"The best popular science book I have ever read. The author's style is friendly, accessible and authoritative, and the blend of personal experience, pertinent historical reference and sympathetic scientific explanation ought to make this a classic. Essential reading."—Duncan Bowis, The Bookseller

"A satisfying mix of scientific explanation with tales of derring-doÉFor would-be explorers snuggled up in their armchairs-or, indeed, stretched out on the beach-Dr. Ashcroft's book, with its many vicarious thrills, makes for ideal holiday reading."—Economist

"Thanks to Aschroft's fascinating new book, I now know that the small hemorrhages commonly precipitated in the eyes of bungee jumpers are caused by the great g- (for 'gravitational') forces exerted on the head as the bungee cord snaps taut during free fall. Having amassed a wealth of historical information on each topic, Ashcroft provides an endless resource for cocktail party conversationalists-and for teachers of biology such as myself."—Natural History

"A fascinating compendium of facts about what it takes to endure intense heat and cold, the pressure of the deep sea, the lack of pressure and oxygen at high altitudes and the void of space, as well as what it necessary to perform such demanding sports as sprinting. She takes readers step by step through the intricacies of each. . . . This is a worthwhile read both for those who participate in extreme sports and those who prefer to enjoy them from the comfort of an armchair."—Publishers Weekly

"Ashcroft goes far beyond the better-known details of mountaineering, diving, polar exploration and other activities at the fringes of both the environment and human capability. In a clear and entertaining way, she relates not just the what of human limits but also the why. . . . Anyone, extremist or not, will find frequent enlightenment on both the familiar and the unusual."—American Scientist

"[A] delightful book. The richness and variety of Ashcroft's subjects are extraordinary. We need more books like this to show us why even esoteric research can be important. Every thoughtful reader will finish the book with greater awe and reverence for the complexity and beauty of the mystery we call life."—New England Journal of Medicine

"This Oxford physiologist deftly illustrates through her scientific research and personal climbing experience how far we can-and can't-push the human body."—Discover

"Welcome, entertaining, and illuminating. Ashcroft is good at opening up aspects of daily life normally sealed off to the non-scientist."—Sara Wheeler, The Spectator

"Life at the Extremes is extremely goodÉ. Here is a scientist who can enthral even as she instructs--and the way she accomplishes this is by telling adventure stories. This is a volume crammed with invaluable information, yet you don't need a degree in cryptocryogenics to understand it. Extremophiles everywhere will relish this volume, but it is not just another assemblage of gee-whiz facts; Ashcroft humanises her information, with the result that her account becomes impassioned rather than forensic."—David Profumo, Literary Review

"This is the kind of book that is a delight to review: easy to read, entertaining and informative. As a professor of physiology at Oxford University, Ashcroft certainly knows her stuff, but she can also write well for a lay audience. This is Ashcroft's first work for a general audience, but it certainly should not be her last."—John Gribbin, Sunday Times

"Have you ever wondered why divers get the bends while sperm whales don't, what causes altitude sickness, how fire-walkers can tread on burning coals, whether women can ever run as fast as men, or what to do if your hand gets stuck to freezing metal? (Urinate on the affected part). If so, this book has the answers. Frances Ashcroft, Professor of Physiology at Oxford, describes in this fascinating book how our body responds to extremes of cold and heat, how it reacts at high altitudes and in the ocean depths, how far it can be pushed in competitive sport and what happens to it in space."—Charlotte Mosley, Daily Mail

"She seems to have experienced most of the extreme environments she investigates, and has the power of making the armchair adventurer feel quite frail. Add to that her gift for carving deep into your mind how vulnerable our species is to extreme conditions, and you are in for a thrilling read. Life at the Extremes is fascinating, accessible to anyone willing to make the effort, and well worth its price . . . an extremely professional and engaging piece of work."—Chris Lavers, New Scientist

"This book by the Professor of Physiology at Oxford has a rich store of immediately fascinating stuff to explore. Her chapters proceed with a nice blend of explanation and appalling anecdotes. . . . in every chapter except the one about about life in space, we meet her sampling the conditions she is talking about. She scuba dives among sea anemones, she boils herself in a Japanese hot spring"—Francis Spufford, Evening Standard

"We need more books like this to show us why even esoteric research can be important. Scientists with the curiosity that should be inherent in researchers and nonscientists alike will find new ideas and insights here. "—Charles S. Houston, M.D., New England Journal of Medicine

"In seven excellent chapters, Ashcroft describes life at extreme elevation, under the pressure of ocean depths, at high temperature, at low temperature, at high (but self-propelled) speed, in space, and at the very limits of physical conditions for any kind of life."—Choice