Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World [Hardcover]

Michael Finkel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

From the underside of an avalanche to the summit of Kilimanjaro, this collection of seventeen mesmerizing, often uproarious tales capture the wonders of the world's snowy regions.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-"Skiing ruined my life." This simple, forthright statement will hook readers. This book is a collection of 17 of Finkel's skiing adventures, many of which were previously published in Skiing magazine. The author skied on the slopes of Iran where women ski on separate slopes and only if they wear a black skirt over their ski pants and not a wisp of hair is visible. He skied with Mongolian herdsmen who taught themselves the sport when the government sent them used equipment. He jumped out of helicopters to snowboard on Alaska's Chugach Mountain. He even skied "The Toothbrush," a plastic surface of white PVC bristles, when he entered the British Dry Ski Slopes Championship. He finds adventure, humor, and insight at every turn. Give this book to any ski buff or armchair traveler. They'll get a great lesson in geography, world cultures, and human nature.
Jane S. Drabkin, Potomac Community Library, Woodbridge, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Finkel has been a contributing editor to Skiing magazine (as well as other sports and general publications) for the last ten years and an avid skier since the age of five. For this book, he has compiled stories about his adventures. Ranging from humorous to exciting to death-defying, these stories span five continents and 12 winters. Finkel takes the reader places not normally associated with skiing, like Iran (where even women ski), Bosnia-Herzegovina, China, Mount Kilimanjaro, Greenland, New York City, and even an interstate truck ramp. His stories are filled with the varied, fascinating people he meets along the way; and he shows insight into the different cultures, histories, geologies, and geographies of the places he visits. Lots of fun for the armchair traveler and world adventurer alike.AMelinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Wondervu, CO
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558219242
• ISBN-13: 978-1558219243
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,986,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for any skier to enjoy, March 13, 2000

By 

Michael Henasey (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World (Hardcover)

A great collection of unforgettable skiing stories that takes you around the globe to some of the most remote areas of the world. After reading every authors stop, you feel as if you've been there also. Easy to read, funny, and worth reading again and again...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for skiiers and armchair travelers!, December 26, 1999

By 

Larry Sterne (Portland, ME) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World (Hardcover)

My wife got me this book for Christmas. I finished it the next morning! Wonderful stories about skiing in Iran, China, Bolivia etc. all told with verve and tremendous skill. I love skiing, but anyone who enjoys reading about adventure will love these stories. BUY THIS BOOK!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love skiing and traveling?, February 1, 2001

By 

"joannefry" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World (Hardcover)

If you have a passion for skiing and traveling, this is the book for you! It's an easy read - several short stories about the author's ski adventures in the U.S. and abroad. A very enjoyable book that's hard to put down...you just want to keep reading on to his next adventure.