Tap Dancing on Everest

A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

By: Mimi Zieman MD

Narrated by: Mimi Zieman

The plan was outrageous: A small expedition of four climbers would attempt a new route on the East Face of Mt. Everest, considered the most remote and dangerous side of the mountain, summitted only once before. They would climb without using supplemental oxygen, porter support, or chance for rescue. Mimi Zieman would accompany the climbers as the doctor—and only woman—although she was still in her third year of medical school.

Full of self-doubt, Zieman grappled with whether to go, but couldn't resist the call of the wilderness and mountains. On Everest, when three climbers disappeared during their summit attempt, she reached the knife edge of her limits and dug deeply to fight for the climbers' lives and to find her voice.

Sparkling with suspense and vulnerability, Tap Dancing on Everest is a true survival story about the risks we take to become our most authentic selves. In this inspiring coming-of-age travel memoir that includes solo hiking through Nepal, Zieman weaves her childhood as the daughter of Jewish immigrants raised in 1970's New York City, her father a Holocaust survivor, with adventure, medicine, and empowerment. She captures the curiosity and awe of a young woman as she faces down messages to stay small and safe and ventures into the unknown.

©2024 Mimi Zieman (P)2024 Tantor

Author narrated is my favorite!!

There was so much I loved about this book that I can’t list everything! It’s an amazing story of challenge, bravery, and drive! I adore her energy in the narration! I love the fun that she brings to the Everest expedition team. I’m such a huge fan of women succeeding in unexpected places and that is what drew me to this book. I’m not a hiker or in the medical field, but I’m a woman who has succeeded against the odds and I hope to one day tell my story in such a captivating way.

Awe inspiring story!

I loved the author’s candid story telling. She is truly amazing and such an inspiration!

Courage During Freezing Cold With Low Oxygen

A vivid description of a life experience I wound never attempt. The thorough discussion of the preparation processes was most interesting as well as finding out how necessary those preparations were needed. But not everything was planned for and the mother of invention is need as evidenced with her pee bottle.

engaging

Very engaging interesting adventure- well written and spoken. I was guided to live vicariously thru the author. Definitely recommend!

Gripping story, heartwarming introspective

I was so impressed and moved by Mimi’s careful but gutsy medical student Everest project. In a superb memoire, she led us along the path from her NYC childhood and early mountain adventures in Colorado to medical school and agreeing to be the expedition doctor just shy of graduation. I was astounded by her detailed description of trekking to the Everest base camp and treatment of the climbers’ severe injuries. Hearing her narrative about the stresses and camaraderie of the expedition was heartwarming. Wonderful insights; couldn’t stop listening.