Book Reviews of Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Excellent story of how Aron survived being stranded in the wilderness. It's an amazing story, and an easy read. There is one graphic photograph, however, so one should be aware of that before they order this book.

one of the most extraordinary survival stories ever told!

Foolish though he was to go hiking all alone in a potentially dangerous place, Ralston's courage and resourcefulness saved his life. This is an amazing and unforgettable story.

In spite of its being highly unlikely that I would ever be in a situation to need it, my mind has filed away a vivid recollection of the ingenious method Ralston finally hit upon to free his hand. I am only grateful that it doesn't replay in my dreams!

An amazing story of survival and very well written. I loved the way it jumps between present and past. I enjoy reading stories of survival but this one is by far my favorite.

Aron Ralston, 27-year-old extreme outdoorsman, makes the mistake in April 2003 of not telling anyone of his plan to hike the remote Blue John Canyon in Utah. A freak accident caused a boulder to pin his arm to the side of the canyon, and he remained stuck there for over a week, with a meager amount of food and water. Dying, he makes the decision to amputate his trapped arm and managed to hike out the canyon himself. This is a story of astounding strength of spirit, as well as an autobiography of this fascinating young man. The story details early on his entrapment, and through a series of flashback memories gives us his autobiographical background as filler for the book. I did find myself impatiently going through the filler to get to the meat of the story, which to me was the detailing of his impromptu surgery, but his life and climbing exploits were interesting as well, so I did not find it tedious. Although gruesome and certainly not for the weak of stomach, the recounting of the amputation itself was not too horrible. This should become an adventure classic like John Krakauer's Into Thin Air and Joe Simpson's Touching the Void. Oh, and he took pictures too!

This book is a very good survival story. As I read through the book I got the idea that Aron wasn't exactly reckless but he did barge ahead into situations without thinking sometimes. His sheer determination is what got him out of trouble more than a few times. Maybe it was this reckless determination that got him into the situation he found himself but it was probably also what got him out of it. The book was written by him and is written very well. It doesn't read like the typical autobiography of an untrained writer. Personally, I'd like to know when the guy slept.

A very well written book by a, somewhat, arrogant young man. A harrowing experience is related to the reader with flashbacks thrown in for effect. You become more familiar with the young man as you read about all of his athletic endeavors prior to his accident and then even more after his accident. I admire him for his accomplishments and his book is quite a "first book"! He does 'live his life'!

Excellent book. I couldn't put it down.