Rating: 
Summary: Alas, For What Could Have Been
Review: Goran Kropp is a marvelously colorful, eccentric man. Unfortunately, he had little to do with the actual writing of this book aside from use of his diaries and tapes. Kropp is highly sensible as to what makes good copy and is willing to go the last mile and then some to reap publicity rewards. It wasn't enough for him to ascend Mt. Everest. He had to bicycle 7,000 miles from Sweden to Nepal and haul all his own equipment (sans oxygen) to the top. The man must have the stamina of a bull elephant to even attempt such a feat. He also has an insanely brave (foolhardy?) sense of justice no matter how dire his circumstances. His bike trip was truly dangerous at times going through virulent anti-western areas such as Iran. If kids threw rocks at him, he threw rocks back. He chased one unfortunate teenager right through his own living room to give him a good pounding. It's a wonder he wasn't killed. To be kind, I would say his appearance is only average; yet Goran seems to attract gorgeous women who are willing to slave for him so he can attain his goals. Many a handsome man might study him carefully for tips on his success. It was regrettable that Goran's trek to Everest coincided with the fateful May 1996 tragedy when so many people died on the mountain. The book rehashes the oft-told story plus some basecamp scuttlebutt that I doubt reflects Goran's interest. This man is so self-involved, I doubt if he would notice a tryst between Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts if it took place before his very eyes. But the writer (who should pay Jon Krakhauer royalties for all the quotes from "Into Thin Air") undoubtedly thought these tidbits would sell some more books. Kropp missed the deadly storm. His first try was right before the storm and he came within 350 vertical feet of the summit before being turned back by the lateness of the day. He was agonizingly weary and oxygen-starved, but incredibly made a second successful attempt a couple weeks later. If the book had devoted more space to these two ascents, it would have been far more compelling. By this time, I was shaking my head thinking he still had to bicycle BACK 7,000 miles to Sweden. This is barely touched upon, but he did it. His next grand plan is to sail alone (at this point, he does not know how to sail) from Sweden to Antarctica and ski to the South Pole in 2004. Somehow, I think he will get the job done. I found myself oddly charmed by this driven man; there is a certain sweetness about his eagerness to make friends and chat when it is clear most people find him an arrogant oddball. There's always an attraction to a guy who puts his money where his mouth is. I wish him well and hope next time he does his own writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Life is a Grand Adventure
Review: Goran Kropp's and David Lagercrantz's "Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey" is an excellent autobiography of a climber. Kropp wisely chose to tell his story with the help of a professional writer, Lagercrantz. Kropp's book is liberally peppered with fascinating stories that leave one astonished. As with any autobiography, it is only an enjoyable read if you like the author. I found his spirit delightful. A bit more than half the book covers Kropp's own three attempts to summit Everest in the context of the much written about events of May 1996. Kropp adds interesting details to Jon Krakauer's classic account of the 1996 Everest tragedy, "Into Thin Air". Disturbingly, far too much of chapters ten and eleven of "Ultimate High" appear to be borrowed, in places with the almost same wording, from "Into Thin Air". Lagerkrantz acknowledged a debt to Krakauer at the back of the book. Perhaps this is customary in Sweden. Other than this problem of sometimes repeating or paraphrasing Krakauer, "Ultimate High" is a fun read. It would be valuable, if a second edition of this book could be published that includes a biography of Kropp after Everest until the end of his far too short life in 2002.
Rating:
Summary: "Ultimate High" is ultimate reading.
Review: Goran Kropp's "Ultimate High" is one of the best Everest books to come along in quite some time. It's not all about mountains or just Everest, it's about people, places, hardships and humility. Kropps sets out on his bicycle from Sweden to the Himalayas to climb Everest unassisted and with without oxygen. Throughout this adventure Kropp fearlessly talks about the climbing elite and some of the "goings on" on Everest. He accomplishes this without being malicious. It's a tell it like it is scenario. This writer learned more about Everest in this short little book than from several others about the subject."Ultimate High" is the ultimate read.
Rating:
Summary: "Ultimate High" is ultimate reading.
Review: Goran Kropp's "Ultimate High" is one of the best Everest books to come along in quite some time. It's not all about mountains or just Everest, it's about people, places, hardships and humility. Kropps sets out on his bicycle from Sweden to the Himalayas to climb Everest unassisted and with without oxygen. Throughout this adventure Kropp fearlessly talks about the climbing elite and some of the "goings on" on Everest. He accomplishes this without being malicious. It's a tell it like it is scenario. This writer learned more about Everest in this short little book than from several others about the subject."Ultimate High" is the ultimate read.
Rating:
Summary: Life is a Grand Adventure
Review: Goran Kropp's and David Lagercrantz's "Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey" is an excellent autobiography of a climber. Kropp wisely chose to tell his story with the help of a professional writer, Lagercrantz. Kropp's book is liberally peppered with fascinating stories that leave one astonished. As with any autobiography, it is only an enjoyable read if you like the author. I found his spirit delightful. A bit more than half the book covers Kropp's own three attempts to summit Everest in the context of the much written about events of May 1996. Kropp adds interesting details to Jon Krakauer's classic account of the 1996 Everest tragedy, "Into Thin Air". Disturbingly, far too much of chapters ten and eleven of "Ultimate High" appear to be borrowed, in places with the almost same wording, from "Into Thin Air". Lagerkrantz acknowledged a debt to Krakauer at the back of the book. Perhaps this is customary in Sweden. Other than this problem of sometimes repeating or paraphrasing Krakauer, "Ultimate High" is a fun read. It would be valuable, if a second edition of this book could be published that includes a biography of Kropp after Everest until the end of his far too short life in 2002.
Rating:
Summary: Life is a Grand Adventure
Review: Goran Kropp's and David Lagercrantz's "Ultimate High: My Everest Odyssey" is an excellent autobiography of a climber. Kropp wisely chose to tell his story with the help of a professional writer, Lagercrantz. Kropp's book is liberally peppered with fascinating stories that leave one astonished. As with any autobiography, it is only an enjoyable read if you like the author. I found his spirit delightful. A bit more than half the book covers Kropp's own three attempts to summit Everest in the context of the much written about events of May 1996. Kropp adds interesting details to Jon Krakauer's classic account of the 1996 Everest tragedy, "Into Thin Air". Disturbingly, far too much of chapters ten and eleven of "Ultimate High" appear to be borrowed, in places with the almost same wording, from "Into Thin Air". Lagerkrantz acknowledged a debt to Krakauer at the back of the book. Perhaps this is customary in Sweden. Other than this problem of sometimes repeating or paraphrasing Krakauer, "Ultimate High" is a fun read. It would be valuable, if a second edition of this book could be published that includes a biography of Kropp after Everest until the end of his far too short life in 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: The story of an extrodianry adventure
Review: Göran Kropp was an extrodinary man. This book describes his crazy one man expedition to Mount Everest. I would have given it five start if it had been as good as the lecture he gave that I once attended. The book could have had more details about the amazing things that happened during his tríp. It is very inspiering and well worth reading though.
Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: I enjoyed reading Kropp's book. It was not a book that you had to consume in one sitting, but one you could put aside for a couple days and then return to. I enjoyed his chatty, straight-talking style, and his taking the time to explain the things he spoke about in a way non-mountaineering people could understand. I knew he had died, but waited to read about his passing until I finished his book. He was an unconventional person who made the most of his moments on this earth.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Achievement but mediocre storytelling
Review: I expected a much more exciting story given this remarkable adventure. There's a lot of rehash on the Everest tragedy which has already been much better covered by "Into Thin Air" and numerous other books. Goran surely has much more to tell about his owh adventure through Europe and Asia and then finally the Everest climb. There is also some spotty editing - maybe the whole book was hastily done.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I had seen this book before but wasn't sure if it was a gripping tale of climbing Everest. And then I met Goran Kropp. I recently attended a lecture and slideshow presented by Goran of his life and his summit of Everest. I had a blast - sure, he is a bit crazy, but he was also funny, intelligent and highly entertaining. And he was not smug or egotistical in the least. He actually seemed quite humble. I had a chance to chat with him afterwards and he was a very friendly guy. Anyway, I bought the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it's true that it didn't go into a lot of detail. But if it did people would complain that it was too long. Yes, he "rehashed" a lot of the details of what happened in 1996 but so much has been made of the deaths that season that it's only natural that he would want to tell his side of the story. I think this is a great book to read if you don't know too much about Everest and climbing yet and just want to read a story about a very determined individual that had a next to impossible goal and accomplished it despite everyone's criticisms. This is not the book to read if you want detailed descriptions of how to climb Everest.
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