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: Worst outdoor sports book ever written
Review: I received this book as a member of ACONA, the "Adventure Club of North America" (which I have since withdrawn from). I participate in a few of the sports on Michael Banes "list" so I thought that I was predisposed to enjoy the book. First of all, this guy had no experience in any of the sports before attempting to "go to the extreme" on many of them. I must admit that I haven't read the entire book. I've read through as many of the 13 chapters as I can bear, but I have had to put down the book in disgust after 20 minutes or so into each chapter. Anyway, Michael sat in a bar with a few friends and came up with a list of the most extreme and dangerous activities you could do. Then he went out and did them. To his credit, he used profrsional guides for the activities. But the way he used his guides was as a vehicle to get himself into situations that he was not prepared for, and to skip many of the learning stages that many of these sports require. His descriptions of the sports are really inane. I just finished the short chapter on ice climbing, and his descriptions are so vague that you really get the sense that this guy doesn't know what the hell he is talking about. Describing crampons as "spikes that clamp onto the bottom of my Mickey Mouse boots". He also muses at how strange plastic double mountaineering boots look on him. Michaels attraction to these sports was that they were dangerous and extreme. Yet, all of these sports are really about mitigating risk, not wallowing in it. A climber doesn't get off on the extreme nature of climbing - the one's who do don't live long. If you are a couch potato, keep in mind that as an outdoor adventure book, this book is just about as nutritious as a potato chip.
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: 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: The best book I have read in a long time!!
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: 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!
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