Better Bouldering (How To Climb Series) [Paperback]

John Sherman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

This guide provides the techniques and tricks gleaned from a 22-year career by John Sherman, America's most noted and notorious bouldering guru.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's the most sophisticated 'how-to' book I've seen on any climbing subject."
-Climbing Magazine

From the Back Cover

Partner been outcranking you? Tired of flailing on the same old problems? Looking to bash through personal barriers, float up those desperates and become 'at one' with the stone? Inside Better Bouldering are the techniques and tricks gleaned from a 22-year career by John Sherman, America's most noted and notorious bouldering guru. 'It's the most sophisticated 'how-to' book I've seen on any climbing subject.' -Climbing Magazine

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: FalconGuides (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575400871
• ISBN-13: 978-1575400877
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #783,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and informative; A Bull's Eye, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Better Bouldering (How To Climb Series) (Paperback)

Verm (Sherman) hits the mark with this guide. Read it and you will climb (boulder) better and will not look or act like a geek. Lots of insider hints and tricks, gently sprinkled with John's particular humor. A must buy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONLY Bouldering Book That You Need, March 24, 2008

By 

Joshua R. Hewlett "dilettante par exellence" (Huntsville, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Better Bouldering (How To Climb Series) (Paperback)

I own two books on the subject of climbing. I'm a career nerd, and as such, I typically amass an extensive library on the subjects that interest me. Not surprisingly, about twelve years ago when I first began climbing, I set out to aquire as much literature on the sport as possible. Now, more than a decade later, my climbing library includes a mere two books: Performance Rock Climbing by Dale Goddard and Udo Neumann, and Better Bouldering by John Sherman. Sherman's stringent attention to detail and wealth of bouldering experience are evident in the outstanding quality of his work. This book is easy to read thanks to Sherman's light-hearted, humorous, and personal style of presentation. The treatment of the subject matter is thorough and even entertaining. I re-read this book annually and recommend it to every boulderer that I meet.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Great as a Book Can Be, September 14, 2004

By 

j. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better Bouldering (How To Climb Series) (Paperback)

For anyone who doesn't know, bouldering is a branch of rock climbing in which no ropes or harnesses are used. Because of this, the climber usually doesn't go more than a dozen feet up and should have pads and a spotter ready to help should he or she fall.

That being said, trying to teach someone how to become a better rock climber (or boulderer) is like trying to teach somebody to drive a manual transmission car from a book. It's no substitute for actually being out there, trying what works and what doesn't, and learning from your own mistakes.

That being said, this book gets the job done as best it can, and it even acknowledges the fact that the best skill honing and development will come not from reading, but from hands-on practicing. Author John Sherman definitely knows his stuff, and this book gives a good overview of virtually the entire bouldering world. It would have been nice to have more pictures and diagrams, just because there's so much to benefit from visual aids in this sport.

Unfortunately for anyone who is already a skilled boulderer, this book will be of little help in furthering one's craft. It primarily targets individuals who are new to the sport and rather unfamiliar or of a novice-level with the concept. But then again, anyone who is already a well-skilled boulderer should know that "How to" books are probably not the answer to fine-tuning his or her skills.

If you're someone looking to get a little more into bouldering, this book will help you take the plunge. Be sure to read the section on safety and caution first, as it can be a dangerous sport to those who are careless or reckless.