Being Extreme: Thrills and Dangers in the World of High-Risk Sports 2 Reviewshttp://books.google.com/books/about/Being_Extreme.html?id=YGKfVxFDXOUC In the tradition of Into Thin Air, a breathtaking look at the athletes--such as X-Games Gold Medalist Mike Metzger and radical skier Kristen Ulmer--who live to defy death In the past ten years, the world of extreme sports has exploded onto the scene, pushing the edge of safety and sanity farther than we ever thought possible. But what is it that motivates people to participate in sports where the most common injury is death? In this fascinating, in-depth "riskumentary, " authors Bill Gutman and Shawn Frederick take readers inside the fast-growing world of extreme sports--the athletes, the challenges, the fear, the rush, the almost spiritual connection to nature, the camaraderie, and the often awesome athleticism that make living on the edge so compelling. From mountain-climbing, freestyle motocross, and sky diving, to big wave surfing, BASE jumping, extreme skiing, snowboarding, waterfall jumping and more, Being Extreme explores the motivations and societal impulses behind these lifestyles, and the "Big T" personality types who live them, through interviews with top full-time athletes, recreational hobbyists who live on the edge, and psychiatrists who want to know why. For some, it's about challenging themselves to find freedom from fear; for others, it's about being the biggest bad-ass out there. For all of them, it's the inescapable pull of the next risky "rush, " a sense of satisfaction they find nowhere else. Complete with more than forty photographs of treacherous terrain and heart-pounding dangers. Being Extreme is a thrilling and shocking look at the fear, greed, spirituality, stupidity, and athleticism that fuel this cultural phenomenon. Not since James Fixx's Running has a bookso accurately captured America's fascination with the sports world. |
