Status
Available
Call number
Publication
London, Sphere, 2008, Hardcover
Description
Longtime friends and bike enthusiasts McGregor and Boorman wowed international audiences with their first major motorcycle journey that spanned several continents, captured in the book and television show Long Way Round. Now they are back, with the fascinating account of their second, equally ambitious journey: from the northernmost tip of Scotland, across Europe and down through Africa ending in Cape Town, this is the account of the authors' three month journey across two continents, over difficult terrain and in unpredictable conditions. Their route covers Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Tunisia, the Sudan, Rwanda, Botswana, and Namibia, among other countries; and they stop in cities and villages along the way to experience the European and African cultures firsthand. Featuring diary entries, travel maps, mileage charts, and dozens of color photographs.--From publisher description.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cotto
I probably should have read Long Way Round before reading Long Way Down which is Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's second motorcycle journey. But from reading reviews of Long Way Down, perhaps I have played it well because it has been largely panned in comparison to the Long Way Round. Sequels
I liked this book and I'll definitely get to reading Long Way Round as well if it's meant to be much more inspirational.
Show More
rarely measure up to the original anyway. I'm not sure if Ewan and Charley actually do write the book or if someone just transcribes it from the video footage. I've seen a few episode of Long Way Down on the telly and it's all remarkably similar, almost like a transcript. So you wouldn't read this book in search of some beautiful pieces of writing because there really isn't any. What I took from it was a sense of adventure in the wonderful country of Africa which I have just started to explore over the last couple of years and am just amazed by its abundance of natural beauty and wonders. So I just loved that about the book and also some of the amazing charity work that goes on down there. Very inspiring. Makes you want to really get involved. I liked this book and I'll definitely get to reading Long Way Round as well if it's meant to be much more inspirational.
Show Less
LibraryThing member silentq
I bought this book in the airport in Amsterdam, on my home from Tanzania, since my partner and I had talked about
re-watching the Tanzanian segments of the Long Way Down TV show. I finished it before landing in Boston, it's a quick read. Some nice background to the TV show, a bit more detail in
re-watching the Tanzanian segments of the Long Way Down TV show. I finished it before landing in Boston, it's a quick read. Some nice background to the TV show, a bit more detail in
Show More
spots (I don't think they showed a segment with Richard Branson), but it didn't feel as involved as the Long Way Round book (granted, that was a much longer trip). I was giggling over a couple of comments that I could now relate to (outdoor bathrooms next to / on Kilimanjaro do indeed have the best view). I still appreciate the fact that they don't hide the hard parts, but the interpersonal conflict is handled delicately. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jacqi
I found this an excellent read and set me off on a whole trail of motorbike adventure books.
LibraryThing member Dajedarh
I loved it, I didn't see all the episodes on TV, but the book has easily compensated. Charles & Ewan may or may not have written the book, but either way they don't try to hide that there was a team supporting them. It's a great insight into the African way of life and a great travel story.
LibraryThing member Pyobon
The book is comprised of alternating short sections of text from Ewan and Charley describing their journey from the north of Scotland to the south of Africa on motorcycles. I had seen Long Way Round on TV, but not read the book and I had seen perhaps one episode of Long Way Down on TV. I have to
Show More
say it makes better TV than books. In part this is because of the visual aspect of travel in such interesting places, and I fear in part because the writing does not really draw you in in its short diary style structure. The story though is engaging and there are descriptions, albeit to me rather superficial descriptions, of many interesting places. The book too focuses a lot on the arguments and disunity between the team and even between the main protagonists. I would have much preferred it if this had been omitted for more details of the places, the bikes and the riding. It felt like they were trying to draw me in to some petty argument and make me take sides. When I envied what they were doing, I really did not want to know about their quarrels. Show Less
Awards
British Book Award (Winner — 2008)
Language
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
287 p.; 29 cm
ISBN
9781847442499
Other editions
Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor (Hardcover)