hollyclimber Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 So, we are talking about Krakauer in a couple forums, and ended up discussing some of his books a little. So, the question is, what does everyone like to read? I am not ashamed to admit that quite often, I fall asleep reading guide books. I figure that is kind of strange, but I keep all my climbing books right next to my bed, and a lot of nights I grab one and start figuring out what I want to climb. I wake up in the morning with one or two guidebooks in the bed. Lately, its been the Big Walls Super Topo, and of course Beckey is a favorite. I got sort of bored with the climbing adventure type books awhile back, so I haven't read one in awhile. Any new ones worth checking out? Climbing got me to read my favorite book ever, Atlas Shrugged. There is a simple and direct reason why something in climbing made me read that book. Anyone know? (its like a riddle, and it helps if you know where I like to climb this time of year). Ok, that's enough rambling about reading stuff. Anyone else read guidebooks for entertainment or sleep inducement? (Cavey, can you read yet?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 I got these two books from the public library and they rock. Geoff Child's Stone Palaces and Twight's Kiss or Kill. Both written with passion and introspection instead of who did what and who is to blame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EV Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Twight's Kiss or Kill is fabulous. A bunch of short stories. I wish it never would have ended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeadam Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Holly, Caveman comes over and picks up my guidebooks and then never puts them down. They are the same ones he has at his own house that he reads and never puts down. It's like a pacifier or something. He then proceeds to babble about climbing nonstop while I want to talk about girls or something important like that. It's like white noise or something. I think he talks about climbing when he's climbing. Personally I find guidebooks to be inspiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelle Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 In general I like to read non-fiction and stories about mountaineering adventures are my favorite. These are a few on my bookshelf I enjoyed. Arlene Blum's "Annapurna: A Woman's Place" is great. Anything by Joe Simpson, except his one attempt at fiction. My favorite is "Storms of Silence." "The Measure of a Mountain" is a good book to share with tentmates on Rainier. "Below Another Sky" by Rick Ridgeway was also a great recent read. Harry Potter books are an easy to read escape in the tent after a hard day. [This message has been edited by ehmmic (edited 10-17-2001).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimL Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Many of my friends and I have coined the term "climbing porn" for all related material including guidebooks, climbing mags and books because they are always in the bathroom, laying around the house or the first thing a climber picks up when they walk into a room. Its sounds from Mike's description the term describs Cavey reaction to walking into mike's house. A friend recommended reading Fountainhead after climbing a route named after a character in one of the author’s books. Seems to be a good book so far. Someone also recommended reading Fata Morgana after I mentioned climbing the route in Squamish. Haven't picked that one up yet but its on the list. On another note, I can't stand reading climbing books or mags while on a climbing trip and usually find myself pursuing subjects other than climbing when I climbing pretty intensely. Any other folks have the same reaction?  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblakley Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 I've enjoyed some quality climbing literature over the last few years but right now I am reading Neil Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon". Awesome book so far. It's got a lot of pages though and no pictures so I'm a little intimidated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyclimber Posted October 17, 2001 Author Share Posted October 17, 2001 You know Tim, you are SO close to answering my quiz question, but then you also had advance beta. Seriously, Atlas Shrugged is the best book I have ever read, and it makes the route named after a feature in the book even more fun to climb now (even though I got spanked on it the last time I went up). The thing with guide books that is so cool is that you can read them over and over, and never get sick of them. If you haven't done the route yet, you are dreaming of when you will. If you have done it, you are trying to remember what the hell it was like! Or, ok, enjoying your memories of the climb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimL Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 John...something line at some place in Oregon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Recently I've been reading everything I can get my hands on about Afghanistan. I was captivated by the region before all this craziness happened and now I just want to know more. Central Asia and the World by Michael Mandelbaum The Modernization of Inner Asia by Black et al. Yeah, I'm always thumbing through climbing porn. So many things to do. I think I've got to do a route on Exfoliation Dome before the winter sets in. Mmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus_Engley Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Guidebooks, route descriptions, those little spec sheets that come with the cams-- I read that stuff all the time. On the non-climbing side I tend toward good fiction, or some of the glut of non-fiction "extreme" stories, i.e. In Harm's Way, Heart of the Sea, etc. The former is about the U.S.S. Indianapolis' sinking in WWII, the latter is the story on which Moby Dick was based. Jblakely-- if you like Cryptonomicon, read Snow Crash next. Also by Stephenson, and a great story, especially in this, the computer-virus age... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mneagle Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Mark Twight and Ayn Rand are cut from the same cloth. Twight's "Justification for an Elite Atitude" article in Climbing magazine a few months ago sums up in the title what it takes John Galt 50 pages in Atlas Shrugged to explain. Both would have you believe that an enormous ego is completely justified and healthy, provided you are as good as you think you are. Both climbing and objectivism glorify overcoming great obstacles due to talent and strength of character. The people who seem to like Rand are those who see themselves as being John Galt and those that hate her are those that see themselves as the minor characters in John Galt's world or who find the idea that you can line everyone in the world up in a row from best person to wort as distasteful. My own opinion: provacative, but she's nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyclimber Posted October 17, 2001 Author Share Posted October 17, 2001 This is great because I am headed on an out of town trip today, and I needed some suggestions on what to read. I have to hit the Borders in my building before I leave town, otherwise I am going to be stuck reading my "tax research" textbook. Argh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyclimber Posted October 17, 2001 Author Share Posted October 17, 2001 Mneagle-- a) I see myself as Dagny Taggert. Way cooler (and I like Ayn Rand). b) You aren't supposed to say that there is a "John Galt". It ruins the mystery. c) she is nuts, but its very interesting to read. I'll have to check out Twight now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jblakley Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 quote: Jblakely-- if you like Cryptonomicon, read Snow Crash next. Also by Stephenson, and a great story, especially in this, the computer-virus age...[/b] Thanks Marcus, I read Snowcrash a few years ago and then very recently Diamond Age. If you haven't read that I recommend it. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysticNacho Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Anybody ever read The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiesen? That book changed my perspective on life! Its about this guy's journey into a remote part of Nepal to research the Snow Leopard, but ends up taking some sort of spiritual odyssey instead. Can be boring sometimes with endless description, but every once in awhile says something about life that knocks you off your feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 I'm in the middle of a very good book about the Vietnam war called "The Ravens". Ravens were an elite group of pilots that were Forward Air Controllers(FACS) working for the CIA flying convert ops over Laos in a secret war. What these guys did was aboslutely insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CascadeClimber Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Climbing: "Postcards from the Ledge", Greg Child. I just love the bit about "The One Who Bivies Highest". "Into the Zone", by Potterfield is pretty good. Also, almost anything by David Roberts. I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I read almost every Tom Clancy book in a matter of days as soon as they come out. I'm about to reread "The Lord of the Rings" and "Jurassic Park". And I think "Contact" is amazing, much better than the movie. -Loren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Self_propelled Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Matt, How are those books on Afhanistan? I feel the same as you. The region has become more intriguing if for no other reason than there aren't volumes available on it. "Lie down with Lions", Ken Follett is a fairly good page turner novel set in Afghanistan. If anyone wants a hilarious read try "Lord of the Barnyard", Tristan Egolf. One man's struggle with bureaucracy. Another is "The Thought Gang", Tibor Fischer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelle Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 MysticNacho - I'll have to check out the Snow Leopard again. I couldn't get into it after about 60 pages and gave up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 you guys who read guidebooks amaze me. I dont know if I should tell you to get another hobby or respect you for your dedication and passion of the sport. personally, i like the adventure/climbing stories but then can be repetitive. The stories are amazing, but you need a break. There are only so many stories of some crazy guys climb a big mountain, get into trouble and, at least one man makes it down to tell the story. Personally, i read anything i can get my hands on. Currently, i'm reading "a brief history of time". by Stephen Hawkings. An amazing book, a little outdated but you learn some amazing shit. Last recent books also include "The Celestine Prophecy" and "One Flew Over The Cuckos Nest". The climbing mags are for the shitter where some of them belong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 My vote for some good climbing related reading that doesn't succumb to the previously mentioned problems: "A Walk in the Sky: The First Ascent of Hidden Peak" by Nick Clinch (may be out of print). Nick Clinch was coerced by Pete Schoening to write the book and didn't publish it for nearly 20 years. Talk about a humble guy and the story is great. "The Acent of Rum Doodle" by W.E. Bowman - one of the best climbing satires I've ever read. It shows how much fun people have been making of big Himalayan expeditions for a long time. It does kind of have that eerie feeling at times that it touches almost too close to reality sort of like "This is Spinal Tap" did to the heavy metal world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beck Posted October 17, 2001 Share Posted October 17, 2001 Gaston Rebauffet "On Snow Ice and Rock" is a beautiful book, Rene Daumal's "Mount Analogue" is a total gem! Wasn't "Eiger Dreams" a Krakauer book? pretty good book, that. anything about avalanches and snow science I can get my paws on- not climbing related books? gosh, where to start...although I'd recommend staying away from pulp and reading the classics, I'm rather fond of French surrealists, Russian Industrialists, Marquez, Kundera, John McPhee for non fiction.. oh yeah, and COSMO when I'm in the mood LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 Don't read much. Reading is the hard way to gain knowledge. I suppose I'm ADD or something. I don't know if you can really read a guidebook but mine have alot of drool over them. I often entertain the thought of myself reading a book but given the choice I simply sit around and daydream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizard_brain Posted October 18, 2001 Share Posted October 18, 2001 My recent favorites: HH The Dalai Lama "The Art of Happiness" Hunter S. Thompson "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" John Long "Climbing Anchors", "Self Rescue" Dominguez & Robin "Your Money or Your Life" Raymond Carver "Where I'm Calling From" John Grisham - Anything by John Grisham! Kurt Vonnegut "Slaughterhouse Five", "Hocus-Pocus" Po Bronson "Bombadiers" An eclectic collection, I know. But hey, variety is the spice of life. Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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