Listen free for 30 days
-
My Outdoor Life
- Narrated by: Ray Mears, Simon Shepherd
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Adventurers, Explorers & Survival
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £20.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
We Are Nature
- How to Reconnect with the Wild
- By: Ray Mears
- Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bushcraft and survival legend Ray Mears takes us on his own lifetime's journey through the natural world, into the British countryside and across continents, and shows us how to tune our senses, enhance our experience of nature, and understand our place within it. Guiding us through practical fieldcraft tips, Ray brings us up close with creatures we share our planet with, and reveals how we can learn from them, from the stealth of the leopard to the patience and stillness of the crocodile, and even the colour-changing camouflage of the octopus.
-
-
How difficult was that to get through!
- By Jon on 15-06-21
-
Real Heroes of Telemark
- By: Ray Mears
- Narrated by: Ray Mears
- Length: 1 hr and 47 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixty years ago, four men parachuted onto a Norwegian glacier, equipped with only the most basic equipment. Their mission was to prevent the Nazi regime from building an atomic bomb.
-
-
Brilliant
- By T L R on 29-03-22
-
Woodsman
- By: Ben Law
- Narrated by: Ben Law
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ben Law has lived as a woodsman in Prickly Nut Wood for over 20 years. His authentic, incredible sense of the land and the wildlife, and his respect for age-old traditions and how to sustain them offers a wonderful, inviting insight into the life and character of Prickly Nut Wood. Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learning to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up.
-
-
Might not be what you expect but a great listen
- By Big Ayd on 13-04-13
-
The Exotic Booze Club
- By: Brian Armstrong
- Narrated by: Brian Armstrong
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At seven years old, the young Brian Armstrong was captivated by the pages of an old, yellow-bordered magazine. It wasn't just the bare-breasted tribeswomen that attracted his attention. Pictures of far-off jungles, exotic wildlife, and intrepid explorers prompted the boy to declare, "That's what I'm going to do when I grow up." Twenty-five years later, that dream came true. The boy from Bendigo found himself travelling from one death-defying adventure to another as a seat-of-the-pants expedition filmmaker for the same company that produced those yellow-bordered magazines.
-
The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs
- Their Meaning and the Art of Making Predictions and Deductions
- By: Tristan Gooley
- Narrated by: Tristan Gooley
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ultimate guide to what the land, sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals, sky and clouds can reveal - when you know what to look for. This top 10 best seller is the result of Tristan Gooley's two decades of pioneering outdoors experience and six years of instructing, researching and writing. It includes lots of outdoor clues and signs that will not be found in any other book in the world.
-
-
Fantastic book!
- By Trevor Ford on 29-07-20
-
Danger Close
- Commanding 3 Para in Afghanistan
- By: Colonel Stuart Tootal
- Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
3 PARA was the first unit into Helmand in 2006. Sent on a peace mission, it became engaged in a level of combat that had not been experienced by the British Army since the end of the Korean War. Undermanned and suffering from equipment shortages, 3 PARA fought doggedly to win the break in battle. Numerous gallantry decorations were awarded, but they were not without cost. This is a dramatic, and often moving, insight into the leadership of soldiers at the sharp end of war.
-
-
Honest and accurate
- By mac on 25-01-15
-
We Are Nature
- How to Reconnect with the Wild
- By: Ray Mears
- Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
- Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bushcraft and survival legend Ray Mears takes us on his own lifetime's journey through the natural world, into the British countryside and across continents, and shows us how to tune our senses, enhance our experience of nature, and understand our place within it. Guiding us through practical fieldcraft tips, Ray brings us up close with creatures we share our planet with, and reveals how we can learn from them, from the stealth of the leopard to the patience and stillness of the crocodile, and even the colour-changing camouflage of the octopus.
-
-
How difficult was that to get through!
- By Jon on 15-06-21
-
Real Heroes of Telemark
- By: Ray Mears
- Narrated by: Ray Mears
- Length: 1 hr and 47 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixty years ago, four men parachuted onto a Norwegian glacier, equipped with only the most basic equipment. Their mission was to prevent the Nazi regime from building an atomic bomb.
-
-
Brilliant
- By T L R on 29-03-22
-
Woodsman
- By: Ben Law
- Narrated by: Ben Law
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ben Law has lived as a woodsman in Prickly Nut Wood for over 20 years. His authentic, incredible sense of the land and the wildlife, and his respect for age-old traditions and how to sustain them offers a wonderful, inviting insight into the life and character of Prickly Nut Wood. Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learning to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up.
-
-
Might not be what you expect but a great listen
- By Big Ayd on 13-04-13
-
The Exotic Booze Club
- By: Brian Armstrong
- Narrated by: Brian Armstrong
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At seven years old, the young Brian Armstrong was captivated by the pages of an old, yellow-bordered magazine. It wasn't just the bare-breasted tribeswomen that attracted his attention. Pictures of far-off jungles, exotic wildlife, and intrepid explorers prompted the boy to declare, "That's what I'm going to do when I grow up." Twenty-five years later, that dream came true. The boy from Bendigo found himself travelling from one death-defying adventure to another as a seat-of-the-pants expedition filmmaker for the same company that produced those yellow-bordered magazines.
-
The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs
- Their Meaning and the Art of Making Predictions and Deductions
- By: Tristan Gooley
- Narrated by: Tristan Gooley
- Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The ultimate guide to what the land, sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals, sky and clouds can reveal - when you know what to look for. This top 10 best seller is the result of Tristan Gooley's two decades of pioneering outdoors experience and six years of instructing, researching and writing. It includes lots of outdoor clues and signs that will not be found in any other book in the world.
-
-
Fantastic book!
- By Trevor Ford on 29-07-20
-
Danger Close
- Commanding 3 Para in Afghanistan
- By: Colonel Stuart Tootal
- Narrated by: Simon Shepherd
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
3 PARA was the first unit into Helmand in 2006. Sent on a peace mission, it became engaged in a level of combat that had not been experienced by the British Army since the end of the Korean War. Undermanned and suffering from equipment shortages, 3 PARA fought doggedly to win the break in battle. Numerous gallantry decorations were awarded, but they were not without cost. This is a dramatic, and often moving, insight into the leadership of soldiers at the sharp end of war.
-
-
Honest and accurate
- By mac on 25-01-15
-
The Forager's Calendar
- By: John Wright
- Narrated by: John Wright
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A month by month handbook for foraging in the woods, fields and seashores of Great Britain. Look out of your window, walk down a country path or go to the beach in Great Britain and you are sure to see many wild species that you can take home and eat. From dandelions in spring to sloe berries in autumn, via wild garlic, samphire, chanterelles and even grasshoppers, our countryside is full of edible delights in any season.
-
-
unexpected delight
- By lindapenname on 13-04-21
-
The Moneyless Man
- A Year of Freeconomic Living
- By: Mark Boyle
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imagine a year without spending - or even touching - money. Former businessman Mark Boyle did just that and here is his extraordinary story. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and discovered that good friends are all the riches you need.
-
-
Interesting concept
- By R on 16-09-19
-
A Lasting Impression
- A Belmont Mansion Novel
- By: Tamera Alexander
- Narrated by: Linda Stephens
- Length: 18 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Best-selling author Tamera Alexander has won numerous awards, including the Christy Award and RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Set in Nashville’s historic Belmont Mansion, A Lasting Impression is an affecting tale of romance between an aspiring artist and a man determined to rise from near ruin.
-
How to Amputate a Leg and Other Ways to Stay Out of Trouble
- True Tales from War Zones and Other Disaster Areas
- By: Nathan Mullins
- Narrated by: David Treddinick
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Tall tales, all true, about guns, bombs, car chases, spiders, exotic locales, men in uniform, and dancing girls - with deadpan delivery and a social conscience. "I remember the advertisement to join the Army. It asked for guys who were fit, committed, tough, volunteer parachutists, comfortable in the ocean, and mature. As a surfer, that sounded like me - except for the mature bit."
-
-
How to amputate a leg?!?
- By Meryl on 01-12-13
-
Outback Heart
- By: Joanne Van Os
- Narrated by: Joanne Van Os
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the story of the real Crocodile Dundee, a gripping biography jam-packed with adventure, romance, and misery. Outback Heart captures the Territory life vividly: the dust, the heat, the struggle, and the larger-than-life characters. But it's also a deeply moving and powerful story of a love affair and a marriage, and the pain of it falling apart.
-
-
Lots of cow punching in the Australian outback
- By Sandor on 23-05-15
-
Meat Eater
- Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter
- By: Steven Rinella
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Steven Rinella grew up in Twin Lake, Michigan, the son of a hunter who taught his three sons to love the natural world the way he did. As a child, Rinella devoured stories of the American wilderness, especially the exploits of his hero, Daniel Boone. He began fishing at the age of three and shot his first squirrel at eight and his first deer at 13. He chose the colleges he went to by their proximity to good hunting ground, and he experimented with living solely off wild meat. As an adult, he feeds his family from the food he hunts.
-
-
Not read by Steve so not interested.
- By Mat Richards on 04-01-21
-
Gurkha
- Better to Die than Live a Coward: My Life in the Gurkhas
- By: Colour-Sergeant Kailash Limbu
- Narrated by: Homer Todiwala
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the summer of 2006, Colour-Sargeant Kailash Limbu's platoon was sent to relieve and occupy a police compound in the town of Now Zad in Helmand. He was told to prepare for a 48-hour operation. In the end he and his men were under siege for 31 days - one of the longest such sieges in the whole of the Afghan campaign.
-
-
Ayo Gurkhali
- By Sugar on 29-10-16
-
Adventures for a Lifetime
- By: Ed Stafford, Ranulph Fiennes
- Narrated by: Ed Stafford, Peter Noble
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An inspiring selection of hand-picked adventures, chosen by Ed Stafford. For those who don’t mind a bit of discomfort in order to experience the wilder side of our amazing planet. Open your mind and reboot your soul with these unforgettable adventures.
-
-
Interesting adventures
- By Anonymous on 03-09-19
-
MeatEater's Campfire Stories: Close Calls
- By: Steven Rinella
- Narrated by: Steven Rinella, the Contributors
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Campfire Stories: Close Calls, Steven Rinella invites seasoned hunters, anglers, adventurers, and outdoor professionals to share their tales of perilous adventures in the natural world, from run-ins with black bears and grizzlies to bad falls and severe hypothermia.
-
-
Get the next volume done !
- By Anonymous User on 02-08-21
-
The Last Season
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Destined to become a classic of adventure literature, The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada - mountains as perilous as they are beautiful. Eric Blehm's masterful work is a gripping detective story interwoven with the riveting biography of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.
-
-
Great book for lovers of the outdoors and a mystery
- By Mr. Richard Norton on 17-01-18
-
How to Survive
- Lessons for Everyday Life from the Extreme World
- By: John Hudson
- Narrated by: John Hudson
- Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is the connection between crawling through a jungle and your ‘to do’ list? What can ejecting out of a stealth bomber teach you about the importance of thinking the worst? What can surviving in extreme situations teach us about surviving everyday life? John Hudson, chief survival instructor to the British military, knows what it takes to survive. Combining firsthand experience with 20 years of studying the choices people have made under extreme pressure, How to Survive is a lifetime’s worth of wisdom about how to apply the principles of survival to everyday life..
-
-
Absolutely Brilliant
- By Will Bunday on 20-07-19
-
Carry On: Stan Zuray's Journey from Boston Greaser to Alaskan Homesteader
- By: Tim Attewell, Stan Zuray
- Narrated by: Andrew Tell
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deadly cold, famine, grizzly bears, and one unruly sled dog with a grudge kept Stan on the knife's edge between survival and death. Humbled by the power of nature, the Boston greaser who was destined for prison found a new life in the wild, where one mistake can prove fatal. This is the true story of Stan Zuray's incredible journey, the reformation of a man's heart and mind in the forbidding darkness of Alaska's endless winter.
-
-
Great
- By Paul McFerra on 08-04-22
Summary
Ray Mears is a household name through his television series Tracks, World of Survival, Bushcraft Survival, The Real Heroes of Telemark, and many more.
He is a private individual who shuns publicity whenever possible and would prefer to let his many skills tell their own tale - until now.
In My Outdoor Life, Ray tells of his childhood and the formative years when he first developed a passion for both bushcraft and the martial arts skills that are central to his life. Having travelled the world several times over, he is no stranger to risk and has had more than his fair share of dangerous and life-threatening encounters to share with his listeners. But his life is so much more than a tale of derring-do. Shortly after he returned to England having narrowly survived a serious helicopter crash, his father died. Just a year later, he had to face the death of his first wife, Rachel. The book conveys the many sides of Ray Mears, taking us up to the present day - including the previously untold story of his involvement in the man-hunt for murderer Raoul Moat. My Outdoor Life gives us all a chance to share a life story as rich and as inspirational as a walk in woods with the man himself, Ray Mears.
Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about My Outdoor Life
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matthew
- 29-09-16
Great book ... But
I really did enjoy this book as I have followed Ray on the television for many years. However, I would really have appreciated it if he had read the book himself and The description really should have pointed out that he only actually reads the introduction
27 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rawtooth
- 22-05-17
Narration not by yours truly
Review lost one star alone simply for this book not being narrated by Ray Mears.. what a let down! Would've held more attention if that were the case.
Still, bitching aside, enjoyed the book and finding out things about Ray that would never have come across whilst watching one of his shows (and learning a few things things about bushcraft too).
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jonothan Hitchen
- 27-09-20
Disappointed
I feel that after watching many Ray Mears programme he has a gift for speak to people and not just at them. Unfortunately, he only speaks for about 5% of this book and the narrator is simple talking his words.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- darren oshaughnessy
- 29-06-20
Ray only reads the intro, what a swindle.
Ray doesn't narrate so what's the point in listening? Any chance of a refund?
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lea Atkins
- 29-09-18
Dull don't do this and drive
Narrator makes a big difference but couldn't stand this one out me to sleep wasted a credit
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mike D.
- 28-02-16
Humble man with an amazing story
Absolutely tremendous listening.
His links to one of the masters of judo, through to his journeys around the world, along with the amazing people he has met, makes this audiobook enthralling.
Buy it, download and enjoy. You will not be disappointed.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 18-09-19
better with Ray
would have been better if Ray performed the book. The orator was a bit cheesy.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Chris
- 30-08-18
Outstanding.
I've just started my journey into audible books and I couldn't have started with a better one. I grew up watching Ray Mears and his multitude of adventures and knowledge. It was nice to hear about the man behind the scenes and his views on wildlife and it's management. would highly recommend if your as fond of bushcraft and ofcorse Ray Mears as I am.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Big Bear
- 05-07-20
A decent surprise.
When I selected this book I was already a Ray Mears fan but after listening to his story I will forever be on the watch for a new story from this man. Understanding the world around us is our main responsibility in the life we have and Ray has made the most of his years on this Earth. Riveting and full of practical advice.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- nigel
- 11-05-22
Not what I expected but enjoyable
I purchased this hoping it would be more around his outdoor life and experiences however, it was more of a very enjoyable and interesting, yet brief overview of this interesting man's life so far.
if you have the slightest interest in knowing more about Ray this is a great book. However if you are a hard-core survivalist this is not for you.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jonathan Cothran
- 31-05-17
Great book for the adventurer in us all!
This book will feed the adventurer in you. Ray tells his story quite captivatingly with great detail.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mark
- 14-05-15
A wonderful experience!
An Excellent book, moving and inspirational. A tad slow in the middle but overall very very good. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Ray or the great outdoors.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 19-10-21
Excellent reading for fans of Ray
I enjoyed listening to the life journey of the man who revolutionized bushcraft in the modern world.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kodzo
- 05-03-21
Nothing to learn
I got half way through before I remembered I don't have to finish listening to a book I really don't like. Had to speed up the content to get through.
The word "My" in the title sums up the problem I had with this book. The style made me feel like listening to a person who makes every part of a conversation about themselves. There's no room for a reader this this autobiography. I prefer books that invite me to learn something new.
I thought this book would have tips on the outdoor life. But sadly none exist. I thought I'd see an arc in his life that I could learn from, but if you listen to him, he's been brilliant since day one. Chapter after chapter contained the author bragging, name dropping, and criticizing any outdoorsman who doesn't do life in the same way he does. He repeatedly says, "I'm not being pompous when I say...." or "I'm humble when I ..." and the sentence closer is neither of those two things.
I can only recommend this book to people who are fans of Ray Mears. Especially those who want to sit across the table listening to how amazing he is and always has been.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 26-12-20
More than what camera sees
I just finished this audio and glad I spent the credit. It hit home with me, just a simple concept, love for the outdoors. Why do we lose that sense of adventure, why is it not enough to separate from our electronics and simply be still in the outdoors? I’m not much of a “name” person. My wife got mad when we saw our dentist at a store and said “hello Darren”. After parting she said that’s “Doctor Thomas”
I laughed and said “he pays me because he doesn’t know what to do when his roof leaks”
We are all VERY good at things and less at others. It’s people like Ray that I think I could easily have a beer with and never he him say
“Tv show this, or documentary series that”
That’s the way it’s told because I think that’s the way I think he is.”
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Joshawa skaggs
- 16-01-20
first of many I will listen to.
this book was very entertaining I will more than likely listen to it again it has been with me for several months and I've enjoyed each time listening to it the speaker / reader was very spot on with the way the writer would have read the book to us. I give it a 10 * 2 thumbs up I enjoyed the book and the reader
-
Overall

- Amazon Customer
- 16-07-19
Great stuff
great narration loved the book will listen again didn't want it to end at all
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- taw
- 09-06-19
A Sure Joy For Any Fan.
Love this guy. The autobiography is humble and direct, unpolished in a way that would turn literary noses up, no doubt. But, even where Mears might come across as naive, or to have put an overly-positive gloss on what was clearly an awful experience, it is always done honestly--a product of his personal philosophies--and is honourable and endearing in effect.
What an amazing life to have been carried away by.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- James Blake
- 06-05-19
What an amazing story from an amazing person
Ray’s outlook on life, as well as his guiding beliefs, really come through in this book. His views on respect for indigenous people and their wisdom, loyalty and truth are something we should all aspire to. I’ve watched almost all of his TV productions, but this book really dives deeper in Ray and his ethos.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Wapsi Willy
- 10-03-19
I feel a close connection to Ray though we have never met
From the love of canoe travel, our view of being in the woods not to conquer but to be a part of the woods, to losing a wife and the struggles that one must go through afterwards. This book helped to keep up my sense of adventure and to tears as it awaken feelings I had somewhat buried. I could not stop listening and did not want it to end.