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Book Reviews of The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest

The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
The Climb Tragic Ambitions on Everest
Author: Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston Dewalt
ISBN-13: 9780312168148
ISBN-10: 0312168144
Publication Date: 11/1997
Pages: 255
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 9

4 stars, based on 9 ratings
Publisher: St Martins Pr
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

16 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 52 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a story of the famous May 10th 1996 Mt. Everest expedition told from the perspective of Anatoli Boukreev, head mountain guide for Mountain Madness (run by Scott Fisher). His love and respect for the mountain show through. His concern for safety and his efforts that saved 3 people make this book unique.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
"One of the most amazing rescues in mountaineering history, performed single-handedly a few hours after climbing Everest without oxygen by a man some describe as the Tiger Woods of Himalayan climbing."-Wall Street Journal.

This is another account of the ill fated 1996 Everest distaster that Jon Krakauer wrote about. Anotoly is a climbing stud and fully documents how he went about assisting in the rescue of numerous individuals in the danger zone. It's not as good of a read as Krakauer's book, "Into Thin Air," but a good read nonetheless.
buzzby avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 6062 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is an account from an expedition done at the same time as the one in Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air."
maurac23 avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on
Helpful Score: 1
excellent first person account of climb to everest.
Sandiinmississippi avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 265 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
'96 climb on Everest and the fatalities and injuries spurred a lot of books. I found this one the most informative. It made sense and was well written. Diagrams also showed positions on the mountain and how the pile-up of lost climbers started. I found the information about the business side of mounting a client-based climb fascinating. Compared to Jon Krakauer's rather thin account, this one has a lot more detail and makes sense in terms of motivations. Strange that a mainly Russian speaking, non-author seemed to have more insight into the clients than a professional adventure writer! Exciting book.
rubberducky avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 79 more book reviews
Interesting in the context of another perspective on the 1996 Everest disaster, but it frequently reads like a 255 page disclaimer. If you're interested in understanding what went wrong on Everest in 1996, there are several firsthand accounts - this book included - both written & in film. I suggest looking at all of them that are available to you, with an eye to understanding, rather than to assigning blame.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 181 more book reviews
This is a good read-- gives you a little more insight after reading Into Thin Air.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 32 more book reviews
I read Into Thin Air, and this is like more like a docmentary than a film. A tight, factual, fast paced read. I read it in two days which has to be a record.
WyomingAnne avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 9 more book reviews
In 1996 one of the worst mountain climbing disasters that ever occurred on Mt. Everest took place. This tale of death and near death has been told and retold a number of times. With too many people who have paid large sums of money trying to reach the top, disastrous weather conditions, and bad judgments, loss of life was inevitable. It can be argued, that some of these deaths were needless, and that other actions would have brought other outcomes. If you are going to read only one book about this disaster, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is considered one of the best, and if I had to choose between Krakauer's book and Anatoli Boukreev's The Climb, I would choose Into Thin Air. Still, there are often two sides to a story, and Krakauer heavily criticized the actions of Boukreeve in his telling. The Climb gives you another perspective on what happened, showing Anatoli Boukreeve as more of a hero than someone who could have done more as Krakauer alleges. He stepped into the storm and rescued three of his own clients, bringing them down alive in a raging storm. Yet, could he have saved others? People who were not part of his expedition? This is the crux of the criticisms levied against Anatoli. This book, in many ways, feels like Anitoli trying to defend himself against Krakauers criticisms, but if you would like to hear more of the story, from another point of view, then I would recommend reading this book. When you are done, you can try to make your own judgment on what really happened.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 191 more book reviews
This is an excellent book for anyone who likes adventure and climbing. An intense story of the climb up Everest, the terrible storm that happened and the tragic consequences. An incredible story of the heroism of this one climber. Well written by one of the greatest mountain climbers of all time.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 20 more book reviews
This book is hardcover but it's fairly light.
bookcrazychick avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 76 more book reviews
I liked this book. Very interesting.
murder101 avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on
On May 10 1996 2 expeditions headed by expert leaders attempted to scale the worlds largest peak but unfortunatly things go terribly wrong. Good story keeps you interested.Make you wonder how a moutain can have the power to draw people year after year to risk their life to reach the summit.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 32 more book reviews
Teen to adult On May 10, 1996, two commercial expeditions headed by expert leaders attempted to scale the world's largest peak. But things went terribly wrong. Crowded conditions, bad judgement and a bitter storm stopped many climbers in their tracks. Others were left for dead, or stranded on the frigid mountain. Anatoli Boukreev, head climbing guide for the Mountain Madness expedition, stepped into the heart of the storm and brought all six of his clients down alive.
GUCCI avatar reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on
really good.
reviewed The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest on + 162 more book reviews
very good book. also with bookcrossing.com