I have delved into numerous books centered around mountain climbing. However, this particular volume stands out as it meticulously details the climbing escapades of an individual named Chris Bonington, an Englishman. It chronicles his climbs over a span of 30 years.

Some of his climbs culminated in reaching the summit, while many others unfortunately did not. Throughout this arduous journey, a significant number of his friends and climbing partners met their demise, either during the ascent or descent of the mountains.

What makes this book truly unique is the writer's ability to transport the reader onto the mountain. One can vividly feel the exhaustion, face the ferocious storms, experience the pangs of hunger, thirst, and altitude sickness, and confront the reality of injuries.

Many of their climbs either exhausted the supply of supplemental oxygen or were attempted without relying on extra oxygen. Chris Bonington has since become a legend within the mountain climbing community, thanks to all the trips he led and/or participated in. Despite facing numerous near-misses, he has outlived a great many of his contemporary climbers.

After Everest was conquered in 1953, it appeared as if there was no more feat to achieve in the climbing realm.

Nevertheless, a constantly evolving group of young British climbers pushed the boundaries even further by ascending more arduous mountains and taking improbable routes on mountains that had already been summitted via easier trails.

A few of the climbers reached old age, but as per this book, the majority of them perished on an 8,000-meter peak somewhere on the other side of the world.

I have read and relished numerous other books about the world's greatest mountain climbers. Although the subject matter was captivating, I felt that this book could have been far superior to what it was.

The focus on so many climbers made none of them seem particularly significant, and I had an extremely difficult time keeping them distinct, especially in this audio version.

There were also details of dozens of climbs, once again making it challenging for me to differentiate one from another. More so than most audio books, I struggled to maintain my focus on what I was listening to.

However, the aspect that bothered me the most was the omniscient narration. The author could peer into the thoughts of every single climber, and this became especially irritating as he described their innermost hopes and dreams and their profoundest sorrows as they passed away.

I would have preferred a more academic approach, more clearly founded on interviews and the climbers' own writings. This had the definite sense of an "unauthorized biography."

The Boys of Everest is a captivating account that delves into the world of mountaineering following the successful ascent of Mount Everest.

The book not only relates but also precisely defines two distinct ways of climbing. On one hand, there are the large English expeditions that are accompanied by numerous porters. These expeditions are well-equipped and have significant resources at their disposal. On the other hand, there are those climbers who attempt the feat with only a few members and on a shoestring budget.

Despite the differences in the methods, one thing remains constant - the inherent danger that comes with climbing such a majestic and unforgiving mountain. Whether it's the well-funded expeditions or the more frugal ones, the challenges and risks are substantial. The book vividly描绘s the struggles and difficulties that climbers face regardless of their approach, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the thrilling and perilous world of mountaineering.

This book presented a distinctiveness that set it apart from other 'adventure' narratives centered around mountaineering that I had perused.

In certain aspects, this was a pleasant alteration. The author possessed the ability to depict thoughts and emotions in a captivating manner that exuded authenticity. However, when he endeavored to inhabit the minds of some of the climbers in the final moments preceding their deaths (a common occurrence), I found myself slightly deterred by his presumption of knowing their last thoughts.

Nonetheless, it remained an interesting read, albeit a rather divergent adventure story. It offered a unique perspective on the world of mountaineering, with its blend of engaging characterizations and the author's attempts to explore the inner workings of the climbers' minds. While the assumption of knowing the climbers' final thoughts might have been a misstep for some readers, it also added an element of intrigue and speculation to the narrative. Overall, it was a book that managed to both fascinate and challenge the reader's expectations of an adventure tale.

If you are a climbing enthusiast, then you will most likely be captivated by the details of each climb presented in this book.

Overall, it chronicles the careers of prominent British climbers during the 70s and 80s. It delves into their motivations in an indirect manner, with the greatest emphasis placed on the climbing details themselves.

Between the lines, it poses questions such as what drove these climbers and whether their pursuits were truly worthwhile.

The author indeed has a talent for vividly imagining the deaths of climbers for us (since we weren't there and can't know for sure).

However, this is primarily a book that focuses on climbing, with rather brief transitions between climbs and not as much in-depth reflection as one might have anticipated (even though it already exceeds 500 pages!).

Nonetheless, it offers a detailed and engaging look into the world of climbing during that particular era.

Somewhat embarrassingly now, I rated this author's climbing compilations (Epic, High and Climb) as 5*. However, these books were read right at the start of my obsession with mountain literature, and now I have a better understanding.

The content was mostly good, except when the author chose to guess at people's inner thoughts and feelings. Some of this was sourced from climbers' diaries, but some was entirely fictional as the climbers passed away before writing anything (such as Mick Burke and Joe Tasker on Everest, and probably others).

Most of the climbs described are covered more comprehensively in the individual expedition books written by the climbers themselves. Therefore, I would recommend reading those books instead. Nevertheless, this compilation does provide a good overall perspective of the 60s - 80s and some significant climbs. If you can endure the wiffle.

It's important to note that while the compilation has its merits, the personal accounts of the climbers offer a more in-depth and accurate portrayal of the climbs. Reading both can give a more complete understanding of the subject matter.

In conclusion, although my initial rating was high, I now see the limitations of these books. However, they can still be a valuable addition to a mountain literature collection for those interested in the history and context of climbing during that era.

I had the opportunity to review this book for the Portland Phoenix.

This was an exciting task as it allowed me to delve deep into the pages of the book and analyze its various aspects.

I carefully read each chapter, taking notes on the plot, characters, and themes.

The book had a unique storyline that kept me engaged from start to finish.

The characters were well-developed and had their own distinct personalities.

The themes explored in the book were thought-provoking and relevant to today's society.

After completing my reading, I sat down to write my review.

I wanted to provide a comprehensive and honest assessment of the book, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses.

I hope that my review will help others decide whether or not to pick up this book and give it a read.

This book is filled with an abundance of truly remarkable stories.

There are countless losses detailed within its pages.

It is truly heart wrenching, as you find yourself becoming deeply acquainted with these men and their families.

The tales are so vivid and engaging that you can't help but feel a connection to the characters.

You experience their joys, their sorrows, and all the emotions in between.

Each story seems to unfold like a real-life drama, pulling at your heartstrings and making you reflect on the human condition.

The author has done an excellent job of bringing these stories to life and making the reader feel as if they are a part of it all.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page, leaving you with a sense of both sadness and appreciation for the lives that have been shared.

My dad gave me this book last year for Christmas.

To be honest, it was just as much for him as it was for me. He absolutely loved it, but I, on the other hand, hated it.

This book follows a revolutionary group of climbers through many of their trips, detailing some of their best climbs and what transpires for them over the years.

If you're in the market for a climbing book that doesn't solely focus on Everest or K2, this is actually a very good option.

The Eiger in Switzerland plays a significant role, along with other mountains. However, I have to admit that I didn't really enjoy the book, despite the fact that others have.

Maybe it's because my interests lie elsewhere, or perhaps I just didn't connect with the story in the same way that others did.

Nonetheless, it's still a well-written book that offers a unique perspective on the world of climbing.

Perhaps one day, I'll give it another chance and see if my opinion changes.

The narrator seemed to be a little bit hard to understand.

It was as if the words were not flowing smoothly or perhaps the tone was a bit off.

This made it a bit of a challenge for the reader to fully engage with the story.

Additionally, the story line itself wasn't that great.

It lacked excitement and seemed to be rather平淡.

There were no real twists or turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, while the concept might have had potential, the execution left something to be desired.

The narrator's difficulty in being understood and the unremarkable story line combined to make the reading experience less than satisfying.

However, perhaps with some improvements in these areas, the story could have been more engaging and enjoyable.

I had the impression that this book could have benefited from some editing. There were a few areas where the flow could have been smoother, and perhaps some of the ideas could have been presented more clearly. However, despite these minor flaws, I still found it to be a worthwhile read.

The content of the book was engaging and thought-provoking. It covered a wide range of topics and offered unique perspectives on each one. The author's writing style was also quite accessible, making it easy for readers to follow along and understand the concepts being presented.

Overall, while this book may not have been perfect, it was still a valuable addition to my reading list. I would recommend it to others who are interested in the subject matter and are willing to overlook a few rough edges.

At best, this can be regarded as a "non-fiction novel."

However, it contains an excessive amount of fantasy that has been fabricated by the author.

One would expect a non-fiction work to be based on real events and facts.

But in this case, it seems that the line between reality and imagination has become blurred.

The author may have taken some liberties in creating a more engaging and entertaining story.

While this may make for an interesting read, it also calls into question the authenticity and credibility of the work.

Readers should approach such a "non-fiction novel" with a degree of skepticism and not assume that everything presented is a true account.

It is important to be able to distinguish between fact and fiction, especially when it comes to works that claim to be based on real life.