Alone on the Wall (Expanded Edition)

By: Alex Honnold, David Roberts

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Will Damron

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Includes two new chapters on Alex Honnold's free solo ascent of the iconic 3,000-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park

On June 3rd, 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to free solo Yosemite's El Capitan - to scale the wall without rope, a partner, or any protective gear - completing what was described as "the greatest feat of pure rock climbing in the history of the sport" (National Geographic) and "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever" (New York Times). Already one of the most famous adventure athletes in the world, Honnold has now been hailed as "the greatest climber of all time" (Vertical magazine).

Alone on the Wall recounts the most astonishing achievements of Honnold's extraordinary life and career, brimming with lessons on living fearlessly, taking risks, and maintaining focus even in the face of extreme danger. Now Honnold tells, for the first time and in his own words, the story of his three hours and 56 minutes on the sheer face of El Cap, which Outside called "the moon landing of free soloing.... A generation-defining climb. Bad ass and beyond words.... One of the pinnacle sporting moments of all time."

©2018 Alex Honnold (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Absolutely Fascinating

I just recently learned of Alex Honnold and his amazing free solo climbs. After watching Solo on Hulu one night last week, I became addicted to the idea of rock climbing. I forced my girlfriend to watch the documentary the following night, watching it myself for the second time in as many days. After my second, sweaty palmed viewing, I searched for Alex's book, alone on the wall. I finished the book in two days. I cannot get enough of Alex Honnold. I wish I could be so singularly focused. Rock climber or not, it's difficult to read this book and not immediately book a Yosemite vacation. I am inspired.

Easily surpassed my low expectations

Before reading this book I saw Alex Honnold as somewhat of a pretentious blowhard that tries to act nonchalant.
My expectations were low, and I was actually pleasantly surprised. Pretty insightful book, with some interesting first person accounts.
I did internally roll my eyes when the topic moved to climate change, but I at least appreciate him not having double standards.
When you’re as talented as Alex, and have the ability to inspire the human race, you put up with the cost of documenting your stories.
I still don’t see Alex as incredibly genuine, but did enjoy his story, and the majority of his writing.
What a mentally and physically special individual who had pushed rockclimbing and the idea of what is possible to new heights.

A singularly amazing human being

In his long quest to climb El Capitan, Alex Honnold showed greater integrity than I have ever seen, and I've really tried to think of some comparable instance. There just isn't one anywhere in my memory, and I've been seeking out examples of integrity for more than 50 years.

What I mean by integrity is a combination of ruthless self-examination in order to define one's values, refusal to compromise on those values, endless self-estimation of strengths and weaknesses, and relentless striving toward self-improvement. Alex can reel off examples of climbers who are superior to him in specific physical traits of an elite climber, but what makes him the greatest climber of his generation is his character. The important statistic of his many ascents isn't their height, or the difficulty of their pitches. It's the years he spent becoming the one person who could climb El Capitan. Expanding his comfort zone, as he says. Great comfort always takes correspondingly great self-discipline.

I have my own wall to climb, in my case autoimmune autonomic neuropathy, which I do not suggest looking up unless you really love research for its own sake. My goal is joy, my discipline is meticulous and unending self-care and refusal to engage in meaningless activity. My success is every enjoyable day of my life. I get there more often than not. I like my life , and in order to keep liking it I can't afford compromise. If I allow myself to settle for less, if I turn away from a painful truth, I'll probably die a sad and horribly painful death for no good reason. As it is, the disease might kill me, or something else might kill me first. It really doesn't matter. What matters are the days of my life. I am in constant pain from a dozen sources, I've been unable to walk for years, and I'm one of the happiest people I know.

Safety is a falsehood invented and maintained by human beings who cannot tolerate fear. No one is ever safe. Joy, on the other hand, is very real, and it waits on the other side of fear for those who reach for it.

In addition to this book, I collect every piece of film about Alex Honnold that I can find, and when the disease doesn't allow me to think and the going begins to seem intolerable, I look to him for reminders of what it takes to achieve integrity: the willingness to perform every single one of an infinity of necessary tasks and the courage to have a damned good time doing it. If I'm having trouble falling asleep because my pain level is too high or because my autonomic nervous system just doesn't flip the sleep switch or both, I sometimes listen to this audiobook and breathe until I achieve, if not sleep, at least a pleasurable relaxation. (It took me years to learn to do that and I'm still improving. Recently I'm beginning to have some control over inflammation, believe it or not. I'm so proud of myself it's embarrassing.) I spend the long hours listening to Alex describing the details of his journey in chapter after chapter. He wasn't only getting better at climbing, he was getting better at living. I wish I knew more of what he was thinking all those years. Managing this insanely complex illness of mine is not so different from what he did to become the person who could free solo El Capitan, who can love his Sannie and will very likely spend the rest of his life with a depth of fulfillment that most of us can't imagine. I need his example sometimes. I wish there was a way I could thank him. He's helped me to give myself the gift of life.

Epic read and respect to Alex!

Almost like you were looking over his shoulder. Great visualization of the routes and their relative difficulties.

Incredible person

It is crazy to think all Alex Honnold has accomplished. It was a little dry at some points but that is because I don’t understand all the technical jargon. I love how he added essays in the extended edition to cover other accomplishments that happened after the book came out.

Yep, made my hands sweat

Well done, smart, detailed, stoke inspiring with climbing history intertwined. Def suggesting to climbing buds

Gripping

Probably most (maybe only?) interesting for climbers but the story is intense, memorable, delivered well. Got me through several big square states!

A Loner's Dream

I've never climbed. didn't need to, fantastic story, inspiring to loners and athletes alike

Amazing!

This story is worth listening to for the ages! A person pushing himself to the absolute limits!!

Amazing Narrative!

I know nothing about climbing other than what I have learned in this book. But this has to be one of the greatest athletic feats ever!