'A book of instructions to those who will dare one day the impossible. I bow my head in reverence' Werner Herzog

'Petit is an artist whose theatre is the sky' Robin Williams

'Fascinating. You will learn about the man, his work, his passion, his tenacity and lucidity' Marcel Marceau

'Petit outlines a whole approach to life. The lessons are simple, universal. Be committed. Feel alive. Give everything' Independent

In cities you travel to, always remember to visit the highest monument. Remain at the top for many hours, looking into the void.

In this poetic handbook, written when he was just twenty-three, the world-famous high-wire artist Philippe Petit offers a window into the world of his craft. Petit masterfully explains how preparation and self-control contributed to such feats as walking between the towers of Notre Dame and the World Trade Center. Addressing such topics as the rigging of the wire, the walker's first steps, his salute and exercises, and the work of other renowned high-wire artists, Petit offers us a book about the ecstasy of conquering our fears and reaching for the stars.

Translated and introduced by Paul Auster
A W&N Essential

"Petit meditates on his calling, his prose aphoristic, gem-like. The book is about what he does, but it's also about what we all do, if there's anything we're obsessed with, or passionate about. He outlines a whole approach to life, and his vision is pure, primitive and poetic . . . The lessons are simple, universal. Be committed. Feel alive. Give everything" - INDEPENDENT