Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sophieskye 's review for:
Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest
by Stephen G. Michaud, Beck Weathers
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
90 pages in, the narrative leaves the mountain and much of Left for Dead follows Beck Weather’s family drama and his depression in the years before he climbed Everest. Not necessarily what I thought this book was going to be but once I accepted it I found the perspective sort of refreshing. So many Everest books take place on the mountain in isolation, it’s interesting to read about the life and sacrifice surrounding that. Especially in Beck’s case where it was actually announced that he had died on Everest - seeing his family go through the worry, anger, fear and shock of the entire Everest expedition, that’s a different viewpoint.
Still, I feared for Beck, not so much because he was suicidal- that obviously was a concern- but because he couldn’t feel our love. I felt enormous sadness that he didn’t like himself, and felt he had to prove himself. He couldn’t just go out and enjoy the sunrise and sunset. He couldn’t enjoy the little things. Beck could only proceed from goal to goal. That makes for a very unhappy person.
I liked the fact this book had sections of writing from the people around Beck, and at some points was even a back-and-forth. Seeing Beck and Peach’s differing recollections of the same discussions and situations, the endurance they both had, those were powerful real life moments. Beck is not nice in parts of this book and I respect him for including that in his memoir. This is a very personal account of Everest. Some parts I found powerful, others I didn’t gel as much with. Glad I read it definitely.
It was about then that I realised I needed to do a couple of things. One was to not fall apart. I had to find something to live for each day, to think about.
Still, I feared for Beck, not so much because he was suicidal- that obviously was a concern- but because he couldn’t feel our love. I felt enormous sadness that he didn’t like himself, and felt he had to prove himself. He couldn’t just go out and enjoy the sunrise and sunset. He couldn’t enjoy the little things. Beck could only proceed from goal to goal. That makes for a very unhappy person.
I liked the fact this book had sections of writing from the people around Beck, and at some points was even a back-and-forth. Seeing Beck and Peach’s differing recollections of the same discussions and situations, the endurance they both had, those were powerful real life moments. Beck is not nice in parts of this book and I respect him for including that in his memoir. This is a very personal account of Everest. Some parts I found powerful, others I didn’t gel as much with. Glad I read it definitely.
It was about then that I realised I needed to do a couple of things. One was to not fall apart. I had to find something to live for each day, to think about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts