Alastair Humphreys
Moods of Future Joys
Thunder and Sunshine
Alastair spent 4 years cycling around the world on a shoe string budget of £7000. He has since completed numerous other adventures and pioneered the microadventure movement.
Rob Lilwall
Cycling Home From Siberia
Walking Home From Mongolia
The epic story of Rob cycling from Siberia to the UK; challenges include harsh winters, the high mountains of Tibet and passing through Afghanistan. It is told in a brutally honest manner which makes for a fascinating read.
George Mahood
Free Country
Operation Ironman
His first book 'Free Country' is absolutely hilarious. It tells the story of when George and his pal decided to cycle the length of the UK with no bikes, no money and no clothes. Genuinely made me laugh out loud.
Helen Lloyd
Desert Snow
A Siberian Winter's Tale
Desert Snow recounts Helen’s journey cycling from the UK to South Africa solo! A really interesting book. Her second book about cycling in Siberia is equally as mental.
Steven Primrose-Smith
Hungry for Miles
No Place Like Home, Thank God
Route Britannia
The best thing about Steven's books are his sense of humour. My favourite is Hungry For Miles as it involves him and some unlikely strangers coming together for a miserable time.
Mark Beaumont
The Man Who Cycled The World
Africa Solo
The Man Who Cycled the Americas
Stories of pure endurance from the record breaking round the world cyclist. I am sure there will be another book out soon as he just smashed it again.
Tom Allen
Janapar: Love, On a Bike
A Guide to Adventure Cycle Touring
Janapar is Tom's story of cycling touring and finding love on the road. He also has a popular website 'tomsbiketrip' that has lots of useful tips and encouragement for touring.
Leon Mccarron
The Road Headed West
The Land Beyond: A Thousand Miles on Foot Through the Heart of the Middle East
The Road Headed West is the story of Leon’s 6000mile bike ride across the USA. Staying with strangers and discovering the 'real' America. Most recently published is 'The Land Beyond' about walking 1,000 miles through the Middle East.
Jamie McDonald
Adventureman: Anyone Can Be a Superhero
A totally awe inspiring book about Jamie's 5,000 mile run across Canada to raise money for the children's charities that helped him as a kid. It is as heart warming as it is funny.
Anna Mcnuff
The Pants of Perspective
50 shades of USA
I think I might actually love Anna McNuff. Pants of Perspective tells the story of how she ran 3,000 miles, the length of New Zealand, Her writing style makes you feel like you are listening to a friend and encourages you to get your running shoes on.
Rosie Swale-Pope.
Just a Little Run Around the World
After losing her husband to cancer Rosie decided to run around the world to raise awareness and money for the cause. The 20,000 mile 5 year run took her through some crazy remote places; Russia, Alaska, Canada and Iceland to name a few. It is a genuinely impressive journey told in a humbling manner.
Levison Wood
Walking the Nile
Walking the Himalayas
Walking the Americas
Eastern Horizons
So far I have only read 'Walking the Nile' and 'Walking the Himalayas'. Reading about the countries and troubles that Levison encounters on his 9 month walk following the river Nile is throughly absorbing.
Mark Horrell
Seven Steps from Snowdon to Everest
Documenting the 10 years that Mark went from being an ordinary hill walker to standing on the summit of Everest. He has also written 10+ other books about his mountaineering exploits and has a popular blog.
W.E.Bowman
The Ascent of Rum Doodle (1956)
This is the fictional tale of a mountaineering team trying to climb the highest mountain in the world 'Rum Doodle'. It is a total piss take on mountaineering adventure and is incredibly funny. 100% worth reading.
Jamie Andrew
Life and Limb
In 1999 Jamie and his friend were climbing in the French Alps when disaster struck. Jamie survived but lost all his four limbs to frostbite. This book tells the story of the climb, his time in hospital and his remarkable attitude to recovery afterwards.
Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air
Into The Wild
Well known as a legendary mountaineering author Jon Krakauer’s books live up to the hype. Into Thin Air documents the 1996 Everest disaster, in which 8 people died when a storm came in high up the mountain. It is a stunning portrayal of the risks that people are willing to take and the decisions that surround them.
Michael Palin
Erebus: The Story of a Ship
Built in 1826 Erebus visited both Antarctica and the Arctic. She was lost during the Franklin expedition in an attempt to discover the north-west passage in 1845. Her remains were only discovered in 2014. This book tells the story of her voyages as well as those aboard her.
Ernest Shackleton
South: The Endurance Expedition (Originally published in 1919)
The original aim of the expedition was to be the first to traverse the Antarctic continent. All did not go to plan however. This first hand account written by Shackleton himself gives a detailed description of how the crew survived the ordeal. From becoming trapped in sea ice, to abandoning ship and having to set up home on Elephant Island before finally recounting the incredible rescue efforts.
Valerian Albanov
In the Land of White Death
This is an absolute treasure. Albanov was a Russian navigator upon the ill-fated 1912-1914 Brusilov expedition. The team set out to find new Arctic hunting grounds but just two months in they became trapped in pack ice. Eighteen months later and Albanov and twelve other men attempted to get to land by themselves; building sledges and kayaks. Of the thirteen men to leave only Albanov and one other survived. Originally published in Russian in 1917, translated into French in 1928 and finally published in English in 2000.
Nicolas Tomlin and Ron Hall
The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst
The first non-stop single-handed round-the-world yacht race took place in 1968-69. Only nine sailors left and of them only one completed the journey. This book tells the story of Donald Crowhurst. Whose boat was found floating intact in the Atlantic Ocean eight months after setting off, with no sign of the sailor on board. Tomlin and Hall had to do a huge amount of digging in order to piece this story back together.
A Voyage for Madmen by Peter Nichols is another fantastic re-telling of this epic race.
Tim Cope
On the Trail of Genghis Khan
Off the Rails
In 2004 Tim set off from Mongolia in the hope of reaching Hungary with just his horses and tent for company. 10,000km and more than 3 years later he completed his goal. However it is his tales of nomads, remoteness and the kindness of strangers that makes this book special. Oh, and his dog, Tigon.
Michael Finkel (author) about the life of Christopher Knight.
The Stranger in the Woods
Here Be Monsters... 50 Days Adrift At Sea
The book documents Chris' 27 years living in solitude in the woods of rural Maine. Eventually he is found by society and after forming a connection with Finkel we are able to hear his story.
Here Be Monsters chronicles the incredible journey of three teenage boys adrift in the Pacific Ocean for 51 days.
Ed Stafford
Walking the Amazon
Imagine setting off on a journey that you expect will take about a year. 2 1/2 years, 4,000 miles later you finally complete it. In 2010 Ed Stafford became the first person the walk the length of the river Amazon. This book chronicles the highs and the lows of his journey as well as the characters he meets along the way.
Yossi Ghinsberg
Lost in the Jungle
In 1981 Yossi became lost in the Bolivian jungle. Originally starting out as a group of four, cracks soon emerged within the team and following a rafting accident Ghinsberg is left alone in the jungle with no shelter, food or equipment. The three weeks that follow see him battling against the odds to stay alive.
Andrew Smith
Moondust
In this book Smith realises that in the not so distant future there will be a time when no living being has stepped foot on the moon. Upon this realisation he sets out to interview the remaining astronauts from the Apollo missions, trying to find out how the experience changed their lives and what they learnt.
Chris Hadfield
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Part self-help, part space travel memoirs, Hadfield’s book is a captivating read. It will leave you with a much better knowledge of the astronaut selection and training process, as well as pondering your own life on earth.
Robyn Davidson
Tracks
In 1977 Robyn set out on a 1,700 mile journey across the outback with only 4 camels and a dog for company. Overtly honest and articulate the journey is as emotional as it is compelling. Her relationship with the press along the way is equally as interesting.
Ray Mears
My Outdoor Life
Also author of ‘Essential Bushcraft’ and ‘The Outdoor Survival Handbook’, this book gives an insight into what motivates the UK’s best known expert on bushcraft. Filled with interesting stories of far off places and people, it instills in the reader a healthy appreciation and respect for nature.