[Duma]

Preorders today:
http://www.v-publishing.co.uk/books/categories/biographies/statement.html

[petejh]

Yes!! Woohooo!!!

[Nibile]

 

[Doylo]

 

[Duma]

Ha ha! Thought I'd get mine in before giving the heads up...

[old cheese]

Just seen this and ordered. Not sure if on time or not but £25 taken. I guess they would tell me at the point of ordering if the first 250 had sold out?

[Duma]

Guess so, where's cofe?

[Mike Tyson]

I hope I haven't missed out on a signed one! Payment processed so fingers crossed.

[Duma]

If it's £25 you get the fancy one I think. The others are £20. They're both signed according to the website blurb.

[Duma]

Looks good. Only flicked through pics, but some awesome socks on display.

[tomtom]

I now have my copy - replete with signature.... now all I need is a sample of DNA and I can start the cloning process

MWAAAAHH HAA HAA HAAA!!!!!  )

[fatneck]

Got mine too! 

[remus]

Just finished reading this today. Wasn't overly keen to begin with, found the 'historical' section a little dry but then hit the 1/3rd mark, where the climbing really takes off, and finished it in a single sitting. Simply brilliant. Particularly enjoyed the quotes from the training diary (outrageous) and the last couple of chapters about slowing down and getting more in to bouldering.

[John Boy]

Just finished reading this today. Wasn't overly keen to begin with, found the 'historical' section a little dry but then hit the 1/3rd mark, where the climbing really takes off, and finished it in a single sitting. Simply brilliant. Particularly enjoyed the quotes from the training diary (outrageous) and the last couple of chapters about slowing down and getting more in to bouldering.

With you on this. I guess it provides 'some' context but you could easily chop the first 40 pages.

[Doylo]

Fucks sake , that's put me off reading the start now. 

[tomtom]

You'll miss out on the hamstering section...

[John Boy]

Fucks sake , that's put me off reading the start now.

I guarantee you'll thank me. I grumbled and swore my way through it the other night till my Missus was ready to throw the book out the window.

[Nibile]

I still haven't read it, but I reckon that the first part is a sort of "purification process" that the reader must endure to gain the beef of the book. It's clearly the same thing that Umberto Eco did with his book "The name of the rose": asked why the first 100 pages were so heavy, he said that it was a task for the reader, to get into the vibe of the monastry, into its life rithm. If the readed couldn't bear the first part, he would never get the reward of knowing the rest of the story.

[Doylo]

It's pretty much the same with all these climbing autobiographies to be fair. Like Nibs said you have to get through the childhood stuff to get to the beef.

[John Boy]

You are completely correct, and reading those early chapters, about events prior to Ben being born, was akin to lifting an urn filled with glowing coals with my bare forearms.

Marked with the stigmata of my success I will now plow on .....

[sherlock]

Not read Statement yet but in other (all types) of auto/biographies,I quite like the early stuff.Lots of stuff  I didn't know about whereas the later events are already often well documented.

[andy popp]

I've not read Statement yet but I find these attitudes to the early years sections of auto/biographies a bit weird frankly. Are we not complete people?

The sections on his childhood were amongst the best parts of Johnny's book.

[fatneck]

The sections on his childhood were amongst the best parts of Johnny's book.

Fully agree with this and am enjoying the early chapter of Statement. I like Ed's style...

[Doylo]

No Andy they're not people until they're putting up world class climbs!  I haven't started Statement yet, can't remember anything about Dawes' book. Enjoyed the start of Jerry's though .

[remus]

I've not read Statement yet but I find these attitudes to the early years sections of auto/biographies a bit weird frankly. Are we not complete people?

The sections on his childhood were amongst the best parts of Johnny's book.

Personally I have no beef with childhood bits in general, just thought that particular section in Statement wasn't as good as the rest of the book. This is not to detract from the overall quality of the book, on the whole it was a top notch read.

[standard]

Not to 'judge a book by its cover' but did anyone else get a copy with a photo seemingly stuck on by pritt stick to the front cover? It pealed off of its own volition almost instantly.
Oh well, I have something to stick on my finger board now.

[TheTwig]

Looking forward to reading this. Re: the 'boring early bits' I loved the start of Jonny's book, and all of the 'non climbing' stuff. The bit about letting himself into his mates house and jumping into bed with him, only to discover a couple had bought the place and moved in, and then him greeting them with "I've made you tea" had me in tears. Same with Deep Play...him and his mates throwing petrol bombs at climbers at the local quarry. Christ.

[roddersm]

Not to 'judge a book by its cover' but did anyone else get a copy with a photo seemingly stuck on by pritt stick to the front cover? It pealed off of its own volition almost instantly.
Oh well, I have something to stick on my finger board now.

Yup, I had the same. Guess they didn't have anough covers...didn't mind though - really enjoyed it.

[slackline]

Not to 'judge a book by its cover' but did anyone else get a copy with a photo seemingly stuck on by pritt stick to the front cover? It pealed off of its own volition almost instantly.
Oh well, I have something to stick on my finger board now.

Yup, I had the same. Guess they didn't have anough covers...didn't mind though - really enjoyed it.

Are you not referring to the "Limited Edition Hardback" version of the book?

Maybe someone from Vertebrate could clarify, if only they read these forums 

[Duma]

Not to 'judge a book by its cover' but did anyone else get a copy with a photo seemingly stuck on by pritt stick to the front cover? It pealed off of its own volition almost instantly.
Oh well, I have something to stick on my finger board now.

Yup, I had the same. Guess they didn't have anough covers...didn't mind though - really enjoyed it.

Are you not referring to the "Limited Edition Hardback" version of the book?

Maybe someone from Vertebrate could clarify, if only they read these forums 

I got the limited edition - and yes it just appears to be a pic glued on (though mine is currently still attached) if that's the diff between the limited edition and the normal one it's (relatively) poor value imo.

On the other hand, the content is excellent, really enjoying it thus far. Agree somewhat with comments on the first two chapters - think Ed Douglas seemed to be trying a bit too hard to show the links with his grandfather, and obviously some background on his father was needed, but still think this section could have been reduced to the one chapter. Did enjoy the school stuff though.
As someone who started in the mid nineties, so after Ben's peak but when he was still a hero and one of the best around, I really appreciate all the stuff about the developement on hard sport in the eighties, 
Also hadn't realised he did Rage, Le Minimum, and Spectre in a week! 

[Doylo]

Doing Liquid Ambar in 5 days back then shows how good he was. Considering it took Pete Robins 20-25 in 2009.

[tomtom]

Like my bouldering - I've read the first 3/4 and not touched it since

[nai]

Like my bouldering - I've read the first 3/4 and not touched it since

WTF? How?  I finished it the day after it arrived.

Best of the biographies so far I reckon. Only short but it packs it in.

[tomtom]

I have a less favorable view of the book I'm afraid... Not sure about posting up my thoughts... Probably best I finish it first though!

[petejh]

Anti-Moon biog and pro-Osteo. You'll be drytooling on millstone next

[nai]

Anti-Moon biog and pro-Osteo. You'll be drytooling on millstone next

I heard he'd rather climb than train as well. Weird.

[tomtom]

Anti-Moon biog and pro-Osteo. You'll be drytooling on millstone next

:D

[Jaspersharpe]

Been ill in bed for the past few days but felt well enough to read last night so started Statement. Just finished it. Thought it was a great read and that the historical stuff about Ben's family was really interesting and gave an insight into his personality and motivation.

Don't always like Ed Douglas' style but he's done a superb job on this.

[Jaspersharpe]

Best of the biographies so far I reckon.

I agree.

[blamo]

Just finished reading it.  I thought the beginning was a bit slow.  However, the rest of the book was really good.  I think, in some ways, this not being an autobiography painted a much more realistic picture. 

Do they have any more biographies planned?

[shark]

Just finished reading it.  I thought the beginning was a bit slow.  However, the rest of the book was really good.  I think, in some ways, this not being an autobiography painted a much more realistic picture. 

Do they have any more biographies planned?

Andy Pollitt's I gather   

[Jaspersharpe]

Shouldn't that be the boxing smiley?