Poring over a map one day, Ewan McGregor—film star and bike nut—noticed it was possible to ride all the way around the world, with just one short hop across the Bering Strait. So he called Charley Boorman, his best friend, fellow actor, and bike nut. From London to New York, Ewan and Charley rode their BMWs through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada and America. Exhaustion, injury, and accidents tested their strength, as did treacherous roads and weather. They were pursued by paparazzi in Kazakhstan, courted by men with guns in the Ukraine, and served bulls' testicles for supper by Mongolian nomads. Yet despite the many obstacles, they managed to ride over 20,000 miles in four months. As they traveled, they documented their trip, taking photos and writing diaries.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
Both McGregor and Boorman prove themselves to be engaging, articulate and entertaining narrators ... a highly readable and spiritually uplifting book about a dream come true WANDERLUST Touching and memorable ... one for armchair travellers and bike freaks DAILY MAIL Long Way Round is the tale of a remarkable journey taken (on motorbike) by two men. The fact that those men are figures with notable film connections (Ewan McGregor is one of Britain's most successful actors, Charley Boorman is the son of the celebrated director John Boorman) may be the reason the book got written - and the accompanying television series got made - but so what? This epic trip is conveyed with real elan by its two authors, and there are arguments for preferring the written word over the image: while the latter may convey the exhilaration of the journey more directly, the book is infinitely more subtle in presenting the mindset of its two (often-beleaguered) travellers. Their co-writer Robert Uhlig has cannily conveyed the similar (but at the same time, very different) personalities of the two men, and it's one of the pleasures of the book. McGregor, for whom motorbikes are as important as his acting career, was gazing at a map of the world when it occurred to him that it was possible to ride by bike all the way round the world (with just a smidgen of cheating around the Bering Strait), and he suggested over a meal with best friend and fellow thesp Charley Boorman, that the pair might chase their shadows from London to New York, across the Pacific to Alaska and other far-flung parts. Needless to say, catastrophe matches the adventure at every turn, and encounters with gun-toting Ukrainians, Mongolian Nomads and (most dangerous of all) ruthless paparazzi add to the stress levels. But the 20,000 miles covered by the pair, however arduou Barry Forshaw, AMAZON.CO.UK 'It's like Michael Palin but with added sex appeal.'
About the Author
Ewan McGregor first came to notice in Shallow Grave. Since then he has appeared in more than thirty films including Star Wars Episodes I and II and Trainspotting. Charley Boorman has appeared in films such as Excalibur, The Emerald Forest and, more recently, The Bunker.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful story, beautiful photos,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World (Hardcover)
This is the illustrated version of the amazing story of two friends traveling around the world together. It is a demonstration of the will of individuals to make it to their goal. More importantly it is also an illustration of the generosity, the kindness, the sadness, the humor and the beauty they found along the way. You don't have to be interested in motorcycles, you don't even have to care who Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are! Its just a great tale of two people and an adventure.
As wonderful as it is to read the story, you must also get the dvd. It is as close as most of us will ever get to these amazing locations, and you couldn't ask for better guides!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome !,
By
This review is from: Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World (Hardcover)
What an awesome book, recording an awesome experience. As a biker myself, I was attracted to the book just to read about a trip that is beyond my means and abilities, but the book ended up meaning much more than that to me. It showed me, yet again, that wherever you go in the world (And I've travelled a fair bit of it myself in my work as a seafarer !) people everywhere are just people like you and I, when you get past the religious, political and economic differences that can so often divide us. It also highlights the fact that people who make a living in the film industry are not necessarily unapproachable, self centred and addicted to adulation. They can be warm, human and prone to the same joys, fears and desires as the rest of us. In short, they are human beings who just happen to have a good job. This is not just a good read about a motor bike trip of a lifetime, it is a book that rekindles hope that the world, and its varied people, is a beautiful place after all, and not half as dangerous as some would have us believe. Whether you're a biker, an armchair traveller or just someone looking for an exciting and inspiring read, then this book is for you. I can't praise it highly enough.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational Read . . . .,
This review is from: Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World (Hardcover)
This book really is really one of the best books I have ever read. I loved it, reinforced my plans to go around the world in a Jeep. Just amazing.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
