My Heroes: Extraordinary Courage, Exceptional People
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In MY HEROES the 'world's greatest living explorer' (Guinness 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.
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Ranulph Fiennes was asked by his publishers to write a book about his heroes, in a reflection over his life. I suspect they expected him to pick those who inspired some of his mad achievements, likely expecting military heroes - Victoria Cross winners for example, but Fiennes explains that many of the actions of bravery in war are not necessarily the acts of heroes, but men in extraordinary circumstances who are effected by different drivers - fear being one of them - particularly fear of being seen as a coward.
Anyway, Fiennes' list of heroes is quite eclectic, and not always very specific. The eleven heroes he writes about are:
- Marcus Lattrell - a US Navy Seal and sole survivor of his squad who were dropped into Afghanistan on a mission in 2005.
- Dick Coombes - a policeman at Broadwater Farm riots in England 1985.
- Paul Rusesabagina - a Hotel manager caught up in the genocide in Rwanda 1994 (the movie Hotel - Rwanda was based on his story).
- Gladys Aylward - a Christian missionary in China 1930's who was caught up in the Japanese invasion.
- Klaus von Stauffenberg - for his ‘Operation Valkyrie' attempt to kill Hitler in 1944.
- A whole bunch of people who attempted to climb the north face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.
- A lot of families and individuals in Cambodia who suffered under the Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge from 1975 - 1978.
- The Derbyshire village of Eyam facing the Black Death 1665-1666.
- Zimbabwean journalist Peter Godwin who spent time in Zimbabwe at great risk to witness the genocide of President Mugabe's regime, and then raising the profile from the outside. (Peter Godwins book Fear is the start of his story).
- Various soldiers in the Crimean War 1850's.
- Douglas Mawson in Antarctica in 1912.
Most of the stories were well told, and Fiennes explains what impressed him about these people. Some left me a bit unclear on why he chose them over other examples. With others, it may well be that I wasn't concentrating at the right moment - but the Dick Coombes story and the Crimean War felt muddled.
I guess the principle of what makes people heroes to you is interesting in general.
However, it worked well as a series of short reads.
3 stars.
