The Walk: Previously published as To Reach The Clouds

I knew nothing about this event or about this person. Such a fun journey he took the reader on.

On the morning of August 7th, 1974, Philippe Petit walked on a tightrope between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. People who were on their way to work watched as he spent forty minutes walking back and forth, and even lying down on the wire. Petit's performance brought wonder and joy to New Yorkers, and is credited with introducing the Twin Towers to the world. It's been called "the artistic crime of the century."This book is Petit's account of the entire project, from conception, to finish, to getting arrested, passing a psychiatric evaluation, and making good with law enforcement by giving a free performance for children in Central Park.I'm fascinated by Petit's stunt on many levels. It was mischievous and audacious. When I first learned of it while watching the documentary Man on Wire on Netflix, I spent the beginning of the film thinking This guy is a moron. I ended thinking This guy is genius. There's also something poetic about an artist turning this symbol of commerce into a playground – especially given the eventual fate of the towers.The main valuable lesson of Petit's feat is this: Have a big dream, but stick with small goals. Petit spent six years planning this coup. In the meantime, he and the team he assembled conducted hundreds of reconnoissance missions visiting the still-under-construction towers to collect details and plan. They built models and spoke to engineers. Petit did smaller stunts between towers of a cathedral in Paris, and between pylons of a bridge in Australia.

There are few people who are standout characters in real life. The eccentric Frenchman, Philippe Petit, is one of them.From the moment you see him on video, you can tell there is something special about Philippe. I bought this book because I saw part of his life story in the documentary,  Man on Wire , which was turned into the Robert Zemeckis film,  The Walk  (a must-see in 3D). The sheer force of his personality is probably what convinced his lover and friends to accomplish "the artistic crime of the century." An event of this degree isn't likely to happen again for a long time.This book is about that "crime"—walking between New York City's Twin Towers on a tightrope. Since I already saw the documentary and movie, this book felt like a rehash of the same events. The only difference is you get it straight from Philippe's head with his own words. To be honest, this whole event was so mind-boggling in that he actually accomplished it, that you have to read what he was thinking when he thought to do it.If you haven't seen the movie or documentary, give this book a read. Experiencing this event through the eyes of the larger than life Mr. Petit will be memorable. Recommended.

a four star rating, but this is one of the very rare times when I've enjoyed the movie over the book (The movie was stunning). The author is very honest, and we see a lot of home which tend s to distract from the story - which is unbelievable! He would argue that anything less than complete honesty would be tantamount to destroying his art, and this may be so, but his story is just so compelling it is almost a distraction.Anyhow, upload it, read it, enjoy it, and feel free to love it or share my (minor) frustration.

After seeing the movie "The Walk", I wanted to find out more details about Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers. The book is fast- paced reading (hard to put down!) and explains a lot more about what went into the planning and preparation for the walk. I found it to be a fascinating true story and it gave me an even better appreciation for the event than the movie did. The photos in the book also added to my understanding of how amazing and dangerous Philippe's walk actually was. Altogether a truly enjoyable and unforgettable book!

Philippe Petit is an amazing writer. He has the ability to surround you in his activities and bring you in on the a glorious dare devil event. You feel in the thick of it. What an accomplishment his life has been. The only thing more exhilarating is watching the film, I had to hide my eyes many times when he walked the wire because of my fear of heights! This book is a must read for all the world and a tender tribute to NYC's Twin Towers.

Philippe Petit writes this story in an exciting, present-tense web of clever details woven to captivate his readers. His writing style reflects his personality and draws the audience in to his true tale. It's an easy read and quite entertaining.

Written staccato style this book is a speedy but engrossing read- It envelopes you in the anxiety and the secrecy and the almost insane necessity, as seen by the author Philippe Petit in his plan and execution of a high wire, unsecured, walk between the twin towers in New Your in 1974. A really interesting book-and it answers a lot of questions, about the walker, and the technical aspects of how he did it.

I enjoyed the film very much and when I learned Petit had written a book on which the film was based, I bought. Enjoyed that too. A remarkable story. I remember the event when it happened - some if the images of him out in the wire stuck with me for years - but I had no idea Petit had written a book about the walk. The book conveys his voice and passion really well. What I found particularly intriguing was his descriptions of going out in the wire, how his feet felt in the cable etc. It was oddly reassuring. Up until that section even the thought of going out on a cable like that, 1400 feet above the streets, was spine tinglingly scary. Readng his descriptions of placing his feet and the feel of the cable made me understand that for him - and only him - it was probably not all that dangerous. I have read snce where he says he never takes risks. I believe him.

Amazing true story which inspires you to go for your dreams. Phillippe who the story is about comes over as a very unpleasant person but the goals he sets for himself and his “friends” were amazing! Facts about the Twin Towers were interesting and the feat he achieved, walking on a tightrope between them , was mind blowing! Reach for your dreams! Set your mind to achieve something and you can do it!

This book is sheer magic- we share each moment of Phillipe Petit's obsession with the walk between the Twin Towers. He is a one off character who never even imagines failure and not only that he also manages to get the same obsession through to his "helpers" His writing is as exciting as his obsession and one can almost feel the air flowing around him as he lies on the wire mid walk. If you have seen the film Man on a Wire you will enjoy reading the Man's own words. Open the book and step in to his world.

I can't even begin to tell you how compelling I found this. I'm really not a big fan of non-fiction, but this totally blew me away - and yes, lucky I'm not a high-wire walker. Anyway, excuse the lousy joke, but this is a seriously brilliant and breathtaking read. No wonder it keeps being unavailable, I guess they're reprinting like crazy. Anyway, after you get hold of a copy, if you then fancy a bit of fiction, I highly recommend this: Soothing Music for Stray Cats  by Jayne Joso, also brilliant. Soothing Music for Stray Cats

Enhances one's understanding of the motivation and preparation that preceded Philippe Petit's audacious walk between the two towers and elaborates on the immense amount of preparation that took place before it could happen. Some aspects may seem a little mystical for some readers, but there is enough gritty detail to counter-balance. Some of the photographs taken at the time are literally breathtaking