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Mud, Sweat, and Tears: The Autobiography

by Bear Grylls

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 4,311 ratings · 488 reviews

“Bear Grylls is a veritable superhero….The former UK Special Forces paratrooper has braved the world’s harshest environments.”
—Hampton Sides, Outside Magazine

“Bear Grylls is one tough, crazy dude.”
— Washington Post

Already a #1 London Sunday Times Bestseller, Mud, Sweat, and Tears is the adrenaline-fueled autobiography of the mega-popular star of the hit survival series Man

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Kindle Edition , 445 pages

Published May 1st 2012 by William Morrow (first published 2011)

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Are cineva cartea în format Pdf, Mobi, Doc? (pentru kindle) Mulțumesc.

Anyone who has the book in eBook format? (Romanian or English) thanks

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May 14, 2015 John Wiltshire rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was in a library yesterday and that face glared at me from a book stand. I couldn't resist. I'm already halfway through this and it's a cracking read. Bear isn't a gifted writer by any means, but his very honest, simple prose suits the story being told. I already knew a bit about Bear, as the army is a fairly tight-knit organisation. I knew he'd been to Eton, that he was in the SAS(R) and that he was a committed Christian, and of course I've watched most of his shows. But what's been fascinati I was in a library yesterday and that face glared at me from a book stand. I couldn't resist. I'm already halfway through this and it's a cracking read. Bear isn't a gifted writer by any means, but his very honest, simple prose suits the story being told. I already knew a bit about Bear, as the army is a fairly tight-knit organisation. I knew he'd been to Eton, that he was in the SAS(R) and that he was a committed Christian, and of course I've watched most of his shows. But what's been fascinating about this book is that the Bear you want to exist..a very humble, very fun guy who never boasts about anything in his life but has an unbelievable inner core strength, actually exists. What you see is what you get. I loved the early parts in this book about Bear's great-grandfather, a writer who--along with Kipling--pretty much defined what is it to be a gentleman, a man. I'll update when I've finished but so far I'd class this as mandatory reading for all men.
Finished.
I feel the need to read a biography of Bear now, if one exists. This guy is so incredibly modest that you don't actually get the full impact of his life and achievements until you close the last page, then you open it again and go...WTF? On top of being in the SAS(R), climbing Everest, Bear glosses quickly over crossing the frozen North Atlantic Arctic Ocean, going through training for the Legion, a global audience for his shows of 1.2 billion, writing 11 books (two best sellers), launching a global business, becoming a Lt Cdr in the RN, leading expeditions to the Antarctic, raising millions of pounds for charity and becoming the Chief Scout.
Bear...kudos, man.
I defy anyone to read this autobiography and not come away inspired to be just a slightly better man. No, I can't go back and pass SAS selection. I can't climb Everest. The Arctic is out. Similarly the southern cold place. Best-selling books...still working on that one. But I don't feel defeated at all by these inadequacies after reading this book. Bear's just that kind of guy.
Compulsory read. ...more

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Jan 31, 2012 Linda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography , british-literature , favorites , non-fiction

Bear Grylls, the famous adventurer, will never cease to impress. My expectations, which were very high, were fulfilled and exceeded far beyond any limit.

The most humble, modest man doesn't seem at all changed from his new role as a celebrity. He tends to shun away from any kind of publicity and declined the offer to be the main star of "Man vs Wild" three times, before finally accepting to shoot a pilot, something he hasn't regretted, I'm sure. The thing with people like Bear is that you really Bear Grylls, the famous adventurer, will never cease to impress. My expectations, which were very high, were fulfilled and exceeded far beyond any limit.

The most humble, modest man doesn't seem at all changed from his new role as a celebrity. He tends to shun away from any kind of publicity and declined the offer to be the main star of "Man vs Wild" three times, before finally accepting to shoot a pilot, something he hasn't regretted, I'm sure. The thing with people like Bear is that you really get to know him during reading because he opens up totally.
The most important thing is that he is honest. He tells the reader everything, not only the good, innocent parts.

This book is funny, sad and thrilling:

It's funny because he seems such a mischevious, smiling guy that always stands up for his friends and family. Hence, he has got many friends. Not a single time in the entire book has he written something negative about someone. He sees the good in people, and emphasizes it. For that matter, he might not agree with everyone. He has a strong self-respect and never diverge from his morals and values in life.

It's sad because he has lost people he loves and he honours them beautifully. The kind of life he has chosen has small marginals, a balance between life and death. He cried on at least ten places in the book, either from grief or from the risk of never seeing his family again.

It's tremendously thrilling. His training and the SAS selection was exciting, since it's often considered so secretive. (He didn't reveal anything he shouldn't, and left out the details I had so looked forward to read. But he had to run it by the SAS for approval, and it couldn't involve anything confidential.) What a horrifying experience, people have died of plain exhaustion, trying to get in!

I couldn't stop reading when the nutcase decided to climb Mount Everest only months after breaking his back in three places in a parachute accident. I mean, come on! Enough is enough!

His constant expeditions seem to serve as encouragement, fuel, to his ever present love for challenges. And at the end of every adventure, he acknowledges the lessons needed to be learned and wisely reinforces his knowledge.

This is a great inspiration! Grylls is proof that you can achieve anything with perseverance and a strong mind. The sky has no limit. ...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first, it came across as being poorly written technically. But as the book wore on, I realized that he intended the book to come across as if he were speaking to an audience, not writing a book. Once I recognized his style, I appreciated the book for what it was and thoroughly liked it. Plenty of stories which add color to Bear and what made him who he is today. His values come through strongly. Amazing to think of what he accomplished. I wish he gave more details on his SAS qualification but ...more

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Mar 26, 2015 Lucinda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: inspirational

Life’s journey and path isn’t always easy.
It is that inner strength shining within the most unremarkable people that never fails to amaze. Bear Grylls’ candid autobiography exposes the man behind the celebrity façade; a man of immeasurable heart and soul.
He is not perfect, flawless or fearless nor is he ‘taken in’ (like so many have been) by status and wealth. His Christian faith is what keeps him humbly grounded, alongside his perspective on life that’s ultimately broadened his horizons. I am Life’s journey and path isn’t always easy.
It is that inner strength shining within the most unremarkable people that never fails to amaze. Bear Grylls’ candid autobiography exposes the man behind the celebrity façade; a man of immeasurable heart and soul.
He is not perfect, flawless or fearless nor is he ‘taken in’ (like so many have been) by status and wealth. His Christian faith is what keeps him humbly grounded, alongside his perspective on life that’s ultimately broadened his horizons. I am in awe of his astonishing, courageous feats of extreme danger and wonder including the adventure of a lifetime: scaling Mount Everest. Yet, in reading this profoundly poignant narrative I am touched by those words of wisdom that strike a chord within.

Dare to dream…be BOLD and live life to the full!

I honestly believe that we all can take something from Bear’s empowering, sensational story, regardless of who we are. The unmistakable clarity within holds such truth – in that we can all achieve great things if there is the determination, drive and sincerity. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t the wealthiest person, the smartest or physically strongest person on the planet. Even if your goals/ aspirations seem to some completely nonsensical and unobtainable, it really doesn’t matter because life is what you make of it and unless you try you never know what could happen…

Here is a man on a mission, who never gives up even when the going gets tough and he looks death in the eye. From a young, laddish, gung-ho guy to a hardened SAS soldier, Bear Grylls is a remarkable individual who never ceases to amaze throughout his many adventures and escapades. Mud, sweat and tears is a recommended read for both adrenaline junkies and armchair adventurers alike; equally seeking something sensational that will leave them with lingering curiosity and impacting implication.

‘The possibilities ARE endless!’
...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Gillian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is amazing. I picked it up from the library because I assumed that an autobiography of Bear would be pretty easy holiday reading. I was right, in so far as I whipped through this book in three days of reading on planes and before bed, but it's not a particularly light and fluffy book. I was amazed at the physicality of the things that Bear has done, but I was also shocked by how self-reflective and well spoken Bear Grylls is. This book is not a piece of high literary style, but it's ho ...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Jack Pringle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I chose to read this book because I am a big fan of Bear Grylls's show Man vs Wild and I thought it would be very interesting to read this book. It fills in the 'autobiography' box on the bingo board.

My favourite quote in his book is: “I learnt another valuable lesson that night: listen to the quiet voice inside. Intuition is the noise of the mind.” This is a very wise quote coming from a man who sets himself to do stupid things. This quote teaches people that your instincts are what you can tr ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography , christian-living , non-fiction , personal-memoir

"Life continues to be an adventure, and in many ways more so than ever. I have had to learn to prioritize clearly in my life: to be safe, get home fast, and keep it fun - the rest is detail."

In Mud, Sweat and Tears: The Autobiography of Bear Grylls, I was inspired to pick this one up after reading a short article in Guideposts magazine about the life of the man we all know from his television show, Man vs. Wild on the Discovery Channel. Is all this staged? Where did his training come from? Why w "Life continues to be an adventure, and in many ways more so than ever. I have had to learn to prioritize clearly in my life: to be safe, get home fast, and keep it fun - the rest is detail."

In Mud, Sweat and Tears: The Autobiography of Bear Grylls, I was inspired to pick this one up after reading a short article in Guideposts magazine about the life of the man we all know from his television show, Man vs. Wild on the Discovery Channel. Is all this staged? Where did his training come from? Why would anyone do this as a way to make a living?

This is where you will find yourself as you experience what it was like growing up as Bear Grylls. Being a born adventurer as a child, he often joined his father in expeditions that involved mountain climbing, romps through the mud and most of all a lesson in unconditional love and perseverance modeled through his eyes by his own father.

Bear struggled in school academically but was a huge lover of extreme sports, often found scaling the chapels on his school grounds at Eton College. He grew up and had a deep desire for adventure and soon found himself talking his best friend, Trucker into joining him at signing up for the Special Air Service or SAS, an elite group of what is known as the British Special Forces unit. The amount of challenges he would face there, would provide him with the additional support and love of adventure that would carry him through all of life's struggles.

He would later be called to put that mental and emotional training into affect, when during a parachuting accident, he would break his back in three places. It was one of many wake up calls where Bear would put his faith in God to the ultimate test, to see if he would ever walk again. He was almost lost to severe depression but realized without any goals to push for, he wouldn't likely recover. His next dream, to climb Mt. Everest at 23 years old. He remembered that from small acorns grow big oaks.

He would later on film almost six seasons of Man vs. Wild, Worst-Case Scenario, and a whole series on what it is like to go through basic training inside the French Foreign Legion; he would lead countless expeditions to Antarctica, the Himalayas, and the Arctic, raising more than 2.5 million dollars for children's charities around the world; he is considered the most admired person by the middle classes, second only to the Queen in the UK among many other things that have made him successful.

His words of advice after it's all said and done, "Every day is the most wonderful of blessings, and a gift that I never take for granted. Oh, and as for the scars, broken bones, aching limbs, and sore back? I consider them just gentle reminders that life is precious - and that maybe, just maybe, I am more fragile than I dare to admit" (pg 401).

I received Mud, Sweat, and Tears: The Autobiography of Bear Grylls compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. The one them that remains a constant in this book is that through hard work and perseverance, you can achieve whatever you want in life. His goal in writing this was to show his roots: the early, bigger missions that shaped him, and the even earlier, smaller moments that steered him to become the man, husband and father, he is today. He wrote this book as a way of passing down the life lessons he has learned to his three younger sons, and there are so many great quotes and take aways from this book. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and really admire the circumstances that he had to endure during his life that makes Bear Grylls, the man he is today. ...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In this memoir Bear tells the story of his life and death-defying adventures. It turns out that not only he a tough guy in mind and body, but he also has a sensitive side and a heart. A fun read if you are a Man vs Wild fan. My only criticism is that he spends a little too much time on the details of his SAS training and Everest adventure--don't get me wrong, they are both riveting and amazing stories but it got a little repetitive after a while.

He also confesses his real first name and mentions ...more

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Sep 20, 2015 N. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An enjoyable memoir. At the beginning, Grylls describes his family and that part comes the closest to sounding egotistical, like a typical star memoir, although I think his objective was to give credit to those who made him what he is, rather than to say, "Here's how I turned out so awesome."

From his early history, the book goes into great detail about his time in the SAS. He glosses over his broken back and recovery (although that was clearly one of the most emotionally difficult experiences o ...more

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