The International Bestseller Between a Rock and a Hard Place--Now the Major Motion Picture 127 Hours
Hiking into the remote Utah c... read full description
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Jan 03, 2012
Forest
rated it: 
I have read a few Mountaineering books, and as a climber/surfer/diver/backpacker/paddler/all around wilderness junkie, I was quite unsettled by this book. In the book, Aron Ralston is plagued by one-upmanship syndrome. The book should be a guide to avoiding wedging your arm between stones in desolate wilderness. Rather it is a distasteful brag-fest of Ralston's overzealous adventure practices. Events such as these lead to the closure of recreation areas every year in suit-happy America. I w
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Sep 09, 2008
Michael
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There is only one character in this book, and that character is, you guessed it, Aron Ralston. Between a Rock and a Hard Place is Ralston's account of his ordeal pinned to a canyon wall by a half-ton chockstone in Blue John Canyon. He alternates between chapters telling of the delirium of those five days and the choices he must make, and a sort of "how I came to be the way I am" recounting of his life story. The irony of the book reveals itself to the reading pretty early on. A see
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(40 people liked it)
Mar 30, 2011
Elise
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WARNING: This is a SUPER long review; it's kind of a very long account of what my thoughts were during the entire book.
"We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment - the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on th More...
"We are not grand because we are at the top of the food chain or because we can alter our environment - the environment will outlast us with its unfathomable forces and unyielding powers. But rather than be bound and defeated by our insignificance, we are bold because we exercise our will anyway, despite the ephemeral and delicate presence we have in this desert, on th More...
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(3 people liked it)
Jun 12, 2011
Linds
rated it: 
First of all, God what a story.
If you have not seen the movie, Aron is best known as "that guy that had to cut off his own arm." While hiking in a canyon a rock smashes his arm and he is stuck almost a week with very low food and water until he amputates his own arm in order to survive.
Now this is an odd reading experience. It is one of the few times where the movie is much better then the book, and the oddness compounds when Aron Ralston is writing a true accou More...
If you have not seen the movie, Aron is best known as "that guy that had to cut off his own arm." While hiking in a canyon a rock smashes his arm and he is stuck almost a week with very low food and water until he amputates his own arm in order to survive.
Now this is an odd reading experience. It is one of the few times where the movie is much better then the book, and the oddness compounds when Aron Ralston is writing a true accou More...
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Jul 12, 2011
Jackie
rated it:
Hmmm.
I do not think Aron Ralston is a hero of any sort.
Yes, he amputated his arm because he had the wherewithal and the survival skills to remain calm in this massively dire situation.
However, this book is full of his tales of stupid, arrogant mistakes where he consistently fails to consider the forces (and consequences) of his actions.
He should have been killed numerous times. He is responsible, at least on one occasion, for almost killing two of his best friends.
The More...
I do not think Aron Ralston is a hero of any sort.
Yes, he amputated his arm because he had the wherewithal and the survival skills to remain calm in this massively dire situation.
However, this book is full of his tales of stupid, arrogant mistakes where he consistently fails to consider the forces (and consequences) of his actions.
He should have been killed numerous times. He is responsible, at least on one occasion, for almost killing two of his best friends.
The More...
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May 16, 2011
Stephan
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This is the vehement story of mountaineer Aron Ralston who always, for he starts an expedition, tells his friends and family where he's going to climb.
Just not this time, may 2003, in Utah's Bluejohn Canyon, he falls into a cave and by the most uncredible bad luck his hand gets stuck between a big massive rock.
This book describes Ralston's struggle against thirst, hunger, desperation, pain, stress and anxiety, because nobody knows where he is.
His situa More...
Just not this time, may 2003, in Utah's Bluejohn Canyon, he falls into a cave and by the most uncredible bad luck his hand gets stuck between a big massive rock.
This book describes Ralston's struggle against thirst, hunger, desperation, pain, stress and anxiety, because nobody knows where he is.
His situa More...
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(3 people liked it)
Jun 10, 2008
Elaine
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In Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Aron Ralston tells his true and amazing survival story. Hiking in Blue John Canyon one Saturday afternoon (April 26, 2003 to be exact), Aron, an experienced mountaineer, got trapped when a 800lb boulder came loose and pined his right hand to the canyon wall. Aron usually left a detailed map of where he was going with someone so that, if the need came, they would be able to find him quickly. On this trip, however, he did not, as it was suppose to be a
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 10, 2009
Ryan
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Dec 10, 2008
Jason
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Ralston became a media sensation due to his dramatic accident, and his dynamic charisma. Ralston had an interesting perspective on the world before he was forced to sever his arm to save his life. Trapped in a slot canyon in a Utah desert for five nights and six days gives him a sense of clairity that he compares to a second adolescence. His life after the accident became somewhat of a circus, and this story is not only about the accident, but his thougths on why it occurred, and how his life ha
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 05, 2012
Missy
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I don't often write an actual review. Usually I just give a book the star system (though many times wishing for a 1/2 a star to add or takeaway). Hear it is 1 1/2 weeks later and I'm still thinking about Aron Ralston.
1) Aron Ralston was pinned in a canyon for 6 days. 2) During that time he didn't stew in self pity. He did visit it from time to time, but he didnt' sit there and stew in it. Clearly many people would have and many people would have had the unfairness of the situation b More...
1) Aron Ralston was pinned in a canyon for 6 days. 2) During that time he didn't stew in self pity. He did visit it from time to time, but he didnt' sit there and stew in it. Clearly many people would have and many people would have had the unfairness of the situation b More...
Jan 29, 2012
Adena
rated it:
I actually was quite fascinated by the actual story of Aron's travail in the canyon, the day-by-day process he went through, and his amazing story of escape and survival. That story was haunting and awe-inspiring. What I didn't like about this book was Aron himself. Over half the book describes his many adventurous exploits, during which he committed stupid acts on nearly all of them, and almost died numerous times. By the fifth adventure or so, I found myself unsympathetically declaring tha
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Jan 27, 2012
Wes
rated it:
You won’t be able to put this book down. Yes, we all “know” the story: A guy’s hand gets trapped by a rock in a canyon accident and he spends 6 days there before amputating his own arm to save himself. It’s true that the incident with the rock is the main pivot of the story. However, the book is quite a bit more than that as Ralston is a very good writer who is able to delve into some of the more meditative and philosophical questions about why some people pursue these types of “deep play” ac
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Jan 26, 2012
Jennifer
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Book Description
In April 2003, 28-year-old Aron Ralston took a day trip in Blue John Canyon in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Shortly after beginning his solo excursion into the canyon, a boulder came loose and pinned Ralston's right arm between it and the canyon wall. Unable to free his arm, Ralston was trapped for 127 hours (more than 5 days) with limited water and food. Because Ralston had broken one of the cardinal rules of outdoor pursuits (always let someone know where you are More...
In April 2003, 28-year-old Aron Ralston took a day trip in Blue John Canyon in Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Shortly after beginning his solo excursion into the canyon, a boulder came loose and pinned Ralston's right arm between it and the canyon wall. Unable to free his arm, Ralston was trapped for 127 hours (more than 5 days) with limited water and food. Because Ralston had broken one of the cardinal rules of outdoor pursuits (always let someone know where you are More...
Jan 08, 2012
Kyle
rated it:
I thought that I had heard all about Aron Ralston's story immediately after his accident, as the media coverage was pretty constant afterward. However, reading the book gave me much more insight into the accident and Aron himself. While I became annoyed that it seemed as though he consistently does "stupid" things that put his life in danger and it was hard for me to move past the fact that he was out hiking alone without telling anyone where he was, I understand some of why he does wh
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Jan 07, 2012
If you like stories about climbing and spelunking, than this book is right for you. This book tells the true story of a man named Aron Ralston who showed amazing courage and will to survive. this book is one of my all time favorites.
Some of the things i disliked are that the book starts off VERY slow. its contains back story beyond belief. throughout the book Aron talks about his life experiences with climbing and other outdoor activities. it talks about in many different occasions A More...
Some of the things i disliked are that the book starts off VERY slow. its contains back story beyond belief. throughout the book Aron talks about his life experiences with climbing and other outdoor activities. it talks about in many different occasions A More...
Dec 31, 2011
Gary
rated it:
Aron Ralston is famous for cutting off his own hand and then climbing out of one of Utah's slot canyon. The book talks about how he got trapped by a boulder, his travels and history. Recounting this tale would be an interesting enough book, but Ralston also talks about his background, his dream of climbing Colorado's 14,000'ers, in Winter, solo. But what makes this book more than just a story of blood and rescue is that he also talks a lot about what motivates him and his history in the mounta
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Dec 08, 2011
Chad
rated it:
Between a rock and a hard place in the most interesting book i have ever read. It is about Aron Rakston that he was planing to go rock climbing in blue John Canyon. but the thing is he never told anyone that he was going. So the next day he gets everything packed up and he dosnt know he forgot his first aid kit at home, in that case was his knife. He gets to Blue John Canon as he starts walking and hiking. but later about 1 hour in he sees two girls and he starts talking and stuff and then the g
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Dec 04, 2011
Jarred
rated it:
The purpose of this book is never directly stated by Ralston; but it was clear it was to explain his ordeal in Blue John Canyon in the Utah desert in the Summer of 2003. While hiking in Canyonlands National Park in Wayne County, Utah, he was climbing down a crevice in a canyon, when a mammoth eight-hundred pound boulder jarred free and crushed his right arm against the wall of the canyon. Aron would remain trapped for more than five days, over 125 hours, before his gruesome, bloody escape. With
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Dec 02, 2011
The book "between a rock and a hard place is very eye opening, for many reasons, it shows everyday people how lucky we are to have what we have. Also the effort put out by climbers and how often the put their lives on the line just for the sake of the thrill.
The style of this book is a description of Aron getting his arm stuck and the trial and error process in which he had to go through to finally figure out a way to get his arm unstuck. In the end though he has to ether cut hi More...
The style of this book is a description of Aron getting his arm stuck and the trial and error process in which he had to go through to finally figure out a way to get his arm unstuck. In the end though he has to ether cut hi More...
Nov 08, 2011
Rianna
rated it:
The Rock that Change His Life
On Saturday, April 25th, 2003 Aaron Ralston entered into Canyon lands National Park in Utah for what he thought to a simple one day hike, when something very unfortunate happened. From Saturday, April 26th, until Thursday, May 1st, Ralston was pinned between a half ton boulder and a canyon wall. He barely had any food or water. Because he didn’t tell anyone where he was going or when he’d be back, no one wondered where he was until Tuesday when he didn’t show u More...
On Saturday, April 25th, 2003 Aaron Ralston entered into Canyon lands National Park in Utah for what he thought to a simple one day hike, when something very unfortunate happened. From Saturday, April 26th, until Thursday, May 1st, Ralston was pinned between a half ton boulder and a canyon wall. He barely had any food or water. Because he didn’t tell anyone where he was going or when he’d be back, no one wondered where he was until Tuesday when he didn’t show u More...
Oct 25, 2011
02Stocktonw
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 24, 2011
William
rated it:
A very detailed account of what Ralston had to endure. I enjoyed his descriptions of the outings that he took up to the point of getting trapped. Even though Aron was often stupid in his choices, his love for the outdoors comes sailing out. He has a life that is envied by many and one that I have dreamed of from time to time. I especially liked when he described his ascent of the Mount of the Holy Cross. When I was in my church's high school youth group at the Branson United Methodist Church we
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Aug 20, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
This book re-tells in great detail the story of Aron Ralston, who was forced to cut off his own arm to survive after a canyoneering accident near Moab, Utah. It's a very up close view of a man's struggle for life and being forced to come to an enormous decision such as cutting off a limb.
I really appreciated the lessons and slightly new point of view that I received from this novel. The first hand account of the events is chilling and quite disturbing at some parts.
While More...
I really appreciated the lessons and slightly new point of view that I received from this novel. The first hand account of the events is chilling and quite disturbing at some parts.
While More...
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Aug 08, 2011
Liv
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Aron Ralston is probably the stupidest outdoorsman I've ever heard of.
Being married to a climber, I have some insight on how to treat the rock. You don't just leap onto it and hope you make it to the top of the route. You prepare. You double-check your gear. You scope out the climb. YOU TELL PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
I'm the same age Ralston was when he got stuck in the slot canyon, and I can't imagine being so reckless. His entire book recounts how egotistical and self More...
Being married to a climber, I have some insight on how to treat the rock. You don't just leap onto it and hope you make it to the top of the route. You prepare. You double-check your gear. You scope out the climb. YOU TELL PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE GOING.
I'm the same age Ralston was when he got stuck in the slot canyon, and I can't imagine being so reckless. His entire book recounts how egotistical and self More...
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Aug 02, 2011
Cameron
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This is a great book. At first I did not like the flashbacks but you later learn they are necessary for a number of realizations he has during his entrapment. This book is about the power of attitude and education. It is amazing how “Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant,”. Not that they lay dormant as much but you don't see them as much during prosperous circumstances. To me this book is about the power of being educated. Aron
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Aug 01, 2011
Wayne
rated it:
First, let me say that when the author (Aron Ralston himself) is good, he is really good. I'd say there are select passages in this book that rival or surpass Jon Krakauer (not saying that is necessarily setting the bar very high...). The problem is you have to get through a very long winded retelling of the author's exploits climbing all the 14,000+ foot peaks in Colorado to get to the good stuff. He covers so many of these little "mini adventures", that they all begin to sound the sa
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Jun 26, 2011
Danielle
rated it:
Now, I will stop off by saying I saw the movie 127 Hours first. Of course, I had to read the book. Usually the book is much better, but the movie is one of my favourites and really resignated with me whereas the book although had mostly ups, had some downs. Like many other reviewers said, much of this book seemed to be a filler with Aron's boastful stories of adventures and near-death experiences. At first they were really interesting, but I soon grew tired of them and would often put the book d
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May 14, 2011
Ms Tlaskal
rated it:
Read this incredible book this weekend, could fit into both 'Outsider' and 'Taking Risks'modules for years 8 and 11.
It has been made into a film so gory that people retched in the cinema. The precis is that a young mountaineer has an accident in a canyon in Utah which traps his hand against a rock and to free himslef, after 127 hours he cuts off his own hand.
Here is a very intelligent man who throws himself into some of the riskiest situations possible in order to feel a More...
It has been made into a film so gory that people retched in the cinema. The precis is that a young mountaineer has an accident in a canyon in Utah which traps his hand against a rock and to free himslef, after 127 hours he cuts off his own hand.
Here is a very intelligent man who throws himself into some of the riskiest situations possible in order to feel a More...
Apr 20, 2011
Alanna
rated it:
Craig really summed it up well when he said that reading this book is like watching a train wreck in slow motion: you don't really want to see it, and yet you can't pull your eyes away, either. This book certainly held my attention, although I alternated between being appalled at Ralston's stupidity at times (go hiking without telling anyone where you're going?!?!?!?) and being totally in awe of his ability to do damage control to get himself out of the tight (ha ha, didn't realize what a bad p
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Apr 04, 2011
Zachary
rated it:
Thanks to the amazing movie, I finally decided to read this book. I originally didn't want to read it because I felt, after flipping through several pages, that Aron was painting a picture of himself as being some amazing adventurer, and didn't buy it. I'm glad that I read this though. There were several good themes, and although you know what the end-result is going to be, he does a great job of building up the anticipation to that final moment.
Personally, I don't see how he didn't di More...
Personally, I don't see how he didn't di More...
