Product Description
It started as a daydream. Poring over a map of the world at home one quiet Saturday afternoon, Ewan McGregor -- acclaimed actor and self-confessed bike nut -- noticed that it was possible to ride all the way round the world, with just one short hop across the Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska. It was a revelation he couldn't get out of his head. So he picked up the phone and called his fellow actor-slash-biker friend Charley Boorman and told him it was time to hit the road....

Beginning in London, Ewan and Charley chased their shadows through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia; across the Pacific to Alaska; then down through Canada all the way to New York. Long Way Round is the result of their four-month, 20,000-mile joyride. Featuring original diary entries, travel maps, mileage charts, and dozens of photographs, this is a freewheeling, fully charged, and uproariously entertaining book about two world-famous individuals who chose the road not taken...and made the journey worthwhile. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (70)

Friendship
This book is a great read...and the movies/documentary regarding their trip was amazing. My family could not stop watching...all ages from 12 years old to 45 years old. My hubby can not wait to read this book, even the teenagers want a turn. The book/movie makes you fall in love with these two fellas and root for them, warts/whinning and all. Who knew traveling thru mud and dust could be so entertaining and funny. The people they met along the way welcome them into their lives. If you have ever traveled to a third world country you know this to be true...the people want a diversion from the normal and would give you the shirt off their back. Charlie and Ewen are great friends and make you want to be a part of their friendship. Seems like Ewen's wife was so jealous of their friendship and making memories that she had to tag along on the next trip but even that turned out to be a good thing/experience. I have and do recommend this book to all my friends and hope you will at least give it a try. Dont have high expectations of classic writing skills, but know that it was heart felt words and just be happy to asked to "come along for the ride" You will not regret it!!

LD motorcycle must read
Fun read. If you enjoy reading long distance motorcycle trip books, this is a good one!

Wonderful product!
Arrived before the promise date and in excellent condition as promised!Included three sections of photos from the trip which was a nice touch and tied it into the tv series even more; loved it!

If you like the series, you'll like the book
I purchased this book after watching and enjoying the TV series I saw on DVD.I was concerned that the books would be redundant to the DVD, but it is really complementary to the series.The book highlights to a greater detail the emotions and friction between the team.It dwells upon the homesickness they felt and the interactions between the locals and the team.It contains information left out of the series and if you like the series, you'll no doubt enjoy this book.

More about the trip and less about the emo
I've just finished reading Long Way Round and have to say while I enjoyed the book I didn't feel that it added all that much to the DVD series of the same name.If someone felt in the DVDs that on occasion the sometimes snippy or petty comments between Ewan and Charlie were a bit boring then be prepared for a bit more of it in the book.

Don't get me wrong it is interesting and I have no doubt whatsoever the mental toll of a trip like this would be quite large.But I think it was Ewan who said early in the book how he was sick of the production team setting up staged shoots (like getting their portraits drawn on a bridge) and that the show would be more interesting if it focused on the actual trials and tribulations (such as Claudio not getting his license which could have thrown the trip).

In my opinion they should have taken their own advice in this regard - instead of whining about the production crew, or how someone hurt someone's feelings because they said the wrong thing at the wrong time - and focused on what must have been really happening.Such as getting stuck in rivers, thoughts of turning back, bikes breaking down etc.Maybe they thought if you get stuck in 30 rivers you only need to read about it once, and if that was the case I disagree.I want to read about every challenge, every obstacle and every person they met.

Sure there is an element of how the personal relationship is going and it has its place, but I honestly thought it just got a little too much air time in the book when there must have been much more interesting things to read about. ... Read more

Product Description
This in-depth biography identifies the origins of 28year-old Ewan McGregors success, not only in his movie-star goodlooks, but also in his considerable acting talent. From performancesin hard-hitting British films Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, to thecoveted role of Jedi knight Obi Wan Kenobi in George Lucass firstStar Wars film for over 16 years, Ewan has chosen his roleswell. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs of Ewan both onand off the set. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Ewan Mcgregor From Junkie to Jedi
The book was really well written and easy to read. The stories were interesting and very funny. I found myself laughing out loud many times. Great behind the scenes info for all of Ewan's movies. It encouraged me to purchase his movies available on DVD. This book gave me great insight and helped me appreciate his work that much more.

Excellent...
I found this book to be both enjoyable and informative, and it has some interesting information about Ewan's childhood years in Crieff. Filled with amazing photographs, from black and white to colour. This book is worth the money. It also has a filmography at the back, if you want the titles of all the acting bits he's done. By the way, Ewan is talented and gorgeous!!!

A Sudden Fixation
I love Ewan McGregor and I think this book is a bit tired. Nothing Ididn't know, really. But the irony of it all strikes me. Playing Obi-Wanappears to have really boosted Ewan's career to most Americans, though heis a very successful actor in Europe and quite famous in the independentfilm circuit. The ironic part is this: Ewan's predecessor as Obi-Wan, thefamous and sadly deceased Alec Guinness, received the opposite end from therole. He was hounded and practically went into hiding. When he died, thefirst I heard of it was on the Star Wars web site. Then, subsequentannouncements always contain something like "The 86-year-old actor,famous for playing Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars..." Iwonder if that's what Ewan will be remembered for? I hope not. If youreally want to see him be an actor and not just a handsome face in a moviethat is heavy on effects and light on plot and dialogue, go rent ShallowGrave or Brassed Off or Trainspotting or Emma or Nightwatch or A Life LessOrdinary or ... See my point?

Ewan's fans read this
Robb's book is an amusing and quite compelling book. I enjoyed it a lot cause I discovered many things about this cool scottish lad called Ewan. The bookincludes some interesting information about Ewan's life and howdid he managed to get to where he's now: an outsanding actor that can playa heroin addict, a glam rock star or a venerable Jedi Knight. Don't miss itif you're a fan!

FROM JUNK TO JADED
Brian Robb's effort, Ewan McGregor: From Junkie To Jedi, is aimed at youthful audiences that buys books for the pictures not text.Riding the coat tails of the popular actor whose role as Obi Wan Kenobi in the mostrecent Star War's episode introduced him to American general audiences,this book offers nothing than already known general facts and statementspublished elsewhere.What it does offer in plenty is photographs, headshots in fact, that present McGregor in a variety of poses, both studiosittings and film extracts.The man is cute, no doubt the reason for hisenormous popularity with young females, but McGregor is more than justanother pretty, adorable British face.He can act.The body of workalready to his credit is formidable for a 28 year old.McGregor isoutspoken on many subjects that draw attention in the press, and on almostevery page of the 128-pg. paperback is a tidbit of the wit and wisdom ofEwan McGregor.It is well known that McGregor has never given permissionfor any book on his life, nor is pleased by author's who made intrusionsinto his private life, however, if you absolutely must know who, what,where, and when of Ewan McGregor, this book will do.Buy two copies, oneto cut up for the photos and the second to add to the long list of McGregorunauthorized biographies. ... Read more

Product Description

Eighteen countries. Five shock absorbers.
Two bikers. One amazing adventure...

After their fantastic trip round the world in 2004, fellow actors and bike fanatics Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn't shake the travel bug. Inspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth.

And so they set off on their 15,000-mile journey with two new BMWs loaded up for the trip. Their route took them from John O'Groats at the northernmost tip of Scotland to Cape Agulhas on the southernmost tip of South Africa.

Along the way they rode some of the toughest terrain in the world -- and met some of the friendliest people. They rode their bikes right up to the pyramids in Egypt and visited Luke Skywalker's house in Tunisia. They met people who had triumphed over terrifying experiences -- former childhood soldiers in Uganda and children living amidst the minefields of Ethiopia. They had a close encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda and were nearly trampled by a herd of elephants in Botswana.

Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, Ewan and Charley faced their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humor and honesty they tell their story -- the drama, the dangers and sheer exhilaration of riding together again, through a continent filled with magic and wonder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Long Way Down book
Bought the book after having watched, and purchased, the series.Good insight into the adventures you saw on the series.Nice photos.

Disappointing, shallow experience that's poorly written
Liked the documentary a lot, but found the book awful. Instead of describing the trip, Ewan and Charley describe instead their "feelings" about everything from spiders to daily arguments to incessant crying and loneliness for their wives and kids. Why bother taking the trip if you spend every single day weeping for your wife and feeling extreme guilt over being away from your kids -- this, from actors who had already written that they typically spend 8 months a year away from their families filming movies! Reading their account in this book does not match the same events when watching the documentary, i.e., both authors exaggerate everything, and for some weird reason, think everyone's out to kill or rob them at every turn. Worse, while they claim to have wanted only to "ride around the world," they get pissy when people recognize them at every stop and want a slice of their time, autographs, interviews for the local paper, etc. Thus much of the trip is a media tour rather than a bike ride.

Therefore, do NOT buy this book. Do NOT buy the DVD. Go to YouTube and watch all of it and save yourself the endless whining, pining, and crying found here. Always liked Ewan McGregor, but seeing he's such a crybaby (or bully when he doesn't get his way), I can't see him in a positive light ever again.

Ewan McGregor
This was a gift, but I was told by him that he absolutely loved it.

A great adventure
This book was just as good as the DVD, but it was fun imagining it.

Once Again
This book is capturing, I'm only half way through it, and I haven't had as much time to read as I would like, but when I do read it I lose track of time.I get pulled in and look up and two hours have gone by.

This makes me want to get out and live more.Thank God I am able to.

Make sure you read Long Way Round first! ... Read more

Product Description
This New York Times Best-seller—a chronicle of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s remarkable circumnavigation of the globe by motorcycle—is now presented in a stunning illustrated edition, packed with hundreds of color photos.

Poring over a map one day, Ewan McGregor—film star and bike nut—noticed it was possible to ride all the way around the world, with just one short hop across the Bering Strait. It was a revelation. So he called Charley Boorman, best friend, fellow actor, and bike nut. From London to New York, Ewan and Charley rode their BMWs through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada and America. Exhaustion, injury, and accidents tested their strength, as did treacherous roads and weather. They were pursued by paparazzi in Kazakhstan, courted by men with guns in the Ukraine, and served bulls' testicles for supper by Mongolian nomads. Yet despite the many obstacles, they managed to ride over 20,000 miles in four months. As they traveled, they documented their trip, taking photos and writing diaries. This highly entertaining book is the result. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

LONG WAY ROUND ILLUSTRATED EDITION
Nice product came just as described and in a timely manner would do business again. Thanks

Great Read
I got this for my husband and he spent his whole birthday reading it.I have taken it to my classroom and the kids love to see how the world is just as complicated as their own homes.

Wish I was 20 years younger.
I have this story on DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it so I decided to buy the book. It closely mirrors the DVD's, and had lots of pictures. Needless to say, I would highly recommend both. I've just started reading, "Long Way Down", and within a few pages have become as captivated as before. These adventures are the type of thing I would have loved to do 20 years ago, I can kinda get a feeling of what it must be like through Ewan and Charlie's travels. Thanks, Guys, for a really good time!!

Outstanding
The photos are great and compliment the journey and the text.A must have for any touring motorcyclist.

Awesome !
What an awesome book, recording an awesome experience. As a biker myself, I was attracted to the book just to read about a trip that is beyond my means and abilities, but the book ended up meaning much more than that to me.It showed me, yet again, that wherever you go in the world (And I've travelled a fair bit of it myself in my work as a seafarer !) people everywhere are just people like you and I, when you get past the religious, political and economic differences that can so often divide us. It also highlights the fact that people who make a living in the film industry are not necessarily unapproachable, self centred and addicted to adulation.They can be warm, human and prone to the same joys, fears and desires as the rest of us.In short, they are human beings who just happen to have a good job.This is not just a good read about a motor bike trip of a lifetime, it is a book that rekindles hope that the world, and its varied people, is a beautiful place after all, and not half as dangerous as some would have us believe.Whether you're a biker, an armchair traveller or just someone looking for an exciting and inspiring read, then this book is for you.I can't praise it highly enough. ... Read more

Product Description
Starring as the junkie hero of the 1996 hit film Trainspotting turned Ewan McGregor from a promising young actor into an overnight sensation. Since then, he has made ten movies in less than three years, with roles in Brassed Off, Emma, A Life Less Ordinary, Little Voice, and Velvet Goldmine. Brian Pendreigh brings fans the story of this young man from Scotland, from his boyhood days acting in church plays to his current success. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Best Book I have read so far on Ewan McGregor
The quality of the writing is impeccable, and it has all the interesting facts a die hard fan wants to know.It's filled with things you cannot find on the net... This is the 5th book I have on him, and by far it is the best.

hunky book
this book made me a jiggly inside. a great read. a delicious book about a delicious hunk.

Lots of information, not enough pictures
This is a great book, but I would like more pictures-preferably in color.But they go in great depth about many things like movies he was in, his wife and daughter, and his personality.Although I like this book, I would not recommend it.But if it is Ewan you are interested in, try "Ewan McGregor: From Junkie to Jedi."

Ewan McGregor by Brian Pendreigh
I like this book. The writter goes into the history of McGregor. Robert Roy McGregor. The writter interviews some of Ewan's friends and school mates. There is 8 pages of pictures. All in black and white. The writterlooks at most of his important movies. Talk alot about feature movies. Hetakes you into the process of what a struggle it was to make some of thesepictures. Especialy A Life Less Ordinary. He even goes on to why Ewan eventook the job. You find out everything about what gossip that happend on theset to the things done off the set. The very interesting thing in the bookin the Filmography. It gives ratings, year, production company, cast andcrew. I liked it. It was different from the rest of the Ewan McGregorBooks. I pick it because of the great pictures. ... Read more

Product Description
Livewire is a range of reading material with a teenage/adult interest level for those with reading ages below 10, or for adult students learning English as a second or foreign language. All Livewire titles have been written by experienced special needs teachers, and have been fully assessed by The Basic Skills Agency to ensure accessibility in both layout and content. They are subtly colour-coded for the appropriate reading age. This biography of Ewan McGregor is part of the Livewire Real Lives series, which features personalities from sport, film and music, politics and history. ... Read more

Product Description
All in color! He's the star of the hotly awaited Star Wars

prequel, and has shown amazing versatility in films as wide-ranging as the romantic period piece Emma

(with Gwyneth Paltrow), the gritty Trainspotting

, and the glittery story of glam-rock, Velvet Goldmine

. Follow film sensation Ewan McGregor from his beginnings as a high school dropout in Scotland as he rises to international fame--including receiving a prestigious Emmy award nomination for his appearance on ER. Eighty color photographs paint an intimate portrait of the performer and the man. Go behind the scenes on each of McGregor's films--including A Shallow Grave

, A Life Less Ordinary

, Rogue Trader

, and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

. Gain tantalizing insights into McGregor's personality and approach to acting--including why he likes doing nude scenes so much! Trim size: 9 1/4 x 11 3/4. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

So yes my review is a little biased...
I am a big fan of Ewan McGregor's and have been for a while so I was drawn to this book mostly for the photos. Of course the pictures don't disappoint, but my only complaint would be the amount of information. It's not really a thorough biography and was printed before his bigger projects. That being said, any fan of his would definitely enjoy this read!

This Is A Great Book!
This book gives a lot of information about Ewan McGregor. It has detailed info on where he was born, his relatives, and what he felt about every movie or tv show he made. The pictures are also fabulous! If you're an Ewanfan, you should definitely get this book.

Great pictures but needs a little more info
I think it is a great book with very hot pictures of Ewan, but it need a little more info on him But it does have a lot of interesting and useful info, with a couple funny stories and some quotes.Lots of good picturesthat arent anywhere else. A great book for the Ewan fan. ... Read more

Product Description
Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Sean Connery, James Finlayson, John Laurie, Ivan F. Simpson, Michael Sheard, Ewan Mcgregor, Iain Cuthbertson, Peter Capaldi, Gerard Butler, Gordon Jackson, William Mcgonagall, Brian Cox, Frieda Inescort, Robbie Coltrane, Jack Lambert, Donald Meek, Andrew Keir, James Robertson Justice, James Mcavoy, Alan Cumming, David Tennant, Billy Connolly, Robert Carlyle, Kevin Mckidd, John Barrowman, Laura Fraser, Gary Lewis, Richard Fraser, David Mccallum, Annette Crosbie, Dougray Scott, Douglas Henshall, Jim Macdonald, Prentis Hancock, Jack Buchanan, James Donald, Rikki Fulton, Craig Ferguson, James Cosmo, Billy Boyd, Tony Curran, Tommy Flanagan, Ray Park, Gordon Kennedy, Gregor Fisher, Tom Conti, Angus Macfadyen, Anthony Dawson, Michael Caton-Jones, Sylvester Mccoy, Paul Mcgillion, Paul Curran, Peter Blake, David O'hara, Ian Buchanan, Ian Charleson, Sean Biggerstaff, Ernest Torrence, Frankie Boyle, Mark Mcmanus, Spottiswoode Aitken, Ewan Stewart. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Sir Thomas Sean Connery, né le 25 août 1930 à Édimbourg, est un acteur écossais qui revendique prioritairement son identité écossaise et lutte pour l'indépendance de l'Écosse. Il a notamment interprété le rôle de James Bond à sept reprises. Il a remporté, entre autres, un oscar pour son rôle dans Les Incorruptibles en 1987, un BAFTA pour son interprétation du moine Guillaume de Baskerville dans Le Nom de la rose la même année, ainsi que deux Golden Globe Awards. Quelle que soit la nationalité du personnage qu'il jouait, il conservait toujours son accent écossais. Plus âgé que la plupart des sex-symbols contemporains, Sean Connery a souvent été qualifié de » (« homme contemporain le plus sexy ») par divers magazines. Le 5 juillet 20...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

Product Description
This biography charts Ewan McGregor's life from his birth in Perthsire, Scotland to his international fame - capped by his appearance in "Star Wars: Episode 1". His professional career is mapped out with each stage, radio, TV appearance and all his films, from "Emma" to "Rogue Trader" and beyond. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ewan McGregors Well Gorgeous
This book is well good, i read it in like a day, its hard to put down, The pictures of ewan inside are well nice, hes sooooo good looking!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
The radical star of Trainspotting and the hottest young member of the "Brit Pack," Ewan McGregor is Scotland's biggest export since Sean Connery. He now explodes into global stardom at the center of the most highly anticipated films in movie history-- the new Star Wars prequels.

Get plugged into the whole story of this dynamic young actor for the new millennium, from his training at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama to his first big break on British TV. Learn the inside story of McGregor's cosmic connection to his role as the young Jedi Knight Obi Wan Kenobi (hint: it's a family tradition).

From day one, the ultra-hip GenX heartthrob has called his own shots and chosen mellow cool over Hollywood glitz. This fascinating bio reveals how Ewan does it-- his way.

With 8 pages of fab photos!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An interesting little book.
I'm enjoying this book but find that it's a bit too short and because it's written by an American author it has a US slant on it (e.g box office takings of films are all in dollars and release dates are different too). Otherwise, I find the little snippets of fun information about the filmshe's worked on very interesting.

A very good and interesting book
This is a really good book.It's very informative.Not only does it give information about Ewan but also about his movies which is nice when trying to convince one's mother to let them see a movie. It wasn't written inAmerican english but not hard to read.It was a good book.

Not Bad
This is an awesome book with a lot of info for a small book.The draw back is the begining is hard to get into, the lack of photos and that fact that they're black and white, and that it's more about McGregor's movies,etc. instead of McGregor himself.Not great, not bad, but lots of info.

He is Hot
The book is good, but it isn't in American english so it can be a little funny,I wouldn't do a book reort on it ether it was hard. ... Read more

Product Description
Meet the star of the new Star Wars movie . . .

Who is Ewan McGregor?

He's the Scottish sensation People magazine called "a young actor on the rise to superstardom."He's wowed film audiences all over the world.And now he's starring in the phenomenal new Star Wars epic!Boulevard's new book includes:

*Childhood stories
*The Star Wars scoop
*His friends Leonardo DiCaprio and the band Oasis
*His guest role on "ER"
*Acting inspirations
*and more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not Worth the Paper
Simply facts found in every published article on Ewan McGregor over the last five years, this is another unauthorized bio that wastes trees and the reader's time and money.Skip it.

Well, I thought it was good.
I thought it was a pretty good book, though I think it could've been better.It's got some nice pictures, and it gives a lot of good information.Overall, I would recomend it to Ewanatics, or anyone who'sinterested in his history,but it's kind of hard for me to compare it toother bios of Ewan, because it's the first one I've read.(But it won't bethe last!!:)!)

This is Ewan McGregor, ladies and gentlemen!
This is a great book. It tells everything you want to know about him, without getting to personal. It also has a bibliography at the back.

This is definately a must have Ewan book.
This book was great.It informs you about his early life along with his acting career.But it doesn't go to far as to upset anyone.If you love Ewan you should definately read this book.

this book is a rockin' McGregor book.....
I think that this is a very well written book. It tell's alot about him, but will not go over the line. I't shows him in a good light, and let's the world see he really does care for all his fans.For only 5 dollers it is amust have for all ewan fan's. ... Read more

Product Description
The first in-depth look into the extraordinary life and times of Hollywood's hot Scottish actor, from his brilliant performance in "Trainspotting" to his starring role as the young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first of the "Star Wars" prequels. 25 photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Tons of Info!!
I am a HUGE fan of Ewan McGregor, and this book really gives u the lowdown on this star. This book, although lacking in pictures compared to "ewan mcgregor-from junkie to jedi" makes up in it's writing. It is really written to keep u interested and puts the good and the bad in, which is important. Excellent book!

A brilliant read
This is a great book for anybody serious about undertsanding mcgregor. It's really well reserached and has plenty of funny stories about his life. A cracking read.

I'm guessing it's a good book.
I have not read the book but I am guessing it's agood book. Hey! after all it is Ewan Mc Gregor. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
A biography of the Scottish-born actor who has become well-known in the United States because of his role in the recent popular movie, Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Wonderfully entertaining
Motorcycle entertainment at it's best. Follow Charley and his mates as they prep, race, crash, race, crash, race, and then finish the Dakar. The only problem with this DVD is that it was not long enough! I was left wanting more. Great photography and video, shows all sides of the human endurance and emotions will attempting the hardest race in the world. Highly recommended.

Plethora of Profanities
After seeing Charley in Long Way Round & Down, I was eagerly anticipating watching this production.Unfortunately, the level of profanity was beyond comprehension - he couldn't complete one sentence it seems without lacing it with the "F" word - exhausting.So disappointing, as was his general attitude during the segment prior to his injury.I honestly couldn't conscientiously recommend this to anyone.

Great read.
Yet another page-turner.I couldn't put this book down.Charlie takes the reader along, on his adventure of a lifetime.

Any motorcyclist who has ever felt that the going got tough, can empathize with the writer as he tackles the toughest challenge of all.Will he be successful?Read the book and find out.

Adventure of the fast kind
I liked Charlie's book but with reservations.
I was keen on learning about the training of a Dakar rider and the rigors of the race.This book gave me that insight and I enjoyed it from that aspect.I didn't so much enjoy the part of the book that deals with Charley.Like the Long Way books I think his family and personal details become intrusive in the story.I needed to feel the pain in this book when he fell and left the race, I don't need to know about the hugs when he met his wife and children at the end in Dakar.

Why do we do these things?
We get to hear Charley Boorman, fresh from two motorcycle adventures, decides to enter the Dakar Rally.He gets sponsors, creates a team, trains, and then finds the hard part is still ahead.Would this book excite a non-rider?Probably yes for a fan of adventure.

A central theme of the book is why people put themselves through such a thing...a race designed to have about 30% finish and a good number of the others get hurt.Each competitor keeps thinking thoughts like "this is insane, I'm not going any further, how will I ride this next year?"

He also touches on the more controversial aspects of a race where 25,000 pound sterling motorbikes pass though countries where the population earns perhaps 500 per person per year and locals being killed by race vehicles it is not unheard of.

I particularly liked his comment that only the French, with their laissez-faire attitude could put on such an event.

Downsides?I quickly grew tired of "at X:YY AM we were Z km to go but at Y:ZZ PM we were still W km" measurements.Maybe a picture of a map would be more helpful?I'm not sure the other facts were as well researched.Still, more on the human side than the technical. ... Read more

Product Description
This issue features interviews with Ewan McGregor, Emmy Rossum, Hugh Jackman, Alanis Morissette, and Patrick Wilson, plus features on Ciara, the Secret Machines, Melissa Etheridge & J.T. LeRoy, Rachel McAdams, Garrett Hedlund, Rachel Bilson, and others, plus lots of reviews and much more! ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Neil Peart, Ewan Mcgregor, Long Way Round, Iron Butt Association, Long Way Down, Emilio Scotto, Charley Boorman, Benka Pulko, Kevin Sanders, Race to Dakar, Dave Barr, Claudio Von Planta, Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Sport Touring, Ted Simon, Bessie Stringfield, Zilov Gap, Simon and Monika Newbound, Nick Sanders, Mondo Enduro, Russ Malkin, Austin Vince, Terra Circa, World Safari, Jupiter's Travels. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 112. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Neil Peart (pronounced ) OC, (born September 12, 1952) is a Canadian musician and author. He is the drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush. Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario (now part of St. Catharines) working the occasional odd job. However, his true ambition was to become a professional musician. During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer. After a discouraging stint in England to concentrate on his music, Peart returned home, where he joined a local Toronto band, Rush, in the summer of 1974. Early in his career, Peart's performance style was deeply rooted in hard rock. He drew most of his inspiration from drummers such as Keith Moon and John Bonham, players who were at the forefront of the British hard rock scene. As time progressed, however, he began to emulate jazz and big band musicians Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. In 1994, Peart became a friend and pupil of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber. It was during this time that Peart decided to revamp and reinvent his playing style by incorporating jazz and swing components. Gruber was also responsible for introducing him to the products of Drum Workshop, the company whose products Peart currently endorses. Peart has received many awards for his musical performances and is...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=22003 ... Read more