Quick read with some decent photos. I'm not entirely sure what I expected. But, there wasn't as much of a description on the techniques of the climbs.

Not a lot of depth but fun for stories you haven't heard elsewhere. Not great if you don't already have context of how epic El Capitan is. A fun quick read for those who know how beautiful Yosemite granite is

I read one of Duane's earlier novels, Caught Inside, while researching surf culture. It really stuck with me and I was excited to find another title from him about rock climbing. I love his writing, his fascination with extreme sports, and his sort of deep philosophical exploration of man vs. nature. While Caught Inside is a personal account of Duane's experiences surfing, El Cap is more of a biographical study of top Yosemite climbers from the 50s through the 90s. He devotes a lot of page time to the first few subjects and does them justice. Unfortunately, the second half of the book seems skimmed-over and uneven. Still an enjoyable read. 3.5?