My Heroes: Extraordinary Courage, Exceptional People

By: Ranulph Fiennes

Narrated by: Andrew Wincott

In My Heroes, the 'world's greatest living explorer' (Gunniess Book of Records), writes about the people who have inspired him - from explorers to policemen, families to freedom fighters. Wherever in the world Ranulph gives one of his lectures or motivational speeches, someone always asks: 'Who inspired you to do all the crazy things you've done?' For the first time he explores this idea by revealing his own personal heroes and what lessons their actions may have taught him in his own often hazardous profession. This book describes the extraordinary and often horrific events that led to these ordinary individuals becoming Ranulph's great heroes. From polar survivor to knifed-and-beaten policeman, from a woman missionary to a special forces soldier, these wonderful people will make you proud to be part of the human race.

©2011 Ranulph Fiennes (P)2011 Hodder & Stoughton

Big disappointment...

I was very excited, when I saw this book among the new releases. Without thinking much, i downloaded it. I was excited to hear inspiring stories of human endeavor, courage, adventure.

After listening to the story for a while, my excitement turned into disappointment, deep disappointment unfortunately. The first big story was from a war. About "good" guys killIng "bad" guys, and the courage (!) behind it. About why it is no-brainer and most-logical, most ethical to also kill the civilian goat herders, when these poor people, by accident, bump into the "good" guys, who were sneaking into a village to carry an assasination of a "bad" guy... And when they don't do that, how big of a heart(!) they have...

I could not continue much further. I was disgusted by the stories presented as acts of heroes, but in fact, in my opinion, nothing more than most primitive and uncivilized, animal like behaviour.

If you think the world is black and white, if you think it is the moral imperative of the "good" guys to kill "bad" guys, and if you want to listen some raw war stories ("... his bullet hit the enemy's face and push his nose into his brain..." or something similar, dont remember the exact phrasing) go ahead, get this book.

But if not, i am afraid you need to look somewhere else.