Customer Rating: Summary: Good to read if you are a mountain, not rock, climber Comment: The picture on the cover and the fact that I enjoy John Long's writing is what motivated my to buy the book. I am a boulderer/rock climber who has done roped solo climbing in the past (using a Silent Partner self-belay device - a little plug for that device since it worked so well for me).
I should have noticed the phrase "edited by John Long" on the cover. He didn't write this book - it is a collection of individual stories. That wasn't so bad because I enjoyed some of the writing.
The problem I had was that the cover shows a rock climber but the book is mainly written about solo mountain climbers. I was more interested in rock climbers.
If you are a mountain climber, or ice climber, then you may enjoy this book.
I'd give this book 2 stars as a rock climber (since I think it was deceiving to show a rock climber on the cover), and 4 stars if I were a mountain climber. So, I'll average it out to 3 stars.
Customer Rating: Summary: They're Better than You Comment: This is a collection of stories about climbing alone. Some of them are well written, some are a bit bland, but all of them are exciting. However, the appeal to non-climbers might be a bit limited, because it's hard to explain climbing's intensity to someone who hasn't been there.
"Just don't fall!" said the soloist to himself.
Oh, wait. That's redundant.
Customer Rating: Summary: Thought Provoking Comment: As a climber, you become comfortable with the uncomfortable, but that is because you have a rope between you and the great beyond. These stories become even more amazing when you think deeply and appreciatively of the mental control over fear that these individuals master, which goes beyond the obvious physical mastery to climb solo. The stories give you a glimpse into the psyche of people who are true individuals. Whatever your view on their sanity or motivation, it is gripping stuff. One note, if you are John Long fan, this book is edited by Long, not written by him. But he combines great stories and insightful prologues. Customer Rating: Summary: Fast read Comment: Another great John Long compilation!! Read while on a business trip & could hardly put it down, really saved me from the travel boredom. Any climber can relate to the drama & excitement! Customer Rating: Summary: Good reasons to not climb alone Comment: This is an easy, quick read that will entertain if you like climbing stories. While I enjoyed reading this book as I have all of Long's climbing stories, I just can't see the thrill of tackling mountains alone. The element of danger is raised exponentially. Therefore, I didn't identify with the climbers and why they take this risk. It does detail these climbers and why so many feel the desire to climb alone in dangerous conditions. Personally, it just made me more comfortable on an indoor rock wall. Climbers will still enjoy the read however.
