Review of "The Ogre"

 The Ogre mixes heavy Himalayan history with a technical retelling of the 1977 climb. The descent chapter is terrific, but the rest didn’t hit as hard as other mountaineering books I’ve enjoyed. Still a worthwhile 3‑star listen.

Title/Author:

“The Ogre: Biography of a Mountain and the Dramatic Story of the First Ascent” by Doug Scott, narrated by Saethon Williams

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review: 

Doug Scott’s The Ogre is a two‑part portrait of one of the Karakoram’s most notorious peaks, and my experience with the audiobook landed squarely in the middle. The first half offers a wide‑ranging history of Himalayan exploration—thorough, well‑researched, and clearly important to Scott. At times, though, that depth made me wonder when we would finally reach the climb that gives the book its name. It’s valuable context, but it does stretch the narrative before the expedition itself arrives.

The second half finally turns to the 1977 ascent of Baintha Brakk, where Scott and Chris Bonington became the first climbers to reach the summit. Scott leans heavily into the technical aspects of the climb—routes, conditions, gear, and decision‑making—sometimes at the expense of the personalities on the rope. He does introduce each member of the team in a dedicated chapter, but I found myself wishing those personal threads carried more fully into the story of the climb. Mountaineering narratives often shine brightest when the human dynamics are as vivid as the terrain, and that’s where this one felt a bit thin.

That said, chapter 14—detailing the team’s perilous descent after Scott broke both legs and Bonington cracked ribs—is gripping. It’s the section where the book’s strengths come together: the danger, the endurance, the teamwork, and the sheer will required to survive a weeklong retreat off one of the world’s hardest mountains. The roles played by Clive Rowland and Mo Anthoine are especially compelling, and the stakes feel immediate in a way the earlier chapters don’t always achieve.

Overall, The Ogre is worth the time to listen to or read. It’s a solid account of a legendary climb, and Saethon Williams’s narration carries the material with clarity. But for me, other mountaineering books—those that blend technical detail with richer storytelling—have been more satisfying.

Link: Amazon.com: The Ogre: Biography of a Mountain and the Dramatic Story of the First Ascent (Audible Audio Edition): Doug Scott, Saethon Williams, Vertebrate Publishing: Audible Books & Originals

Review of "Breaking the Ice"

Been in a bit of a reading slump lately, but this book certainly helped me break out of it.  Justin Davis’s Breaking the Ice is a sharp, honest look at hockey culture from people who’ve lived every corner of it. He blends tough truths with genuinely moving stories, showing how the sport can evolve without losing what makes it great. If you care about hockey’s future, this one’s worth your time.

Title/Author:

“Breaking the Ice: Seven Lives, One Game, and the Fight For the Game of Hockey” by Justin Davis

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

In "Breaking the Ice," former professional hockey player Justin Davis moves beyond the stark exposures of his memoir, Conflicted Scars, to deliver a complex, deeply necessary evaluation of hockey culture. Published by ECW Press, the book argues that the sport isn't entirely broken, but it is as messy and complicated as real life. Rather than simply diagnosing the problems, Davis gathers a diverse choir of voices—enforcers, agents, coaches, and journalists—to build a roadmap for how the game can evolve.

What makes this book stand out is its incredible balance of heavy, systemic critiques and intimate, human stories. Two perspectives in particular anchor the narrative's emotional weight. The contrasting insights from Zenon Konopka and Jon “Nasty” Mirasty on the punishing physical toll of the game offer an eye-opening look at the life of hockey's toughest players. It is a relief to read how both Mirasty and Konopka were able to carve out meaningful paths forward after their playing days—a stark, heartbreaking contrast to fellow enforcers from that era like Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak, whose battles with head trauma and addiction led to such early, tragic graves. Equally compelling is the inclusion of Steffany Hanlen, the first female power skating and strength coach in the NHL, whose perspective on youth sports provides invaluable, grounded advice for minor hockey parents navigating today's system.

Crucially, Davis doesn't shy away from the institutional changes required to protect the sport's future. The book rightly emphasizes the vital role of investigative journalism, showcasing figures like Rick Westhead and super-agent Allan Walsh as crucial agents of change. Like the author, I believe Westhead’s rigorous investigative work is absolutely essential for the future of the game. Combined with insights from concussion expert Chris Nowinski and the deeply moving account from Andrew Long—who admirably found the grace to forgive the opponent responsible for his life-altering injury—the book balances urgent warnings with profound moments of human grace.

"Breaking the Ice" is an essential read for anyone invested in the sport. It honors the game’s history while bravely imagining what it might—and should—become.

I wish to thank ECW Press for providing an advance copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Link: Amazon.com: Breaking the Ice: Seven Lives, One Game, and The Fight for the Game of Hockey eBook : Davis, Justin, Dangle, Steve, Glynn, Steve “Dangle”: Kindle Store

Review of "Everest 1953"

Mick Conefrey’s Everest 1953 blends political intrigue, expedition drama, and sharp character portraits into a gripping retelling of the famous climb. Even with the ending known, the story feels urgent, fresh, and deeply satisfying.

Title/Author:

“Everest 1953: The Epic Story of the First Ascent” by Mick Conefrey

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

As an avid reader of Himalayan mountaineering history, I’ve long considered Mick Conefrey one of the genre’s most reliable and engaging writers. Everest 1953 not only reinforces that belief—it may be one of his finest works. Even though the outcome of John Hunt’s expedition is familiar to most readers, Conefrey tells the story with the pacing and tension of a thriller, making the well‑known summit of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay feel fresh, dramatic, and deeply human.

What elevates this book beyond a straightforward expedition narrative is Conefrey’s attention to everything that happened before anyone set foot on the mountain. The political maneuvering inside the Joint Himalayan Committee—especially the decision to replace Eric Shipton with British Army colonel John Hunt—is written with sharp insight into the personalities and national pressures of the time. Conefrey also captures the rivalry between Britain and Switzerland, both eager to be the first nation atop the world’s highest peak. His portraits of the climbers are concise yet vivid; in just a few strokes, he makes each man recognizable, relatable, and memorable. That ability to sketch character quickly and effectively is one of Conefrey’s strengths, and it’s on full display here.

The expedition itself provides no shortage of drama. Friction between British leadership and Sherpas over equipment, delays in Kathmandu, and the logistical challenges of establishing camps all add texture to the climb. Conefrey also handles the technical debate over oxygen systems with clarity—explaining how the closed‑circuit apparatus failed at critical moments, ultimately derailing the first summit attempt by Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans. Their achievement on the South Summit, briefly making them the highest climbers in history, becomes a poignant prelude to the successful push by Hillary and Norgay three days later.

Conefrey’s account of the aftermath is equally compelling. National pride, press scrutiny, and cultural misunderstandings created a new wave of controversy once the climbers returned home. Questions arose about who stepped onto the summit first, about Tenzig’s nationality, and about why Hunt and Hillary received knighthoods while Tenzig did not. Conefrey presents these tensions with nuance, showing how triumph on the mountain didn’t prevent conflict on the ground.

This is an extraordinary book—rich in human interest, grounded in history, and thrilling in its mountaineering detail. For readers of any of those genres, Everest 1953 is a standout account of one of the greatest achievements in exploration.

Link: Amazon.com: Everest 1953: The Epic Story of the First Ascent (Legends and Lore) eBook : Conefrey, Mick: Kindle Store

 

Review of "The Old Ball Game"

Frank Deford’s portrait of John McGraw and Christy Mathewson goes beyond box scores to explore one of baseball’s most enduring partnerships. Across sixteen seasons with the New York Giants, the fiery manager and the clean‑cut ace forged a friendship that defined the franchise’s rise. Readers who appreciate the human side of the game will find this an engaging and revealing look at two Hall of Famers whose contrasts made them unforgettable.

Title/Author:

“The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball” by Frank Deford

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review: 

Two of the most legendary figures of early 20th‑century baseball, John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, spent sixteen seasons together with the New York Giants. Both arrived in New York through the loose, often chaotic player‑assignment rules of the era, yet by the time Mathewson left to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1916, the two men had become inseparable. They lived in the same apartment with their wives, traveled together, and built a partnership that helped turn the Giants into one of the dominant teams of their time. In this book, veteran sportswriter Frank Deford tells their story with the sensitivity and human insight that marked his best work.

Deford’s strength has always been his ability to illuminate the people behind the sport, and this book is a prime example. I’m not usually drawn to baseball books that focus heavily on personalities and off‑field relationships, but this one succeeds because Deford understands how those relationships shaped the Giants’ success. His portrayal of Mathewson aligns with the familiar image: the clean‑cut, All‑American star whose grace, good looks, and unmatched pitching talent made him one of the era’s defining figures. Readers who have spent time with other Mathewson biographies—like I have—won’t find new revelations, but they will come away with a renewed appreciation for both the player and the man.

McGraw, meanwhile, emerges as the fierce, uncompromising manager history remembers. Despite his small stature, he was a force—combative with umpires, demanding of players, and unafraid to challenge owners. Yet Deford also shows McGraw’s softer side, especially toward players whose talent he believed could help him win. Mathewson was one of those. Hal Chase was another, and Chase’s presence becomes one of the book’s most revealing contrasts. Chase, a gifted first baseman but notorious gambler and womanizer, was released by Mathewson during his tenure with the Reds. McGraw, desperate to revive a Giants team slipping into the second division after three straight World Series appearances, chose to overlook Chase’s flaws and sign him. The contrast between their reactions to Chase highlights the complexity of both men and the depth of their differences.

These human moments are where Deford’s writing shines brightest. The on‑field action—especially Mathewson’s World Series performances—is covered, but those sections lack the emotional pull of the personal stories. Fortunately, the book leans far more toward the relationships, tensions, and shared experiences that defined McGraw and Mathewson’s partnership. For readers interested in the dynamic between two Hall of Famers who helped shape the early Giants, this is a rewarding and insightful read.

Link: Amazon.com: The Old Ball Game: How John McGraw, Christy Mathewson, and the New York Giants Created Modern Baseball eBook : Deford, Frank: Sports & Outdoors

 

Review of "The Everest Mystery"

 Julie Summers and Jochen Hemmleb offer a clear, well‑researched account of Sandy Irvine’s life, the 1924 Everest expedition, and the evidence uncovered in the decades since. While the mystery remains unsolved, the book provides a compelling look at why the question of Mallory and Irvine’s fate still fascinates climbers and readers alike.

Title/Author:

“The Everest Mystery: Sandy Irvine, George Mallory and the Truth Still Buried on Mt. Everest” by Julie Summers and Jochen Hemmleb

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: 

One of the greatest mysteries in mountaineering is now more than a century old: did George Mallory and Sandy Irvine reach the summit of Mt. Everest in 1924, twenty‑nine years before the first recorded ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? The Everest Mystery doesn’t claim to answer that question, but it offers an excellent account of Sandy Irvine’s life and the subsequent expeditions that uncovered Mallory’s body, Irvine’s shoe and foot, and other equipment belonging to both men. Julie Summers, Irvine’s great‑niece, and Jochen Hemmleb combine their research and expertise to create a clear, engaging narrative.

Despite what the title might suggest, the authors don’t present a definitive view on whether Mallory and Irvine reached the top. Instead, they draw from Irvine’s letters and diaries, historical records, and Hemmleb’s mountaineering knowledge to craft a book that is part biography, part chronicle of the 1924 expedition, and part investigation into the evidence found since the climbers disappeared.

Irvine was unusually young for the typical English explorer of the era, but he was chosen for his engineering skill, his ability to fix nearly anything, and his willingness to take on whatever tasks were needed — including cooking and porter work. Because Mallory was considering the use of supplemental oxygen for the summit push, Irvine’s technical abilities were especially valuable. Sadly, the pair never returned.

The book’s strongest sections describe the later expeditions that uncovered Mallory’s remains and Irvine’s shoe and foot, along with other clues that have only deepened the mystery. A 1960 Chinese expedition allegedly removed Irvine’s body, according to some accounts, to protect their claim of being the first to reach the summit via the North Col — the same route Mallory and Irvine climbed. To their credit, Summers and Hemmleb avoid sensational accusations and instead present the factual information available about that expedition and others. They also note that the 2024 discovery of Irvine’s boot and foot doesn’t resolve the question of whether the pair reached the summit, though it adds another intriguing piece to the puzzle.

More than a century later, the fate of Mallory and Irvine remains one of mountaineering’s most compelling mysteries. This book offers a thoughtful, well‑researched look at why the question endures.

I wish to thank St. Martin’s Press for providing a review copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Amazon.com: The Everest Mystery: Sandy Irvine, George Mallory, and the Truth Still Buried on Everest eBook : Summers, Julie, Hemmleb, Jochen: Kindle Store