Unraveled

A Climber's Journey Through Darkness and Back

By: Katie Brown

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

As a teenager in the 1990s, Katie Brown was one of climbing's first "comp kids"—a young natural who, along with her peers, redefined the image of a strong and successful climber. After climbing for less than two years, Brown won her first junior national title. The next year she became the Junior World Champion at age fourteen in Laval, France. In 1996 she won both the Rock Master—a prestigious international contest in Arco, Italy—and the esteemed X-Games. From 1996 on, Brown won every US Adult National that she entered, as well as a World Cup Title in France in 1999.

Yet even as she reigned on the podium, Brown felt her life begin to unravel. A quiet child, she struggled with a home life that was very different behind closed doors than it seemed on television. A fundamentalist version of Christianity was at the center of the household, and Brown fought to live according to rules that were strict, ever-changing, and irrational. Isolated and feeling hopeless, Brown latched onto food as something she could control. She quit competitive climbing and bounced in and out of the industry, eventually disappearing in her late twenties.

Now, more than two decades later, Brown is ready to share her story. Unraveled answers the question thousands of fans worldwide have wondered: "What ever happened to Katie Brown?"

©2022 Katie Brown (P)2023 Tantor

Powerful

A painful and powerful mediation on mental health, family and healing within and without climbing.

Heart wrenching & powerful

This story is incredibly moving & so raw. - no sugar coating here. So many thoughts and feelings running through my body it’s hard to know where to start with this review. My heart ached for Katie listening to how horrible her mother was/is to her. Her struggle with anorexia hit home being that I struggled with eating disorders for 23 yrs. I understand the pain of wanting someone to notice, someone to care…especially your parent/s. As a climber I’m grateful attention is finally being brought to EDs in the climbing community. It’s been over looked in sport for far too long. It took such strength & courage to write this book; I respect the hell out her for doing it. Thank you Katie for sharing your truth!! The only downside was the narrator; the voice was a little hard to listen to.

Should be titled unbearable.

There is nothing good about this book. The author whines and drones on about her neurotic mother and her neurotic self to the last No lessons learned or insights. It’s literally the worst book that I have ever listened to. Katie Brown is a truly horrible person to the core.