Книги. Художественная литература. Учебники и пособия.

Anatoli Boukreev

Born in Mayak, Russia, in 1958, Boukreev became one of the world's greatest mountain climbers. But while his accomplishments included 21 ascents of 11 of the world's 14 highest mountains, Boukreev became known to the general public only after his work as a guide on a disastrous Mt. Everest climb was described in less than glowing terms in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air. Boukreev's coauthored bestselling account of the tragedy, The Climb, was an attempt to set the record straight. This new posthumous collection is a series of narratives Boukreev wrote between 1987 and his death climbing Annapurna in 1997; it stands as an excellent addition to The Climb and as one of the most revealing and tough-minded descriptions of the life of a mountain climber. Three themes dominate the essays: the spiritual beauty and power of the mountains, the increasing commercialization of mountain climbing and the necessity for rigorous training by people (pros and newcomers alike) who want to climb the big...

Reinhold Messner

World-famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner's account of his first ascent on Everest, made without supplemental oxygen, and considered to be an impossible feat at the time. Reinhold Messner with his partner Peter Habeler was the first to climb Everest without the aid of supplemental oxygen. In this riveting retelling of his climb, Messner says, "Everest by fair means-that is the human dimension, and that is what interests me . . . In reaching for an oxygen cylinder, a climber degrades Everest. . . . A climber who doesn't rely on his own strength and skills, but on apparatus and drugs, deceives himself." In this mountaineering classic, Messner recounts the thoughts of a mountaineer during the climb of his life. Messner's compelling climbing chronicle conveys the exhaustion, despair and exhilaration of mountaineering in the death zone; interleafed with spectacular color photographs. A must-have for any reader of adventure narratives.

Joe Simpson

"Concise and yet packed with detail, Touching the Void, Joe Simpson's harrowing account of near-death in the Peruvian Andes, is a compact tour de force that wrestles with issues of bravery, friendship, physical endurance, the code of the mountains, and the will to live. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, Simon Yates, and to "those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned". What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few or none have gone before? Simpson's vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. As the author struggles ever higher, readers learn of the mountain's awesome power, the beautiful - and sometimes deadly - sheets of blue glacial ice, and the accomplishment of a successful ascent. And then catastrophe:...

Andrew Selters, Andy Selters

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Will Gadd

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Jed Williamson

This annual investigative handbook offers detailed reports of more than 60 climbing accidents that occurred in 1997. Analyses of what went wrong in each situation give experienced and beginning mountaineers the opportunity to learn from other climbers' mistakes. From inadequate protection, clothing, or equipment to inexperience, poor judgment, or simple ignorance, the errors recorded in this book are invaluable safety lessons for all climbers.

Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt

The Climb is Russian mountaineer Anatoli Boukreev's account of the harrowing May 1996 Mount Everest attempt, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of eight people. The book is also Boukreev's rebuttal to accusations from fellow climber and author Jon Krakauer, who, in his bestselling memoir, Into Thin Air, suggests that Boukreev forfeited the safety of his clients to achieve his own climbing goals. Investigative writer and Climb coauthor G. Weston DeWalt uses taped statements from the surviving climbers and translated interviews from Boukreev to piece together the events and prove to the reader that Boukreev's role was heroic, not opportunistic. Boukreev refers to the actions of expedition leader Scott Fischer throughout the ascent, implying that factors other than the fierce snowstorm may have caused this disaster. This new account sparks debate among both mountaineers and those who have followed the story through the media and Krakauer's book. Readers can decide for...

Joe Simpson

On the heels of a swirl of controversy surrounding mountaineering, Joe Simpson wonders if the essence of the sport has been completely lost. From a gripping introduction detailing one climber's dying moments, witnessed by other climbers who offered no help, Simpson moves on to question the May 10, 1996, events on Everest, offering an objective, well-researched, and insightful analysis. Weaving the thread of the larger question through discussions of other issues, he also examines guided climbing, the media spin on climbing accidents, and incidents involving poor treatment of Sherpas. He takes as many risks in his writing as he does in climbing, and Simpson's latest work is certain to challenge readers and inspire debate.

Roberto Mantovani, Kurt Diemberger

The mighty, inaccessible peaks of Mt. Everest have always posed an irresistible challenge to those motivated to test their mettle against the harsh conditions. Packed with spectacular archival and specially commissioned photographs, this book examines the history of Everest mountaineering through thrilling journey reports. The authors describe in detail the planning required for such a monumental climb and the technical means used in the Everest climbing adventures of modern mountaineering. The narrative recounts the various chapters in the mountaineering history of Everest, from the first reconnaissance in 1921 to the first victorious climb and the accomplishments-and failures-of recent decades. We meet the ambitious adventurers, revel in their triumphs, and experience the tragedies as well. Throughout the book the lively text and vivid photographs transport readers on a journey they will never forget.

Mark Houston, Kathy Cosley

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