Customer Reviews

Access All Areas: A User's Guide to the Art of Urban Exploration

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been an avid fan for many years of Ninjalicious's E-zine Infiltration (www.infiltration.org), a website devoted to exploring the bowels of those places you're not supposed to go: city hospitals, hotels, subway tunnels, abandoned factories, the works. Sadly, Ninjalicious passed away in August 2005 from a terminal illness, but his love of exploration (and a good yarn!) lives on in Access All Areas.

Urban exploration is not for everyone: it is generally illegal, dirty, claustrophobic, and can be downright dangerous, if not fatal (exploring subway tunnels when the trains are in use, risk of electrocution from stepping on the third electrified rail in subway tunnels, asbestos and other toxic chemicals in abandoned factories, drowning if drains flash flood, etc.). For me, I enjoyed reading Ninj's adventures exploring working subway tunnels, abandoned breweries, barging in on hotel swimming pools pretending to be a guest, and other hands-off areas of Toronto.

Ninj's writing style and down-to-earth pointers about Urban Exploration (he can most definitely be considered one of the sport's founders), along with the ever-present naughty thrill of "will you be caught?" makes it an exciting hobby (please note, I'm an armchair Urban Explorer -- I've never tried exploring Toronto's subways, hospitals, abandoned breweries, or hotels in person, I'm just a fan of Ninj and the *idea* of Urban Exploration.) Rest in peace, Ninj, and thanks for the years of thrills!

I ordered this book whilst drunk and reading the internet one night, and proceeded to forget all about it. When it arrived weeks later, I was wary of the theme, the author's nom de plume, and virtually everything else. I personally am not an urban explorer--I suppose I just thought I'd find the subject interesting.

Turns out, this was the best book I read all year. It's written with an inquisitive but respectful attitude, and the author is properly derisive of people who enter spaces to deface them. Many of the observations the book makes are extremely interesting, and provide insight into how large properties and operations work that will be of use even if you aren't planning on looking around. Throughout, the book is permeated with a sense of humour and an easy, readable writing style.

I was sad to hear that Ninjalicious had passed on. I would have liked to meet him, shake his hand, and tell him he's written a very, very good book.

I grabbed this book from the library because the subject intrigued me - not because I plan to infiltrate anything, but rather just because I wanted to read about it. And what a great read it turned out to be. Ninjalicious writes very well and with a good sense of humour. He covers the subject thoroughly (I can't imagine he overlooked anything) and with a good attitude. I enjoyed the several brief anecdotes scattered throughout the book describing infiltrations which Ninjalicious conducted (and documented with photos), and I particularly enjoyed the chapter on social engineering (the principles of which are applicable to many day-to-day non-infiltration encounters). Highly recommended.

I bought this book for a present for my husband and found that I have a hard time keeping my hands off it.
Well written and informative, this book has insights into how to infiltrate just about anywhere - from construction sites to the restricted sections of hospitals, from abandoned subway tunnels to rooftops to formal parties to which you were not invited.
Ninjalicious also tells you what to do if you get caught, gives tips on walking past guards or other official people, and details the fine art of not looking suspicious in the first place.
Whether you're a secret agent, a modern-day urban ninja, or just curious, I recommend this book.

I was a friend of Ninjalicious. We are from the same area, and had discovered eachother, because we were 'in the same line of work' so to speak. But I admire his creativity, not just in the exploration we shared, but in his ability to put it to ink, and share with others. A skill I have never had. Also, when I first met Ninj', and shared my story with him. How I not only explored, but often in my travels, I have made home in some abandoned buildings, he quikly humbled himself, that he was just in it for the 'sport', and opologized if he seemed like what he was doing was wrong at all. Not at all. Much respect for Ninjalicious. I am sad I will not get the chance to see you again my brother. Maybe on the other side. Farewell and rest in Peace.

For anyone in the "Urban Exploration" scene, the name Ninjalicious is almost legendary. Not that he was one of the first to explore tunnels and old buildings, but he was one of the first to really achieve some level of fame for doing so. So the source for this information is more than credible.

If you are a veteran explorer, this book probably will not tell you much you don't already know. If you are just beginning to explore, this may be a helpful guide, but you'd be better off finding experienced people and going with them. A little experience and a good amount of common sense should see you through.

That said, I still would recommend this book to any active or armchair explorer. The author's humor makes reading this book a joy and the personal stories he includes are highly entertaining. So if nothing else, read it for fun. Plus, you never know. There may be a gem or 2 of wisdom in there for even the most veteran explorer.

In my search for unusual and interesting books, I came across Access All Areas by Ninjalicious (otherwise known as Jeff Chapman). I can't remember whether the title or the author's chosen pseudonym piqued my interest (it was probably both), but the subject at hand was certainly interesting, and the glowing reviews by other people left no doubt in my mind that this was going to be an enjoyable read. Quite so. I am well over half way through, and the book is hard to put down. Informative, engaging, and humorous, Ninj writes in a way that is easy to follow, although it is quite evident that he knows his language well (with a vocabulary to boot) and this shines through every once in a while through the use of subtle puns and his slightly off-beat sense of humor. Intelligently written, the book covers a lot of ground, but also places much-needed importance on the topics of personal safety and ethics, to make sure the curious take necessary precautions before their next expedition, and understand that the topic is about exploration and NOT about destruction or leaving your mark where it isn't wanted.

On the surface, Access All Areas is primer and "how to" manual to everything that is Urban Exploration. Indeed, Ninjalicious, a founder in the world of Urban Exploration, walks through every aspect of the art with thoroughness and attention to detail. He describes the lifestyle of the explorer, skills needed to affectively infiltrate sites, and the supplies that one needs in order to ensure a safe and rewarding exploration. Ninjalicious also covers various locations that an urban explorer can venture to with personal accounts and site specific advice. The most information is divided between abandoned sites, active sites, construction sites, drains, and utility tunnels. However, various special sites that urban explorers can visit are also covered adequately in their own section. Those looking for an instructional introduction to Urban Exploring will be satisfied. However, Access All Areas is also excellent for its deeper themes.
Ninjalicious' work is also a commentary on our society. Many of us live our lives without observing. The places in which we live, work, and carry out our daily lives are designated to us at every turn. We are told where we can and can't go, and, for the most part, we obey these orders and instructions mindlessly, never thinking about what lies beyond the "do not enter" and "prohibited" signs. Ninjalicious encourages us to move beyond this social and societal numbness and truly see the urban world around us. Even if one only reads this book and never explores for themselves, an "arm-chair urban explorer" if you will, they will certainly gain a wider and more awe-inspired view of the everyday world around them.
Lastly, Access All Areas reads like a memior, given the history behind its writer. Ninjalicious died of terminal cancer back in 2005. This was his final love letter to the hobby he loved, the people who participated in it with him, and to all those who would be introduced to the hobby through his writing. At the end of the book Ninjalicious states that "it's amazing to watch people get excited about the idea of really seeing the world around them, and my greatest ambition for this book is that it will have the same effect on some of those who read it."
This book definitely fulfills that goal.

I was surprised with how well this was written and put together. The picture of the book led me to believe that it was a large clumsy paperback (like another book on urban exploration I have). I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case. It was very tastefully done, and with more information and insight than I had hoped for.
Ninj was very well read and created a gripping, easy and fun to read handbook on this hobby.
HIGHLY RECCOMENDED for anyone interested in urban exploration: from the curious to the expert, you need this book in your library.

This book was fantastic, in every aspect!

It offers droves of sound advice and knowledge on the subject, and urban explorers ranging from enthusiasts to experts will definitely take many good things with them from this book. Not only are the how-to portions fantastic, the stories, anecdotes, and philosophical bits contained within are a treat to read, too. This book is simply THE urban exploration book.

A definite buy for anyone interested in urban exploration, architectural/urban history, or just a great read.