Mud, Sweat and Tears: Junior Edition by Bear Grylls

Random House, 2012. ISBN: 9780552566391.
Being a fan of writing about climbing, mountaineering and survival I started this autobiography with high hopes. Make no mistake; I enjoyed large parts of Gryll's book. He doesn't linger too long on childhood events; describes with clarity and insight his experience of successfully being 'selected' for the elite British Army SAS and his against-all-odds summiting of Mount Everest a mere two years after breaking his back in a skydiving accident.
The 'Boys' Own' stories and his enthusiasm for life are infectious; he is Chief Scout after all but it is his use of the language that causes me concern as an adult reader. Teenage Fans of Man vs. Wild will no doubt forgive Bear his over reliance on cliche in the service of a good yarn. I know legions of boys that will lap this up (see what I did there Bear?)
Stephen Bull