Thank you to Trish Collins at
TLC Book Tours for inviting me to be a part of the blog tour for
Never Give Up: My Life in the Wild by Bear Grylls! I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bear Grylls
Published March 1, 2022
Admired by millions as the star of Man vs. Wild and the acclaimed NGC series Running Wild,
global adventurer Bear Grylls has explored places few would dare to go.
Now, he shares time-honored lessons for leading an adventurous life
through stories drawn from his personal experiences, as well as
encounters with a diverse group of celebrities who have participated in
his wildly popular television shows.
In these inspiring
pages, Grylls chronicles his life since stepping onto the small screen,
taking readers on his most famous adventures, sharing stories from his
favorite expeditions, and capturing his hairiest survival challenges.
The follow-up to the internationally best-selling Mud, Sweat and Tears, this new autobiography goes behind the scenes on infamous Man vs. Wild
shoots and provides an insight into what it's really like to “Run Wild”
with guests including President Obama, Roger Federer, and Julia
Roberts.
Along the way, Bear explores the valuable lessons he's
learned in the wild, opens up about his most personal challenges and
achievements, and celebrates the true value of adventure and the
enduring importance of courage, kindness, and resilience. Written for
outdoor enthusiasts and armchair adventurers alike, Never Give Up offers an inspiring path to help readers live their best lives.
- from Goodreads
I've been a fan of Bear Grylls for awhile, so I was very excited to be asked to review an early copy of his newest autobiography, Never Give Up. I haven't read his first memoir, but this one focuses on how he got started in TV, the adventures he's had over multiple shows, and what his life is like today, and since I know him best from his show Running Wild, I thought this seemed like a great place to start!
The best part about this book is how Bear's voice really comes through. He has a pretty distinctive way of speaking, and having watched him on TV so many times, I definitely felt like I could hear him in my head as I read. His humble, charming, spirited, and positive personality came through each word. I think Bear does an admirable job detailing how his various TV shows came about and how he has been able to forge his own path in an industry that doesn't often allow for independence like that. Even when a venture wasn't a success, he appreciated the opportunity and learned from it for the next one.
The chapters are fairly short, each one practically its own story or answer to a frequently asked question. I really enjoyed his stories about the celebrities he has taken into the wild and how each of those adventures is set up. Bear also takes some chapters to delve into more personal thoughts on things like fear, faith, and family, and his words are often very inspiring. His family is so important to him, and it was really nice to get to know them better and see how he makes family time a priority, even with his booming career.
Overall, this would be an interesting read for adventure seekers and reality TV junkies alike, and even more so if you're already a fan of Bear Grylls!
4 stars
