I received this book as a birthday present from a friend that knew I casually followed Bear Grylls and his adventures on “Man Vs. Wild” and such. Before reading the book, I started following Bear a little more closely, be it watching more episodes, reading up on his exploits on the Internet, or following him on Twitter. Once I finally cracked open the book and started reading, I was immediately sucked in and to be honest, I couldn’t put my finger on why. Don’t get me wrong, it was incredibly entertaining to read about his life and very humorous and even quite inspiring. I thought this was the reason I liked it so much.
Bear has an incredible gift for inspiring and motivating as he writes about his life. You can’t help but start believing in yourself a little more and be a little more determined to succeed in your own life. But this still wasn’t exactly what I most loved about the book. I’ve read many books about successful men and women, some motivational, some simply biographical in nature, but once again, I was hooked on this book in particular. Finally, I read this line and it clicked:
“I am ordinary, but I am determined.”
This was it! Bear Grylls is just a normal, ordinary guy who made the most (and more) out of what was given him. But more than that, it’s his determination. He’s so easy to relate to and that’s what makes this read so real and so enjoyable. He’s just an average guy who demanded the best from himself, just like any one of us can, and should. From his childhood escapades to SAS selection to the peak of Everest, Bear is very open about his thoughts, passions, and fears. Best of all, the entire book is full of motivational and inspiring quotes and insights that make waking up tomorrow feel like the beginning of life’s next great adventure. This is a fun one for the outdoor survivor and lounge chair adventurer alike.
– Jake
Backwoods Gear Review 