Rating: 
Summary: A riveting read for climbers and couch potatoes alike
Review: Roper's mixture of first-rate journalism and top-notch story telling make this thrilling and tragic biography of mountaineer Willi Unsoeld unfold with page-turning immediacy. The use of the present tense and the beauty of the descriptive writing make the reader feel as though he is on each expedition. As one life-and-death scenario after another unfolds, the story never becomes sensationalized, and the medical and technical information is always handled clearly. This is a fascinating look at a subculture rife with egos, infighting and betrayals, in which Unsoeld emerges as a true hero for our time. As Roper explores what, exactly, mountaineers are after and what, if anything, they owe the rest of us, Unsoeld's life ultimately serves as a microcosm for the history of mountaineering, and for man's place on the planet. But this isn't just a guy's guy book; it also explores and celebrates the role of women mountaineers, such as Unsoeld's beautiful and spirited daughter, Devi, who's remarkable relationship with her father and heartbreaking demise make this an unforgettable read.
Rating: 
Summary: Painfully boring
Review: The writter forgot that this was a book about a mountaineer. This could have been an exciting, inspiring book about a great climber and instead its a book about someone's ramblings since other more interesting books were apparently already written
Rating: 
Summary: Let the editor, edit
Review: This book was good when it stuck to the story of climbing the mountain. Roper goes off the story so often it is distracting. If he would have stayed away from philosophy, current events, past events, psychology, etc.... he could have shortened his book by at least one hundred pages. Stay with the story!! It may be a shorter read but a better read.
Rating:
Summary: Two books in one! The climb and the mountaineers philosophy
Review: This mountaineering book is very well-written in a unique style that belongs to Robert Roper. It was unique from other mountaineering books in the way he intermixed climbing scenes with Willi Unsoeld's philosophies on life. He contrasts the sport climber versus the true mountaineers who find spiritual strength in high places. He shows the contrast between team climbers and soloists. It goes beyond just describing some of Willi's adventures in life by exploring the inner force that kept drawing him back for more high adventure. As a mountaineer myself at the age of 38, I really understood the analogies that the author made between life in general and life as a mountaineer. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish. I give it a "thumbs up". TJ Burr, Author of "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection"
Rating:
Summary: Two books in one! The climb and the mountaineers philosophy
Review: This mountaineering book is very well-written in a unique style that belongs to Robert Roper. It was unique from other mountaineering books in the way he intermixed climbing scenes with Willi Unsoeld's philosophies on life. He contrasts the sport climber versus the true mountaineers who find spiritual strength in high places. He shows the contrast between team climbers and soloists. It goes beyond just describing some of Willi's adventures in life by exploring the inner force that kept drawing him back for more high adventure. As a mountaineer myself at the age of 38, I really understood the analogies that the author made between life in general and life as a mountaineer. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish. I give it a "thumbs up". TJ Burr, Author of "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection"
Rating:
Summary: 5th Grade Level of Writing
Review: Well, what can I say about this book? Not too much. This book read like an opinion column in your local Sunday newspaper or, better yet, like a trash tabloid. The author seemed hell bent on destoying John Roskelley every chance he got. It seemed un-ending, low-brow and ultimately childish, hence, the title to my review.
At times this book was irritating , other times it made me yawn. Roskelley's book on the Nanda Devi tragedy is a much more engrossing read and hard to put down. Now I'm not comparing this books section on the Nanda Devi tragedy to Roskelley's book but, I do find it interesting that a person who wasn't even remotely associated with the climb can so easily pick it apart and smear the good names of some of its members all the while effectively cannonizing others.
Which leads me to my next point: This book is supposed to be an homage to a great mountaineer, Willi Unsoeld, but the author doesn't even do his books subject honor. The author re-hashes the American Everest climb from 1963, but this has all been done before, there is no new insight, no new offerings.The author talks about Unseold's untimely death but, again, nothing new. This book, is in effect, boring. It is also aggravating. I found myself getting quite irritated as the author continued to take his perpetual pot shots at Roskelley and Jim States.
The author wasn't on Devi, he wasn't on Everest in '63 and he wasn't on Ranier with Unsoeld when he died.The author had no first hand experience and I found his biased slop a let down and boring.
Rating: 
Summary: I could have done without the philosophy
Review: Yes, we are all human, and have egos. Mr Roper did more to erode the human Mr Unsoeld with his speculation, grandiose words and tangential philosophy, than to give us insight into the great man himself. I recommend this book to only those who want more 'fluff' and less 'stuff'.
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