The Complete Guide to Parkour

I was skeptical about another 'discover your passion' book, but this one is genuinely honest. The chapter on what a real session feels like was spot on — I had to laugh because he describes that weird mix of failure and small victory perfectly. The cost breakdown helped me budget, and I started my first week using the checklist. It worked.

The book is well-written and informative, but I found it a bit too cautious in places. I get that they want to manage expectations, but the tone was a little on the 'are you sure you're fit enough?' side. That said, the gear list is practical, and I appreciated the genuine cost estimates. It's a good resource, just not as energetic as I expected.

Useful information overall, and I loved that they recommend not buying anything fancy at first. The self-assessment checklist felt a little judge-y, though — like I had to prove I was worthy of starting. Still, the real-world examples of sessions and the learning path comparisons were the most grounded I've seen. Solid for the details, but I rolled my eyes a couple of times.

Finally, a beginner's guide that talks real numbers and doesn't tell me to 'just follow your passion.' The chapter on costs is worth the price alone — it saved me from buying a bunch of useless gear. It's a bit dry in spots, but it does exactly what it says. I've got my first session planned for this weekend.

As a 45-year-old who was nervous about even trying, this book was a godsend. It didn't promise I'd be a superhuman — it promised I could start, and it told me how. The section on what a typical session feels like took away all my fear of looking stupid. I've done two sessions so far, and I'm hooked. Highly recommend for anyone 'too old' to start.

It's fine. It covers the basics, but I felt like it could have been a long blog post instead of a book. The chapter on gear was the most helpful part — I like that they tell you to start with just trainers and no special purchases. The vibe is friendly but a little too hesitant. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't finish it feeling super motivated.

I bought this for my teenage son who's been begging to try parkour, and it's been a great shared read. It gave us both a realistic idea of what he was getting into — time, cost, and effort. The 'Typical Session' chapter actually made me comfortable giving him the green light. It's practical and reassuring, without being a safety lecture. Glad we read it before buying anything.

This is the book I wish I'd had when I started three months ago. The first week checklist alone would have saved me a pile of frustration. It's also brutally honest about the physical demands without being scary. The author clearly loves the sport and wants you to approach it intelligently, not recklessly. I've already recommended it to two friends.