Customer Reviews

Himalayan Quest: Ed Viesturs on the 8,000-Meter Giants

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an incredible book. I finished reading it in 24hrs..I couldn't put it down. Its about Ed Viesturs journey climbing the worlds 14 highest summits..in his own words. Just incredible! The way the book is written its like Ed's right there sitting next to you ..telling you about his adventures. (very personable)The photography is just unbelievable..The way these climbers pack camera equipment and climb is beyond my comprehension. The photo of the climber "riding the ridge" Shishapangma..(pg 143) is jaw dropping!
I recommend reading this book!! Its a keeper!!

This is a gorgeously produced book, and the photos are phenomenal. That said, it was not as detailed as I hoped for it to be. The official Amazon writeup describes this as "replete with detailed maps" -- there are small drawings of a few routes to the top, but they go no more in-depth than pointing out each base camp. Each individual summit mentioned gets three or four paragraphs of copy at most (sometimes less), and this copy is more likely to focus on how Viesturs got the specific photographs shown than on anything else. Discussion of specific challenges on each climb, landmarks on the way, etc., is extremely minimal.

Don't get me wrong -- if outdoor photography is your passion, this is a treasure trove, and the book is beautifully done on its own merits. But I don't think those merits are accurately summed up in the Amazon review, and as such, potential buyers may be misled into believing that this is a more detailed climbing book than it is.

Ed Viesturs has packed this book with magnificent photos of Himalayan mountains, particularly the peaks over 8,000 meters. His goal is to climb all of those peaks and to do it without auxiliary oxygen. Since the publication of this book, he has accomplished his goal. Mr. Viesturs is clearly a magnificent climber and Himalayan Quest gives you an extremely good idea of the ground he covered and the types of obstacles he had to overcome. Only a very few people in the world could have done what he has done. If you like spectacular mountain pictures, this is a book for you. If you are more interested in detailed descriptions of his climbs, read this book and move on to his new book No Shortcuts to the Top.

this is more of a picture, small coffee table book that a reading book. it is very informative and interesting. it really puts you in the himalayas

This was my first exposure to a brave and very wise man, Ed Viesturs. I received the book autographed, which was a pleasant surprise. The book's revealing look at many aspects of climbing, interwoven with a story line and photos, made for a cohesively pleasant read.

The combination of good writing, descriptions, and photography makes me pick up the book at random intervals to read and look again and again.

I normally don't rate items five stars, but this is an exception. Without doubt, a valued book.

Ed Viesturs is one of the world's leading mountaineers. His adventures have taken him to the worlds 14 tallest peaks. Along the way, he has captured the spirit of these places with his camera. Ed's pictures really make you feel like you're experiencing the high himalaya for yourself. The pictures he takes not only expresses the natural beauty of these places, but it reveals the soul these places posess as well. Cultural and social identity is not overlooked in Mr. Viesturs work. This is truly a collection that anyone can enjoy, not just the climbing community. I highly recommend it!

If you want to see how one man, one very accomplished man, has handled 8000 meter peaks this book reveals his insight and some amazing pics. For a non-pro camera man, he's really great.

After reading No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks I had to own this copy of wonderful photography that illustrated the journey! The pictures are not taken by a professional photographer. If you want the highest quality pictures in the world of these mountain ranges this book may not be for you. If you want to see and hear about these peaks from someone who has scaled them all, this is for you.

I absoltely love the story of Ed Viesturs. To have pictures to go along with it is the next best thing to being in the mountains with him.

Although I wouldn't place it in the same class as Everest: The West Ridge (Hornbein) or Annapurna (Herzog), Ed takes you to some of the highest peaks in the world in his book, and what it took for him to get there. I enjoyed reading the details & challenges of his climbs, and totally agree with his climbing mantra - "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory". However, I think he took a little too much license with the subtle praise of his climbing abilities. However, I liked it - an easy read and an opportunity to share adventure with one of the greatest!