Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
13th out of 78 books
—
11 voters
This Game of Ghosts
by
Joe Simpson
When mountain climber Simon Yates cut the rope and sent his friend and climbing partner Joe Simpson plummeting to an ordeal few mountaineers can have contemplated, the outcome was totally unpredictable. That Simpson survived his experience on Peru's Siula Grande is a revelation of the power of the human spirit to overcome fear, pain and deprivation of almost unimaginable i...more
Paperback, 330 pages
Published
September 1st 1995
by Mountaineers Books
(first published 1993)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
620)
I had read a couple of Joe Simpson's other books before this one and had really liked his writing style. Once again, he did not disappoint. I also figured out why!
This book is, essentially, a biography of Joe's life and climbing career. We get to go along for the ride as his sister eggs him on to do some outlandish things. We watch as he goes on his first mountain climbing adventure, feel with him as various events unfold, and realize (at least I did) that climbing mountains isn't something that...more
This book is, essentially, a biography of Joe's life and climbing career. We get to go along for the ride as his sister eggs him on to do some outlandish things. We watch as he goes on his first mountain climbing adventure, feel with him as various events unfold, and realize (at least I did) that climbing mountains isn't something that...more
Joe Simpson became famous for Touching the Void, his retelling of a mountaineering accident that nearly killed him. Here, he goes further and starts by providing half autobiography, half a memory of climbers that were killed. This leads to a rather disjointed structure that makes it often hard to follow along, which is a shame because otherwise the book is quite an interesting take on the obsession of the climbing community and what drives them to risk everythiung for something so "pointless" as...more
Ever since I read Joe Simpson's 'Touching the Void', I have been an admirer and had wanted to read other books from him. Still, it took me a few years after reading 'Touching the Void' to read 'This game of Ghosts'. Though this one is billed as a sequel to 'Touching the Void', it is more autobiographical and also philosophical about why he or anyone else climbs mountains. It also contains his reflections on so many of his mountaineering friends' deaths over the years on the mountains. It is an a...more
What I learned from this book was that Joe Simpson is not someone whom you don't want to share a rope.
This is a memoir that explores Joe's adventures from crazy childhood stunts to near-fatal climbing accidents. Simpson writes in an effort to understand his own reasons for taking such risks. He describes what it is like to face death, and works through the guilt of being spared so many times when other climbing friends and mentors were not.
Really a haunting book that is quite well written.
This is a memoir that explores Joe's adventures from crazy childhood stunts to near-fatal climbing accidents. Simpson writes in an effort to understand his own reasons for taking such risks. He describes what it is like to face death, and works through the guilt of being spared so many times when other climbing friends and mentors were not.
Really a haunting book that is quite well written.
This book attempts to explain the "why" of alpinists and mountaineers... Reading of Simpson's various failed attempts of 1st ascents makes you wonder a bit about his judgement as a climber. Interesting read, but glad he's not on my team.
Very touching, sad book about the people and friends he's climbed with. Also inspiring and helps those who climb, and those who dont, to understand why they climb and take the risks that we do
Looking back on all the friends he lost over the years, this is a nice read and tells a bit about both tragedy and triumph. Good read.
The beginning of the book is a little slow and hard to keep reading. Loving his stories of mountaineering and thoughts.
Touching the Void and this book inspired me to start hiking up mountains.
Outstanding. Equally as good as his previouls work, 'Touching The Void'
A really good read, melancholy in places, every keeps dying!
The best of the JS books. Well written, funny, sad and addictive!
One of my favourite books of the year 2000.
A thrilling look into why climbers climb.
I recomend everything by this author.
Joe Simpson has written several books on mountaineering, but this is his most personal because it gives you a glimpse into his early years and explains how mountaineering hooked him. It was interesting to finally learn about his familly and his childhood.
The picture on the cover was taken when he and his friend fell off the ledge of a mountain that they were sleeping on. Luckily, they had thought to strap themselves on (you'd think I would've learned some mountain climbing vocabulary by now). Th...more
The picture on the cover was taken when he and his friend fell off the ledge of a mountain that they were sleeping on. Luckily, they had thought to strap themselves on (you'd think I would've learned some mountain climbing vocabulary by now). Th...more
Equally as good as 'touching the void'
Another gripping account of real-life adventure.
Strangely life affirming considering everybody dies! He questions why humanity does such dangerous things and doesn't really get to any convincing answers but the journey is fascinating.
Simpson never disappoints; not as a mountaineer nor as a writer.
Interesting
An unflinching examination of the mountaineering life. Having spent much of his life in the mountains, those who have died around him on high peaks haunt the pages. He confronts central questions familiar to all of who push ourselves in the outdoors, and writes with refreshing candor.
Fascinating look into the culture of mountaineering as well as an expose on raw courage. I enjoyed getting inside Joe's head, not just hearing about his adventures. It does make me want to climb, or at least embrace the really hard, outside daily life things.
Interesting adventure book about a climber (same guy as Touching the void). Basically lived on welfare and almsot died a bunch of times. Interesting insight into the mind of climbers.
Joe Simpson is always a good read.
Favorite book of all time
May 24, 2013
Rodney Ulyate
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2013
Natalie Richards
is currently reading it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Joe Simpson is the author of the bestselling Touching the Void, as well as four subsequent non-fiction books published by The Mountaineers Books: This Game of Ghosts, Storms of Silence, Dark Shadows Falling, and The Beckoning Silence. The Beckoning Silence won the 2003 National Outdoor Book Award. The other three published by The Mountaineers Books were all shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Awa...more
More about Joe Simpson...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
