Up

My Life’s Journey to the Top of Everest

By: Ben Fogle, Marina Fogle

Narrated by: Ben Fogle

Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

My eyes lifted to the horizon and the unmistakable snowy outline of Everest. 

Everest, the mountain of my childhood dreams. A mountain that has haunted me my whole life. A mountain I have seen hundreds of times in photographs and films but never in real life. 

In April 2018, seasoned adventurer Ben Fogle and Olympic cycling gold medallist Victoria Pendleton, along with mountaineer Kenton Cool, took on their most exhausting challenge yet – climbing Everest for the British Red Cross to highlight the environmental challenges mountains face. It would be harrowing and exhilarating in equal measure as they walked the fine line between life and death 8,000 metres above sea level.

For Ben, the seven-week expedition into the death zone was to become the adventure of a lifetime, as well as a humbling and enlightening journey. For his wife Marina, holding the family together at home, it was an agonising wait for news. Together, they dedicated the experience to their son, Willem Fogle, stillborn at eight months.

Cradling little Willem to say goodbye, Ben and Marina made a promise to live brightly. To embrace every day. To always smile. To be positive and to inspire. And from the depths of their grief and dedication, Ben’s Everest dream was born.
Up, from here the only way was Up.

Part memoir, part thrilling adventure, Ben and Marina’s account of his ascent to the roof of the world is told with their signature humour and warmth, as well as with profound compassion.

©2018 Ben Fogle (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic Reviews

"A pleasant and lyrical read." (Guardian)

"Written with wit and affection, this light-hearted, yet stirring narrative entertains and inspires with equal measure." (Countryside Magazine)

"Fogle's typical adventure-style storytelling keeps the narrative light and entertaining." (Independent)

2023 only up

I could listen to this book as the others over and over again, here from sunny South Africa, Cape Town. Live and love your joys, your sadnesses and fears. That is life, whether you want it or not. But your decision how you look at it 🙂 only UP. Waiting anxiously on your next book. Many thanks! Adele van Niekerk

My favourite book ever!

I can't begin to write a review that sums up how much I loved this book. I feel it will be listened to again and again.

a good book

a lovely book, some parts I lost interest in but was soon felt like I was on the mountain with Ben

Outstanding!

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish! As expected from Ben.
Well narrated which gave this a personal touch.

Bland

A wishy washy mix of self help and adventure.
I couldn’t help the feeling that Ben was trying to convince himself of the sentiments in this book as much as the reader. His adventures seem to be the way he defines himself.
The token contributions from his wife don’t add much, again she sounded like she was trying to convince herself that she was okay with the situation.
The few actual parts of the Everest climb were quite interesting but were punctuated with long monologues about ‘looking up’ or not becoming to risk averse. Ruining the little tension the story had. The overall thing that bugged me the most was the sense of privilege that Ben obviously has. He went to a private school, lives in central London and lists several expensive holidays not to mention his countless international adventures. He compounds this in the conclusion by saying that money will never make you happy and is not important (the words of someone who has got plenty.)
It’s not the worst book ever, but if you are looking for a good mountain read look else where.
Ben says at the end that he struggled to write the book and it shows it may have been better to have waited and fitted the Everest experience into the larger context of his life after some time had passed rather than looking at it in such detail so close too.

Interesting story

Very Interesting story of Ben and Victoria's journey and how it affected the people around them and the shear toughness they and the people who got them to where they were. But sorry Ben l wasn't looking for a form of life coaching book it turned into. It seems that you were airing your own demons to ease your own mind. Maybe next write about what kept you going from your childhood and through life. It didn't work well with me mixing the two.

positivity

wow ❤️ what an amazing book UP is, it's so inspirational and uplifting, I read the book and listened to it on Audible, I would recommend it to anyone young or old because Ben has a gift of turning a negative situation into a positive one. Thank you Ben for changing my outlook in life to that of a positive one 🙏🙏❤️❤️

inspiring on many levels

an inspirational and uplifting book with a jaw dropping account of this magnificent adventure. try it

Superb book beautifully read by Ben and Marina.

Very powerful and often emotional content. Found his book essential listening. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed.

excellent! captivating and inspiring.

really enjoyed this - it was my first audiobook and a really good one to start with - i think i got more out of it than i would have done reading it, especially with Ben and Marina reading it themselves.

Great book

This is great Ben really done well with this and I didn’t realise the hardship him and his family have been through I really enjoyed this book and it’s really inspiring me to take on more mountains myself