No Shortcuts to the Top

Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

By: Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.

For 18 years, Ed Viesturs pursued climbing's holy grail: to stand atop the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto: "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory." It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers, as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

No Shortcuts to the Top is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and the beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

©2006 Ed Viesturs and David Roberts (P)2006 Books on Tape

Vicarious Immersion into this Rare World!

Any additional comments?

This book, unabridged, is the primer and introduction for one who might want to lose oneself in this genre of books. High altitude mountaineering is grand drama, with killing cold, and with oxygen starvation that hobbles the brain and causes the body to consume itself. This is where storms appear out of nowhere, and simple injuries can become a death sentence, because help often is unavailable. Fiction is unnecessary because up here the true stories are incredible.

Yes, Dr. Viesturs’ book uses the word “I” a lot: It’s an autobiography as well as an overview. Arguably the world’s best, the guy practices great safety discipline, and deals in facts. He also is a superb historian of the mountaineering culture, and he describes that community in a way that lets you decide whether or not to immerse further. I went for it. I listened to ALL the Viesturs books, plus several others. Exception: The superb *Himalyan Quest* book of full-page photographs. It puts things into perspective, and must be enjoyed in paper form.

Look, we can’t all climb these mountains, but we can read, and watch movies and videos. This book is the primer. It fascinates while it gives you a taste. Then, if you choose to immerse as I did, you can enjoy scores of hours of wonderful entertainment, as you climb the world’s highest mountains in your armchair.

Extraordinary lessons for life!

Loved every word of it. Great lessons for lige through a theme close to me. Narration extremely good as well.

I should be climbing right now

I'm afraid to hear what the real Ed Viesturs sounds like for risk of tarnishing the mental image I have after hearing this reader read No Shortcuts to the Top.
It was wonderfully read with a real sense of passion and attention to detail. This is by far one of the most incredible books I've ever read. As an outdoors-man, it's very inspirational and educating but even if you've never hiked more than a few miles, you can still enjoy the Ed's accounts of climbing the world's highest mountains.
One of those books that you never want to end.

Awesome book

Ed Viesturs has always been my Idol. The reader is good but his pronunciation of the mountains and French climbers’ names bothers me. Looking up how proper names of people and mountains should be mandatory.

inspiring!

the narrator did a good job in capturing the ups and downs of the story. feel like watching a movie. Love Ed's determination and approach in risk taking. Reaching summit is optional but getting back down is mandatory. He got the priority right.

Very good!

The narrator really helped me get into Ed's mind , loved his voice.
Ed's stories are brilliant, a must listen for anyone who is interested in 8000ers

Such A Man

This book was just great. Hearing so many stories, in fact of sad ending, happy ending, struggles & epic journey of endurance.

So many stories with men & ladies I know of it knew if in the class of hero's of the mountaineers. Ed is such a great man & his words rang true & not embellished will bs to give him or others pays on the backs. A man of truth, loyalty & a big heart as well.

I do recommend this book!!

Live your dreams, but remember...
Getting to the top is an option, getting down is mandatory!! Trust your intuition, it knows MORE than you think it does & more often than not...IT'S RIGHT!!

Ps The narration was great & ABSOLUTELY perfect!!

Precision and discipline

In his amasing life history, Ed Viesturs shows that montain climbing is a sport of precision, planning, risk managing, strong training, discipline and putting your safety above all. Certainly a great man with extraordinary achievements.

An adrenaline rush

Ed Viestur’s autobiography and narrative of his compelling career as an alpinist Is a fascinating read. I really enjoyed this book a great deal.

Great listen!

Loved it. Fascinating. Couldn't wait to get back to it. Covered a lot of Everest 1996 that didn't know