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Women Who Dare: North America's Most Inspiring Women Climbers
A celebration of feminine beauty, athleticism, wisdom, and skill— Women Who Dare profiles twenty of America’s most inspiring women climbers ranging from legends like Lynn Hill to the rising stars of today. The book is both inspirational and aspirational — as each climber tells her story in her own words, highlighting her personal challenges, accomplishments, and philosophy, as well as providing readers with practical how-to suggestions on maximizing not only their own potential in climbing but in life. The profiles are complemented by stunning color photographs by leading adventure photojournalist Chris Noble. Forewords by leading women climbers Steph Davis and Sasha DiGiulian round out the package!
Featured
Lynn HillSasha DiGiulianEmily HarringtonLisa HathawaySteph DavisKitty CalhounRobyn Erbesfield-RaboutouAlex PuccioLisa RandsBeth RoddenAngie PayneAlison OsiusLauren Lee McCormickMadaleine SorkinKate RutherfordJacinda (JC) HunterNancy FeaginBrittany GriffithElaina Arenz SmithDawn Glanc
Featured
Lynn HillSasha DiGiulianEmily HarringtonLisa HathawaySteph DavisKitty CalhounRobyn Erbesfield-RaboutouAlex PuccioLisa RandsBeth RoddenAngie PayneAlison OsiusLauren Lee McCormickMadaleine SorkinKate RutherfordJacinda (JC) HunterNancy FeaginBrittany GriffithElaina Arenz SmithDawn Glanc
264 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2013
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259 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 30, 2021
Pretty inspiring essays by top women climbers, many of whom peaked in the late 90s
December 18, 2017
While I enjoyed facets of this book, and internalized some good tips about climbing through our fears and anxieties, overall this book made me angry. And here's why: "As a woman who climbs, I am often asked to reflect on women and climbing. This usually leaves me a little nonplussed." That is the opening quote from the opening foreword by Steph Davis. She goes on to say that [despite there being very few women when she began climbing], the gender of her climbing partner has never really entered her head, and again that she "[hasn't] spent much time reflecting on what it means to be a climber who is female". The second foreword, by Sasha DiGiulian, mostly covers, in broad strokes, the evolution of climbing culture, and then finishes (somewhat disjointedly) with the line, "Brace yourselves, boys, women in climbing are progressing at full force and the next level is yet to be defined!"
Lines such as these, either absolute rejection of any sort of gender discussion, or a few glib phrases about how women are totally, completely equal to men these days in every possible way in climbing circles (sexism? never heard of it. bro mentality? nope, we are the only sport-lifestyle ever that has created a welcoming, inclusive culture without even trying), are about as deep as this book gets. It was really disappointing.
And forget any mention of sexual orientation or race. Okay, there was one openly gay climber who was profiled. Hers was the last feature of the book -- read into that as you will.
It's true that this book was not advertised as a societal retrospective on women in climbing. However, each climber featured did have a section titled "Chromosome" indicating that part of their writing prompt was supposed to touch on, you know, being a female. Perhaps the author's prompt was too vague? I wasn't expecting to read horrific tale after tale of discrimination or sexual advances. But I also figured that these climbers would at least touch on questions such as, How did these elite athletes in the 1970s and 80s deal with being one of very very few women?, How is it being a female climber who often travels alone (or just with a climbing partner) to remote areas around the world, such as parts of Africa, Patagonia, Afghanistan, etc? Do they feel safe? If not, how do they overcome that fear while trying to maintain top performance? Let's have more discussion about the pros/cons of the 'first ascents' versus 'first female ascents'. For that matter, let's talk about the number of female climbers who openly struggle with eating disorders... a few of them did in this book, but in the context of 'this is my personal failing/challenge', rather than 'gee, maybe this is part of a systemic pressure on female climbers to "look" a certain way while nailing those hard ascents'.
Okay, I think I've ranted long enough. Having said ALL that, this book would probably be enjoyed by most women climbers, especially those who choose to view it as just some biographies and personal anecdotes from the current roster of A team female climbers. However, having read both this and Chris Noble's "Why We Climb", I'd strongly recommend the latter. I've reviewed that as well, but in a nutshell, I found it to be much more inspirational, with the theme of the book (risk, adventure, life lessons in the context of climbing) to be much better conveyed throughout the featured stories.
Lines such as these, either absolute rejection of any sort of gender discussion, or a few glib phrases about how women are totally, completely equal to men these days in every possible way in climbing circles (sexism? never heard of it. bro mentality? nope, we are the only sport-lifestyle ever that has created a welcoming, inclusive culture without even trying), are about as deep as this book gets. It was really disappointing.
And forget any mention of sexual orientation or race. Okay, there was one openly gay climber who was profiled. Hers was the last feature of the book -- read into that as you will.
It's true that this book was not advertised as a societal retrospective on women in climbing. However, each climber featured did have a section titled "Chromosome" indicating that part of their writing prompt was supposed to touch on, you know, being a female. Perhaps the author's prompt was too vague? I wasn't expecting to read horrific tale after tale of discrimination or sexual advances. But I also figured that these climbers would at least touch on questions such as, How did these elite athletes in the 1970s and 80s deal with being one of very very few women?, How is it being a female climber who often travels alone (or just with a climbing partner) to remote areas around the world, such as parts of Africa, Patagonia, Afghanistan, etc? Do they feel safe? If not, how do they overcome that fear while trying to maintain top performance? Let's have more discussion about the pros/cons of the 'first ascents' versus 'first female ascents'. For that matter, let's talk about the number of female climbers who openly struggle with eating disorders... a few of them did in this book, but in the context of 'this is my personal failing/challenge', rather than 'gee, maybe this is part of a systemic pressure on female climbers to "look" a certain way while nailing those hard ascents'.
Okay, I think I've ranted long enough. Having said ALL that, this book would probably be enjoyed by most women climbers, especially those who choose to view it as just some biographies and personal anecdotes from the current roster of A team female climbers. However, having read both this and Chris Noble's "Why We Climb", I'd strongly recommend the latter. I've reviewed that as well, but in a nutshell, I found it to be much more inspirational, with the theme of the book (risk, adventure, life lessons in the context of climbing) to be much better conveyed throughout the featured stories.
March 4, 2014
This wonderful book profiles twenty of the best and most inspiring women climbers in North America. Two things immediately come to mind after reading about each woman’s history, accomplishments, goals, and philosophies: There isn’t one right path in pursuing a climbing career and/or lifestyle, and each of them consistently faces her own fears while on the rocks. It’s humbling to know that, despite their skills and immense accomplishments, they all confess to being afraid. And some, like Kate Rutherford, have cried on a punishing route when finding herself more exposed than anticipated.
Read full review at http://www.womensadventuremagazine.co...
Read full review at http://www.womensadventuremagazine.co...
May 26, 2016
This book has definitely inspired me to keep climbing.
June 30, 2020
I found the profiles of these women inspiring (some more so than others but that's true of people in general). I appreciated that interviews which the women reflected on how their climbing helped them work on strength, overcoming fear and improving communication.
The thing this book highlighted for me (which I already knew) was how the sport of climbing has work to do in terms of accessibility and diversity. I (as a white woman) saw myself in the women profiled, but I wished there had been some women of color profiled so that I could have shared them with a girl I've been teaching to climb who is not white.
The thing this book highlighted for me (which I already knew) was how the sport of climbing has work to do in terms of accessibility and diversity. I (as a white woman) saw myself in the women profiled, but I wished there had been some women of color profiled so that I could have shared them with a girl I've been teaching to climb who is not white.
January 30, 2019
Really wonderful! My wish list for it is for it to be longer, more recent, and ideally not written by a man, but overall it was really great to read!
July 23, 2020
Inspiring collection of women climbers.
February 19, 2017
I personally thought the best part of this book was the breathtakingly beautiful photography. It was very interesting to read interviews with all the different women and their climbing experiences as well.
February 28, 2014
Firstly the good things; amazing photography, inspiring women, insightful questions. That said, I recently read a far more insightful and real commentary on what it means to be a woman and a climber on Emily Harrington's blog online.
Not so good; the author's horrendous habit of italicizing words in practically every sentence. In some cases it seems to have been done with an intent to provide a glossary of climbing terms, or for use as a study guide, but then there were tons of examples when it was just for emphasis during speech (i.e. emphasizing that something was particularly extreme).
Not so good; the author's horrendous habit of italicizing words in practically every sentence. In some cases it seems to have been done with an intent to provide a glossary of climbing terms, or for use as a study guide, but then there were tons of examples when it was just for emphasis during speech (i.e. emphasizing that something was particularly extreme).
May 16, 2016
An excellent encyclopedia of women climbers, I'm gonna keep this forever on my nightstand, as my go-to book for when I need inspiration, strength or just a boost of confidence and some amazing visuals of mountains, rocks and awesome climbing routes.
October 22, 2016
Entertaining. Some really great profiles! Some of the sections were not the most well written, but a fun read nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews