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Summary: Praise for THE LOST EXPLORER
Review: "The disappearance of Mallory is one of the most compelling mysteries in the history of exploration, and no book penetrates the enigma more convincingly than THE LOST EXPLORER. It also happens to be an utterly riveting, immensely enjoyable read."--Jon Krakauer, author of INTO THIN AIR and INTO THE WILD "An enigma for 75 years, George Leigh Mallory comes alive through the very separate personal connections of Conrad Anker and David Roberts, great mountaineers in their own right who weave a spellbinding tale." --Galen Rowell, photographer, writer, and mountaineer "If you want to know what drives an explorer to probe the unknown, if you want to know why we are like no other creature on this planet, then read THE LOST EXPLORER to catch a glimpse of the human spirit that lives within us all." --Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D, President, Institute for Exploration
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Summary: Fascinating High Altitude Tale
Review: Anker's account of the discovery of Mallory's remains and the search team's subsequent activities on Everest are fascinating. The story-telling is a bit disjointed, I'd have rather seen Mallory's bio, then the expedition account, however I sense no egotism here beyond that which is merited by achievements, and no axes being ground. Anker's opinion is based on experience. A very good read.
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Summary: I belive in his theory! Excellent coverage!
Review: Anker's opinion on the M/E Team was very well noted in TLE and I found this an excellent read. In fact, I was overjoyed that ONE TEAM can participate on the same expedition and have TWO different opinions on what happened in 1924! Since, I will never set foot on this mountain, I need both trains of thought to guide me to my own opinion of what could've happened. I'd say read both The Lost Explorer and The Ghosts of Everest!
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Summary: Last 60 pages are a great read. . .
Review: David Robert's depiction of the last days of the 1924 Everest expedition based on his research, Conrad Anker's candid recounting of his and Dave Hahn's successful summit attempt and perilous descent, and Anker's educated guess as to what actually may have happened to Mallory and Irvine: couldn't put it down! Less enthralling, however, from earlier in the book: quotes from men who knew Mallory in his university days who seem to have had a more-than-platonic admiration of him. Thankfully, the book is more about Mallory's passion for climbing Everest than the passion other men had for him!
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Summary: Tiresome adventure
Review: Gave perfect comparison-contrast of '20's climning to 90's climbing. This book was not the most riveting adventure tale but enjoyable to say the least. To say that Anker, coauthor of the book along with David Roberts who has also teamed up with Krakauer, was vain in this book is a bit harsh. Anker accounts for the find of Mallory and his personal climb to the top of the world. Roberts condenses the info on Mallory into pure-meat information.
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Summary: Mallory's Legend Preserved
Review: I became interested in finding out more about George Mallory after watching a television documentary describing the discovery of his body in May,1999. When I learned that one of the climbers on that expedition had co-authored a book describing the historical find I knew I wanted to read it. By reading it, a lot can be learned about climbing, even by a "grounded" reader like myself. Being a non-climber, I really wasn't aware of the mystique and high regard in which Mallory is held within the community of men and women who challenge themselves to the extremes of mental, emotional and physical endurance by pitting themselves against the unforgiving mountains "because they are there". The book provides extensive insight into the psyche of Mallory and Conrad Anker, the man who found his body. The talent to climb, the courage to confront the ultimate challenges and the respect and awe held for the mountains, especially Everest, seem to be shared by both. In my estimation the book accomplished what it set out to do. Most importantly, it preserved Mallory's legend. He was treated with reverance and his feats and accomplishments become more mind boggling when you consider the technological limitations with which he worked. It helped provide insight into why people climb mountains. Mountaineering taps into the competitive nature of man; Everest is seen as an opponent that needs to be conquered. It is the proving ground that measures a person's mettle and stimulates the instinct for self survival. The book spends time desribing Andrew Irvine, incredible in his own right, and sheds light on why he was chosen as Mallory's partner for that fateful climb. The book also addresses the question on most readers' minds, "Did Mallory summit?". Anker followed in Mallory's footsteps and attempted to duplicate the climb. That helped him theorize that Mallory did not make it to the top. He explains clearly why he reached that conclusion and identifies several points that justify his conclusion. He even hypothesizes how Mallory and Irvine died and where Irvine's body might be located. Finally, this illuminating book offers several anecdotes that both entertain and educate about the most dangerous and exhilirating sport known to man.
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Summary: little too much ego here
Review: I bought the book, and read it cover to cover, as all Everest fans must. I respect Conrad Anker's abilities, but consider him lacking as an author. While his desriptions of the technical aspects of the climb were mostly fascinating, his routine "shots" at the "lesser" members of the team (which includes everyone else) leaves a bad taste. David Roberts related a lot of the interesting prior history surrounding George Mallory's quest for Everest, and that was appropriate, but he spends too much time in his adulation of Conrad, and in his own quest to implant literary anachronisms into the book, to get my vote. For my money, I'd rather read a few paragraphs written by Dave Hahn regarding the price of tacos in Taos, than to read anything written by these two fellows.
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Summary: I've read most of the Everest Books and this is the Best!
Review: I have read most of the books written on the subject and I loved this one the best. While many of the other books dwell on the 96 disaster, this book truely discribes the effort and danger of climbing Everest, both yesteryear and today. I especially enjoyed learning more about Mallory. I am not a climber, nor ever will be, But I love this Everest stuff! Thanks Conrad!
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Summary: Ego trips to Everest
Review: I read this book after getting interested in Everest by reading Jon Krakauer's excellent tale "Into Thin Air". This book explores the search and subsequent find of George Mallory who disappeared on Everest in 1924. The book is told from two perspectives: Conrad Anker's who was the climber that found Mallory's body, and David Roberts who gives historical background on Mallory and his expedition. I was most impressed by Roberts' descriptions of Mallory and the information he provides on the man and his trips to Everest. The comparisons between the folks of Mallory's time and the self-aggrandizing climbers of today's generation was especially interesting. I found Anker's descriptions of his trip to be very egocentric and off-putting when compared to Mallory and his quest for exploration. A telling example was Anker's recount of the rescue they performed for a Ukrainian team caught in a storm. This coupled with the photos they took of Mallory's body for what seems to me to be pure sensationalism only confirmed my lack of respect for these Everest glory hounds of today. All in all I enjoyed the historical accounts of Mallory by Roberts but could have done without Anker's ego trips.
Rating:
Summary: Ego trips to Everest
Review: I read this book after getting interested in Everest by reading Jon Krakauer's excellent tale "Into Thin Air". This book explores the search and subsequent find of George Mallory who disappeared on Everest in 1924. The book is told from two perspectives: Conrad Anker's who was the climber that found Mallory's body, and David Roberts who gives historical background on Mallory and his expedition. I was most impressed by Roberts' descriptions of Mallory and the information he provides on the man and his trips to Everest. The comparisons between the folks of Mallory's time and the self-aggrandizing climbers of today's generation was especially interesting. I found Anker's descriptions of his trip to be very egocentric and off-putting when compared to Mallory and his quest for exploration. A telling example was Anker's recount of the rescue they performed for a Ukrainian team caught in a storm. This coupled with the photos they took of Mallory's body for what seems to me to be pure sensationalism only confirmed my lack of respect for these Everest glory hounds of today. All in all I enjoyed the historical accounts of Mallory by Roberts but could have done without Anker's ego trips.
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