Touching the Void, Joe Simpson

Two audacious young men, Joe and Simon, set off to reach a summit that had never been reached before. Disaster struck when Joe fell and broke his knee. Simon tried to save Joe, but was forced eventually to cut the rope and leave Joe for dead. Simon returned to camp, certain that Joe was dead. A few days later he prepared to break camp, only to find Joe passed out a short distance from the camp. He had pulled himself and hopped over miles of treacherous terrain with a broken knee, no food, and limited water.

Touching the Void is the true story of their climb, their disaster, their survival, told by Joe. Joe's account is more poetic than I expected, and offers a harrowing description of going mad.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy true survival tales. Caution: there is occasional strong language in the book.