Scan barcode
allbythebook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
akooda7's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. The author gathered the story together through all the members of the climbing team. The detail showed me the merit of daily journaling. Everything was covered. All aspects.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best climbing accounts I've ever read (and I read a lot of these things). Often the logistical nightmare of organizing a Himalayan expedition is glossed over, as are the difficulties of leadership in trying to keep morale up among members and Sherpas. Arlene Blum writes with relatability and self-reflection. There's little ego and machismo on display here as one comes to expect from male glory hunters in the climbing world, and Arlene admits she struggles with the expectations that she be accommodating and democratic. In that vein, she put others first when it came to the final summit push and seemed to genuinely feel that the success of a few reflected back as success for the whole team. I was genuinely rooting for these ladies even though I knew, despite their success, there wouldn't be an entirely happy ending. If this book hits you as hard as it did me, I highly recommend tracking down the 40-minute documentary filmed by expedition members Marie Ashton and Diana Taylor. And also, one of those "A Woman's Place is on Top" T-shirts...(just ordered mine!)
melissacushman's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.75
bennmarine's review against another edition
5.0
SUPER powerful!!! SOOO good! Also, I love the phrase that comes out of it; "a woman's place is on top" cheers to that! Awesome to hear an epic alpine expedition of all women! Super inspiring!!
ganitsirk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great account of a historic expedition, and reminded me of just how far women have come (and how far we have to go) in some realms of equality. Some of the women in the expedition are roughly the age of my mom, and it reminded me of hearing her stories from school sports before Title IX was a thing.
If I were ever going to climb a mountain (doubtful) I’d only want to do it on an all-woman expedition after reading this book. Actually talking out disagreements and resolving growing resentments sounds so much better than the toxic machismo of many male climbers.
If I were ever going to climb a mountain (doubtful) I’d only want to do it on an all-woman expedition after reading this book. Actually talking out disagreements and resolving growing resentments sounds so much better than the toxic machismo of many male climbers.