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itseliford's review
5.0
Probably my favorite book I have ever read, it’s a detailed account of about 25 stories from his life as an aspiring mountaineer to his pursuits with the “Do Boys” including Doug Tompkins, Yvon Chouinard and the likes. I really enjoyed the style in which he wrote.
laufenem's review against another edition
The first half of the book was a page turner, but then it seemed to drag on and I became more interested in other books
jwicks's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Grief, Child death, Blood, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail
mmfultz101's review
5.0
Excellent. I don’t know a moraine from a foothold, but I’m a supporter of Patagonia and do what I can to care for the world around me. Rick’s memoir is outstanding - wonderful stories that utterly captivated me. Jennifer’s story in particular has inspired me to review my own perspective on life.
winglady's review
5.0
What a wild ride! Ridgeway has had more amazing adventures than nearly any other person on earth, and his narratives will draw you into places and situations that will take your breath away.
kfrig's review
5.0
A book firmly planted at the intersection of adventureful, environmental and authentic will earn 5 stars from me, even if the writing is not exceptionally noteworthy (don’t get me wrong, the writing is good, just not exceptional).
In this memoir, Rick Ridgeway narrates the story of his adventurous and soulful journey through his life, propelled by a deep love for the outdoors and, outdoor challenges. His generation was long after those who founded the Explorers club but before the adventure travel “package tour” phenomenon and professional climbers. An explorer, adventurer, outdoor-lover and hard scrabble guy who gave up a spot pursuing academia to join a party attempting Everest. This began one after another experiences on every continent, across multiple outdoor disciplines. Along the way, he meets his future wife in Tibet, Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Dick Wells and Richard Bass, Tom Brokaw, Jimmy Chin and more. Along with the adventure come far too many accidents and the loss of dear friends. There’s no hint of hubris as he tells his accomplishment-filled stories, only humility and compassion. The same is true as he talks about his family.
A wonderful, soulful story I will now need to buy in hardcover now that I’ve enjoyed it (narrated by the author) on audio.
This review can’t possibly cover all of the elements that make this man and how he told his story special, so, if you love the outdoors, just go buy this book (or in the spirit of conservation - get it at the library).
In this memoir, Rick Ridgeway narrates the story of his adventurous and soulful journey through his life, propelled by a deep love for the outdoors and, outdoor challenges. His generation was long after those who founded the Explorers club but before the adventure travel “package tour” phenomenon and professional climbers. An explorer, adventurer, outdoor-lover and hard scrabble guy who gave up a spot pursuing academia to join a party attempting Everest. This began one after another experiences on every continent, across multiple outdoor disciplines. Along the way, he meets his future wife in Tibet, Yvon Chouinard, Doug Tompkins, Dick Wells and Richard Bass, Tom Brokaw, Jimmy Chin and more. Along with the adventure come far too many accidents and the loss of dear friends. There’s no hint of hubris as he tells his accomplishment-filled stories, only humility and compassion. The same is true as he talks about his family.
A wonderful, soulful story I will now need to buy in hardcover now that I’ve enjoyed it (narrated by the author) on audio.
This review can’t possibly cover all of the elements that make this man and how he told his story special, so, if you love the outdoors, just go buy this book (or in the spirit of conservation - get it at the library).
quixote430's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
I listened to the audiobook read by the author. Perhaps it was the author’s lulling voice that resulted in me often daydreaming and losing track of what was happening, therefore almost not finishing it. But I’m glad I persevered. It is a compilation of various adventures described in more detail in other books he has written. The last chapters are inspiring as they address life and loss.
fireintrouble05's review
4.0
I found it hard to get into this story, initially. It felt like the author did a lot of name dropping, describing the guys he hangs out with by their careers, the company they founded, etc. It had a “perhaps you’ve heard of him?” vibe that knocked me out of the storytelling. I found it jarring. Once he stopped introducing people (because they became recurring characters), I was able to focus on the stories, which were great.
In addition, I carried some jealousy for how easy it seemed for the author to pursue his career, find his wife, and go on all these cool adventures. I was envious of his privilege that by virtue of being a young white dude living in California at a certain time period, he had met all the right people who had carried him along until he’d gained notoriety. My first takeaway from this memoir is that it really sends home that old adage: it’s all about who you know.
Once I made my peace with the author, his time period, and his lot in life, I could settle back and enjoy the stories because, despite all my grumping, he is a good storyteller. Mountaineering has never been high on my to-do list (though I love reading about it). When Rick’s first big adventure takes him to Everest, I was on the edge of my seat, prepared for disaster to strike. When it didn’t and his K2 adventure went relatively okay, I got lulled into a false sense of security for their attempted ascent of Minya Konka.
While his focus starts off in mountaineering and writing, the author makes the transition to film and expands his repertoire, jumping on a boat that sails to South America, traveling across Borneo, and working in Antarctica. Ultimately, he becomes a part of the Seven Summits expedition, which is now something of a mountaineer’s bucket list.
Along the way, the author becomes more aware of the risk to his life, which coincides with the growth of his family, and he makes small adjustments to his way of adventuring. As he and his friends age, they shift in their priorities as well, from making their mark on unexplored regions of the world (in their estimation), to preserving little explored regions of the world for future generations. I enjoyed this growth especially, though, at times, their privilege would still shine through (like when he joins a kid on his trek along a pronghorn migration route in the American West and has his friends drop him off some fancy food to supplement the kid’s meager rations of PB on tortillas and Ramen).
The author’s primary focus is on sharing his world with the reader, focusing more on the vistas and logistical challenges over the personal dramas that arise when people are forced into small group situations (most of the time). His character also shines through, like when he guides the daughter of his dead friend to see the man’s final resting place in the Himalaya, and when he treks overland with rickshaws weighing 250 pounds so that they have food and gear to document the breeding grounds of an endangered animal in Tibet.
After I finished the book and looked up more about the author, I realized that this particular memoir is more like a greatest hits album. He gives brief, engaging, retellings of some fascinating trips he undertook for National Geographic, or for fun with his friends (sometimes both). I would recommend it to people who love dangerous adventures and conservation work.
In addition, I carried some jealousy for how easy it seemed for the author to pursue his career, find his wife, and go on all these cool adventures. I was envious of his privilege that by virtue of being a young white dude living in California at a certain time period, he had met all the right people who had carried him along until he’d gained notoriety. My first takeaway from this memoir is that it really sends home that old adage: it’s all about who you know.
Once I made my peace with the author, his time period, and his lot in life, I could settle back and enjoy the stories because, despite all my grumping, he is a good storyteller. Mountaineering has never been high on my to-do list (though I love reading about it). When Rick’s first big adventure takes him to Everest, I was on the edge of my seat, prepared for disaster to strike. When it didn’t and his K2 adventure went relatively okay, I got lulled into a false sense of security for their attempted ascent of Minya Konka.
While his focus starts off in mountaineering and writing, the author makes the transition to film and expands his repertoire, jumping on a boat that sails to South America, traveling across Borneo, and working in Antarctica. Ultimately, he becomes a part of the Seven Summits expedition, which is now something of a mountaineer’s bucket list.
Along the way, the author becomes more aware of the risk to his life, which coincides with the growth of his family, and he makes small adjustments to his way of adventuring. As he and his friends age, they shift in their priorities as well, from making their mark on unexplored regions of the world (in their estimation), to preserving little explored regions of the world for future generations. I enjoyed this growth especially, though, at times, their privilege would still shine through (like when he joins a kid on his trek along a pronghorn migration route in the American West and has his friends drop him off some fancy food to supplement the kid’s meager rations of PB on tortillas and Ramen).
The author’s primary focus is on sharing his world with the reader, focusing more on the vistas and logistical challenges over the personal dramas that arise when people are forced into small group situations (most of the time). His character also shines through, like when he guides the daughter of his dead friend to see the man’s final resting place in the Himalaya, and when he treks overland with rickshaws weighing 250 pounds so that they have food and gear to document the breeding grounds of an endangered animal in Tibet.
After I finished the book and looked up more about the author, I realized that this particular memoir is more like a greatest hits album. He gives brief, engaging, retellings of some fascinating trips he undertook for National Geographic, or for fun with his friends (sometimes both). I would recommend it to people who love dangerous adventures and conservation work.
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