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The Impossible First: From Fire to Ice—Crossing Antarctica Alone
Colin O’Brady’s awe-inspiring memoir spans his recovery from a tragic accident to his 932-mile solo crossing of Antarctica.
Prior to December 2018, no individual had ever crossed the landmass of Antarctica alone, without support and completely human powered. Yet, Colin O’Brady was determined to do just that, even if, ten years earlier, there was doubt that he’d ever walk again normally. From the depths of a tragic accident, he fought his way back. In a quest to unlock his potential and discover what was possible, he went on to set three mountaineering world records before turning to this historic Antarctic challenge.
O’Brady’s pursuit of a goal that had eluded many others was made even more intense by a head-to-head battle that emerged with British polar explorer Captain Louis Rudd—also striving to be “the first.� Enduring Antarctica’s sub-zero temperatures and pulling a sled that initially weighed 375 pounds—in complete isolation and through a succession of whiteouts, storms, and a series of near disasters—O’Brady persevered.
Alone with his thoughts for nearly two months in the vastness of the frozen continent—gripped by fear and doubt—he reflected on his past, seeking courage and inspiration in the relationships and experiences that had shaped his life.
Prior to December 2018, no individual had ever crossed the landmass of Antarctica alone, without support and completely human powered. Yet, Colin O’Brady was determined to do just that, even if, ten years earlier, there was doubt that he’d ever walk again normally. From the depths of a tragic accident, he fought his way back. In a quest to unlock his potential and discover what was possible, he went on to set three mountaineering world records before turning to this historic Antarctic challenge.
O’Brady’s pursuit of a goal that had eluded many others was made even more intense by a head-to-head battle that emerged with British polar explorer Captain Louis Rudd—also striving to be “the first.� Enduring Antarctica’s sub-zero temperatures and pulling a sled that initially weighed 375 pounds—in complete isolation and through a succession of whiteouts, storms, and a series of near disasters—O’Brady persevered.
Alone with his thoughts for nearly two months in the vastness of the frozen continent—gripped by fear and doubt—he reflected on his past, seeking courage and inspiration in the relationships and experiences that had shaped his life.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 531 reviews
March 31, 2020
There are those brave, adventurous souls who will take on any challenge, no matter how difficult, seemingly impossible, or dangerous.
Then there are people like me:
I am happy to read about those brave souls and their daring adventures, content to learn of their dangerous feats from the safety and comfort of my own home. And how I enjoyed reading The Impossible First:From Fire to Ice—Crossing Antarctica Alone! This book was awesome!
Colin O'Brady belongs to the first group of people and in 2018 set out to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone and without support or provisions delivered to him. It was incredible to read how he survived this 932 mile (1500 km.) journey pulling a sleigh that initially weighed 375 pounds (170 kg). 932 miles over treacherous ice often in white-out conditions, guided only by the compass around his neck. The temperature was on average 25F below 0 before factoring in the wind chill.
Mr. O'Brady intertwines memories of his life leading up to this point, including climbing the world's highest peaks and breaking world records in mountaineering. As he faces immense obstacles and freezing conditions in this bleak landscape, he reflects on his life thus far. He talks lovingly and proudly of his parents and wife. He shares experiences that inspired this excursion, how he trained for it. All of it was interesting, not one boring page. It was incredible to witness his strength of mind and body, how he was able to continue on in the most extremeconditions. Even when his body wanted to give up, he always found the will to persevere.
This book is as inspirational as it is exciting and I highly recommend it..... especially for all of you who, like me, would rather read about these adventures than attempt them.
Then there are people like me:
I am happy to read about those brave souls and their daring adventures, content to learn of their dangerous feats from the safety and comfort of my own home. And how I enjoyed reading The Impossible First:From Fire to Ice—Crossing Antarctica Alone! This book was awesome!
Colin O'Brady belongs to the first group of people and in 2018 set out to become the first person to cross Antarctica alone and without support or provisions delivered to him. It was incredible to read how he survived this 932 mile (1500 km.) journey pulling a sleigh that initially weighed 375 pounds (170 kg). 932 miles over treacherous ice often in white-out conditions, guided only by the compass around his neck. The temperature was on average 25F below 0 before factoring in the wind chill.
Mr. O'Brady intertwines memories of his life leading up to this point, including climbing the world's highest peaks and breaking world records in mountaineering. As he faces immense obstacles and freezing conditions in this bleak landscape, he reflects on his life thus far. He talks lovingly and proudly of his parents and wife. He shares experiences that inspired this excursion, how he trained for it. All of it was interesting, not one boring page. It was incredible to witness his strength of mind and body, how he was able to continue on in the most extremeconditions. Even when his body wanted to give up, he always found the will to persevere.
This book is as inspirational as it is exciting and I highly recommend it..... especially for all of you who, like me, would rather read about these adventures than attempt them.
March 1, 2020
Occasionally thrilling but more often self-aggrandizing, O’Brady’s book is more about competition than adventure. He is an accomplished athlete and has set many world records, thought these repeatedly come off as privileged, selfish exploits. His account of the crossing lacks the emotional connection of a true naturalist like Matthiessen. Instead, the natural beauty of Antarctica is relegated to a few short paragraphs. The land itself is treated as a racetrack or competitor - just something else for the author to steamroll in his quest to set a record.
I refrained from reading the National Geographic exposé on O’Brady’s journey until after finishing the book. Several of the article’s facts (backed up with evidence) are damning to the author’s claims, but sadly seem all to reasonable given his own tone as an author.
Skip this book and seek adventure writing that focuses on the beauty and peace of the unspoiled world, rather than self-imposed races against the clock.
I refrained from reading the National Geographic exposé on O’Brady’s journey until after finishing the book. Several of the article’s facts (backed up with evidence) are damning to the author’s claims, but sadly seem all to reasonable given his own tone as an author.
Skip this book and seek adventure writing that focuses on the beauty and peace of the unspoiled world, rather than self-imposed races against the clock.
February 23, 2021
If you’ve ever thought “I’d quite like a book where a vapid, self-aggrandizing, and self-absorbed guy recounts a highly embellished adventure that was actually first completed by Borge Ousland twenty years prior� this is the book for you.
June 16, 2020
Such a huge and mind blowing accomplishment that I will only ever read about in books. It was a pleasure to witness secondhand Colin O’Brady’s trek across Antarctica. Simply amazing! I loved the details about his expedition and the Antarctica. The storms, the crevasses, the bitter cold...so much danger yet a happy ending. It isn’t too often polar exploration ends in success.
I think it was precisely because Colin’s adventure was successful, there wasn’t a ton to write about. His daily grind was, for the most part, the same and uneventful, which was best case scenario for him but made for a less thrilling read. I felt like he had to include a lot of details from his past in order to fill up the pages. I was more interested in the Antarctica story, not his childhood memories and past treks.
I think this story would have been better as a novella- keeping to his actual experience preparing for and accomplishing his passage across the Antarctica and omitting the filler. Definitely an interesting read in parts but then not so interesting in other parts.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think it was precisely because Colin’s adventure was successful, there wasn’t a ton to write about. His daily grind was, for the most part, the same and uneventful, which was best case scenario for him but made for a less thrilling read. I felt like he had to include a lot of details from his past in order to fill up the pages. I was more interested in the Antarctica story, not his childhood memories and past treks.
I think this story would have been better as a novella- keeping to his actual experience preparing for and accomplishing his passage across the Antarctica and omitting the filler. Definitely an interesting read in parts but then not so interesting in other parts.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2021
If you have ever thought you could not accomplish something, feel defeated, or ever want to give up, you have to read this memoir first.
The Impossible First was truly an inspirational read - a story of perseverance, never having to give up, and believing that nothing is impossible.
Colin O’Brady is a wonderful storyteller who described his achievement of crossing the Antarctica alone, when just a few years back he was told he would not be able to walk normally again. This was fascinating!
This deeply moving story is both harrowing and inspiring, and one I will always remember to encourage and inspire.
This is a fast read and a page turner that will surely stay with you when you need the most encouragement and motivation.
Thank you @scribnerbooks for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
The Impossible First was truly an inspirational read - a story of perseverance, never having to give up, and believing that nothing is impossible.
Colin O’Brady is a wonderful storyteller who described his achievement of crossing the Antarctica alone, when just a few years back he was told he would not be able to walk normally again. This was fascinating!
This deeply moving story is both harrowing and inspiring, and one I will always remember to encourage and inspire.
This is a fast read and a page turner that will surely stay with you when you need the most encouragement and motivation.
Thank you @scribnerbooks for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 6, 2019
Wow. I gobbled up O'Brady's memoir of being the first person to cross Antarctica by himself, and unassisted by food drops, etc. While that is a main part of his book, it's also about so much more. He weaves in stories of past adventures and endurance trials. My biggest takeaway from this book was how much people can accomplish when they push harder than they think they can in pursuit of their dreams.
Recommended for fans of travel memoirs or anyone interested in trials of endurance. Fans of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air will find a lot to enjoy here (and in fact, O'Brady includes the story of how he summited Mount Everest.)
Recommended for fans of travel memoirs or anyone interested in trials of endurance. Fans of Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air will find a lot to enjoy here (and in fact, O'Brady includes the story of how he summited Mount Everest.)
March 11, 2020
I was all set to give this book 4 stars. Then I read the National Geographic article with other Antarctic explorers calling O'Brady out for not being totally honest/upfront about some of the details in his story (to be fair, he has written a 16-page rebuttal to the article).
My initial impressions of the book:
What he accomplished was truly amazing and really speaks to the power of a positive attitude - like his decision to push to finish the final miles of his journey with no sleep and just power through. He's open and honest about how hard it was at times, writing about setbacks and his own personal vulnerabilities (like when he realized he couldn't even pull his sled day 1 because it was too heavy).
Through the book he toggles back to memories of what got him to this point - healing from horrific burns to his legs after an accident in Thailand, meeting his future wife, and his career/accomplishments as a professional athlete. These are interesting and help flesh him out as a person. I did sense the book was clearly following a Memoir Formula that felt ghost-written, and the reconstructed dialogue was chunky at times, but this was forgivable to me. He's an athlete, not a writer.
Back to that article. A couple key points:
People don't like what he represents - a professional athlete who comes in green, essentially finds gray areas of something that's never "technically" been done, and gets more acclaim than others who did harder things first. Okay, I get it. There's a Code, and he violated it.
Another criticism is that he was a jerk to people who were grouped with him in his training expeditions (mostly tourists, who were there for the experience and not a speed goal). This one made me recall something that didn't sit well with me when I read it in the book. It's his interactions with Rudd, whom he was trying to beat to the finish. According to O'Brady, Rudd was playing mind games with him the whole time and it climaxes with O'Brady confronting Rudd, warning him not to speak to him for the rest of the journey. Not a nice move, I thought at the time, but, hey, Rudd was being a jerk! Well, now I wonder.
Finally, and most damning - both O'Brady and Rudd were using a route that included major portions of a groomed "highway" - but O'Brady failed to mention it. His peers call this "assistance," which O'Brady would dispute.
All in all, as a personal adventure story, I don't think this diminishes his experience or our enjoyment of it. O'Brady truly did something really hard - that 99% of us would never even dream of - and came out of it enriched and enlivened. As an Antarctic "Impossible First," it sounds like that's debatable. O'Brady is on to other things now - he's got a TV show with Discovery about an "Impossible Row" across Antarctica's Drake Passage (he doesn't have rowing experience either), and Rudd has a book coming out about his experience. I'm curious to see what Rudd says about O'Brady.
My initial impressions of the book:
What he accomplished was truly amazing and really speaks to the power of a positive attitude - like his decision to push to finish the final miles of his journey with no sleep and just power through. He's open and honest about how hard it was at times, writing about setbacks and his own personal vulnerabilities (like when he realized he couldn't even pull his sled day 1 because it was too heavy).
Through the book he toggles back to memories of what got him to this point - healing from horrific burns to his legs after an accident in Thailand, meeting his future wife, and his career/accomplishments as a professional athlete. These are interesting and help flesh him out as a person. I did sense the book was clearly following a Memoir Formula that felt ghost-written, and the reconstructed dialogue was chunky at times, but this was forgivable to me. He's an athlete, not a writer.
Back to that article. A couple key points:
People don't like what he represents - a professional athlete who comes in green, essentially finds gray areas of something that's never "technically" been done, and gets more acclaim than others who did harder things first. Okay, I get it. There's a Code, and he violated it.
Another criticism is that he was a jerk to people who were grouped with him in his training expeditions (mostly tourists, who were there for the experience and not a speed goal). This one made me recall something that didn't sit well with me when I read it in the book. It's his interactions with Rudd, whom he was trying to beat to the finish. According to O'Brady, Rudd was playing mind games with him the whole time and it climaxes with O'Brady confronting Rudd, warning him not to speak to him for the rest of the journey. Not a nice move, I thought at the time, but, hey, Rudd was being a jerk! Well, now I wonder.
Finally, and most damning - both O'Brady and Rudd were using a route that included major portions of a groomed "highway" - but O'Brady failed to mention it. His peers call this "assistance," which O'Brady would dispute.
All in all, as a personal adventure story, I don't think this diminishes his experience or our enjoyment of it. O'Brady truly did something really hard - that 99% of us would never even dream of - and came out of it enriched and enlivened. As an Antarctic "Impossible First," it sounds like that's debatable. O'Brady is on to other things now - he's got a TV show with Discovery about an "Impossible Row" across Antarctica's Drake Passage (he doesn't have rowing experience either), and Rudd has a book coming out about his experience. I'm curious to see what Rudd says about O'Brady.
April 29, 2020
If this was a high school yearbook superlative it would be “talks most says least�
February 3, 2021
I especially liked his periods of doubt. Will he run out of food? Can he tell the difference between delusion and reality when pushed beyond his endurance limits?
Just what is this state of 'flow' anyway? His description makes sense for him. Maybe for others as well.
The roll of his support team, and other helpful individuals, was very well done, especially that of his wife/team leader. She urged him on, with logic and empathy, at many crucial points.
Just what is this state of 'flow' anyway? His description makes sense for him. Maybe for others as well.
The roll of his support team, and other helpful individuals, was very well done, especially that of his wife/team leader. She urged him on, with logic and empathy, at many crucial points.
February 19, 2020
Still on a memoir kick, great listen.
January 26, 2020
The Impossible First is Colin O'Bradys memoir of his 932 mile solo and unassisted crossing of Antarctica.
Wow, Wow, WOW! This memoir is crazy inspiring! I was completely blown away by Colin's perseverance throughout these pages. The journey across Antarctica was such a mixed bag of emotions. I found myself laughing, gasping and crying - happy tears!
I really enjoyed all the flashbacks that come into play throughout Colin's story. It was interesting to learn how his journey began and what it took to make it happen.
Overall I found this memoir to be an exciting read! I would highly recommend to anyone. If you're interested in learning more (like I was) there are tons of videos and resources online. Plus Colin just completed another adventure along with a team! The world's first completely human powered row across The Drake Passage. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for my review copy!
Wow, Wow, WOW! This memoir is crazy inspiring! I was completely blown away by Colin's perseverance throughout these pages. The journey across Antarctica was such a mixed bag of emotions. I found myself laughing, gasping and crying - happy tears!
I really enjoyed all the flashbacks that come into play throughout Colin's story. It was interesting to learn how his journey began and what it took to make it happen.
Overall I found this memoir to be an exciting read! I would highly recommend to anyone. If you're interested in learning more (like I was) there are tons of videos and resources online. Plus Colin just completed another adventure along with a team! The world's first completely human powered row across The Drake Passage. I can't wait to see what he does next.
Huge thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for my review copy!
February 20, 2021
Colin O'Brady's claims of an "unassisted and unsupported" crossing of Antarctica rang hollow. He was always in contact with his wife and conversed with her on a daily basis. She and his mother supported him from back home with all kinds of information and support. As the protagonist, he's not a sympathetic individual and gave several examples of being unpleasant and self-absorbed. His wife was even more obsessed than he was. I'm afraid in the end he is just being irresponsible and encouraging other people to get themselves into life-threatening situations and engage in unhealthy competition.
January 17, 2020
Despite the book is about one person’s trek across Antarctica, there is a great deal to read about. There are flashbacks that help fill out the story and understanding the motivation. There are a few spots of humor that remind you no matter how tough the situation is, humor comes into play. I chuckled about the tortoise race, the consequences of eating too much in a binge, and meeting supporters in the least likely venues. An uplifting read that makes your own day pretty easy to deal with. Feeling down? Read this book for hope.
May 1, 2020
اگه اپیزود جنوبگان پادکست چنلب� رو شنیدید، این کتاب براتون بسیار شیرین میشه.
//
//
May 13, 2020
Typically, 1-star reviews are for items I never finished. This is the rare occasion where the other problems with the book are so outrageous that it deserves nothing more than a 1-star.
First, let me start by saying what Mr. O'Brady accomplished was amazing. His adventure in Antarctica was very cool.
However, make no mistake, this is primarily a religious book. He speaks more often of fighting demons, finding strength within himself, overcoming obstacles, wrestling with fear, and love far more than he talks of his time in Antarctica.
And all of his advice, in all of those areas, is incredibly hollow and vapid. This man struggled with very little, VERY LITTLE.
He never worried about money, family, or illness. He never showed he cared for anyone but himself. His "fire" was from getting drunk in Thailand and setting himself on fire. Where his traumatic moment is a Thailand doctor, who didn't speak good English, and wasn't even the doctor in the city told him he may never walk normally again. He might have a limp . . . poor guy.
It is easy to love your wife when you disappear for three or four months a year to gallivant around the world. It is easy to accomplish your goals when you don't care about anyone but yourself. It is easy to have grand adventures when everything is handed to you by Nike.
He doesn't even enjoy the adventures. He climbs Everest only to speed down and catch a flight. He rushes from high spot to high spot in the US. Even Antarctica was more about beating Rudd than doing it for any kind of enjoyment or adventure.
What if he had failed? What if he had broken his leg and had to quit? Or, heaven forbid, had a real disaster on the ice? His entire identity is wrapped in the fact that he accomplished everything he came into contact with, and when there was a struggle the chapter ended and we were on to another topic. Just like in real life. Fade to black and everything is better again.
He goes into schools to be idolized, to be worshiped, and to feed them the same lies society tells them. Most of those kids will not become astronauts, mountain climbers, or professional athletes, and then society tells them they have no value because they failed.
This book is wrong. In everything it teaches and everything Colin tries to impart to his audience. He is an uppity hippy, who idolizes the earth and his accomplishments. It will be interesting to see what happens when Colin becomes too old to do these things, and his identity and self-worth are destroyed.
I felt no elation for Colin, only sadness at how empty his life is. My value comes from true Infinite Love. Not the endorphins rushing through his brain as he neared the finish line. Instead, a man who saw my faults, saw my failures, and while I was still a sinner He died to save me. My worth comes from knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior and trusting Him with my life and salvation.
Colin has been blessed beyond measure, but instead of acknowledging the source of those blessings, Colin thinks he has earned this, deserves this, and is worth all this. Sorry, Colin does not get to write a superficial religious book and get praised for it.
You want real power: Romans 5:8-"God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
He loves Colin, and He loves you too. There is room at the foot of the cross, and only there can you begin to understand true love, true freedom, and true power. Colin's book is hollow; God's love is overflowing.
First, let me start by saying what Mr. O'Brady accomplished was amazing. His adventure in Antarctica was very cool.
However, make no mistake, this is primarily a religious book. He speaks more often of fighting demons, finding strength within himself, overcoming obstacles, wrestling with fear, and love far more than he talks of his time in Antarctica.
And all of his advice, in all of those areas, is incredibly hollow and vapid. This man struggled with very little, VERY LITTLE.
He never worried about money, family, or illness. He never showed he cared for anyone but himself. His "fire" was from getting drunk in Thailand and setting himself on fire. Where his traumatic moment is a Thailand doctor, who didn't speak good English, and wasn't even the doctor in the city told him he may never walk normally again. He might have a limp . . . poor guy.
It is easy to love your wife when you disappear for three or four months a year to gallivant around the world. It is easy to accomplish your goals when you don't care about anyone but yourself. It is easy to have grand adventures when everything is handed to you by Nike.
He doesn't even enjoy the adventures. He climbs Everest only to speed down and catch a flight. He rushes from high spot to high spot in the US. Even Antarctica was more about beating Rudd than doing it for any kind of enjoyment or adventure.
What if he had failed? What if he had broken his leg and had to quit? Or, heaven forbid, had a real disaster on the ice? His entire identity is wrapped in the fact that he accomplished everything he came into contact with, and when there was a struggle the chapter ended and we were on to another topic. Just like in real life. Fade to black and everything is better again.
He goes into schools to be idolized, to be worshiped, and to feed them the same lies society tells them. Most of those kids will not become astronauts, mountain climbers, or professional athletes, and then society tells them they have no value because they failed.
This book is wrong. In everything it teaches and everything Colin tries to impart to his audience. He is an uppity hippy, who idolizes the earth and his accomplishments. It will be interesting to see what happens when Colin becomes too old to do these things, and his identity and self-worth are destroyed.
I felt no elation for Colin, only sadness at how empty his life is. My value comes from true Infinite Love. Not the endorphins rushing through his brain as he neared the finish line. Instead, a man who saw my faults, saw my failures, and while I was still a sinner He died to save me. My worth comes from knowing Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior and trusting Him with my life and salvation.
Colin has been blessed beyond measure, but instead of acknowledging the source of those blessings, Colin thinks he has earned this, deserves this, and is worth all this. Sorry, Colin does not get to write a superficial religious book and get praised for it.
You want real power: Romans 5:8-"God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
He loves Colin, and He loves you too. There is room at the foot of the cross, and only there can you begin to understand true love, true freedom, and true power. Colin's book is hollow; God's love is overflowing.
October 15, 2020
The last few chapters saved this book, but not enough for me to rank it any higher. This struck me as your standard self congratulatory book riddled with flashbacks as evidence to why the person is uniquely qualified to do what they did. About 90% of the book was flash back, and 10% about the crossing.
I would also say, read the National Geographic article "the Problem with Colin O Brady" First two lines of the article..."His tale of crossing Antarctica was riveting. But how much was fiction? Colin O’Brady says he crossed Antarctica alone and “unassisted.� Polar experts say he’s embellishing his accomplishments in pursuit of fame."
While still an amazing accomplishment, it may not be as amazing as he portrays it to be. The book describes the last section of the trek as a horrible terrain . . NG points out that his last 366 miles was on a grated supply road. Anyway, google his story and there are a lot of articles out there that blow up his story.
I would also say, read the National Geographic article "the Problem with Colin O Brady" First two lines of the article..."His tale of crossing Antarctica was riveting. But how much was fiction? Colin O’Brady says he crossed Antarctica alone and “unassisted.� Polar experts say he’s embellishing his accomplishments in pursuit of fame."
While still an amazing accomplishment, it may not be as amazing as he portrays it to be. The book describes the last section of the trek as a horrible terrain . . NG points out that his last 366 miles was on a grated supply road. Anyway, google his story and there are a lot of articles out there that blow up his story.
April 25, 2021
Any endurance athlete will relate to Colin's story. This is the story of a man overcoming huge injuries and striving to become a record breaking outdoor adventurer, risking his life in the process. You will have a hard time putting the book down.
June 8, 2020
Unlocking Potential to Live Fully
Colin O'Brady chronicles his life's events as he treks across Antarctica in a race with Captain Louis Rudd to reach the finish line. As he fights against the elements: storms, sastrug, decreased food intake, fear and mental anguish, he reminiscences about past life events, recalling how he dealt with similar predicaments in which he finds himself currently. His wife, Jenna, champions him throughout. His extended family is very supportive. His dad reminds Colin the most important thing is to have fun. Many people support him both financially and morally. This is an excellent book for children of all ages to learn how to achieve calm in the midst of chaos and perseverance to reach their goals.
Colin O'Brady chronicles his life's events as he treks across Antarctica in a race with Captain Louis Rudd to reach the finish line. As he fights against the elements: storms, sastrug, decreased food intake, fear and mental anguish, he reminiscences about past life events, recalling how he dealt with similar predicaments in which he finds himself currently. His wife, Jenna, champions him throughout. His extended family is very supportive. His dad reminds Colin the most important thing is to have fun. Many people support him both financially and morally. This is an excellent book for children of all ages to learn how to achieve calm in the midst of chaos and perseverance to reach their goals.
March 22, 2020
Stuck inside during #COVID_19, and this book made it feel like I was out, living an adventure. The type of read that you pause to tell whoever is closest to you, what you just read... like every other page.
August 17, 2024
One of my favorite non-fiction of the year so far. What a great story of endurance woven in with a story of life and love.
May 30, 2020
Likes: Inspiring athletic memoir of crossing Antartica unassisted despite a life changing injury years previous. Great storyline.
Dislikes: Would have liked to see more of the journey and training ahead of the race. Long winded. Could have been half the length. Didn't feel like we were getting to full background of the story.
Recommend For: Adventurers, people who enjoy inspiring athletic stories.
Dislikes: Would have liked to see more of the journey and training ahead of the race. Long winded. Could have been half the length. Didn't feel like we were getting to full background of the story.
Recommend For: Adventurers, people who enjoy inspiring athletic stories.
February 1, 2022
A MUST READ!!!! I loved every second of this book. The grit, the self reflection, the teamwork in their marriage- ALL OF IT!!! Infinite love! This book was so good for me to listen to during a time in my life where I felt low and was in need of some rejuvenating. Listen/read and then call me so we can talk about it. Phone number is 6789998212.
November 4, 2022
Adding to my mental list of “read in one sitting�
Emotional, white-knuckle, captivating read.
My only criticism stems from my personal distaste of motivational speaking and self-help type energy and especially towards the end I could feel an undercurrent of those vibes, but not enough to fully disconnect from enjoyment.
Emotional, white-knuckle, captivating read.
My only criticism stems from my personal distaste of motivational speaking and self-help type energy and especially towards the end I could feel an undercurrent of those vibes, but not enough to fully disconnect from enjoyment.
March 12, 2020
Okay, first of all, Colin O'Brady has written most of this memoir as if it were a motivational presentation given to middle schoolers. He possesses the awkwardly upbeat personality of one of those guys that goes door to door asking if "you'd like to learn more about the Church of Latter Day Saints." And he wears cargo shorts and flip flops. And he likes Sublime. I quickly accepted all of this, so piqued was my interest in this solitary endeavor he somehow completed. Here lies the real downfall of this book: it attempts to essentially tell O'Brady's entire life story, not just the part about crossing Antarctica alone. I think many of the flashback stories are worthwhile and add to the narrative, BUT if this is going to be an autobiography, it needed to be a lot longer, as the personal memories and anecdotes take up valuable space that could have been better used explaining so many other things. First of all, basically nothing is discussed in terms of how he got into "adventuring." He jumps right from being a triathlon athlete into being one of the world's greatest mountain climbers with almost no explanation of how that came to pass. There is a ridiculous paragraph late in the book where his wife suggests that he could set a new record by climbing Dinali in 3 days time, while also mentioning it usually takes 3 weeks to climb. No explanation of how he accomplished this is given other than basically "so then I climbed Dinali in less than 3 days." What??? Lastly, some of the most interesting parts of the story involve O'Brady struggling with the changes undergoing his own body as he makes his intense, grueling trek. I was so fascinated to read about the toll it had taken on him, what he looked like at the end, and how he was able to recover. None of this is mentioned. He just finishes and is happy.
The book was not all bad, and certainly interesting enough to finish. The parts about dealing with the silence and identical landscapes for days on end were truly good. I especially enjoyed his discussions on essentially forgetting how to speak or to think coherently, as well as the many mistakes and accidents he was able to overcome along the way. I wonder if the explorer, Louis Rudd, who tried the expedition concurrently and served as Colin's competitive adversary, but took longer than O'Brady, could present a more informative account of the trip...a little less "rah rah reach for the stars" and more of the brutal reality.
The book was not all bad, and certainly interesting enough to finish. The parts about dealing with the silence and identical landscapes for days on end were truly good. I especially enjoyed his discussions on essentially forgetting how to speak or to think coherently, as well as the many mistakes and accidents he was able to overcome along the way. I wonder if the explorer, Louis Rudd, who tried the expedition concurrently and served as Colin's competitive adversary, but took longer than O'Brady, could present a more informative account of the trip...a little less "rah rah reach for the stars" and more of the brutal reality.
May 9, 2020
I was initially thrilled by the book. I remember well the actual event and was eager to read the story. But then I noticed a review hear (by Karen) that points to the controversy O'Brady's claims have generated. After reading the article I'm pretty disappointed. O'Brady only achieved a "first" by redefining what an Antartctica crossing means. He only accomplished the last piece of it at lightening speed by using an established road. And his generous and sportsmanlike gesture of waiting for his opponent, Louis Rudd, at the finish line so they could go home together? It made the plane rental cheaper.
Colin O'Brady is a fraud and a phony. Shame on him.
Colin O'Brady is a fraud and a phony. Shame on him.
January 19, 2021
Colin’s story was good although hard to relate to unless you’ve done competitive extreme sports. The allure of the Arctic I can I wrap my head around but the physical deterioration needed to achieve a goal of crossing leads me to reflect on what is the point of trying to set a record like this? I understood more as the story went on that it involves the 1) satisfaction of surviving extreme conditions on your own 2) satisfaction of coming in ahead of someone else trying to break a record and 3) the legacy of having done an expedition like this/ codifying your efforts in history in order not to be forgotten, or more positively, to be remembered for something you are passionate about.
September 26, 2021
I'm a very comfortable couch potato that loves comfort more then anything else. But I have a weird obsession with reading about people that definitely challenges their life in amazing and often dangerous places. This one did not disappoint. About Colin O'Brady who already made wonders when he learnt to walk again even though there was doubts that he would ever walk again. Then decided to do the alone journey through Antarctica. This was an emersive, intense and powerful read. About pressing your limits and don't give up.
April 8, 2022
K this dude is kind of hilarious cause he is certainly a TYPE (he partied around Southeast Asia; his fave book was The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo; he went to burning man) but then he has legit accomplished mind boggling feats. HE ACCIDENTALLY WON THE CHICAGO TRIATHLON. AFTER SUFFERING HORRIBLE BURNS TO LIKE HALF HIS BODY. WHAT.
Anyway this book is about his unassisted solo trek across Antarctica. I liked it cause I like books about dangerous outdoor expeditions in icy, remote places. The end.
Anyway this book is about his unassisted solo trek across Antarctica. I liked it cause I like books about dangerous outdoor expeditions in icy, remote places. The end.
May 8, 2020
Boo...I wasn’t really feeling his vibe and then I googled his “impossible� “first� and found out why. No denying his impressive feats, but he’s like the Instagram influencer of explorers. Meh. Maybe I’m just old.
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