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Mountain: A Life on the Rocks
Steve Backshall's love affair with the mountains has taken him to some of the world's wildest places, environments that have the power to make a human being feel very small, very vulnerable and very alive.
Mountain: A Life on the Rocks is an account of his most breath-taking expeditions: heading into the 'Death Zone' on the roof of the world in the Himalayas, and picking a precarious route up hundreds of metres of rock in the Arctic and Alps. There are expeditions of exploration, as Steve makes the first ascent of jungle peaks and scales the tabletop mountains of the 'Lost World', Venezuela's Gran Sabana, in search of undiscovered animal species on their summits. He recalls his apprenticeship in the art of mountaineering with the Indian army, and the terror and near-disaster of some of his more ill-fated adventures, including the fall that should have ended his life.
This is a tale of terror and ecstasy, a book that tries to get to the heart of why we risk our lives to climb and conquer. But most of all, Mountain is a love letter to the wilderness, from one of the world's most adventurous spirits.
Mountain: A Life on the Rocks is an account of his most breath-taking expeditions: heading into the 'Death Zone' on the roof of the world in the Himalayas, and picking a precarious route up hundreds of metres of rock in the Arctic and Alps. There are expeditions of exploration, as Steve makes the first ascent of jungle peaks and scales the tabletop mountains of the 'Lost World', Venezuela's Gran Sabana, in search of undiscovered animal species on their summits. He recalls his apprenticeship in the art of mountaineering with the Indian army, and the terror and near-disaster of some of his more ill-fated adventures, including the fall that should have ended his life.
This is a tale of terror and ecstasy, a book that tries to get to the heart of why we risk our lives to climb and conquer. But most of all, Mountain is a love letter to the wilderness, from one of the world's most adventurous spirits.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 8, 2015
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 30, 2016
Suprisingly entertaining.
A series of reports from Steve Backshall's TV and personal exhibitions showcasing his adventures in Jungles, Himalyas and even on local crags in the UK.
Some of the chapters read on a similar level to university students exhibition reports from a climbing club while others are fantastic reads (such as the rock climb part of the Lost Lands of the Jaguar). It follows a typical hero's journey arc where there is a crisis chapter near the middle with each subsequent chapter describing the aftermath.
Steve Backshall seems like a very interesting and very down to earth person which comes across in his writing. He is however exceedingly English with his excessive humbleness and need to apologise for his lack of ability.
What I took away is that what he lacks in ability he makes up for in just raw determination, drive and the need have grand adventures.
Recommended for average climbers like myself. It's not up there with the greats of the genre, but it was still enjoyable.
A series of reports from Steve Backshall's TV and personal exhibitions showcasing his adventures in Jungles, Himalyas and even on local crags in the UK.
Some of the chapters read on a similar level to university students exhibition reports from a climbing club while others are fantastic reads (such as the rock climb part of the Lost Lands of the Jaguar). It follows a typical hero's journey arc where there is a crisis chapter near the middle with each subsequent chapter describing the aftermath.
Steve Backshall seems like a very interesting and very down to earth person which comes across in his writing. He is however exceedingly English with his excessive humbleness and need to apologise for his lack of ability.
What I took away is that what he lacks in ability he makes up for in just raw determination, drive and the need have grand adventures.
Recommended for average climbers like myself. It's not up there with the greats of the genre, but it was still enjoyable.
June 18, 2020
Mountains for the mind
An inspirational book, this book covers the highs and lows of adventure along with a nature lesson thrown in, would highly recommend. “One Life Live It”
An inspirational book, this book covers the highs and lows of adventure along with a nature lesson thrown in, would highly recommend. “One Life Live It”
September 8, 2023
Loved it. On a par with - & in many places better than - Bear Grylls. Loved way SB adds insights & personal philosphy to events as they happen in the field. Also very funny in parts too.
July 21, 2024
Best non-fiction book I've ever read
August 29, 2024
Steve Backshall shares his travels and life as a mountaineer. He has worked for National Geographic and the BBC.
He shares tales of climbing in the Himalayas, jungles, Arctic and the UK. The stories are linear, following his training and preparation for certain climbs, and his recovery from injury after a bad fall while climbing in the Wye Valley.
His enthusiasm for his work and the natural world is clear, he is drawn to the mountains and loves what he does. He is self-aware of his shortcomings and mistakes, sharing them openly and what he learned from them, in some cases they were almost more valuable and memorable to him than his successes.
The tone encourages readers to get out into the world and explore for themselves. The variety of stories and situations made for an interesting and engaging read, opening up a new world of sport and adventure for me.
He shares tales of climbing in the Himalayas, jungles, Arctic and the UK. The stories are linear, following his training and preparation for certain climbs, and his recovery from injury after a bad fall while climbing in the Wye Valley.
His enthusiasm for his work and the natural world is clear, he is drawn to the mountains and loves what he does. He is self-aware of his shortcomings and mistakes, sharing them openly and what he learned from them, in some cases they were almost more valuable and memorable to him than his successes.
The tone encourages readers to get out into the world and explore for themselves. The variety of stories and situations made for an interesting and engaging read, opening up a new world of sport and adventure for me.
December 12, 2018
Read the final chapter and afterword while watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall... That was surreal.
I wanted to give the book 5 stars, I really did.
I liked Steve's humour, his writing style was easy and my level of jealousy towards his adventures is untrue, but somehow the book just didn't grab me.
Had I not been pushing to finish it before Christmas I'm sure it would have taken me far longer to read... Would still recommend happily though.
I wanted to give the book 5 stars, I really did.
I liked Steve's humour, his writing style was easy and my level of jealousy towards his adventures is untrue, but somehow the book just didn't grab me.
Had I not been pushing to finish it before Christmas I'm sure it would have taken me far longer to read... Would still recommend happily though.
December 21, 2017
An entertaining read. These are stories from Steve Backshall's life around the world and back in the UK. Backshall seems like a very interesting and very down to earth person who comes across well in his writing. My take is that what he is not the best at anything, but he makes up for in his determination and drive on his adventures. It's not up there with the greats, but it was still enjoyable.
October 5, 2016
Quite an interesting account of some of Steve Backshall's recent adventures, and a bit of an insight into his very driven personality. Downright terrifying in parts!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews