127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Movie Tie- In)

By: Aron Ralston

Narrated by: Aron Ralston

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Aron Ralston, an experienced 27-year-old outdoorsman, was on a days solitary hike through a remote and narrow Utah canyon when he dislodged an 800-pound boulder that crushed his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. Emerging from the searing pain, Aron found himself completely stuck. No one knew where he was; no one was coming to rescue him. With scant water and food, and a cheap pocketknife his only tool, he eliminated his options one by one. On the fifth night, wracked by delirium and uncontrollable shivers, Aron scratched his epitaph into the rock wall, certain he would not see daylight.

Yet with the new morning came an epiphany: if he could use the rocks vise-like hold to break his arm bones, his blunted pocketknife could serve as a surgeons blade....

©2010 Simon & Schuster Audio; 2010 Aron Ralston

Fantastic Survival Story

Ever since the pandemic started I've been listening to survival stories. They make me feel so much better about my life and give me perspective. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book so much as I'm kind of averse to gore but it was really well done.

Pros: Incredible story, well told in chronological order, I even got a bit choked up towards the end which I was not expecting at all.

Cons: Because there's not a whole lot to tell there's a lot of filler stories of his childhood which I skipped through. The story is already only 5 hours and I'd say about an hour of that is filled with extras.

In conclusion I'd highly recommend the book. It's also better than the movie.

Better than the movie

If you could sum up 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Movie Tie- In) in three words, what would they be?

I saw the film and heard some snippets of Ralston's interviews online. This made me wonder why he said he wouldn't avoid this accident if he were to do it over again. This book helped to explain what the experience has done to enrich the author's life. Although the book would do a service to readers by adding some advice on avoiding similar incidents, it's a great story from a standpoint of overcoming adversity, facing fears, "growing" spiritually/intellectually, etc. The book does not, however, provide much advice in terms of "lessons learned." I enjoyed that it was ready by Aron Ralston himself. I always like audio books that are read by their own authors; you can be pretty sure that all the voice inflections are correct interpretations of the author's tone.

Very well told

Any additional comments?

Aron told this story in a way that it was very easy to follow and it was very entertaining and interesting. A book like this could have easily turned into a huge bore but I finished this one in like a day and a half. Great job!

Amazing testimony of perseverance

Aron is an amazing writer and captures his experience in such detail you feel as though you have come out a different person by the end. He takes you through his agonizing 6 days with such visualization that you emerge determined and amazed with a value on life that is more powerful than ever.

awesome story

Gruesome, gory, and detailed. I can tell he is incredibly intelligent by his writing. You can also tell he was an engineer with how he explains things. He goes into such vast detail that I can clearly picture the scene as it happens. I also love that he narrates his own book, it really puts the cherry on this already amazing book. I hate that he had to go through all of it, but it certainly makes for some interesting dinner party conversation I'm sure.

Couldn't watch the movie?

It was neat to listen to the voice of Aaron retell his own story. That said, he isn't an actor, but the way it was told is true to character. I'd already read quite a bit about the story, I'd watched NBC's report with Tom Brokaw. This book made me feel like I was there in the slot with him. Small warning, about the use of the F*** word just after he gets trapped by the rock. Other than that I'd recomend it to any young reader.
If you listen to the story with the intent to criticize the author for mistakes made, or to second guess him "Well I would have done....." then you will not get the most out of this book. Rather this book can teach how amazing the will to live, and explore really is. It is an inspiring book.
I started competitive Rock Climbing in 1996, and since then have drifted between the worlds of bouldering, trad climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, and even have a few big walls, under my belt. This book is fuel to get me home.

amazing

this story is so incredible and inspirational i love it and will never forget it.

awesome

Edge of your seat kinda book, great narration amazing story. will definitely share this book!

The Ral-Stone

I loved the book. I’m fascinated by his will to survive. I’ve hiked Little Blue John canyon and sat with the chockstone that pined his hand. I cannot fathom the strength and will he had over his physical self.
Side note: There are shoes at the trailhead hanging from the tree he locked his bike to. Are they his shoes? I do know he took his cremated hand to disperse ashes at the rock but did he also leave shoes? Anyone.. ?anyone..?

loved it!

It started to hurt in my arm by just hearing all this. What an incredible story.