Customer Reviews
a poetic caper story - By: Big Jim, 10 Sep 2008 
This is a lovely book. Written almostin the style of an "oceans eleven" style caper the story of the set up for this escapade takes up the majority of the book, where the conspiracy to thwart the security on the twin towersin 1974 has many humerous & thrilling elements. The actual tightrope walk is written as a poetic piece, a total change of pace that is stylistically interesting & sets up the eventual capture after the walk as a return to the crime like escapade style.
A lovely book.
Sublime and hair rising ! - By: Josephine Huys, 11 Aug 2008 I hope the documentary 'Man on wire' now outin the cinemas, will bring more people to read Petit own's account of his thrilling 'coup'in between the two towers. Somehow, becausein the book we follow him from beginning to end without distractions, we feel totally involved & right next to him on the wire, sickin the gut for him, sweating with fear, a physical reaction to reading his fascinating account that the film does not match,
It is a must-read for anyone interestedin beauty, poetry & freedom, daredevil & acts of sublime that defy all words. The stricking opposite of what some other sort of people did with the very same towers.
It will bring you to tears for more than one reasons. An absolutely unforgettable book.
Absolutely staggering - By: R Venables, 11 May 2004 This book is unlike anything I have ever read & will remain with me longer than almost anything else, it is writtenin a style similar to Baricco, which means the style of writing may not suit everyone, but I thought it was beautifully written, funny & highly emotional. Nothing should detract from the fact that this man walked (stood, sat, danced, lay) on a wire half a milein the air. The feat itself is imcomprehensible & without photos you would never believe it had happened. The audacity behind the feat is almost as amazing as the feat itself.
Most exciting book - By: MEKKA, 04 Mar 2003 This is the most gripping book I have ever read. Right from the start his style of writing sucks you right in. It is very interesting to see how the whole thing was planned over a matter of years. When it comes to the actual walk itself I couldn't believe how nervous I was. You really are on the edge of your seat, gripping the book & turning pages as fast as is possible!
Edge of the seat poetry - By: , 25 Feb 2003 This unusual little book gripped from start to finish. The writing is, quite simply, beautiful - the pictures atmospheric. Throughout the book, Petit's project appears doomed from every direction - all those around him (and, at times, even Petit) appear convinced that he will diein his attempt to cross between the Twin Towers, but he is driven on by his dream. The book gives a peek into the mind of the tightrope walker & the tensions between the artist & engineer cohabiting therein. Petit clearly loved the Towers & his comments on their destruction are poignant.
This book is a thriller, an architectural romance & a transcendental journey - altogether an irresistible read.
