Page 28 - 2001 AMA Summer

Book Review: Culture of Fear Risk-taking and the morality uf low expectation By Frank Furedl, published by Cassell
Furedi claims that safety was the fundamental value of the 1990s. and that we are constantly told that we are “at risk" and urged to take greater precautions and seek more protection. This book sets out to
argue that the preoccupation with safety and survival reflects an outlook of low expectations.
He says the book was motivated by the conviction that risk-taking is most of the time a creative and constructive enterprise,
attempt to ban risks has the effect of undermining the spirit
ration and experimentation.
The key message Furedi gives is that “the worship of safety represents a profoundly pessimistic attitude towards human potential".
Early on he refers to “activities that have been pursued precisely because they are risky...The fact that young people who choose to climb mountains might not want to be denied the frisson of risk does not enter into the calculations of the safety-conscious professional, concerned to protect us from ourselves Once mountain-climbing is linked to risk aversion, it is surely only a matter of time before a campaign is launched to ban it altogether. At the very least, those who suffer from climbing- related accidents will be told that “they have brought it upon themselves", for to ignore safety advice is to transgress the new moral consensus."
This book covers much more than the nature of outdoor challenges. I found it a lively, thought-provoking book, which I can recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the perceptions of risk today.
By Martin Bazire.
Ben Madrines on 'Ticket Danger' Verdón
BookReview:ExtremeReck&Ice 25oftheWorld’sGreatClimbs by Garth Hattingh
New Holland, published 2000 (ISBN 1 85974 513 X) - Price £29-99 -160 pages, 12” x 11”, full colour
Extreme Rock & Ice is billed as taking “an awe-inspiring and breath­ taking look at 25 of the hardest climbs in the world”, all first ascents since 1979. They are grouped into Rock, Ice and Mixed,
Alpine-scaie, Big Wall and Big Mountain, ranging from solos to expe­ ditions, and most continents are represented.
The introduction spells out what the book is about: in a nutshell “the games extreme climbers play". It brie_f_ly_c_o_n_s_i_dp^iria natura of challenge and risk, and how climber W7F¿Vb responded from earliest times; aspects of technigy 3§7 agulpmeri! and etnica are mentioned. The scene is set look at modern climbers at trie cutting edge of their pfi
Sunset over the finach Eagach ridge.
■■I
Yours, and trie photographs -ire of a high guaJiiy, and many are stunning. The book inevitably must be selective, and opinions Will differ as to which climbs and climbers should be included. I believe trie book succeeds in covering an interesting variety of extreme climbs, and does a good job in drawing out features of top
The climbs themselves are described
historical context respectfully note s previous attempts and aonievs- ments. The focus th e f SMidhes to certain modern climbers, and their first asce rill, Trie route descriptions are gripping summaries of these
climbers operating out there on trie edge. should have a broad appeal.
This coffee table book
By Ms/un Bazire
B
manner. Trie