Review by Booklist Review
Like other world-class athletes, rock climber Honnold practices visualization, but similarities likely end there. Before freeing Moonlight Buttress, Utah's vertical sandstone bluff, in an unaided solo climb in April 2008, in his mind's eye, I saw myself bouncing off the ledge below and going all the way to the ground, fracturing most of my bones as I rag-dolled down the mountain, he says. I'd probably bleed out at the base. In September, Honnold would even more famously free the regular northwest face of Yosemite's daunting 4,737-foot-high Half Dome in an unaided solo climb. The likable Honnold wears such feats lightly here, downplaying his successes while sharing climbing tactics and, more pointedly, how he manages fear in the face of such singular danger. Roberts nicely fills in background and context. A quibble: Honnold's substantial first-person sections are set in visually unpleasing italics, a needless distraction. But expect deserved interest from climbers and nonclimbers alike.--Moores, Alan Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Rock climber Honnold is known for his groundbreaking climbs on some of the world's most difficult rock walls and is a master of the free solo climbing technique, which involves climbing alone without any ropes and with perilously little margin for error. His gravity-defying talent has rightly made him a celebrated star of the climbing world. This unfortunately awkward combination of autobiography and biography alternates between sections by Honnold about his life and climbs and segments by alpinist and writer Roberts providing context and commentary on Honnold's feats. While the author's extraordinary climbing accomplishments and dedication to his unencumbered lifestyle are worthy of chronicling, this uneven and ultimately unsatisfying work fails to provide enough insight into Honnold's often opaque motivations, offering only a muddy and sometimes contradictory view of his personality. At times, Honnold comes across as overly reckless and somewhat arrogant, whereas in other parts of the book his humility and admirable humanitarian work are highlighted. Candid descriptions of major climbs struggle to convey the unusual combination of mental strength and physical endurance that make his rare achievements possible. VERDICT Suited only to dedicated rock climbing aficionados who may also enjoy Alexander Huber's The Mountain Within.-Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A much-honored climber's exciting story of the death-defying feats that led to rock-climbing superstardom. Honnold showed a predilection for climbing when he was still a small child. At age 5, he managed to scramble 30 feet off the ground at a climbing gym within just a few minutes. Later, he entered climbing competitions all over his home state of California. After his father died, Honnold dropped out of college and chose to live out of his mother's minivan while climbing mountains. This bookwhich alternates between narratives by Honnold and writer/climber Roberts (Lost World of the Old Ones: Discoveries in the Ancient Southwest, 2015, etc.)focuses on that remarkable and unconventional life and how Honnold, a quiet man who climbed purely for the joy of adventure, became "the most famous climber in the world" in the span of seven years. In his early days as a vagabond climber, he learned how to free solo, a form of climbing that relies on strength and skill alone. Not long after that, Honnold began attempting climbssuch as Half Dome in Yosemite and Sendero Luminoso in Mexicothat veterans of the sport believed were too difficult to do without gear or a partner. His notoriety spread quickly among rock climbers. Rapidly, Honnold became the subject of several documentaries and was receiving sponsorships that allowed him to travel the world and push the boundaries of his sport to extreme new heights. His dedication to the sport of rock climbing had its costs, however, including the painful end of a long-term relationship. Yet celebrity status also reinforced his belief in the importance of living simply. In 2012, he established the Honnold Foundation, which sought "sustainable ways to improve lives worldwide." The humility, pioneering spirit, and courage that are the author's personal hallmarks are both refreshing and invigorating. His account ultimately reminds readers how genuine fulfillment comes only when engaging in life fully and without fear. An inspiringly intense memoir for readers of adventure lit. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
