Psychovertical is a powerful if intensely personal book, well written, sometimes brilliantly so. It charts Kirkpatrick's fractured upbringing and subsequent escape to a life of extreme climbing and close calls... He is a clear, spare writer, and a highly visual one. The descriptions of climbing are among the best I've ever read... Kirkpatrick chooses words with the same care that he chooses a wire.

Kirkpatrick's autobiography sparkles with black humour...He writes with great eloquence on the fears of an extreme craftsman pursuing his crazy self-imposed task

Thrilling ... Most compelling are his psychological battles, as self-belief and a dry sense of humour ultimately propel him to the top

Andy is one of the funniest of Britain's top climbers and represents what is best in modern British climbing: boldness, innovation, sense of humour, irreverence, commitment, and an appetite for risk.

Entertaining, funny and a bit mental

Kirkpatrick never shies from the terror and self-doubt that seem to foreshadow his every move, and the daunting psychological and physical tasks he sets himself are always in danger of smothering him. But it is his wit and an effusive enthusiasm for climbing and travelling to regions totally inaccessible to the average punter that make this so readable. The man seems to have an insatiable appetite for putting himself in preposterous danger, which rewards the armchair reader very nicely.

A book that makes you shiver, certainly. But much more profound than I expected.

Clee does a brilliant job of conjuring up the rollicking Georgian London inhabited by Dennis O'Kelly and his brothel-keeping mistress

A colourful romp through Georgian London and its scoundrels and chancers

He should be commended for his frankness. It certainly defines this tome in contrast to the usual drudgery of rugby autobiographies

Since so many sports efforts in this genre tend to reveal very little, a memoir like O'Gara's, one with real bite and new insight, makes for a markedly refreshing read. The book is laced with fleshy anecdotes. All make for bona fide eyebrow arching, giggle-inducing, page turning stuff

It is to O'Gara's credit that his autobiography remains true to his personality. It is a compellingly candid read... There is a sense of singularity about O'Gara that takes him into places others find uncomfortable... few men walk the walk better than Munster and Ireland's No. 10

This engrossing book sails straight between the posts

Arguably the best Irish book of the year... told with flawless skill

The perfect present for any rugby fan. It shows the goldfish-bowl aspect to life as a modern-day sporting legend and gives an insight into what it's like on the inside looking out

Whether you are a rugby fan or not, this book is likely to please... This honest autobiography will provide an intriguing read for the Christmas period

Compelling reading

Motty's knowledge and passion for football are unrivalled as he shares his story for the first time with humour and honesty.

Filled with a multitude of detail about Motson's background and the sporting times he lived through ...Motson is one of the most intelligent and accomplished commentators in history, a voice that has conveyed the best (and worst, depending on your allegiance) moments in the recent past of the game. His book offers a fascinating look at what goes on behind the scenes of football broadcasting, as well as a trip down memory lane for many supporters. A must-read for any football fan.

The voice of the sheepskinned sage and cult hero John Motson will doubtless be heard at the 2010 tournament, and he reminisces on his career to date in the amusing Motty: Forty Years in the Commentary Box