Customer Reviews

Spirit of the Rock

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This book is a little gem: part poem, part personal story, part prayer. The photography is beautiful and innovative. Though the writing grows out of the author's rock climbing experiences, it is more about learning and loving nature, challenging oneself, and growing into a balanced, fully human life. The life lessons found in these pages seem influenced by Native American and zen thought: the earth is sacred, we are all connected, difficulty brings opportunity, life is full of joy. Reading this book is uplifting, though I wouldn't call it a "feel good" work. It challenges and affirms the best parts of our humanity. It inspires me to do better: for the world and for myself.

I first became aware of Ron Kauk through the article that Sports Illustrated published about him back around 1986, which I partly credit for sparking my own interest in rock climbing. I recently bought this book online, hoping to read more anecdotes and climbing tales of the sort I'd read in Sports Illustrated years ago (and like those contained in works by Roper, Long, Ament, Krakauer, et al). However, the text of the book consists mainly of philosophical fluff, tinged with native American attitudes toward nature, that has about as much substance as cotton candy. Not to belittle Kauk's viewpoint--I'm sure he's sincere, and in certain ways I envy him his lifestyle (not to mention his climbing ability)--but I was expecting literary meat and potatoes and was left salivating.