Review of "The World Beneath Thier Feet"

Even though I have never attempted to climb a mountain and never will, books on mountaineering fascinate me and this one is one of the best I have read on the sport.  Here is my review of "The World Beneath Their Feet."

Title/Author:

“The World Beneath Their Feet: Mountaineering, Madness and the Deadly Race to Summit the Himalayas" by Scott Ellsworth

Tags:

Mountaineering, History

Publish date:

February 18, 2020

Length:

416 pages

Rating: to

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

While it is well known that Sir Edmund Hilary was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, what isn't as well known are the many attempts to climb Everest and other summits in the Himalayas before Hilary reached the top.  There were many attempts to scale these mountains by various groups of climbers, most notably from England, Germany and the United States.  The adventures of some of these attempts are told in this terrific book by Scott Ellsworth.

Each of the stories is gripping in its own manner, whether the climb was considered successful (a few were in the big picture, even if the summit wasn't reached), a disappointment or even deadly.  There was one summit that the Germans tried to climb three times, Nanga Parbat, and each one was unsuccessful, with deaths to some climbers and Sherpas each time.  American expeditions to K2 were met with similar results and the English were the most persistent with Everest, with their efforts finally paying off with Hilary's success.

Why the book is so good is that Ellsworth tells about the climbers, the Sherpas and other important people in the climbing teams in a manner that the reader will be able to easily relate to that person's traits, quirks and determination. That was a key characteristic to all the people portrayed – they all were determined to scale whatever Himalayan peak they were climbing.  Add that to the description of the climbs and their experiences at base camps – mostly cold and fighting off terrible weather – and the reader is left with a fantastic description of what these mountaineers went through in trying to conquer some of the most challenging peaks in the world.

Even if the reader is not familiar with the language or sport of mountaineering, this book is one that he or she will enjoy for the human side of these adventures.  If the reader enjoys books on this topic, like this reviewer, then it is one that must be added to his or her bookshelves, it is that good. 

I wish to thank Little, Brown and Company for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

                                    

Book Format Read:

E-book (EPUB)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/World-Beneath-Their-Feet-Mountaineering/dp/0316434868/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Buried in the Sky"

While the specific mission to climb K2 in this book has been written as the topic of other books, this one specifically is told through the eyes of the Sherpas and it was a fantastic read.  Here is my review of "Buried in the Sky"

Title/Author:

“Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2’s Deadliest Day” by Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan

Tags:

Mountaineering

Publish date:

June 11, 2012

Length:

286 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Much has been written about the tragedy on K2 in August 2008 in which eleven souls were lost.  However, this book tells the story of the Sherpas on that expedition, whether they were among the dead or survived the mission.  Their stories as well as their culture and beliefs are discussed in this excellent book by Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan.

The book begins in the Bottleneck, which is located on the most dangerous section of the mountain known as the Death Zone.  There one of the Sherpas, Chirring Dorje, finds fellow Sherpa Pasang Lama stranded without some of his vital equipment. Instead of continuing onward, Chirring stays with Pasang and becomes part of a very famous rescue.  From there, the book is a page turner, alternating between descriptions of this particular climb and subsequent disaster and discussions on the lifestyle of the Sherpas.

These passages are some of the most fascinating in the book as a reader will learn about the Sherpa culture, their beliefs, their myths and the strong bonds many of them have to family.  One of the most fascinating aspects of their mythology is that it is believed that their supreme goddess sustains herself on human flesh and that deaths of climbers occur when she is hungry.  Their simple lifestyle when not climbing and their substantial financial windfall when paid by climbers (especially those with commercial sponsors, such as those on this mission) was also discussed in excellent detail.

While the climbers’ fates are also featured, other books on this expedition usually provide more details about their stories.  This book was written to show the work of those who usually do not get the credit they deserve and was told through their viewpoint – which was a joy to read as it told of this tragic day from a completely different perspective.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Sky-Extraordinary-Climbers-Deadliest-ebook/dp/B007HX899C/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/buried-in-the-sky-peter-zuckerman/1110771662?ean=9780393084085#/

Review of "No Way Down"

As a reader who loves to read about topics that I could never experience, mountaineering is a sport about which I am craving to find more books.  When this one was offered at a deeply discounted price, I had to jump on the offer and I wasn't disappointed.  I completed the book in one sitting - my flight back to New York from Minneapolis.  This is my review of "No Way Down."

Title/Author:

“No Way Down: Life and Death on K2” by Graham Bowley

Tags:

Mountain climbing, death

Publish date:

June 29, 2010

Length:

288 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Climbing K2, the second highest mountain in the world, is considered by many to more challenging than climbing Mount Everest. This can become even more daunting when the season is cut short due to weather, which in turn makes the mountain more crowded when several teams of climbers, porters and Sherpas make the journey at the same time.  This happened in the summer of 2008 and this gripping account of that ascent that began August 1, 2008 and resulted in the deaths of 11 people makes for a terrific book.

One difference between this book and others on dangerous mountain climbing expeditions is that Graham Bowley is not a climber.  Instead, he is a journalist so his information sources were research and hundreds of interviews in order to write his stories and describe what the climbers were experiencing.  While this may result in a book that has less detail and technical description of the climbers’ actions and equipment, I felt this fact made it a very entertaining non-fiction “novel” if you will, making it very easy to read.

Some of the descriptions of the more tragic events on the mountain, such as the death of the husband from a fall while his wife was climbing to the summit, were heartbreaking.  The joy that people in the camps felt when they discovered that some who were feared dead were found alive will be felt by the reader as well.  It is an educational journey for those readers who are not familiar with mountaineering and an emotional story as well.  This book comes highly recommended for readers who enjoy these types of publications. 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Nook)

Buying Links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-way-down-graham-bowley/1100564795?ean=9780061834790

Review of "Into Thin Air"

While this book has been in publication for 16 years, it is still a haunting account of an expedition to the top of Mount Everest. That it is told in first person by a survivor of the climb is even better. As I consider mountain climbing to be a sport, I wanted to post my review of this excellent book here. This is my review of "Into Thin Air." 

Title/Author:

“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, narrated by author

Tags:

Mountain climbing, non-fiction, history

Publish date:

November 12, 1998

Length:

293 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

In the spring of 1996, journalist Jon Krakauer volunteered to embark on an expedition to climb Mount Everest with a guided group to learn first-hand what these groups are like.  The mountain climbing community believed that the expedition to the peak was becoming too commercialized and that a trip to the top of the mountain could be bought by any climber regardless of ability. Krakauer was to write an article for Outside magazine on this topic and this would give him that experience.

The trip became deadly as not only members of his group perished, including the leader Rob Hall.  Scott Fisher lead another group who also had members perish on this climb and the first person narrative from Krakauer of this disaster is a gripping account that pulls no punches on opinions, speculation on what went wrong, and also what could have been done differently.

When reading or listening to the book, the reader will be immediately sucked into the dangers that the climbers, guides and helpers (also known as sherpas) must endure during each phase of the expedition.  Even the time spent in Himalayan lodging while waiting to begin the actual climb will make one stop and wonder why someone wants to take on such an apparently unpleasant task.  Because Krakauer is a seasoned climber himself, the explanation of the many reasons why someone would do this is given more credence.

While there are some passages that may not be clear to people with no experience in the sport, it is explained in easy to understand language so that it does not detract from the story.  I also believe that because I listened to the audio book, it was even more compelling than reading because the inflection in Krakauer’s voice while recalling the events added to the drama even more.

This book is more than a sports book – it is a reflection of the human drive and spirit, it is a tragedy and it is also an example of what a survivor of any disaster goes through with the remorse and guilt that he or she survived while others perished.  This book covers all of that and more.  An excellent read for anyone, no matter what interests him or her.

Did I skim?

No

Pace of the book: 

For the most part, it moves along very well.  Not being a climber, I was a little lost when it got too technical, but that was minor and these were explained in a manner that helped explain the gear or terminology for readers like me with no experience.

Do I recommend? 

Anyone who likes a true account of any type of adventure, whether it results in tragedy or not, will want to read or listen to this book. 

Book Format Read:

Audiobook

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Into-Thin-Air-Personal-Disaster/dp/0739343793/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1418865784&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-thin-air-jon-krakauer/1103277505?ean=9780385494786