Rating: 
Summary: Visit your local library
Review: I'll admit I'm an Everest adventure junkie so I liked the first part of this book that told about the climb and the rescue...in fact I read that part twice. But, while somewhat interesting, his personal history didn't interest me quite as much. I borrowed this book from the library so I didn't feel bad about not loving the book...however, it did inspire me to order Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air since I lost my copy and I can't wait to read it again. You won't feel like you've wasted your time by reading Beck Weather's book but it doesn't pack quite the same punch.
Rating: 
Summary: good start
Review: All though a good start, the core and ending was thin.I expected more of a mountain story and less of a personal feeling thing i suppose, but i do appreciate the post trauma of a tuff climb. Krakauar's account entertained supreme, however after reading Lobsang's and Anatoli's points of view i think he may have somewhat missed the bulls eye. The I-MAX struck me as completely avoiding the great opportunity of recording this event. Weather's view is an introspective purge that i would not recomend paying twentyfive dollars to view.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: The image of Beck Waethers' frostbitten face is one I have stamped on my memory. I have often wondered what happened to this survivor of the deadly 1996 Everest Expedition. Beck returned to Dallas to try pick up the pieces of his life and discovered, for all intents and purposes, he had almost lost his family as well. This book is the combined stories of Beck Weathers and his wife, Peach (I was so glad to find she actually had another name). It touches on Beck's growing up, his schooling, getting married and how he became obsessed with conquering the Seven Summits. Peach adds her observations and commentary on the family that for all intents and purposes came along for the recovery. It is a tale of struggling to find self, (both Weathers)and a marriage. The most interesting thing about this book is the narritative style and the absolute honesty of both writers. You find yourself wondering if Beck will ever overcome his feelings of inadequacy and will he ever really reach out and make an emotional connection with those closest to him. There is enough about the climb to remind the reader this was a serious and driven climber. Left For Dead is more a story of redemption, and a tale that leaves its reader wondering if it will ever be completely found in Beck's mind.
Rating:
Summary: 100 pages five star ,the rest no stars
Review: Book was very interesting when it covered events of the fateful climb. The rest should be skipped. This book makes it very clear, that if your going to get yourself into trouble in a foreign country ,make sure you and your family have alot of political contacts . That way, your political lackys can pressure that foreign government to bail you out. Even if it puts someone elses life in mortal danger. Beck, if you were just about any other US climber you would have "been left for dead"
Rating: 
Summary: How to Make Everest Boring
Review: Jon Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air, is the book to read for a compelling picture of the May 1996 Everest tragedy. Beck Weathers' account would have been better left for a personal family memoir - printed for friends and family, the only ones likely to be interested in it. Obviously the experience on Everest was a radically life-altering one for Weathers, and one can appreciate that. But his book, filled with bits and pieces about his relationship with his wife and children, his (and his brother's) personal history (yawn), his wife's history (more yawns), is simply boring. Krakauer's book was riveting because it was the story of a tragedy and a mountain, and because at the end of it you felt, briefly, that you too had been on the mountain. The prose in Weathers' book is clunky, and the pieces written by friends and family are even worse. The moral of the book seems to be "Make time for your family." OK ... I agree. But the point has been made better, and by better writers, and unless you're looking for something to put you to sleep quickly, skip this book.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable, non-technical read
Review: I checked this book out of the library for my husband to read because he is interested in mountain climbing. Once I got it home, I started to skim through it, and could not put it down! I thought the first part about the Mt. Everest climb was very interesting and I wish there was more description of the climb and the experiences that happened on the mountain. After reading this, I cannot understand why anyone would want to climb mountains. Every climb Beck described sounded like hell. I cannot believe how terrible he was to his wife and family, and they still stayed with him. I agree that most of the family stuff was boring. It also made Beck out to be a very unlikeable person, not worthy of much sympathy. The person that amazed me the most in the entire book was Madan KC. Just reading about his selfless, heroic act was worth reading the entire book..
Rating:
Summary: Part One was GREAT....
Review: But the rest of the book was a big yawn. I really did not feel personally involved enough with the author to read through his tedious 200+ page life story. If you are after an account of what happened on that fateful climb, stick to "The Climb" or "Into Thin Air".
Rating:
Summary: Interest in Everest? Find another book
Review: All readers are intrigued by life and death struggles such as conquering Everest. If drama, suspense, excitement, and insight into a near death experience from a personal perspective are your interest, you won't find it here. Every chance the authors get to instill the feeling of what it must have been like to endure this expedition, they fall short. Its as though this book was written as an epilogue to "Into Thin Air". This book never takes you anywhere. The style of conversation-blocking with family members and friends smacks of a journalist transcribing tape-recorded conversations. If you want to taste Beck's emotional experience, you will have to hear him in person - there is no comparison. But if you want to know the fury of Everest - find another book.
Rating:
Summary: A life altering climb experience
Review: The first 120 pages of this book are mesmerizing. They deal with the climb from his prespective. His writing style and comments can be very humorous at times in dealing with this massive trauma he was facing. Clearly, he looked death in the eye and has come out a better man. I started this late at night and couldn't put it down until I finished this section. The rest of the book deals with his family relationships (poor) and his early struggles with depression. There is no question this reads slower but I am still glad I read it. Clearly, his marriage was on the rocks from his noncaring attitude and he admits as much. Climbers may not like this part of the book but if you are involved in a intense personal relationship but have lived your life as an "A" type individual, read this to learn what might happen to you. At one point, he admits the accident was a positive experience for his interpersonal relationships even though he lost his hands. That's a powerful statement. This book has something for everyone but maybe not enough for any particular type person. I applaud Beck Weathers and wish him, his wife and his kids well. I enjoyed the book but make sure you're ready for both sides of the story. Hard core climbers who are only in it for the thrill may be disappointed with Beck's life lessons.
Rating:
Summary: Probably a "Chick" book
Review: If your interested in the 1996 Everest disaster, you might try reading, "Into Thin Air" too. I enjoyed this book but found Jon Krakauers book more gripping and detailed about the Everest event. I found it startling that Dr. Weathers had to go through such HELL to appreciate his wife and kids. When I was done with the book I told my husband, "what a slime ball." I'm glad he has finally conquered the demons that sent him to Everest in the first place. After hearing him on a national radio talk show I couldn't wait to get the book. I probably would of enjoyed it more if it had more about the actually climb. He says, he didn't write it for anyone, but wanted to write it for himself and what brought him to Everest in the first place. Good Luck Dr. Weathers and your family.
| 
