Customer Reviews

Close Calls (Falcon Guides Mountain Climbing)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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John Long is really telling us cautionary tales. But if anyone can make you laugh, snort, and giggle at the thought of some poor sod hanging by a fingernail to a crumbling mountain ledge, John Long is that man. Also cartoonist Tami Knight has an equally irreverent sense of humor.

However, if you are not laughing too hard, you will notice Long's Commentary and Prevention notes on each tale are precise, well written and helpful. The big moral throughout is you can never ever be too careful when rock climbing. Also, never assume anything.

I think this is a particularly good book for young people who have an interest in rock climbing. A solemn, dry book would never do the trick. It is difficult to grab this group's attention, particularly since the hormones are raging, and they are certain of their immortality. But they adore gallows humor, and just perhaps a few of these safety measures will stick in their minds and hearts.

John Long has a knack of coming on like your new best friend. Similar to Stephen King, you feel like he is telling his stories just for you and no one else. So settle in and enjoy the read!
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

An excellent book for every rock climber. Whether your an expert climber or just a beginner, this book explains how a simple mistake could mean your life. Learn lessons the easy way by reading Close Calls by John Long.

John Long's narrative style shines in this light-hearted survey of desperate climbing situations. Many climbing writers take themselves so seriously that their writing becomes too pedantic to relate to actual climbing practice. Close Calls uses humor to bridge the gap between diligence and epic, and gets meaningful lessons across in the midst of the goofiness. Tami Knight's distinctive caricatures add a hysterically funny dimension, with such narrative accuracy that most of the illustrations make it hard to concentrate on the writing. This collection would be a welcome adition to any climber's library.

If you like climbing and comedy, you'll like this book. Approximately 70 short stories of climbs that almost ended badly. You can learn from this book. But some of the lessons are very elementary. Like the climber climbing big wall Yosemite with a new girl he had just met who had never climbed. Might want to pick your partner a little better. And another quick tip, you might want to stay away from the drugs and alcohol while climbing.

Each story ends with a quick analysis of what should have been done to stay out of the situation. Some of this is helpful. But generally it can be summed up in a sentence: Don't do dumb things while climbing. Unless, of course, you want to entertain readers.

Climbing accidents and near accidents told in the classic "Largo" style. Each situation is colorfully written with lots of humor. Long then technically evaluates what caused the problem, and describes how to prevent such situations from happening. Keep 'em coming John!

Just hope you're not one of the people in his stories!

I truly enjoyed this book - firstly, because it made me laugh out loud, and secondly, because it actually offers some wise words of advice for climbers. As I read these tales of climbing gone awry I could easily picture myself (younger and stupider version) and my erstwhile climbing buddies from college in many of the same precarious situations, mumbling to each other, "Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten us into."

Bought this book not long ago, and straight away engaged in reading it cover to cover. The stories are very short, and filled with humour (and of course the funny cartoons). The stories are interesting (some more, some less of course) and introduce a lot of common pitfalls one can come upon while climbing.

Very recommended.

A truly great book. I laughed so hard my sides hurt as I read "Nellies Night Out" and "Helluva Time on Mt. Dutzi." Long comically recounts classic stupid mistakes all climbers have made at one time or another but still provides a down to earth commentary so that we all might never be on the receiving end of these same mistakes.

I'll keep it simple - I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I've only been a participant in the activity of rock climbing for a little over a year but this is by far the most entertaining book I have read. You do not need to be interested in the sport of climbing to get hours of reading enjoyment from these stories.

The tales are brief and obviously real (some are too stupid to have been merely thought up). A few examples: the couple that have sex in a hammock at 3,000 feet...and end up hanging naked from their ankles after the hammock rips, the 400 Lbs. rabbi who climbs up halfway and then decides it is time to rapidly return to the ground...and the poor belayer who is not ready for the "weight" of the matter, and the climber who plummets off of a mountain only to have his rope ensnare in a tree and save his life...mere feet from the ground.

The stories will make you smile and maybe even laugh out loud. A nice bonus is the inclusion of a Commentary follow-up and a Prevention Tip at the end of each narrative.

So keep both feet on the ground and leave the perilous and often entertaining climbing to the wacky, wild, and way way too stupid!

This book brought me to tears. The only bad part about this book is that it will have you laughing so hard, others around you will be annoyed. (buy them the book unless they aren't climbing bums)