review: You can't help but admire the macabre detail. While the same genre as Whittlesey's "Death in Yellowstone," it seems somehow less academic. Probably, it's the editorializing of the various mishaps that gives the book its 'lite' affect.
The big plus in the authors' style is their inclusion of current commentary from victims or their acquaintances, sometimes decades after the event. The downside of their style is the authors' persistent, arrogant, almost obligatory editorializing. And their purported solutions to two big Grand Canyon mysteries seem a little trite. All in all, it's a keeper for any Canyon historian.
Rating:
Summary: If you liked Into Thin Air...
Review: You'll love this. It's as gripping as Into Thin Air or The Perfect Storm. The same kind of morbid curiousity and appetite for the fascinating details will keep you turning pages all the way through this book. The stories are truly amazing--you cannot make this stuff up! It's not a novel--there is no plot with a beginning and a climax and an end, so I'm puzzled by criticism that it's slow in parts. I guess some people were more entertained by certain stories than others. I enjoyed them all. One would think that breaking the tales into categories by type of death would make the book choppy, but the stories actually flow beautifully as they weave in and out of each other and sometimes circle back right into each other. And the authors tell the tales with a humorous twist that makes the entire book a delightful read. I also learned much more than I ever expected to learn about the history of the Canyon and the Colorado River and their pioneers. The book made me, like another reviewer, want to go back to visit the sites where such amazing adventures took place. And if I'm ever in trouble, would you please send the heroic Ranger Wisher?
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