The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer

by David Roberts

“Stunning and stirring.”

—Boston Globe

In The Last of His Kind, renowned adventure writer David Roberts gives readers a spellbinding history of mountain climbing in the twentieth century as told through the biography of Brad Washburn, legendary mountaineering pioneer and photographer. Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air, has praised David Roberts, saying, “Nobody alive writes better about mountaineering”—and nowhere is that truth more evident than in this breathtaking account of the life and exploits of America’s greatest mountain climber.

Genres: Biography, Mountaineering, Nonfiction, Adventure, History, Travel, Climbing

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
See this thread for more information.

David Roberts is the award-winning author of twenty-nine books about mountaineering, exploration, and anthropology. His most recent publication, Alone on the Wall, was written with world-class rock climber Alex Honnold, whose historic feats were featured in the film Free Solo.

Reviews

[Will Byrnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last of his Kind is an eminently readable bio of a remarkable character. Not only was Bradford Washington arguably the greatest mountaineer of his age, a man who bagged more than a fistful of firsts and who revolutionized climbing techniques, he was an accomplished nature photographer, whose work shooting mountains from an open-door airplane remains the best of its sort. In addition, he was asked to take over a sclerotic natural history museum and transformed it into the Boston Museum of Science.

We see Washington from tyke-hood to his final days, nearly a century later. His is an interesting story, filled with adventure, daring challenges, and the petty personal politics that seems to beset all people at the highest and most modest levels of accomplishment.


Bradford Washburn

Roberts had a personal reason for writing about Washington. The elder statesman of American mountaineering was a friend and mentor to the author. The result of this was access to a wealth of personal documents. Roberts’ friendship included that of Washington’s wife, and her memory and insights pervade the work.

So it came as a surprise that in reading about this unknown (to me) person, who, as a character, had so much to offer, I felt as if I was watching him from afar. There is a distance in the writing that I found perplexing. Maybe I was unconsciously comparing this book with the vastly superior Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg. In that book I felt the characters come alive. Here they lay relatively flat. Also, as someone with no particular interest in mountaineering, I did not feel wholeheartedly engaged in the excitement of crashing through barriers in the world of mountain climbing. I have nothing against it. It is just not my particular cup of tea. For any with an interest in mountaineering, this book should certainly help sustain the interest and encourage you to learn more about its history. But even if you have a little interest in mountain-climbing per se, The Last of His Kind is still a good, engaging, and interesting read, just not an outstanding one.

=============================EXTRA STUFF

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A nice profile of the author

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My inner adventurer was satisfied with this memoir! No doubt Brad was an amazing person - not only a climber, but a fantastic photographer. Plus he was climbing in the 30s! Low tech for everything. Impressive. Also impressive was his wife Barbara, who, with little climbing experience, summitted mountains in Alaska - one time, while pregnant! I'm going to put her book, Accidental Adventurer on my TBR!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America’s Boldest Mountaineer / David Roberts. We raced through this read-aloud, entranced both by the mountain climbing stories, and the personal characterizations of Washburn and his close associates. Of especial interest to us were the details about Washburn’s aerial photography, perhaps his most lasting achievement. This biography of a mentor and friend appears to be balanced and perceptive. My guess is that this writing is the definitive work about this significant American. (Disclaimer: we like everything Roberts writes!)

[Patrice La Vigne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I previously read and loved his wife’s autobiography The Accidental Adventurer: Memoir of the First Woman to Climb Mt. McKinley. I liked Brad’s biography, but not as much—maybe because it was a biography versus an autobiography? Before reading it, I associated Brad with mountaineering and map-making. But of course there is more to the story, and I appreciate how he exploded into mountaineering in his 1930s seemingly out of nowhere. If you like reading about the early days of mountaineering, this would appeal to you.

[David Wogahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are not familiar with the history of mountaineering in North America, particularly Alaska, this is a must read. The author is himself a noted climber and entertaining author.

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit rambling, but ultimately an enjoying read.

[Evan Rand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to climb a mountain

[Bookbeaver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this as Washburn did lead an incredible life, although, reading between the lines I get the sense of a spoiled, 'I-know-more-and-better-than-you', rich kid. Teenage years in France climbing mountains during summers? That had to be nice. Washburns photography was well ahead of his time, and his contributions to science were impressive, to say the least. But my, oh my, the rah-rah, cheerleading tone of Roberts' writing, as well as the book reading like a high school report. I just couldn't go on. I made it through nearly 100 pages, but it was tough. And that's too bad. I think Roberts' relationship with the family put him too close for an objective view. Please keep in mind if you are thinking about picking this up, I'm a committed fiction reader and this nonfiction stuff simply doesn't float my boat.

[Vien Guenther · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband has a hard copy of Washburn’s book ("On High"). Needless to say, he knows about him, at least some of his accomplishments in climbing, photography and his work in creating the Boston Museum of Science, but I don't. It is fascinating to read Washburn's achievements throughout his life, the people he inspired, as well as the tragedies he experienced in his life. The author shows in the book that Washburn was not perfect, nor was his family – there is no such thing as a perfect family, that happens only in the movies. His contributions to the world of climbing, photography and his lifetime work creating the Boston Museum of Science is to be highly commended. When it comes to mountaineering, he was indeed the last of his kind.

[Simone]

Still swimming into Washburns images

Great read glued me to my Kindle Cloud Reader accessed through my phone. I couldn’t put it down. Washburns expeditions to Alaska combined with his surveying and aerial photography make this story a go and a rich narrative.

You’ll leave where you are for a world you’ll feel and see through Roberts words and Washburns actions. You’ll think about being young and being old and having children and getting married alongside Brad in the midst of his life’s adventure.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once transcribed an oral history interview with Brad Washburn (for the North American Nature Photography Association), and thought I knew a lot about his life.
I was wrong. I learned a lot more about him in this book--especially his climbing experiences.
Five stars for the subject matter, but I must say that this is a very favorable perspective on his life. Assuredly, though, his large ego (and perhaps a bit of revisionist history) peeks through from time to time. Same as with the oral history.

[Jean Dupenloup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not David Roberts’ best book in my opinion (or even his best book about Bradford Washburn) but still a worthy read.

From his Alaskan first ascents, pioneering mountain photographs, development of the Boston Museum of Science, and breakthroughs in Himalayan mapmaking, Mr. Washburn lived a truly extraordinary life.

Here Mr. Roberts retraces his key adventures with exactitude and impeccable prose, as always.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled deciding between giving this book three and four stars. I found out a lot about someone who did amazing things who I had never previously heard of, but so much was left out about Washburn’s life. It felt very incomplete. It is obvious that the author loves Washburn. Though their friendship gave Roberts tremendous access to material, in some ways, it probably got in the way of the actual storytelling.

[Dacky2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a powerhouse of a personality.
And what fun Roberts had writing a biography about his friend. He can be forgiven for not being strictly objective, but the takeaway is that no one who knew Washburn could be strictly objective around him.
Won't read it twice, but it's a solid biography, and inspiring for the rest of us with our weak and insipid lifestyles.

[Dace Znotiņa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kādā iepriekšējā grāmatā lasīju, ka alpīnisti bieži ir nepatīkami, pat narcisistiski cilvēki. Šajā grāmatā arī ik pa laikam izlīda tādi teikumi, kas nerunāja par labu galvenajam varonim. Bet piedzīvojumi ir interesanti, sasniegumi iespaidīgi un kopumā bija visai aizraujoši lasīt pārmaiņas pēc ne par Himalajiem, bet par Aļasku.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interesting read about one of Americas greatest mountaineers and transformative director of the Boston Museum of Science. Worth a read, especially for mountaineers, but perhaps not as much of a page turner as others in this genre.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this biography.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written, I just didn't find this to be something that was a page turner for me.

[Chase Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great account of true American exploring icon.

[Libby Dilling · Rating 3 out of 5]

read

[Caitlin Tesler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book for the first half. After that it got a bit boring. But still worth a read!

[Jennifer Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing to think of the expeditions these early explorers endured with the equipment they had at the time. Fascinating.

[Amerynth · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Roberts is really one of my favorite climber-authors, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed with "The Last of His Kind: The Life and Adventures of Bradford Washburn, America's Boldest Mountaineer." I think Roberts' close friendship with Washburn got in the way of writing a truly marvelous book.

I found it strange that I read so much mountaineering history about the Himalayas when Washburn himself never actually climbed there (though he took some terrific pictures of Everest by plane while visiting Nepal.) It was hard to get immersed in the story as Roberts frequently veered off retelling the adventures of other people who were only marginally connected to Washburn (and in some cases not at all.)

I preferred Washburn's autobiography over Roberts' book.

[Keith Abramo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was truly inspirational. Every time I picked it up I found myself only wanting to put it down to climb a mountain. However, the book could have concentrated more on Brad's adventures instead of spending pages on the intricacies to how he set up his camera. Also, many of the stories in this book are about other parties who mad accents of which Brad was not even a part of. Lastly, the tai end of the book seems to cram in a lot of details which took most evolation build up by Brad's adventures and crushes them with tails of years of red tape and unhappy events in Brad's life. Leaving the reader with a more leveled sense of the book instead of wishing there were more to read.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy real life adventure biographies. Bradford Washburn was the premiere climber, mountain photographer, and cartographer for the major mountains in Alaska. Most of his exploits took place in the 1930's. It's interesting to see what he accomplished with the "primitive" technology available at the time. He passed away in 2008 and was active in these areas until the end of his life. Nearly done with the book.

I'm done now. It was a good read and will share with my hiking and mountaineering friends.

[Beau Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you are not into the outdoors, mountaineering , or adventure you will enjoy this incredible bio on Brad Washburn, one of THE innovators and most respected mountaineers ever.

Author David Roberts does a wonderful job in letting the reader know what Brad Washburn is all about with a life history that is rich and and filled with adventure that you just don't get anymore. Wonderful photos fill the book. What a life, what a history!

Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography of an Alaskan Mountaineering Pioneer and one of the greatest nature photographers ever, and it's written by my favorite climbing writer. Unfortunately, it's a bit more geeky of a climbing history than I would have liked (to introduce his climbing partners for a particular expedition, Roberts would then describe the climbing histories of each expedition member and it would get rather lengthy and off-topic). Anywho, enjoyable book, but not the greatest.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of these mountain adventure books and this is one of my favorite. It's my favorite because it tells the story of a sucessful, balanced adventurer who was a mentor, leader, and who lived into his late nineties. Many of these books are about Achille's heels and pride goeth before the fall so it's nice to read something different. I've read it twice now and will likely read again.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have some original Brad Washburn photos of the White Mts. hanging in our ski house in NH, which he apparently frequented back in the day. So, I had to learn a bit more about this man, and this book was a great appreciation of his myriad skills and pretty incredible legacy. They don't make renaissance men like him anymore.

[Elaine Burnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the writing is somewhat repetitive and you have to take into account that the author was friends with his subject, this was a terrific read. And Barbara Washburn is a hoot! I've long enjoyed Brad's photography, so reading about how self-taught he was and how little he cared about learning techniques (even though he was friends with Ansel Adams) was remarkable.