Mud, Sweat and Tears Junior Edition by Bear Grylls - Paperback

This is a poor attempt at autobiography, and serves more as an attempt at personality creation (he's trying to mirror Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt in terms of life story and personality, and it shows!)First Grylls tries to make himself our as a privileged radical, trying to buck the trend and his upbringing. What he actually comes across as is a boor saying 'look at me and the high jinx I got up to, which constitute minor law breaking and harassment'. Then he tries to make himself out as an SAS hero. No doubt he did pass selection and training, but he plays the 'if I told you I'd have to kill you card' with regards to the workings of the selection process, especially what comes after the 'Escape and Evade' exercise. What does happen has been more than adequately described by authors like Michael Asher, Ollerton, Middleton and the various SAS type programmes Channel 4 currently seems to enjoy transmitting. Also it tends to be the cover operations that the Special Forces are involved in, rather than their training which are subject to restricted reporting. One wonders whether he doth protest too much.But even when he's no focusing on his time training for the SAS the text is sparse on detail, focusing more on Grylls's can-do attitude than on narrative.I didn't get much beyond the moment when he broke his back. This is obviously a turning point in his career, but by that stage I'd lost interest in him and his story. (Biography requires the writer to reveal something of themselves, not serve as a means of personality creation. And one is left wondering who actually Edward Grylls is.)On a final note: at least one reviewer has complained about the Biblical quotes in the text. This gives the false impression that the text is filled with them - it's not. As an Evangelical Christian Grylls uses the Bible to illustrate points in his narrative, but they far from little the text, or even detract from it. (It would be hard to detract from a text so devoid of narrative anyway.) They are merely a means for Grylls to link his faith life to his own experiences.

Really fantastic book and a very enjoyable read! I'm a big Bear Grylls fan and it was really nice to read about some of his stories and learning curves. I couldn't recommend this more! If you enjoy this book, the other one to read is Ant Middleton's 'First Man in'. Both books I really enjoyed and have similar themes. If you read First Man in already and enjoyed it, you will love this book!

This is a very enjoyable race through Bear Grylls' life - so far. He brings enthusiasm to everything he does and he does a lot, yet the well of enthusiasm keeps gushing fresh supplies. I learned a lot of new information from this book. I really enjoy his TV programmes and I warmed to Bear the person who is portrayed in this book. I knew that he had joined the SAS before I read this book but I did not know that he was an old-Etonian, the son, grandson, grand stepson, and great-grandson of MPs. He spent his early holidays at the home of his grandmother on the County Down coast in Northern Ireland and I learned from this book that when I was I was born in that constituency she was the Ulster Unionist MP.He had a lot to overcome with that parliamentary background but you cannot help liking the chap. He writes at great pace, he has a lot to tell and packs 110 chapters into 400 pages. There is never a dull minute and even the inevitable disappointments and sadnesses of life serve only to spur him on to more enthusiatic exploits. I think if anyone else had written this book I could have given in to cynicism with all this enthusiasm but I just couldn't. I admire what he has achieved and how he has done it, by hard work and dedication and sticking to the task.I am sure this story will be a must-read for the boys and young men of the Scouts. I hope it inspires some of them to try harder, perervere and achieve.

I'm only part of the way through this book, but wanted to give it a reference as it is truly a great, positive and inspiring read. Currently got to the part when Bear is trying hard to get into the SAS. I wont spoil it, but the determination of the man, when he freely and candidly admits to not being the strongest, fittest etc. Of course, he's a fit human being, no question about that, but he had to push past his comfortable zone to achieve his goals. The book is so positive and such an inspiration as to anyone who has a dream that hard work is the only way to approach it. Bear clearly loves his family, and he admits to having a privileged upbringing (he went to eaton!) and that there is one passage that hints that in a way that upbringing was like a catalyst for him to proof his worth in the world. I would certainly say he succeeded there. His writing style is both engaging and pacey. If you too have dream or a goal that may succeed with the application of some determination, even in the face of near impossible odds, I would strongly recommend this book to you.

I downloaded this book and read it within a few days. It is quite simply awe inspiring.I knew very little about Bear other than what I have seen of him on his numerous TV shows and I have to say if I ever have the pleasure of meeting the guy, I would like to shake his hand for being so awesome!His life story so far is so full of adventure yet also turmoil which we all face in our own lives and it really makes you realise that self pity is worthless and sometimes all you should do is quite simply crack on.I enjoyed reading about Bear's faith and how it has been an integral part of all he has done (I personally get this).Any of those critics who doubt him really need to get a life...this is one great guy and if I ever have a son, I would be so proud if he turned out like Bear :-)