David Roberts is the author of twenty-four books on mountaineering, adventure, and the history of the American Southwest. His essays and articles have appeared in National Geographic, National Geographic Adventure, and The Atlantic Monthly, among other publications. He lives in Watertown, Massachusetts.
“Mr. Viesturs has crafted a breezy tour through his many Everest
ascents. . . . Armchair adventurers will rip through this addition
to the Everest canon, and for anyone not intimate with Everest’s
adventurous history, The Mountain marks a fine beginning.”
*The Wall Street Journal*
"Viesturs peppers the narrative with commonsense wisdom, . . . but
the book's best moments come when he focuses on the unsung Everest
achievements that inspire him. The tale of the Polish expedition
that made the first winter ascent and the badass exploits of
little-known Swiss climber Erhard Loretan are a welcome distraction
from all the dead bodies."
*Men's Journal*
"Fans of adventure, mountaineering, extreme sports, and Everest
history will thoroughly enjoy Viesturs's latest book."
*Library Journal*
“In this amiable history/memoir hybrid . . . Viesturs is a fountain
of firsthand knowledge and straightforward narration, and the book
makes for a good read. As the only American who has summited the
world’s 14 highest peaks without bottled oxygen, Viesturs has a
different ruler than the rest of us by which to measure risk.”
*Publishers Weekly*
"[Viesturs] . . . unearths some interesting tidbits that may be
well-known to his community but new to laymen. The author, who has
been lauded for his compassion and assistance to other climbers,
also brings an unexpected attribute: attitude."
*Kirkus Reviews*
"This book is Ed’s love letter and farewell to Everest. . . . It is
written in an engaging, approachable manner that will have you
turning the pages just to find out what happens next. Whether you
routinely visit the Himalaya on your own adventures or find
yourself out of wind simply going up a flight of stairs, we
wholeheartedly recommend this book."
*Wegner Adventure Blog*
"A detailed, nicely told account of a man’s endurance and
perseverance in achieving a singular goal."
*Publishers Weekly*
“Viesturs and Roberts have written an exhaustively researched and
wonderfully compelling history of the most fascinating and
dangerous of the Himalayan giants.”
*David Breashears*
“The Will to Climb captures the essence and spirit of the great
sport of mountaineering… For anyone who loves the outdoors and for
those who admire the will of mankind, this book is a
must-read."
*Tod Leiweke, CEO of Tampa Bay Lightning*
"An American master of the climb…Viesturs's you-are-there narration
communicates effortlessly the enormous effort, and high adventure,
of scaling K2."
*Publishers Weekly (starred review)*
"Magic...[An] outstanding piece of nonfiction."
*for Amazon.com*
“A compelling story of dedication, desperation, danger, derring-do,
and devotion (physical and spiritual). Fans of extreme-sport books,
especially tales of high adventure, will want to add this one to
their collections."
*Booklist*
“Ed Viesturs was an inspiration to me personally and to the
Seahawks team in 2005. I highly recommend reading this account of
one of America’s heroes.”
*Mike Holmgren, coach of the Seattle Seahawks*
"From the drama of the peaks, to the struggle of making a living as
a professional climber, to the basic how-tos of life at 26,000
feet, No Shortcuts to the Top is fascinating reading."
*Aron Ralston, author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place*
"Ed Viesturs—the first American to climb all fourteen 8,000 meter
peaks without bottled oxygen—is an animal. A human animal blessed
with enormous strength balanced by intelligence, honesty, and a
heart of gold. And besides, HE IS A NICE GUY. This is a great read
for those of us who climb, those who want to learn to climb and
live to tell about it, and those who like great adventures."
*Jim Whittaker, first American to climb Mount Everest,*
“From his earliest climbs on the peaks of the Pacific Northwest to
his final climb up the Himalayan mountain of Annapurna, Viesturs
offers testimony to the sacrifices (personal and professional) in
giving your life over to a dream, as well as the thrill of seeing
it through.”
*Publishers Weekly*
"Ed Viesturs is not merely one of our strongest mountaineers; he’s
also one of the most remarkable. He’s demonstrated that it’s
possible to climb the world’s highest peaks without taking reckless
chances, and without sacrificing one’s honor or integrity. He has
never hesitated to help other climbers in need, even when it meant
putting himself in danger or sacrificing his own opportunity to
achieve a summit. Ed, simply put, is a genuine American hero.”
*Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air*
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