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Home > Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa
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Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa
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By Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman
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 (24 Reviews)
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List Price: $21.99
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Publisher:
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Atria Books
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Edition:
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Reprint
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Published:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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352
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December 31, 1969
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| Product Description: |
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Now in paperback, this second remarkable travel book from famed actor Ewan McGregor and his good friend Charley Boorman chronicles their epic adventure ride on motorbikes from Scotland to South Africa. After their fantastic trip around the world in 2004, recounted to acclaim in Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn?t shake the travel bug. Inspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth. In Long Way Down, they share their 15,000-mile journey, from the northernmost tip of Scotland to the southernmost tip of South Africa, to ride some of the toughest terrain in the world. Along the way, from the pyramids in Egypt to Luke Skywalker?s house in Tunisia, they meet people who have triumphed over terrifying experiences?former child soldiers in Uganda and children living amidst the minefields of Ethiopia. They have a close encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda and are nearly trampled by a herd of elephants in Botswana. Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, they face their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humor and honesty, they tell their story?the drama, the dangers, and the sheer exhilaration of riding together again through a continent filled with magic and wonder.
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Customer Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
 Even Better the Second Time Around--Down?, August 12, 2008
By author, Chasing the Wind & Fin.. (St. Louis, MO)
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By Norma Beishir
author, Chasing the Wind
I really enjoyed their first book, but this one's much, much better. I have to admit that I like memoirs and travel journals better when they're not ghostwritten. I like to hear the voice of the person whose story I'm reading. In other words, I like it to be genuine.
Ewan and Charley's enthusiasm for their travels comes through in every page. The ups and downs they experience are there, with no sugar-coating. The photographs are better this time around as well, and some of the captions are quite amusing. There's one humorous photo of the two that looks as if they're about to rob a liquor store. Another, in which the guys are down to their shorts, makes me think of a line from "Smokey and the Bandit": "The last time I saw a leg that looked like that, it had a message tied to it."
My only disappointment with this book is that I would have liked to see some input from Ewan's wife, Eve, on her leg of the trip. As a woman, I'd enjoy getting her perspective. After all, she held her own after only six months of riding, while these two men had been riding for years before attempting a long trip. I laughed at her response to his objections when she wanted to join them.
She really should have put together her own trip with a group of women. I know a lot of female bikers who would have been willing to join her for a good cause. Isn't kicking the guys' butts always a good cause? Oh, yeah, and it could have been good for UNICEF, too.
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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Another great journey., May 22, 2009
By Facetags Creator (Chicagoland, IL)
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Due to scheduling complications with the ferry for the first 1/3rd of the trip, Long Way Down (LWD) had a rushed and more stressful feel to it in comparison to Long Way Round. This led to a slightly less enjoyable experience for the reader/viewer in my opinion.
Nevertheless, this voyage is still Ewan and Charley at their best. These guys enjoy motorcycling and traveling on them so much that they make the best out of any situation.
The way they document the trip is so honest, and really opens you up to their personalities - something you rarely get to see with famous people. It's so honest and humble, yet funny and appropriately opinionated at the same time. The quality of the book - the editing, the photos and the writing are superb in their natural style.
The fact that they take time to do charity work as well as show the world things that most choose to ignore is wonderful. Plus, like the LWR trip - it's an incredible way to show the beauty of our world and politeness of so many of the people in it.
The books and movies are true magic on film - whether or not you like motorcycles or not (i am obsessed), it is nearly impossible to not fall in love with these two guys and their journey of a lifetime.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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A travel story, September 7, 2008
By R. Sullivan
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A travel story. Short on drama and suspense but a lot of description of lands and peoples. Little talk about motorcycles even though they had some difficulties that could have added some interest. I enjoyed it for what it is.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 So many downs, pretty much no highs..., October 2, 2008
By Dirk Tag
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I bought "Long way Down" ages ago with great expectations but I have to say, having finally found time to read it and having gotten myself half-way through, I feel decidedly underwhelmed. I went out and paid a handsome sum for this publication in hardcover after having my appetite aroused by blurbs which promised a great read, and a little humour, in the vein of classic travel writing. But that is not what I got. "Long Way Down" sallies forth into rich landscapes but gives up only a dull stream of prosaic impressions of the worlds and people which it passes. Its understanding of the nuance, complexity and colour of the locales it encounters is utterly superficial. This, it must be said, would be forgivable if the reward for such nearsightedness was a series of amusing or charming ironies. But charm and irony is a destination the writers of this drivel are unlikely ever to reach. It will remain a lasting shame to this century that Little Brown's Sphere buffoons have attempted to shove this abomination into the same generic space occupied by classics like Eric Newby's "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush". Like a square peg into a round hole this common little book will not make for such a fit. What was Sphere thinking? Surely there was someone working at LB who had read Waugh, Steinbeck or Sinclair; someone who could have applied the proverbial brakes before Sphere foisted this shameless potboiler on the world with promising blurbs of truly faith destroying proportions. Lies, damned lies, and a couple of fat gits. That's really all this book turned out to be. Thanks for nothing...
2 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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Great book, fun read., January 22, 2010
By Peter L (San Diego)
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I read the book during my own motorcycle trip down to Guatemala. I read their first book, Long Way Round, a couple years ago and it inspired me to make my trip. Its great that two guys like Charley and Ewan are so passionate about their bikes that despite their careers they take the time to do a trip like this. It is also nice to see them take time to help out with various charities during their journeys. Now I need to order the DVDs!
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Interesting travel writing with a motorcycle flavor, November 24, 2008
By J. Eder (Bartlesville, OK USA)
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Ewan and Charley's adventure from northern Scotland to the southern tip of Africa reads much like two diaries being integrated for the book. Each author has his own voice. These generally are complementary, but they expose their own tensions and those of the trip as well. Their involvement in African charitable organizations and the emotions they invoke raise the book from a fairly straight narrative into bringing greater understanding and sympathy for the situations faced in most African countries.
At one point, Charley takes the bungee jump from the Victoria Falls railway bridge (360 feet vertical drop). Ewan wonders a bit at Charley's bravado. Having been there and done that jump at age 62, I can appreciate both points of view. But if you are there, don't pass it up!
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Not quite an epic, but still an excellent read., August 23, 2008
By Charles E. Besancon III (Phoenix, AZ United States)
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Being someone who loves motorcycles, travel, and thought Long Way Round was awesome, this book was already high on my list. I saw the one time showing of the Long Way Down movie and I am currently watching the full series on the Fox Reality Channel. I love this stuff!
So why didn't the book get five stars? Well, I think it suffered from being the second time around. It never felt quite as much of a seat of your pants adventure as Long Way Round did. I suppose it shouldn't since this is the second major trip and all the crew kind of know what they are doing. I also thought that having Ewan McGregor bring his wife along for part of the trip did change the dynamic of the trip, as you'll hear Charley Boorman say a few times. But it was damn funny to hear about her falling all the time.
I won't say much more so as not to ruin some of the truly entertaining and interesting parts of the book. But if you love motorcycles, travel, or both, this book is for you. Heck, you've probably already read it!
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great book, August 15, 2008
By Alex L. (Denver, Co)
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The first book was great and so was the series. This one is awesome as well. Very funny and a great read.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 ZZZZZzzzzx, October 28, 2008
By DTV (Boston, MA)
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Being an avid motorcyclist, adventurer and non-fiction reader, I was excited to pick this book up when I saw it. Tried to get thru it several times, but it was just uncompelling. Very little about the actual bikes other than that they were BMW's. Having an entourage of trucks and cameras following them... What kind of adventure is that? ANYWAYS I never did get thru it although it was a good aid to falling asleep at night - 5 or 6 pages and I was out like a light.
1 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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 Long Way Down, February 12, 2011
By Spider Monkey (UK)
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Having loved the series of LWD I was hoping for good things from the book. I suppose after the lack lustre LWR book I should have know what to expect! This is sadly like the first book, slow paced, not especially descriptive, a touch dry and focusing more on the petty tensions and frustrations than the actual journey. Funnily enough you didn't get a feel for the tension from the TV series, but this book really focuses upon them. Charley has a habit of name dropping all the sponsors and equipment providers, which although I know they have to acknowledge, the body of the text isn't the best place to do so. One redeeming factor is the various colour plate sections which show the journey in quite a good light and the maps are up to a good standard also. It seems like a great adventure and the TV series showed that aspect really well, the book on the other hand is a little dry. Worth it if you're a big fan of the series, other wise you can give it a miss and not worry too much.
Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.
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Long way down a great read, February 10, 2011
By BMWLloyd
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What a great read. I have watched the documentary and now read the book. So much more information in the book... There always is but once you pick it up you will not want to put it down. Fun filled facts, light hearted yet serious. The book is laid out well with maps and pictures. Highly recommended...
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Long way up and downs, January 30, 2011
By @iamdavebowers (Boston, MA)
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Like the LWR book, the LWD accompaniment sheds light on many areas not covered in the series and helps round out the adventure. In many instances it even improves the film, giving you a deeper perspective on the events. The writing skips back between Ewan and Charley, never resting on one subject too long to get boring and while they aren't professorial writers, they get the spirit of their adventure across.
It's fair to say that their journey is a mixed one. Physically it was an easier trip than their last, this time their problems man made. In giving themselves too little time to make the trip they are stressed, tired and spend the first half moaning. Once scheduling is dealt with they really settle in for an amazing ride across Africa.
Sadly this book focuses mainly on the first half of the journey, with the latter half covered in great speed. As I reached the last 100 pages I kept thinking "they're not going to cover half of what made the series" and they didn't.
For those looking for a motorcycling adventures, watch the TV series, for the fans read the book.
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Good, not great., December 24, 2010
By Eric S. Lindquist
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I enjoyed watching Long Way Round on Current TV, and bought Long Way Down to read when seeing it was on sale for $6. In the book, Ewan keeps talking about feeling rushed as they head South, and the book seems "rushed" too. You get the feeling that they were dictating their story, and someone else typed it.
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Long Way Down book, October 2, 2010
By cleanfreak (Angier, NC, USA)
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Bought the book after having watched, and purchased, the series. Good insight into the adventures you saw on the series. Nice photos.
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Ewan McGregor, June 5, 2010
By Jan N. (Austin, TX United States)
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This was a gift, but I was told by him that he absolutely loved it.
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A great adventure, May 25, 2010
By potter fan (Petaluma, CA)
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This book was just as good as the DVD, but it was fun imagining it.
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Once Again, May 9, 2010
By Jared Krauss (Iowa City, Iowa)
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This book is capturing, I'm only half way through it, and I haven't had as much time to read as I would like, but when I do read it I lose track of time. I get pulled in and look up and two hours have gone by.
This makes me want to get out and live more. Thank God I am able to.
Make sure you read Long Way Round first!
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Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa, December 21, 2009
By Wayne Bentley (Fredericksburg, VA USA)
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What an excellent read, found it hard to put down, so I ended up reading the entire book in 4 days. You don't have to enjoy riding motorcycles to enjoy the book, but it sure helps. I loved it and am looking forward to reading the first book of the travels, "The Long Way Round".
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Adventure, August 6, 2009
By Glenn Wakefield (Heber City, Utah)
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I am a fan of Ewan and Charlie. Their trip around the world in Long Way Down inspired me to replace a Harley with a BMW. For anyone who is a fan of motorcycles and has a dream of riding in foreign lands, this book offers great enjoyment. Now most of us won't have a support crew and sag wagon, but these guys still manage to keep it real and this fun read shows you that not all movie stars are spoiled hollywood brats.
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Not long enough, March 15, 2009
By Jo Ann Simpson
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Story too rushed, deadlines forcing abbreviated adventure. Too bad they didn't take their time and tell the full story. Experienced bikers know mistakes were made, making the trip more hazardous and difficult than necessary. Nonetheless, it was a sometimes heartwarming and sometimes frustrating read about an expedition few would undertake.
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A fun read, March 2, 2009
By Ex Republican (Washington, DC)
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I watched the videos of this and "Long Way Round" and read both books. I thought "Long Way Round" was better, but this was still well worth reading. Ewan and Charlie have a good chemistry and it comes through in the book. The only thing I would have liked to have seen done differently is to have a little more of the support characters such as Russ and Dave involved. The cameraman almost disappeared entirely and he was pretty prominent in the last book.
Still an enjoyable read.
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Great adventure story, February 10, 2009
By David Montgomery (Montpelier, Vt USA)
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Loved this journey by motorcycle. DVD was wonderful. You wouldn't believe the hardships involved in this trip
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Long Way Down, January 14, 2009
By Travel Girl (Atlanta, GA)
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Great book and an easy read. Love the story. Both McGregor and Boorman write in a log entry style and this gives the book a real life feel. I am looking to see the DVD. If you love motorcycles and travel this is a new adventure awaiting.
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ewans journey, August 2, 2008
By shinmon2
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I love this book. I read his first and I couldn't wait to receive this one. It is very well written. I am afan of both Ewan and Charley.
Marianne Shinmon mshinmon@cox.net
0 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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