Author Topic: Interesting Adventure Books - NGC, but if motorcycle related, all the better (Read 6554 times)

PJPR01 · « **on:** January 05, 2016, 03:51:56 PM »

Any folks have other good suggestions for gripping/thrilling/entertaining reading?

One Man Caravan by Robert Fulton - (thanks Dusty for the suggestion...just finished it on vacation last week)

Josey Wales (2 books in one by Forrest Carter) - 1st book was the basis of Clint Eastwood's Outlaw Josey Wales - very well written, and includes some notable locations to ride to from Neosho, MO down to Brenham Texas and points in between

Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon (Moto related, I had the chance to meet and talk at length with him at this year's Overland Expo 2015 - gave a great slide show and presentation...quit e a humble fellow)

Dreaming of Jupiter by Ted Simon (Moto related)

Two Wheels Through Terror - by Glen Heggstad (Moto related)

One More Day Everywhere - Glen Heggstad (Moto related)

jbell · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2016, 04:14:06 PM »

Second on Ted Simon's books and also a big second on his character. Nice guy.

travelingbyguzzi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2016, 06:20:29 PM »

Not a true adventure, but I always recommend Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson for a thrill ride without leaving the davenport.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:07:13 PM »

Something not to deep but entertaining and exciting is a Louis L'Amour book that instead of a Western is set in the cold war era, titled "The Last of the Breed".
GliderJohn

maquette · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:10:32 PM »

Two motorcycle books mentioned in an earlier thread:

Obsessions Die Hard Ed Culberson

Two Wheels to Adventure Danny Liska

Tom

PJPR01 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:20:02 PM »

Wonderful...thanks for the ideas! Always looking for great reading material!

oldbike54 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:24:06 PM »

Quote from: PJPR01 on January 05, 2016, 08:20:02 PM

Wonderful...thanks for the ideas! Always looking for great reading material!

Not reading material , rather a silly little movie called Cycles South is pretty entertaining . May still be available on you tube . Filmed in about 1968 , kind of a time capsule .

Dusty

Sasquatch Jim · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:26:24 PM »

Culbersons book is a must read for any aspiring adventuring rider or even if only an armchair adventurer.

"The Spy Lover" by Kiana Davenport. It is a well researched civil war story based on some real people.
I think it is her best work

toma nova · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2016, 08:29:48 PM »

The Longest Ride by Emilio Scotto

Against the Wind by Ron Ayres

Proficient Motorcycling 1 and 2 by David Hough (needs practical application, not just couch reading)

Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch (same as above, met him at CoTA last year)

Twist of the Wrist by Keith Code

Beyond the Coffee Shop by our own Nick in BC

Paul, you can borrow these any time!

guzzler · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2016, 12:55:38 AM »

A few more to consider.
Running with the moon - Jonny Bealby
Daisy's Diaries -Graham Ham
The last hurrah - Des Molloy
Cheers Guzzler

john fish · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2016, 05:12:29 AM »

No motorcycle content, but a great history of TE Lawrence (of Arabia) and the events around his period in the Middle East. Full of spies, battles, duplicity, and heroism. Fascinating stuff.

PJPR01 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2016, 09:23:23 AM »

More great suggestions...thank s all! Keep them coming!!

nick949 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2016, 12:36:49 PM »

Lawrence Hacking: To Dakar and Back

http://www.amazon.com/Dakar-Back-Across-Africa-Motorcycle/dp/1550228080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452105117&sr=8-1&keywords=lawrence+hacking

" In To Dakar and Back, Hacking — in collaboration with motorsport journalist Wil De Clercq — recounts the three weeks of blood, sweat, and tears that took him on a 10,000 kilometre journey — in the heat of competition — from the glitzy streets of Paris, through the hinterland of North Western Africa, to the triumph of self-realization."

I read it twice: enjoyed it even better second time around. A real personal view of getting ready for and riding in the Dakar by an independent (non-factory) rider. Good stuff.

Nick

kirkemon · « **Reply #13 on:** January 06, 2016, 05:39:52 PM »

Brazilian Adventure by Peter Fleming (brother of Ian Flemming)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Adventure

rob-mg · « **Reply #14 on:** January 06, 2016, 05:54:33 PM »

None of these have anything to do with motorcycles, but...

Intelligent, entertaining, funny, a true page turner - Redmond O'Hanlon's In Trouble Again: A Journey Between the Orinoco and the Amazon (1988)

Apart from being both amusing and astute, widely regarded as a masterpiece of travel writing: Eric Newby's A Short Walk into the Hindu Kush (1958)

The book that deservedly made Bruce Chatwin's reputation as a writer: In Patagonia (1977)

And finally, because the guy is a terrific writer and something of a polymath, any of Bill Bryson's books on travel

LowRyter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2016, 06:27:07 PM »

Quote from: travelingbyguzzi on January 05, 2016, 06:20:29 PM

Not a true adventure, but I always recommend Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson for a thrill ride without leaving the davenport.

Actually "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72" is a traveling adventure.

it also has motorcycle content (Egli Vincent vs Honda 750).

rob-mg · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2016, 06:36:12 PM »

Quote from: travelingbyguzzi on January 05, 2016, 06:20:29 PM

Not a true adventure, but I always recommend Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson for a thrill ride without leaving the davenport.

Interesting review by Dwight Garner in the New York Times on Juan Thompson's new book about growing up with Hunter S: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/books/review-in-stories-i-tell-myself-life-as-hunter-s-thompsons-son.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

LowRyter · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2016, 06:57:45 PM »

Quote from: rob-mg on January 06, 2016, 06:36:12 PM

Interesting review by Dwight Garner in the New York Times on Juan Thompson's new book about growing up with Hunter S: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/books/review-in-stories-i-tell-myself-life-as-hunter-s-thompsons-son.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

I read the interview with Juan in Salon. Hunter was pretty proud that Juan came out normal.

LowRyter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2016, 06:59:46 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on January 05, 2016, 08:24:06 PM

Not reading material , rather a silly little movie called Cycles South is pretty entertaining . May still be available on you tube . Filmed in about 1968 , kind of a time capsule .

Dusty

I saw You tube. It looked pretty good. Man, replaced those old Brit Thumpers with better performing Kaw 175s. And then make that ride.

nick949 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:17:35 PM »

Quote from: rob-mg on January 06, 2016, 05:54:33 PM

None of these have anything to do with motorcycles, but...

Intelligent, entertaining, funny, a true page turner - Redmond O'Hanlon's In Trouble Again: A Journey Between the Orinoco and the Amazon (1988)

Apart from being both amusing and astute, widely regarded as a masterpiece of travel writing: Eric Newby's A Short Walk into the Hindu Kush (1958)

The book that deservedly made Bruce Chatwin's reputation as a writer: In Patagonia (1977)

And finally, because the guy is a terrific writer and something of a polymath, any of Bill Bryson's books on travel

All excellent reading.

Are we related?

Nick

swordds · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:21:26 PM »

Some additional motorcycling books that I enjoyed:
The Perfect Vehicle; Melissa Holbrook Pierson (she rode a Moto Guzzi)
Riding Man; Steve Hamilton (about racing in the Isle of Man TT)
Stealing Speed; Mat Oxley (a spy thriller and a true story supposedly, about how Suzuki acquired 2 cycle advanced technologies from the East Germans)
Hopeless Class; Joel Rapport and also The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing; Melissa Holbrook Pierson (both about riding in the Iron Butt Rally)

LowRyter · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:30:24 PM »

I own "Stealing Speed". Interesting book, good read. One of the few motorcycle books that's well written.

What did the V1 Buzz Bomb have to do with DKW 2 stroke engines?

rob-mg · « **Reply #22 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:36:24 PM »

Quote from: nick949 on January 06, 2016, 07:17:35 PM

All excellent reading.

Are we related?

Nick

Sounds like we're on the same wavelength, which means that I'd love to see some suggestions from you now.

El Pescador · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:49:11 PM »

NGC but the best book I've read in a long time is Empire of the Summer Moon.

PJPR01 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:52:31 PM »

More great suggestions...I appreciate the inputs and suggestions guys. The list is growing, looking forward to tackling some of these, I just polished off 3 great books over the 2 week holiday, so I'm itching for some more thrilling reads...Amazon Prime is wonderful to get some of these right away.

nick949 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 06, 2016, 08:32:24 PM »

Quote from: rob-mg on January 06, 2016, 07:36:24 PM

Sounds like we're on the same wavelength, which means that I'd love to see some suggestions from you now.

Well, scroll back up the page........but to continue the theme:

Redmon O'Hanlan's 'Congo Journey' and 'Trawler' (particularly the latter)

William Least Heat Moon's: 'River Horse'

and a bit obscure and perhaps difficult to find, but worth it if you like real life adventure:
'Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter and Trader' by John Long 1791 (reprinted by Coles)
(first hand and highly engaging - no motorbikes though)

Tim Cahill: 'Hold the Enlightenment'

Nick

oldbike54 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 06, 2016, 08:43:07 PM »

Any of that Tim Cahil stuff , Jaguars Ripped my Flesh is a favorite . Sorry Paul , may have mentioned that earlier .

Dusty

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Author Topic: Interesting Adventure Books - NGC, but if motorcycle related, all the better (Read 6554 times)

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