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To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth
This riveting and uplifting memoir by Vanessa O’Brien, record-breaking American-British explorer, takes you on an unexpected journey to the top of the world’s highest mountains.
Long before she became the first American woman to summit K2 and the first British woman to return from its summit alive, Vanessa O’Brien was a feisty suburban Detroit teenager forced to reinvent her world in the wake of a devastating loss that destroyed her family.
Making her own way in the world, Vanessa strove to reach her lofty ambitions. Soon, armed with an MBA and a wry sense of humor, she climbed the corporate ladder to great success, but after the 2009 economic meltdown, her career went into a tailspin. She searched for a new purpose and settled on an unlikely goal: climbing Mount Everest. When her first attempt ended in disaster, she trudged home, humbled but wiser. Two years later, she made it to the top of the world. And then she kept going.
Grounded by a cadre of wise-cracking friends and an inimitable British spouse, Vanessa held her own in the intensely competitive world of mountaineering, summiting the highest peak on every continent, and skiing the last degree to the North and South Poles. She set new speed records for the Seven Summits, receiving a Guinness World Record and the Explorers Grand Slam, and finally made peace with her traumatic past. During her attempt on K2, she very nearly gave up. But on the “savage mountain,” which kills one out of every four climbers who summit, Vanessa evolved from an adventurer out to challenge herself to an explorer with a high-altitude perspective on a changing world—and a new call to share her knowledge and passion across the globe.
Told with heart and humor, Vanessa’s journey from suburban Detroit to Everest’s Death Zone to the summit of K2 and beyond, is a transformative story of resilience, higher purpose, and the courage to overcome any obstacle.
Long before she became the first American woman to summit K2 and the first British woman to return from its summit alive, Vanessa O’Brien was a feisty suburban Detroit teenager forced to reinvent her world in the wake of a devastating loss that destroyed her family.
Making her own way in the world, Vanessa strove to reach her lofty ambitions. Soon, armed with an MBA and a wry sense of humor, she climbed the corporate ladder to great success, but after the 2009 economic meltdown, her career went into a tailspin. She searched for a new purpose and settled on an unlikely goal: climbing Mount Everest. When her first attempt ended in disaster, she trudged home, humbled but wiser. Two years later, she made it to the top of the world. And then she kept going.
Grounded by a cadre of wise-cracking friends and an inimitable British spouse, Vanessa held her own in the intensely competitive world of mountaineering, summiting the highest peak on every continent, and skiing the last degree to the North and South Poles. She set new speed records for the Seven Summits, receiving a Guinness World Record and the Explorers Grand Slam, and finally made peace with her traumatic past. During her attempt on K2, she very nearly gave up. But on the “savage mountain,” which kills one out of every four climbers who summit, Vanessa evolved from an adventurer out to challenge herself to an explorer with a high-altitude perspective on a changing world—and a new call to share her knowledge and passion across the globe.
Told with heart and humor, Vanessa’s journey from suburban Detroit to Everest’s Death Zone to the summit of K2 and beyond, is a transformative story of resilience, higher purpose, and the courage to overcome any obstacle.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 2021
24 people are currently reading
1710 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 3, 2021
The most adventurist thing I do is to walk around in muddy/slippery surfaces with Crocs and of course read about other people doing things I would never dream about doing myself. But it's utterly fascinating to read about and Vanessa O'Briens memoir was no exception. Very interesting and intriguing to read and I liked reading from her. Interested to see if she has written more. I've read a few books with adventures women but they aren't as common as books about men doing adventure things.
January 15, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
The first woman to climb the dangerous peak K-2 tells her story. She was making her own way as a teenager, hit it big in the financial sector before the crash, and began climbing mountains.
Nothing ground breaking, but very readable.
The first woman to climb the dangerous peak K-2 tells her story. She was making her own way as a teenager, hit it big in the financial sector before the crash, and began climbing mountains.
Nothing ground breaking, but very readable.
May 12, 2021
How refreshing to read a mountaineering memoir by a woman (and why aren't there more of these?). I loved O'Brien's perspectives, her slices of wit, and her no-nonsense writing style. I especially enjoyed how she weaved in pieces of her past, her dysfunctional mother and father, her brother, who drowned as a young adult, and how her parents abandoned her after her brother's death, leaving her to work her way through high school and college.
And let's not forget her climbing adventures: Mount Everest, K2, Denali, and North and South Poles--what a gutsy and enjoyable narrative. I appreciated the small details too often missing from male mountaineering exploits, such as weight of packs, physical ailments and struggles, food, farting, needing to go to the bathroom, etc. At times, I felt as if I were on the mountain with O'Brien, cold and hungry, my head aching, my lungs gasping. The writing is that vivid. (I also loved how she gave space to the Sherpas, including them, and not just the other climbers in the expedition, in her story.)
My only complaint is that the book is simply too long. Following along with O'Brien during every climb became anti-climatic. It was hard to retain focus. Still, I kept reading, mostly because O'Brien's voice is so natural and accessible. When I finished I thought: I want to be friends with this woman. I want to run with her and hike with her and share cool adventure stories. And I think that's one of the highest compliments a reader can give to an author: That you enjoyed a book so much that you want to keep them in your life.
Yes, I highly recommend this one.
And let's not forget her climbing adventures: Mount Everest, K2, Denali, and North and South Poles--what a gutsy and enjoyable narrative. I appreciated the small details too often missing from male mountaineering exploits, such as weight of packs, physical ailments and struggles, food, farting, needing to go to the bathroom, etc. At times, I felt as if I were on the mountain with O'Brien, cold and hungry, my head aching, my lungs gasping. The writing is that vivid. (I also loved how she gave space to the Sherpas, including them, and not just the other climbers in the expedition, in her story.)
My only complaint is that the book is simply too long. Following along with O'Brien during every climb became anti-climatic. It was hard to retain focus. Still, I kept reading, mostly because O'Brien's voice is so natural and accessible. When I finished I thought: I want to be friends with this woman. I want to run with her and hike with her and share cool adventure stories. And I think that's one of the highest compliments a reader can give to an author: That you enjoyed a book so much that you want to keep them in your life.
Yes, I highly recommend this one.
May 28, 2021
Bored white woman of immense privilege sets her sights on climbing Everest, completely and utterly unprepared. Returns with her tail between her legs, and tries to find humility. Pays lots of money to adventure companies, climbs more mountains and finds a bit more humility. Starts to run out of her $2 million dollar nest egg, thus finding some more humility while still climbing mountains and doing a pointless ski to the South Pole. By the end of the book, Vanessa actually seems to care about people other than herself, so maybe this whole tedious read was worthwhile.
January 28, 2021
I have read so many books about alpine mountaineering but I believe this is the first written by a woman, which excited me greatly from the very first page. Vanessa O' Brien was highly successful in the finance sector when 2008 caused the recession and for her to ultimately lose her job. In her forties and at a loss as to what to do next, she (fairly randomly, to me at least) decides to set a goal to climb Mount Everest...and she does. This is a chronicle of all of her climbs as she breaks a record for climbing the seven summits faster than any other woman and as the first American woman to summit K2. Vanessa is INTENSE, and at times that was a little hard to take. I'm pretty sure that she may be the complete opposite personality of me, however, I too find myself in my forties and a turning point, deciding what to do next and while Everest is not in my cards, I found this book completely inspirational and aspirational for whatever goal I do decide to conquer. Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a complimentary digital ARC of this book.
January 5, 2021
In To The Greatest Heights, Vanessa O’Brien takes the reader to the the edges of the earth — including the summit of Mount Everest as well as the tip of the North Pole — to show that sometimes it takes pushing yourself to the unlikeliest of places in order to discover your truest self. Yes, it is about mountaineering, but even more than that, it’s the story of a human’s capacity for denying her trauma or her gender to determine her limits, all told with infectious humor and sobering honesty.
July 4, 2024
I don't mean to discredit the author in her achievements. They are clearly extraordinary tasks that demand an enormous amount of effort. Just hiking the Himalayas is difficult enough, but she didn't stop there. Kuddos to her for that, and what an inspiration to many.
However, I have to say I didn't really feel inspired by this book, even though I hoped I would be. There were several things that rubbed me the wrong way. It was partly the tone and writing style. These kinds of books tend to try to impart some sort of lesson, and the author and adventurer usually takes this opportunity to reflect on why they chose to commit to these difficult tasks, and what they learned along the way, what it meant for their lives. But O'Brien tends to stay quite surface-level in her writing, not really able to reach the depths (or the heights! ah!).
There is an attempt at this with recollections from O'Brien's life growing up in an abusive household, and the unspeakable cruelty and disregard that she was subjected to. But this doesn't really click with the rest of the book. It could have with a little bit more ingenuity I think, but as it is it feels like an incomplete thought. Adding to this is that O'Brien never really reflects on her various accomplishments, which makes it seem like more of a checkbox exercise (which in the end it kind of was) than a true life-changing endeavour.
This simply perpetuates what others have pointed out as a sort of "coloniser" or exploitative mindset to this whole thing. Someone that hadn't really hiked all that much in her life but that was immensely priviledged financially decides to hike Everest. As several others do every year, she hired companies to deal with the arrangements and guides, putting others' lives (and her own) in danger for what seems ultimately very little gain. Just to say she did it. Yes, she struggled and persevered, and this was all as a woman in her 50s, which is even more impressive. But... just didn't sit right with me. And I tend to love hiking and climbing stories. Maybe her saying that all views from the peak look the same rubbed me the wrong way, as well as several other little snippets that make for a somewhat ungrateful or self-absorbed tone.
In the end, I appreciate her tenacity, but I wish the book had been developed more. Not just to highlight her actual personal journey (if she had one, if not maybe writing a book is not really needed), and the issues related to these kinds of endeavours, for those who do them and for the affected communities along the way.
However, I have to say I didn't really feel inspired by this book, even though I hoped I would be. There were several things that rubbed me the wrong way. It was partly the tone and writing style. These kinds of books tend to try to impart some sort of lesson, and the author and adventurer usually takes this opportunity to reflect on why they chose to commit to these difficult tasks, and what they learned along the way, what it meant for their lives. But O'Brien tends to stay quite surface-level in her writing, not really able to reach the depths (or the heights! ah!).
There is an attempt at this with recollections from O'Brien's life growing up in an abusive household, and the unspeakable cruelty and disregard that she was subjected to. But this doesn't really click with the rest of the book. It could have with a little bit more ingenuity I think, but as it is it feels like an incomplete thought. Adding to this is that O'Brien never really reflects on her various accomplishments, which makes it seem like more of a checkbox exercise (which in the end it kind of was) than a true life-changing endeavour.
This simply perpetuates what others have pointed out as a sort of "coloniser" or exploitative mindset to this whole thing. Someone that hadn't really hiked all that much in her life but that was immensely priviledged financially decides to hike Everest. As several others do every year, she hired companies to deal with the arrangements and guides, putting others' lives (and her own) in danger for what seems ultimately very little gain. Just to say she did it. Yes, she struggled and persevered, and this was all as a woman in her 50s, which is even more impressive. But... just didn't sit right with me. And I tend to love hiking and climbing stories. Maybe her saying that all views from the peak look the same rubbed me the wrong way, as well as several other little snippets that make for a somewhat ungrateful or self-absorbed tone.
In the end, I appreciate her tenacity, but I wish the book had been developed more. Not just to highlight her actual personal journey (if she had one, if not maybe writing a book is not really needed), and the issues related to these kinds of endeavours, for those who do them and for the affected communities along the way.
March 14, 2021
Karen climbs a mountain. Don't get me wrong. O'Brien has accomplished major feats in climbing and.exploration but she complains quite a bit and gives her two cents to the more skilled leaders of expeditions. I liked the straight mountaineering narrative rather than when she ties it with corporate world implications. I get that this is for future talks but it feels forced. Accomplished and determined, an adventurous woman in climbing dominated by men. For that alone it's worth the read for arm chair adventurers.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
March 30, 2021
Great book from an old friend
Well done. I've known Vanessa since the mid 1980s, and a more determined woman doesn't exist. Accomplished mountaineer but also human. I was sad to see some ahem important 80s backstories omitted, but I believe I understand why. Vanessa and her mom were kind and helpful to me when few others were, and I'll always be grateful. Good job V. Speed read this in an hour before gongyo. Is space the final frontier now?
Well done. I've known Vanessa since the mid 1980s, and a more determined woman doesn't exist. Accomplished mountaineer but also human. I was sad to see some ahem important 80s backstories omitted, but I believe I understand why. Vanessa and her mom were kind and helpful to me when few others were, and I'll always be grateful. Good job V. Speed read this in an hour before gongyo. Is space the final frontier now?
March 5, 2020
I won an advanced copy of this book on Goodreads. I have always enjoyed books on mountain climbing. I have never done anything close to this sort of thing but I find it riveting. What an amazing woman! She is a determined person who climbed all the great mountains of the world, including visits to the North and South Poles. An engaging and enjoyable read.
March 4, 2021
"Vanessa tells an incredible story and provides extraordinary insight into the real meanings of Grit, Courage and Perseverance.
Her generosity of spirit is also evident throughout her book and her writing style made me feel I was actually a part of her K2 adventure, not just an observer. I loved this book and am sending it to my women family members and friends. Can't think of a better story than Vanessa’s as inspiration for never giving-up on reaching one’s full potential."
Her generosity of spirit is also evident throughout her book and her writing style made me feel I was actually a part of her K2 adventure, not just an observer. I loved this book and am sending it to my women family members and friends. Can't think of a better story than Vanessa’s as inspiration for never giving-up on reaching one’s full potential."
February 2, 2021
The subtitle seems to indicate the book is about more than climbing mountains. It is, but just barely. So you should really like stories about rich people climbing mountains....
August 6, 2021
I love most books to do with mountaineering!
July 10, 2022
Author's narration style was cringy. A bit self-absorbed.
March 12, 2024
Mountaineering memoirs are like crack to me. Especially when they’re written by women. So it’s no surprise that I absolutely loved every page of this book. Vanessa’s adventures all over the world are extremely captivating and inspiring, but this book is also about so much more than mountaineering. There are so many quotable lines that I have written down that resonated with me and my mountaineering experiences on a deeper level but I’ll leave you with my absolute favorite:
“It’s easy to lecture a mountain climber from a barstool. Pardon me if I don’t give a fuck.”
“It’s easy to lecture a mountain climber from a barstool. Pardon me if I don’t give a fuck.”
February 16, 2024
moving quickly from my Everest Era into my K2 Era
September 26, 2021
I found To the Greatest Heights very inspiring. Not in the way that I'm going to start training to climb a mountain (although climbing a mountain could be seen as a metaphor for life). Moreover this book inspired me to live authentically and strive to accomplish the things that are important to me in the time that I have left. Thank you Vanessa.
August 20, 2021
Why did I put off reading this book several times? I loved it!
Mountain climbing books always make me happy and this one, written by a woman and a woman who didn't start climbing until she was in her 40s, made me extra happy. Great stories, and inspiring situations.
I pretty much loved every minute of it.
It's totally my kind of book.
Mountain climbing books always make me happy and this one, written by a woman and a woman who didn't start climbing until she was in her 40s, made me extra happy. Great stories, and inspiring situations.
I pretty much loved every minute of it.
It's totally my kind of book.
January 17, 2021
An incredible story for a time when we are needing a little inspiration and sense of adventure! Each of Vanessa's detailed accounts of her attempts and summits give you a sense of the toughness that is required to make such heroic assents. A good balance of seriousness for the various climbs, well intentioned humor, and thought provoking discussions.
As a hopeful climber, this was all the motivation I needed to start pursuing my goal of getting to the top of Denali. I 100% recommend this book to any reader hoping to feel inspired!
As a hopeful climber, this was all the motivation I needed to start pursuing my goal of getting to the top of Denali. I 100% recommend this book to any reader hoping to feel inspired!
April 11, 2021
To the greatest heights by Vanessa O'Brien
When I searched for non-fiction books I thought I would like to read on NetGalley, I came across this one. A story of a woman who managed to climb the Seven Summits, both Poles and K2, this is a 4 star book to me. I picked it because I like climbing stories. Her non-climbing stories in this memoir are good as well. She kept climbing even when things got tough.
When I searched for non-fiction books I thought I would like to read on NetGalley, I came across this one. A story of a woman who managed to climb the Seven Summits, both Poles and K2, this is a 4 star book to me. I picked it because I like climbing stories. Her non-climbing stories in this memoir are good as well. She kept climbing even when things got tough.
July 26, 2021
Vanessa did a beautiful job of painting the Himalaya and her journey from inexperienced mountaineer wannabe to bad-A climbing boss lady. Her accomplishments are objectively impressive and her storytelling was wonderful. Though we are of a different generation and a different goal set, I related to her ambition and appreciated her thoughts on the impacts of mountaineering culture on the environment-- something I think is often glossed over in our stories of triumph.
March 28, 2021
This book was superb. I was captivated from page one (did the classic 'glance at the first page, didn't put down for 2 hours' move).
It's been a while since I've read an adventure book, but this has got me feeling so inspired and motivated. Vanessa's story, attitude to challenge and life, and her writing has blown me away. She is an absolute powerhouse of a woman!
It's been a while since I've read an adventure book, but this has got me feeling so inspired and motivated. Vanessa's story, attitude to challenge and life, and her writing has blown me away. She is an absolute powerhouse of a woman!
July 4, 2021
As a female hiking lover, this book is really inspiring. I haven't done any big mountain yet, but it makes me think that maybe I can do some 6000m peaks if I start training now.
This book gives a detail guide on how to achieve great heights if you put your mind and body to it. Highly recommend it to all mountain lovers.
This book gives a detail guide on how to achieve great heights if you put your mind and body to it. Highly recommend it to all mountain lovers.
July 26, 2022
Privileged former banker has enough free time and money to pay adventure company to arrange guided ascents of Everest and K2.
I found the author/narrator unbearable; she reminds the reader she has an MBA, dual passports, and has lived abroad so many times that I started to cringe by the second chapter. I didn’t find this story interesting enough to finish the book.
I found the author/narrator unbearable; she reminds the reader she has an MBA, dual passports, and has lived abroad so many times that I started to cringe by the second chapter. I didn’t find this story interesting enough to finish the book.
March 26, 2021
Wow, O'Brien has amazing determination! This was an interesting read.
April 14, 2021
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To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth by Vanessa O’Brien is a memoir of this world record breaking explorer. Ms. O’Brien is the first American woman and British woman (dual citizenship) to climb K2, and climbed the highest peak in every continent in 295 days, a world record.
Ms. O’Brien certainly has accomplished a lot in her life. She holds several world records, have met many interesting people, has a supporting husband, sponsors, does what she wants and when she wants.
Mostly.
To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth by Vanessa O’Brien (book website) tells of the authors successful attempts at the Seven Summits Challenge and the Explorers Grand Slam (climb the seven summits and reach the North and South poles). Along the way, Ms. O’Brien talks about her past, and her life philosophy.
I really enjoyed the parts where the author writes about mountaineering, obviously her passion. She makes interesting observations and doesn’t skip the bad or difficult parts. There is a lot of information in this book about subjects I haven’t read about in other books. What does it feel like being in close quarters with a stranger, the smell of unwashed bodies weeks on end, why there no, or very little, sex on expeditions, and what happened when you get sick – among others.
The author complains quite a bit, but I thought that was the charm of the book, and she took responsibility, not putting the blame on others (most of the time). I love to travel, or just “go places” and often times the things to go wrong make the trip more memorable.
Ms. O’Brien also tells of her climb to the top of K2, a notoriously difficult task. This climb was one of her most proud achievements, and rightly so it is a major part of this book.
The connections the author tries to make between the mountaineering world and the corporate world seem forced. I get that this is a bouncing board for paid speech gigs, but I enjoyed reading about the mountaineering much more.
People often forgot to credit luck and privilege for their success (which doesn’t take anything away from your hard work). I got the feeling that Vanessa O’Brien knows she’s lucky, but forgot privileged. She made a ton of money, or so it seems, early on in her career, furthermore her husband has to make good money to support her hobby. Accordingly, most people can’t comprehend to spend $50K – $70K on …. well… anything besides a house. Yes, she had to skimp and save here and there, but that’s still a chunk of change for the vast majority of people.
And yes, that is jealousy talking!
To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth by Vanessa O’Brien is a memoir of this world record breaking explorer. Ms. O’Brien is the first American woman and British woman (dual citizenship) to climb K2, and climbed the highest peak in every continent in 295 days, a world record.
Ms. O’Brien certainly has accomplished a lot in her life. She holds several world records, have met many interesting people, has a supporting husband, sponsors, does what she wants and when she wants.
Mostly.
To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth by Vanessa O’Brien (book website) tells of the authors successful attempts at the Seven Summits Challenge and the Explorers Grand Slam (climb the seven summits and reach the North and South poles). Along the way, Ms. O’Brien talks about her past, and her life philosophy.
I really enjoyed the parts where the author writes about mountaineering, obviously her passion. She makes interesting observations and doesn’t skip the bad or difficult parts. There is a lot of information in this book about subjects I haven’t read about in other books. What does it feel like being in close quarters with a stranger, the smell of unwashed bodies weeks on end, why there no, or very little, sex on expeditions, and what happened when you get sick – among others.
The author complains quite a bit, but I thought that was the charm of the book, and she took responsibility, not putting the blame on others (most of the time). I love to travel, or just “go places” and often times the things to go wrong make the trip more memorable.
Ms. O’Brien also tells of her climb to the top of K2, a notoriously difficult task. This climb was one of her most proud achievements, and rightly so it is a major part of this book.
The connections the author tries to make between the mountaineering world and the corporate world seem forced. I get that this is a bouncing board for paid speech gigs, but I enjoyed reading about the mountaineering much more.
People often forgot to credit luck and privilege for their success (which doesn’t take anything away from your hard work). I got the feeling that Vanessa O’Brien knows she’s lucky, but forgot privileged. She made a ton of money, or so it seems, early on in her career, furthermore her husband has to make good money to support her hobby. Accordingly, most people can’t comprehend to spend $50K – $70K on …. well… anything besides a house. Yes, she had to skimp and save here and there, but that’s still a chunk of change for the vast majority of people.
And yes, that is jealousy talking!
December 12, 2021
„Wszystkie szczyty świata” to kolejna książka, o górskiej tematyce, która ukazuje, jak wiele wytrwałości i samozaparcia potrzeba, aby krok po kroku osiągać zamierzone cele. Myślę, że wiele przemyśleń i refleksji zawartych przez autorkę w tej pozycji może pomóc niejednej osobie w dotarciu na własny szczyt, do osiągnięcia własnego celu, który nie zawsze jest prosty i łatwy do realizacji.
Vanessa nie miała w życiu łatwo. Od dzieciństwa musiała sobie radzić z rozpadem rodziny i stać się szybko samodzielna. Nie stroniła od ciężkiej pracy, dlatego zaczęła się piąć po drabinie sukcesu w swoim korporacyjnym świecie. Nie trwało to jednak długo, bowiem kryzys finansowy, który nastąpił, a wraz z nim strata pracy, zmusiły ją do odnalezienia nowego celu w życiu. Tym celem, jak nietrudno się domyślić było właśnie zdobywanie górskich szczytów.
Jako osoba przyzwyczajona do ciężkiej pracy zapewniała sobie mordercze treningi, które miały zapewnić jej jak najlepsze przygotowanie do zdobywania kolejnych szczytów. Nie będę opisywać, jakie szczyty udało jej się po kolei zdobywać, ale myślę, że warto zaznaczyć, iż znalazła się w księdze rekordów Guinnessa jako pierwsza kobieta w historii, która dotarła do najwyżej i najniżej położonych miejsc na ziemi.
Cała książka to podróż po najwyższych szczytach świata a także obu biegunach. To osobiste zapiski, przemyślenia i refleksje autorki, które pozwalają nam lepiej zrozumieć jej zaangażowanie i potrzebę dalszego pokonywania swoich ograniczeń. Nie jest to podręcznik, w jaki sposób najlepiej przygotować się do wyprawy, a o tym, jak trudno przeżyć kolejny dzień czekając na okno pogodowe, czy jak trudno podjąć decyzję o odwrocie, kiedy istnieje choćby cień szansy na zdobycie szczytu.
Myślę, że każdy, kto sięgnie po tę pozycję spróbuje wczuć się w naszą autorkę a zarazem bohaterkę, i razem z nią dzień po dniu i miesiąc po miesiącu przeżywać będzie wszystkie wyprawy, aż do tej ostatniej, która była zwieńczeniem i osiągnięciem celu. Po trzech próbach bowiem Vanessa O’Brien zdobyła „górę gór” czyli K2 i tylko ona wie, ile wysiłku ją to kosztowało.
Vanessa nie miała w życiu łatwo. Od dzieciństwa musiała sobie radzić z rozpadem rodziny i stać się szybko samodzielna. Nie stroniła od ciężkiej pracy, dlatego zaczęła się piąć po drabinie sukcesu w swoim korporacyjnym świecie. Nie trwało to jednak długo, bowiem kryzys finansowy, który nastąpił, a wraz z nim strata pracy, zmusiły ją do odnalezienia nowego celu w życiu. Tym celem, jak nietrudno się domyślić było właśnie zdobywanie górskich szczytów.
Jako osoba przyzwyczajona do ciężkiej pracy zapewniała sobie mordercze treningi, które miały zapewnić jej jak najlepsze przygotowanie do zdobywania kolejnych szczytów. Nie będę opisywać, jakie szczyty udało jej się po kolei zdobywać, ale myślę, że warto zaznaczyć, iż znalazła się w księdze rekordów Guinnessa jako pierwsza kobieta w historii, która dotarła do najwyżej i najniżej położonych miejsc na ziemi.
Cała książka to podróż po najwyższych szczytach świata a także obu biegunach. To osobiste zapiski, przemyślenia i refleksje autorki, które pozwalają nam lepiej zrozumieć jej zaangażowanie i potrzebę dalszego pokonywania swoich ograniczeń. Nie jest to podręcznik, w jaki sposób najlepiej przygotować się do wyprawy, a o tym, jak trudno przeżyć kolejny dzień czekając na okno pogodowe, czy jak trudno podjąć decyzję o odwrocie, kiedy istnieje choćby cień szansy na zdobycie szczytu.
Myślę, że każdy, kto sięgnie po tę pozycję spróbuje wczuć się w naszą autorkę a zarazem bohaterkę, i razem z nią dzień po dniu i miesiąc po miesiącu przeżywać będzie wszystkie wyprawy, aż do tej ostatniej, która była zwieńczeniem i osiągnięciem celu. Po trzech próbach bowiem Vanessa O’Brien zdobyła „górę gór” czyli K2 i tylko ona wie, ile wysiłku ją to kosztowało.
October 12, 2023
I nearly didn’t finish this book and was wavering between 1 and 2 stars about a third of the way through. Focusing just on the narrative and not the author’s life choices:
Good: I’ve watched a lot of documentaries and read a number of books on mountaineering but I learned quite a bit. The tone sounded like a real person sharing memories of some major life milestones, like you could sit and hear the story over a beer.
Bad: I am a woman working in a male dominated field and I absolutely could not stand the whiny “everything is harder for women” crap in the first half of the book. Not to diminish any hardships she faced, but a huge part of what makes it so difficult is balancing work with family. And (through no fault of her own) she never dealt with that. So all of that just fell flat.
I also thought sprinkling her backstory throughout the book felt like a weird style choice. Almost like reading a thriller where you end up with a crazy plot twist at the end. Just give it to us upfront so we can understand your motivations and fears as you go through your journey.
Final notes: the whiny stuff was over about halfway through and it was much more enjoyable after that. The “watch your back you stupid b****” story in the beginning sounded absolutely made up. I cringed every time I read the word “spousey”. Still worth the read, but will not be reading again.
Good: I’ve watched a lot of documentaries and read a number of books on mountaineering but I learned quite a bit. The tone sounded like a real person sharing memories of some major life milestones, like you could sit and hear the story over a beer.
Bad: I am a woman working in a male dominated field and I absolutely could not stand the whiny “everything is harder for women” crap in the first half of the book. Not to diminish any hardships she faced, but a huge part of what makes it so difficult is balancing work with family. And (through no fault of her own) she never dealt with that. So all of that just fell flat.
I also thought sprinkling her backstory throughout the book felt like a weird style choice. Almost like reading a thriller where you end up with a crazy plot twist at the end. Just give it to us upfront so we can understand your motivations and fears as you go through your journey.
Final notes: the whiny stuff was over about halfway through and it was much more enjoyable after that. The “watch your back you stupid b****” story in the beginning sounded absolutely made up. I cringed every time I read the word “spousey”. Still worth the read, but will not be reading again.
June 24, 2024
To the Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth by Vanessa O'Brien is a poignant journey through the physical and emotional challenges of high-altitude mountaineering. O'Brien’s narrative is a testament to human resilience and the pursuit of lofty goals.
Through vivid descriptions and introspective reflections, O'Brien takes readers on a harrowing adventure to some of the world's most treacherous peaks. Her encounters with danger and adversity are recounted with a solemnity that underscores the gravity of her experiences.
The book is not just about conquering mountains but also about confronting personal limitations and finding inner strength. O'Brien’s exploration of humility in the face of nature's awe-inspiring power adds a profound layer to her narrative.
While the writing occasionally drifts into technical details that may challenge casual readers, O'Brien’s sincerity and reverence for the mountains shine through. Her reflections on the human spirit and the quest for truth make this more than just a tale of adventure—it’s a meditation on the universal quest for meaning and purpose.
In conclusion, To the Greatest Heights is a reflective and humbling read, offering insights into the profound connections between physical endurance, personal growth, and the pursuit of truth amidst the world's highest peaks.
Through vivid descriptions and introspective reflections, O'Brien takes readers on a harrowing adventure to some of the world's most treacherous peaks. Her encounters with danger and adversity are recounted with a solemnity that underscores the gravity of her experiences.
The book is not just about conquering mountains but also about confronting personal limitations and finding inner strength. O'Brien’s exploration of humility in the face of nature's awe-inspiring power adds a profound layer to her narrative.
While the writing occasionally drifts into technical details that may challenge casual readers, O'Brien’s sincerity and reverence for the mountains shine through. Her reflections on the human spirit and the quest for truth make this more than just a tale of adventure—it’s a meditation on the universal quest for meaning and purpose.
In conclusion, To the Greatest Heights is a reflective and humbling read, offering insights into the profound connections between physical endurance, personal growth, and the pursuit of truth amidst the world's highest peaks.
April 20, 2021
I used to read more non-fiction than I do now so it's always harder for me to get into the books than with fiction. So much of what has happened in Vanessa O'Brien's life seems like it couldn't have all been experienced by one person in real life.
The tragic events in Vanessa's teenage years gave her an inner strength and drive that few people at any time seem to have. It lead her to break several records in regards to climbing/mountaineering.
This book gives people like myself, who have no intention of climbing any mountain, a look at the danger, pain, sorrow and triumph that are part of trying to summit various mountains around the world. Sometimes she had success on her first try and other mountains were challenge that took several attempts.
I think this book would be a great resource for those who are thinking about trying to summit any of the highest mountains of the world. She shares the challenges and dangers she and other climbers faced. I think if you are even dreaming of doing any of the climbing she did you should give this book a read. As I said I would never think of doing any of the things she was able to do, but I still found it interesting. I am sure others will as well so pick up this book and see what this author was able to achieve.
The tragic events in Vanessa's teenage years gave her an inner strength and drive that few people at any time seem to have. It lead her to break several records in regards to climbing/mountaineering.
This book gives people like myself, who have no intention of climbing any mountain, a look at the danger, pain, sorrow and triumph that are part of trying to summit various mountains around the world. Sometimes she had success on her first try and other mountains were challenge that took several attempts.
I think this book would be a great resource for those who are thinking about trying to summit any of the highest mountains of the world. She shares the challenges and dangers she and other climbers faced. I think if you are even dreaming of doing any of the climbing she did you should give this book a read. As I said I would never think of doing any of the things she was able to do, but I still found it interesting. I am sure others will as well so pick up this book and see what this author was able to achieve.
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