This was an easy read, and they are both sweet guys, but neither of them is Paul Theroux, and I really struggled with their constant sniping, repetitions, monotonous descriptions of dusty towns and twatting about with the bollock stew:the woman is feeding you, complete strangers, just neck it and be grateful! It was funny in places, and they certainly managed a huge feat, but I don't think I'll bother with the sequel.

Couldn’t finish this one. I like travel books but this was heavy on motorbikes and the relationships within the team and light on stories about the places they were visiting. Might be enjoyable for someone who is keen on motorbikes.

The story "Long Way Round" is telling is communicated through two different authors, with Ewan and Charley writing their own lines of text. This is confusing at times, but does add to the charm. Throughout the book their individual personalities come to light, which I much enjoyed.

However, what I missed the most from "Long Way Round" was a description of Ewan and Charleys philosophical gains from their journey. Between the lines, it is clear that both of them achieve great insight into their own set of values and how their travels are affecting those values, but very rarely are these changes ever really brought up or made concrete. This is what makes "Long Way Round" only a good travel description and not a great one, like "Jupiters Travels".

Enormously awesome to have featured Ted Simon :))

I needed something amusing and easy and this book delivered. The writing is not groundbreaking but it's simple and sharp and gets the job done; you also can't deny the passion and excitement in it. Admittedly you'd have to be an extraordinarily shit writer to make something like riding across the globe on motorbikes sound boring; luckily McGregor and his road partner Charley Boorman are not extraordinarily shit writers.

Even if you're not super in to bikes, you'd enjoy this. The journey is exciting, often humorous, filled with challenges, and very honest. The authors manage to be passionate about the bikes in the way that all genuinely passionate people are: they make the information accessible and entertaining, wishing to draw people in rather than lecture them on facts and stats. Bike nerds will appreciate the information; those who are less experienced will learn something and get a good idea of what a decent bike is.

The book does a good job of capturing time and place, and you really get a sense of what these locations are like. The authors aren't afraid to show the bad with the good, though there's much more good than bad. You can appreciate the frustration of such an insane trip as well -- the writing brings home the stress and fear that comes with such a mammoth undertaking, as well as the headache of logistics and the fulfilment that comes from every success.

The one complaint I have is that both authors talk a lot about missing home, and while some of this is truthful and obviously part of their journey, I find it a bit of a headache sometimes. I don't know if somebody told them that their wives would be pissed if they didn't remind the reader they missed them every 5-10 pages, but after a certain point there's not much to say. Seeing something that reminds you of them? Fair enough. Randomly mentioning it and derailing the rest of what you're saying? It got a bit old.

And for all this, I would have loved to see a bit more of Charley's perspective when they made it to New York! For all I rolled my eyes, I was looking forward to seeing the boys reunited with their families, and while Ewan's perspective was touching I'd love to have seen Charley's thoughts as well.

Overall, a quick, fun little read which has made me miss Ukraine a lot. (Not that I ever stop missing it, and travelling in general.)

What a fantastic account of what was a fantastic adventure from these guys. Loved the TV series, loved the book!

The book really takes you on the journey with them, from the frustrations of preparations to the events in Ukraine, to the slog through those outlandish roads in the east. Brilliant read for any adventurist!

Long Way Round is a mentally and physically exhausting journey made by two friends who wanted a break. The book is comprised of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s daily diary entries that were written during the entire trip. By sharing both of their personal diaries you are able to get two very different perspectives of their overwhelming trip around the world.

In the beginning, I was a little irritated, especially with Ewan. He liked to name-drop quite a bit and, also, liked to mention which movies he was filming at the time. However, as I kept reading, I realized that Ewan’s journey was about leaving the film industry behind and discover new things about himself. I thought it was amazing how he and Charley were able to get on a pair of huge BMW bikes without an entourage and travel across some of the most difficult and dangerous roads in the world. They would stay with complete strangers and found out the true meaning of hospitality.

For Ewan and Charley, Mongolia was the highlight of their journey. They were able to, finally, leave behind their insecurities and obsessions of keeping their riding schedules. They started to absorb and enjoy the ride. At one part, they decided to take a quick dip in a nearby river.

Ewan: “This is so liberating!” I screamed, running naked along the riverbank back to my bike. “Three nude men in the countryside. We should have some drums and bows and arrows.” The best part of the impromptu skinny-dip was that we had shaken off our obsession with keeping to the schedule…But we’d come to realize that keeping to planned mileage was pointless if we didn’t experience anything along the way.”

It was moments like that that made the book so entertainment; watching grown men run around like little boys enjoying their adventure.

However, there were times where the extreme demand on their minds and bodies was just too much. Charley wrote that “It was just so hard. More than once I thought: what the f—k am I doing here? Why am I doing this? Who thought this was a good idea? I just wanted to go home. For the first time, I really hit a low, my mood all the worse for not having eaten since breakfast.” When Charley would really let himself experience the land, he would lift himself out of his dark mood and journey on. Their extreme mood swings was prevalent throughout their journey. They had highs and lows. It really is amazing how they were able to fight through their emotions to meet their goal.

I really enjoyed this book. I experienced all the highs and lows with Ewan and Charley. You are left with such a respect for what these two accomplished. They left behind the comfort of their families and their privileged lifestyle to experience extreme off rode biking and other cultures. They came back changed men.

Wow... I went into this book with very little expectations, firstly I know nothing about bikes, and secondly I thought that it may be some kind of shameless promotion on behalf of Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman but I was incredibly wrong.
I was amazed at the journey these men took, and especially amazed at the vast amount of emotion that they both experienced and described throughout the journey and especially at their homecoming.
This is a book for any travel lover, for those who wish to experience a world outside of their own, I was moved by the journey of these men and the relationships that developed while on it, I have a new found respect for Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman and applaud them for accomplishing something so amazing.

Long Way Round is a book about two blokes, who happen to be famous, who love motorcycles and decide to take the ultimate trip... around the world.

I've watched the documentary series a number of times and always enjoyed it. There's times where it's obviously edited to fit a narrative and times where their true selves are let out.

Overall this book reads like a stitched together diary, which is fine. There is a lot of "today we did this, then that, then that and it was cool". I found this book perfect to read before bed because it's simple and I don't have to remember a thing to find enjoyment out of it.

3/5 - I enjoyed it, but it's not great.

Very interesting and easy read. The book is not especially in depth or insightful but it is fun to see the journey and people through the eyes of these two guys. They are both very honest and open through-out the book and this adds to the enjoyment of really being able to follow along with their trip. It is written more like a memoir with each of them taking turns, the writing is not exceptional but as previously stated it is still engaging and fun to read.

I have read this one before, but with the boys recently releasing Long Way Up, their journey from Ushuaia to Los Angeles, I decided to go back and revisit their earlier journeys. Like Charley's book about his Dakar run, the thing I love most about this story is their unapologetic love for each other, not just Ewan and Charley, but the whole Long Way team - David Alexanian, Russ Malkin, Claudio von Planta and Jimmy Simak. I love that these stinky motorbike riding lads can show each other love and affection, and genuinely care about and for each other. It's a healthy masculinity that we do not see enough in the media.

As I read the last paragraph of the book, I do not want it to end. I want to stay travelling around the world with the boys on their bikes. They make me want to get my motorcycle license and a giant BMW motorbike and join them. It's delightful, heartwarming reading that stays in my mind well after I finish reading.

Men have idea.
Men get bike.
Men travel world on said bike.
Men happy.

fr though very well written and exciting (even got me to shed a tear at the end)

Disappointed. I wanted and expected to like this. There are pieces of it that I did like, such as the instances of interacting with Ukrainians and Mongolians. Those pieces, approximately 20% of the book, are lost in constant whining about the authors' disagreements with each other and their support crew members, not having enough privacy from media, missing their families, and generally what was going on inside their own heads. The authors show some writing talent and a stern editor who could have forced them to focus other than on themselves might have made this a worthwhile read. That's as kind as I can be. What I really want to say is most of the time they came across as arrogant little Brit snots. Among British actors writing travel books stick with Michael Palin, a true gentleman.