Climb Your Mountain: Everyday lessons from an extraordinary life

by Ranulph Fiennes

'Life is too short to waste time on second-class ambitions. Go for the big ones.'

Now in his late seventies, Sir Ranulph Fiennes looks back on a lifetime of exploration, and draws powerful, inspiring lessons that we can all use when faced by the tribulations of everyday life.

Having crossed both Polar ice caps on foot, climbed Everest and the Eiger, served in the SAS and circumnavigated the world along its polar axis - a 53,000 mile odyssey that has never been repeated - 'Ran' looks back from the summit of an incredible life and teaches us how to:

- Learn self-discipline, and master fear
- Plan for success, and make your own luck
- Learn from failure and strive to succeed
- Keep going, whatever life throws at you

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2022

About the author

Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE, better known as Ranulph (Ran) Fiennes, is a British adventurer and holder of several endurance records.

Fiennes has written books about his army service and his expeditions as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. In May 2009, aged 65, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest. According to the Guinness Book of World Records he is the world's greatest living adventurer.

Reviews

[Andrew Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a quick and entertaining read which is a selection of snippets of Feinnes' incredible achievements and adventures and is a good summary of the amazing life he has lived. The photos are definitely an interesting addition.

Shoehorning these in under the guise of 'life lessons'. doesn't work very well and feels a bit contrived.

If you are interested in his life I'd recommend Mad Bad & Dangerous to Know which is a more detailed and better account.

[Claire O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy RF books - this was a quick read - great for those who want a whistle stop tour of his amazing feats

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than a confused look with some of the climbing and ice terminology, I loved this book by Sandy’s future husband

[Paul Cartwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mmmm I like the author, one of the last of the great adventurers, but I found this book to be a tad egotistical. It’s an easy read and if you want a quick run through of his life, then you will enjoy. Lots of pics!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing man - huge amount of adventure. I gave this 5 stars for that reason - spinning his story into leadership advice …. I’m not so sure that worked but I really enjoyed reading about his persistence and endurance.

[Ryan Bartok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ranulph Fiennes delivers yet another compelling read with Climb Your Mountain, though this time, rather than breaking new ground, he reframes moments from his remarkable life in a reflective and deeply personal way. For readers familiar with his previous works, there may be little in terms of new adventures, but what sets this book apart is the way Fiennes ties his experiences to universal lessons on life preservation, mortality, and failure.

Fiennes masterfully uses his incredible feats of endurance and survival as vehicles to explore how we can learn, grow, and overcome obstacles in our own lives. His insights are invaluable for those on a journey of self-discovery or seeking motivation to persevere through life's challenges. By framing his personal stories around key lessons, Fiennes encourages readers not just to marvel at his accomplishments but to apply these lessons in their own quests for self-improvement.

While not groundbreaking in its content, Climb Your Mountain is a fresh take on Fiennes' philosophy of resilience and persistence, making it an excellent read for both long-time fans and newcomers seeking inspiration.

[Ruth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary life indeed. What a wonderful book. A humble and honest account of some of the world's most difficult and challenging expeditions undertaken by the author. Just the challenge of 7 marathons, in 7 continents, over 7 days is enough to inspire anyone to find their mountain, no matter what it is. To learn from failure, understand perseverance, and also recognise what it really means to be motivated. I loved this book. Beautiful photos, gorgeous presentation and a truly incredible life story.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to all of this great man's major expeditions and challenges, including Antartica and the Eiger North Face. Absolutely gripping stories. My only complaint is that I wish the book was twice as long.

[Nigel Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational read! The capacity and perseverance shown throughout the book is nothing short of superhuman. The book can get slightly confusing when it bounces between a few of the different exhibitions but I was glued from Page 1.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an impressive read. I found the timeline jumping back and forth a little frustrating at times but as a whole this is a very inspiring and impressive read. I'm glad this book was written and I'm glad I stumbled upon it.

[William Perkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guy is an absolute madman. Got the book at one of his talks a couple of years ago and his personality definitely comes through.

Got the balance right with the photos added in and some good messages to apply to my far inferior challenges

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiennes wouldn’t have accomplished such feats without his perseverance and amazing support of friends and family. Inspired you to pursue even the insane goals.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book with summary of his adventures and lessons along the way

[Stanislav Yordanov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great person = great book

[Errol · Rating 5 out of 5]

RF brings to life some of his journeys and makes you realise how insane they are. Along the way are a couple useful insights into leadership and living life as you intended to

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspirational man! Really interesting to hear his perspective and I can't fathom the amount of physical and mental pain he can handle and trumph over!

[Elvita Potapova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book genuinely captured my interest. While it was engaging, I felt it focused more on his preparations for the adventures rather than the adventures themselves. I understand that encapsulating so many incredible stories in a single book is challenging, but this approach left me craving more detail about the actual experiences. Perhaps it would have been better to delve deeply into one adventure rather than touch briefly on many.

📌 Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. - Winston Churchill