Clint Willis

Ordinarily, I love "man against the elements" stories, but it may be that there's a point of diminishing returns when you read too many at one time. I found that my enjoyment of this book decreased the more I got into it because the segments had a certain repetitive nature. I liked the article that developed into the book, "The Perfect Storm" (even though I had already read the book itself). But it was the first story in the collection. I also enjoyed the account of the disastrous Everest show more climb that Jon Krakauer turned into "Into Thin Air" (this account was by an actual leader on the climb). But how many times can you read about the power of hurricanes, or the fighting the bitterness of snowstorms? The later entries may have been just as good as the earlier ones if read independently, but who could tell?

Note: Rick Bass' story, in the middle of the collection stood out precisely because it was unlike any of the others the book contained.

My recommendation would be to read this book piecemeal over a period of time, not all at once. Enjoyment would likely be higher. show less

I really looked forward to sailing across the Atlantic to Barbados in a yacht - until I read this book. NOT for the nervous first-time sailor, it's a compilation of hair-raising survival-at-sea true stories that will leave you wondering: "could I live on raw fish eyeballs for 76 days?" and other bewildering questions. On no account buy this for someone embarking on a sea journey of any duration: I'd even suggest people who take a ferry across the Thames should give it a miss. This book show more scares the bejeebus out of me and I love it. show less

This is a wonderful collection of short stories, both true and fiction, about climbing. H.G. Wells' humorous short story "Little Mother Up the Morderberg" about a mother and son climbing expedition was the most entertaining. Some, including the fictional stories, are quite tame and do not induce the anticipated vertigo, while others recounting misadventure have a greater impact. Pete Sinclair's harrowing story is one that will stick in the memory.

As someone who has never, will never, and wants never, to climb even a hill without a path and ice cream shop every mile, I remain somewhat perplexed by those who feel they must endure freezing cold, ridiculous food, tea all the time (if you’re British), and the constant risk of death. But these psychotics are great fun to read about. I’ve read several mountaineering accounts, and not just for the feats of climbing, but the internal and external personality conflicts, as well.

One wonders show more in books like this just how much of the internal thinking reported can be relied upon. One Amazon reviewer who claims to be a moderately successful climber himself (I certainly can be no judge) echoes my concern. “...shows to be invented material on thoughts and motivations of the people about whom he writes. I am suspicious of this practice and it may well be that it says more about our Clint than it does about our Chris.” *

In the aftermath of Tony’s death, one of women at the base camp notes she had begun to “fear people who didn’t know any easier way to be happy.” That certainly sums up one attitude toward these overgrown children. Willis doesn’t call them “boys” lightly.

Climbing techniques were changing and Chris Bonington, a constant in Willis’ book and known as a more than competent climber and organizer, soon realized that the techniques of mountaineering had changed. The practice of large groups with multiple base camps, lots of supplies, many sherpas, fixed ropes to ease passage between base camps, was losing favor to smaller, lighter attacks on summits, more in the tradition of Alpine climbers.

The larger question is whether the author gets it “right” when he discusses motivations and the ethos of climbing. I suspect he does, but have no way of knowing. Nevertheless, this book is intriguing and riveting, a real page-turner.

Audiobook ably read by James Adams

*Ref: http://www.amazon.com/review/R293TC138I8NE8/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R293TC138I8NE8 show less