Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good primer for unorthodox youth, Jan 24 2009
This review is from: Access All Areas: A User's Guide to the Art of Urban Exploration (Paperback)
Apparently, urban exploration teaches much about human foibles in an existential/experiential fashion, and reveals that many of the rules we use to bind and restrict our lives are arbitrary and pointless. I am not an urban explorer myself but this excellent guide makes me want to be. It is recommended reading for all of my kids. It wouldn't work without the author's humour, infectious curiosity, and highly ethical character which are evident on every page. A fun and curious read. Highly recommended. R.I.P., Ninjalicious!
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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
In memory of Ninjalicious and the art of exploring places you're not supposed to go!, Jan 15 2006
By VCQ - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Access All Areas: A User's Guide to the Art of Urban Exploration (Paperback)
I have been an avid fan for many years of Ninjalicious's E-zine Infiltration (www.infiltration.org), a website devoted to exploring the bowels of those places you're not supposed to go: city hospitals, hotels, subway tunnels, abandoned factories, the works. Sadly, Ninjalicious passed away in August 2005 from a terminal illness, but his love of exploration (and a good yarn!) lives on in Access All Areas. Urban exploration is not for everyone: it is generally illegal, dirty, claustrophobic, and can be downright dangerous, if not fatal (exploring subway tunnels when the trains are in use, risk of electrocution from stepping on the third electrified rail in subway tunnels, asbestos and other toxic chemicals in abandoned factories, drowning if drains flash flood, etc.). For me, I enjoyed reading Ninj's adventures exploring working subway tunnels, abandoned breweries, barging in on hotel swimming pools pretending to be a guest, and other hands-off areas of Toronto. Ninj's writing style and down-to-earth pointers about Urban Exploration (he can most definitely be considered one of the sport's founders), along with the ever-present naughty thrill of "will you be caught?" makes it an exciting hobby (please note, I'm an armchair Urban Explorer -- I've never tried exploring Toronto's subways, hospitals, abandoned breweries, or hotels in person, I'm just a fan of Ninj and the *idea* of Urban Exploration.) Rest in peace, Ninj, and thanks for the years of thrills!
34 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
outstanding, Jan 24 2006
By David Pease - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Access All Areas: A User's Guide to the Art of Urban Exploration (Paperback)
I ordered this book whilst drunk and reading the internet one night, and proceeded to forget all about it. When it arrived weeks later, I was wary of the theme, the author's nom de plume, and virtually everything else. I personally am not an urban explorer--I suppose I just thought I'd find the subject interesting. Turns out, this was the best book I read all year. It's written with an inquisitive but respectful attitude, and the author is properly derisive of people who enter spaces to deface them. Many of the observations the book makes are extremely interesting, and provide insight into how large properties and operations work that will be of use even if you aren't planning on looking around. Throughout, the book is permeated with a sense of humour and an easy, readable writing style. I was sad to hear that Ninjalicious had passed on. I would have liked to meet him, shake his hand, and tell him he's written a very, very good book.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read, even if you don't plan to infiltrate anything, Feb 5 2006
By Richard Drdul - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Access All Areas: A User's Guide to the Art of Urban Exploration (Paperback)
I grabbed this book from the library because the subject intrigued me - not because I plan to infiltrate anything, but rather just because I wanted to read about it. And what a great read it turned out to be. Ninjalicious writes very well and with a good sense of humour. He covers the subject thoroughly (I can't imagine he overlooked anything) and with a good attitude. I enjoyed the several brief anecdotes scattered throughout the book describing infiltrations which Ninjalicious conducted (and documented with photos), and I particularly enjoyed the chapter on social engineering (the principles of which are applicable to many day-to-day non-infiltration encounters). Highly recommended.
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