Helpful Score: 1
Well-researched and morbidly fascinating.
Helpful Score: 1
I broke down on my second trip to the Grand Canyon and purchased this book. I started reading it while there and finished shortly after we returned home from our trip. Over the Edge is not only a book about death but history. I highly recommend it for anyone who is fascinated with the Grand Canyon.
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating and well written, does not read as much like the boatload of statistics that it is. Includes some memorable "non deaths" as well as the very long roll call of fatalities, and while the subject matter is often grim and detailed, you do run into unexpected humor occasionally, too. For instance, the crash of an Army plane where the soldiers bailed out with parachutes and were clinging to the wall in an untrailed part of the canyon waiting for rescue, unable to go down or up from their position. When the Army search planes spotted them, they dropped them a care package that also included a note saying, "Greetings! You are in the Grand Canyon." The book is not merely morbid but is intended to be educational, reminding people of the vast difference between national parks and Disneyworld and of basic safety protocol. Recommended for any Grand Canyon history buff.
Very interesting, especially if you've seen it. Oh, my, words cannot describe this place - Everyone must see at least once in your lifetime. I'm going back this May. Tourists spotted a jumper or someone who accidently fell and reported it to park rangers the day after I was there in 2009. They had to recover his body.
While on a commercial river rafting trip in Grand Canyon I saw this book in a bookshop. I acquired it when I returned home. I'm sort of glad I hadn't read it before I went because I might have been more scared going over the rapids. But having been there, I had a much better appreciation of what the book was talking about as well as the precautions our guides took to keep us safe.
The book does become somewhat tedious at times with all the statistics, but that shows what a well-researched book it is. I especially enjoyed reading about the unsolved mysteries (particularly the Glen and Bessie Hyde story). Also, the authors make a really good summation of what can be learned from the statistics. Although Grand Canyon is a harsh and demanding place, most of the deaths there have been a result of human stupidity and overconfidence and were avoidable. People today tend to treat it as a sort of Disneyland experience, expecting to be rescued if they get into trouble.
Grand Canyon is definitely a location every person should visit in their lifetime. This book gave me a much greater awareness of what a special place it is and some of the history surrounding it. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in our premier wonder of the world.
The book does become somewhat tedious at times with all the statistics, but that shows what a well-researched book it is. I especially enjoyed reading about the unsolved mysteries (particularly the Glen and Bessie Hyde story). Also, the authors make a really good summation of what can be learned from the statistics. Although Grand Canyon is a harsh and demanding place, most of the deaths there have been a result of human stupidity and overconfidence and were avoidable. People today tend to treat it as a sort of Disneyland experience, expecting to be rescued if they get into trouble.
Grand Canyon is definitely a location every person should visit in their lifetime. This book gave me a much greater awareness of what a special place it is and some of the history surrounding it. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in our premier wonder of the world.
A very interesting book! I've never been to the Grand Canyon so this might be as close as I'll get. Very detailed descriptions of some of the areas, especially where more deaths occurred. And I liked the way the book was broken out by type/cause of death: accident, drowning, murder, suicide, etc. Have to say, after many chapters they all became a blur.
I'd suggest reading it AFTER you visit Grand Canyon!
I'd suggest reading it AFTER you visit Grand Canyon!
Despite cheesy (and at times misogynistic) writing, still an entertaining read.
It's an interesting read...
