Evel
The High-Flying Life of Evel Knievel: American Showman, Daredevil, and Legend
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.
Add to basket failed.
Please try again later
Add to wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Remove from wishlist failed.
Please try again later
Adding to library failed
Please try again
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Get 3 months for £0.99/mo
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.
Evel
Narrated by:
Danny Campbell
Buy Now for £16.99
-
Narrated by:
-
Danny Campbell
-
By:
-
Leigh Montville
About this listen
Evel Knievel was a high-flying daredevil, the father of extreme sports, the personification of excitement and danger and showmanship . . . and in the 1970s Knievel represented a unique slice of American culture and patriotism. His jump over the fountains at Caesar’s Palace led to a crash unlike anything ever seen on television, and his attempt to rocket over Snake River Canyon in Idaho was something only P. T. Barnum could have orchestrated. The dazzling motorcycles and red-white-and-blue outfits became an integral part of an American decade. Knievel looked like Elvis . . . but on any given Saturday afternoon millions tuned in to the small screen to see this real-life action hero tempt death.
But behind the flash and the frenzy, who was the man? Bestselling author Leigh Montville masterfully explores the life of the complicated man from the small town of Butte, Montana. He delves into Knievel’s amazing place in pop culture, as well as his notorious dark side—and his complex and often contradictory relationships with his image, the media, his own family, and his many demons. Evel Knievel’s story is an all-American saga, and one that is largely untold. Leigh Montville once again delivers a definitive biography of a one-of-a-kind sports legend.
Listeners also enjoyed...
It is like the author had a minimum word count and, like a school kid, waffled on about irrelevant information just to get to the necessary number. For example a WHOLE CHAPTER on the history, dangers, risks and deaths of the mines in Montana, the premise of which was just to say that Evel didn’t fancy working in one - who cares?! It was utterly painful at times.
Equally painful was the author breaking to declare “A story” every half an hour to then tell a side story about Evel. The whole thing is a story! I don’t need you to tell me you are telling me a story whilst I’m listening to the story!
Numerous topics are discussed at length, the ancient history of Bute Montana, the Kennedys, the Cold War, Ali/Fraser - none of which are particularly relevant to the book/Evel.
I came so close to giving up on this on so many occasions. It could, and should, have been about a third of the size - which is a shame because when you do finally get to the bits about Evel, it is really interesting.
Some interesting parts but FULL of filler.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.