Rating: 
Summary: ETHICS IN THE MOUNTAINS...
Review: Joe Simpson writes from the heart. He is clearly a man, as well as a mountaineer, of conscience. It is about time someone put into words, what many people are undoubtedly thinking. He explores the ethics of some of the bad behavior being exhibited today by some so called mountaineers. While the writing may be a little choppy at times, his message is a powerful one.
Conservationists should take heart. The author is disgusted by the conditions found on formerly pristine mountains. The once unsullied beauty of many of nature's wonders is being fouled by human detritus. The amount of garbage being left behind on Mount Everest by expeditioners is disgusting. Get off Everest, if you cannot or will not clean up after yourselves. There is no maid service on Mount Everest!
The author tackles head on the deplorable way that Sherpas and other native peoples are treated by expeditioners. Often ill clothed and ill equipped for the harsh climatic conditions found at higher altitudes, there is evidence of little regard for their welfare. In catering to an expeditioner's needs, however, these are the very people who make it possible for expeditioners to attain a certain level of physical comfort. Yet, when disaster strikes, they are often left to die by the mountainside by members of a throwaway society. How quickly some forget that it is the Sherpas who make expeditions possible, and who are oftentimes the unsung heroes when a calamity occurs. Talk about a thankless job!
It is incredible that human beings are so easily discarded, as if they were nothing more than a disposable can of soda. Putting a higher value on material goods, which can easily be replaced, or on a so called thrill over the life a fellow human being is one of Joe's pet peeves and rightly so! It is always startling to read that a climber has passed over or by the body of a still living, sentient human being, who is in distress or at the cusp of death, and not offered any assistance or succor to that person, but instead has raced on to try and summit or even just returned to one's relatively warm tent under the premise that there isn't much one can do. You have to wonder at the total self-absorption and lack of humanity inherent in that person. Joe calls these people to task in no uncertain terms.
Joe Simpson's feelings about mountaineering recall to mind some of those voiced by world class climber and Chamonix guide, Gaston Rebuffat, in his book "Starlight and Storm'. They both seem to share the same purity of vision and exultation in the climb itself. They both seem to share a belief in the brotherhood of the rope. Unfortunately, Gaston Rebuffat is no longer amongst us. One can only hope that Joe Simpson is not a lone voice crying in the wilderness.
Rating:
Summary: ETHICS IN THE MOUNTAINS...
Review: Joe Simpson writes from the heart. He is clearly a man, as well as a mountaineer, of conscience. It is about time that someone put into words what many people are, undoubtedly, thinking. He explores the ethics of some of the bad behavior being exhibited today by some so called mountaineers. While the writing may be a little choppy at times, his message is a powerful one.Conservationists should take heart. The author is disgusted by the conditions found on formerly pristine mountains. The once unsullied beauty of many of nature's wonders is being fouled by human detritus. The amount of garbage being left behind on Mount Everest by expeditioners is disgusting. Get off Everest, if you cannot or will not clean up after yourselves. There is no maid service on Mount Everest! The author tackles head on the deplorable way that Sherpas, as well as other native peoples, are treated by expeditioners. Often ill clothed and ill equipped for the harsh climatic conditions found at higher altitudes, there is evidence of little regard for their welfare. In catering to an expeditioner's needs, however, these are the very people who make it possible for expeditioners to attain a certain level of physical comfort. Yet, when disaster strikes, they are often left to die by the mountainside by members of a throwaway society. How quickly some forget that it is the Sherpas who make many expeditions possible, and who are oftentimes the unsung heroes when a calamity occurs. Talk about a thankless job! It is incredible that human beings are so easily discarded, as if they were nothing more than a disposable can of soda. Putting a higher value on material goods, which can easily be replaced, or on a so called thrill, over the life a fellow human being, is one of Joe's pet peeves and rightly so! It is always startling to read that a climber has passed over or by the body of a still living, sentient human being, who is is distress or at the cusp of death, and not offered any assistance or succor to that person but, instead, has raced on to try and summit or even just returned to one's relatively warm tent under the premise that there isn't much one can do. You have to wonder at the total self-absorbtion and lack of humanity inherent in that person. Joe calls these people to task in no uncertain terms. Joe Simpson's feelings about mountaineering recall to mind some of those voiced by world class climber and Chamonix guide, Gaston Rebuffat, in his book "Starlight and Storm'. They both seem to share the same purity of vision and exhultation in the climb itself. They both seem to share a belief in the brotherhood of the rope. Unfortunately, Gaston Rebuffat is no longer amongst us. One may only hope that Joe Simpson is not a lone voice crying in the wilderness.
Rating: 
Summary: What an experience to read joe's books.
Review: Joe's style and sensitive nature keeps you looking for the next book. His wealth of real life experience together with his ability to write permeate thoughout his books. As a climber he makes me think of my own ethics and and morals when it comes to climbing and the people I do it with I too believe that Joe is right about the decaying ethics that have permeated the very fabric of our mountains and the culture of people that climb and live in these parts. I too can empathise with Joe to some extent of the lonileness of being lost or injured in these wild place. I now have read all of Joe's books some of them twice and eagley await the next instalment from a writer and climber that I would one day love to meet. Keep on writng Joe but more importantly keep the cimbing community honest with your stark revalations and blinding truths about what is going on in our mountains today.
Rating:
Summary: my favorite Joe Simpson book
Review: Let's face it, Touching The Void is such a fantastic story that it has to be Simpson's best book. It's certainly his most famous. But this one is my favorite, I think because it is more about "climbing" than about "Joe Simpson". Simpson makes a compelling case for the idea that the ethics of mountaineering have been harmed by the commercialization of climbing. I usually figure that any story about "the good old days" when people were noble is likely BS. But that's not really what Simpson is claiming here. Instead, he is really talking more about the differences between a small and self-selected community (like "climbing" 30 years ago) and a large and public activity (like "climbing" today). I'm not sure if non-climbers would really appreciate this book, but as a climber I have found it invaluable for helping me to frame my own questions about what it means to be a climber, and ultimately a human being.
Rating:
Summary: Preachy, repetitive, compelling...
Review: My title says it all. He is preachy and opinionated, repeats his point incessantly, but writes well when describing adventure and disaster. You'll need a glossary of climbing terms!
Rating:
Summary: Preachy, repetitive, compelling...
Review: My title says it all. He is preachy and opinionated, repeats his point incessantly, but writes well when describing adventure and disaster. You'll need a glossary of climbing terms!
Rating:
Summary: one of the best mountain books ever written!
Review: Quite surprised I was (as a dutchman) to read a book about the scandalous behaviour of Ronald Naar, a famous dutch climber. On the other hand, I should say that the other examples of wrong behaviour of the new generation of mountain climbers were much more ashtonishing for me. Like backpackers doing a trek in Nepal, leaving their Sherpa's behind in bad weather just to save their own souls. I mean, starting an Everest climb is something different than just hiking in the area; you should know the dangers and decided to take the risk. In his own way Simpson is very clear in his opinion about this and after reading this book I am convinced he's right!
Rating:
Summary: An honest read on the unethical pactices of some climbers.
Review: Simspon writes briefly on his lonely ordeal in the Peruvian Andes and uses this a springboard to rationalize the unethical actions taken on by other climbers. Climbing is dangerous and there is alot of energy and cost involved. However Simpson questions the treatment of dying climbers who are often left to die in the lonliness of the mountain. Often without comfort of another soul. He goes on to tackle the commercialization of the sport, which has stripped the members of such climbing expeditions of any human emotions or feelings. A truly philosophical honest read.
Rating:
Summary: An honest read on the unethical pactices of some climbers.
Review: Simspon writes briefly on his lonely ordeal in the Peruvian Andes and uses this a springboard to rationalize the unethical actions taken on by other climbers. Climbing is dangerous and there is alot of energy and cost involved. However Simpson questions the treatment of dying climbers who are often left to die in the lonliness of the mountain. Often without comfort of another soul. He goes on to tackle the commercialization of the sport, which has stripped the members of such climbing expeditions of any human emotions or feelings. A truly philosophical honest read.
Rating:
Summary: The book will leave you thinking
Review: The book is only remotedly about an attempt to climb a magnificent peak of Bumori. It is rather a philosophical debate over mountains and people climbing them. Joe Simpson gives examples of climbers tragedies and shows how the others around react to them. Some people show remarkable effort to save their colleagues while others show no interest whatsoever. Simpson is wondering what motivates people do react the way they react and also tries to define some kind of a standard ethic that climbers should follow. Simpson criticizes the commercialization of mountaineering. This is a point where you might disagree with him. It is understandable that the commercialization annoys the orthodox climbers since it brings devastation of mountains, garbage to what used to be a virgin land, unnecessary deaths, etc. On the oher hand, mountains do not belong exclusively to the real mountaineers and the trend would be almost impossible to stop. In any case, the book should be on the shelf of every man or woman interesting in mountains. I would recommend to combine this book with Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
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