books
BEYOND THE HORIZON: EXTREME
ADVENTURES AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
BOOK
OF THE
MONTH
Richard Parks (Little, Brown)
At the age of 30 Richard Parks' rugby career was cut short following
an irreparable injury to the shoulder, leaving him with little more than an
uncertain future and a cavalcade of depression to face. His life, dedicated to
rugby, was no longer open to him. He was a 30-year-old man, living at home
with his parents. This is where Beyond The Horizon, Parks' extraordinary
autobiography opens. Wrestling with the diagnosis of never playing
professional rugby again, he finds solace in adventurer Ranulph Fiennes’
book Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know. The book gave Parks inspiration
to follow in the adventurers footsteps – despite having only read a third of
the book, it was all he needed.
So begins a whirlwind trip that takes Parks on death-defying trips around the
world in the name of charity and personal development. He establishes the
737 Challenge, a journey that takes him to the seven summits, as well as the three poles, in the space
of only seven months, something never accomplished before. As if that weren't enough, he conquers
the world’s highest mountain bike race and a marathon through the Peruvian jungle.
Beyond The Horizon is more than just a memoir: it allows the reader the rare insight in witnessing the
rebirth of an already inspirational sporting figure. Parks writes with refreshing frankness and humanity,
so at times it seems you could be having a conversation with him ݙ\