No Shortcuts to the Top
Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
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No Shortcuts to the Top
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Narrated by:
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Stephen Hoye
About this listen
For 18 years, Ed Viesturs pursued climbing's holy grail: to stand atop the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.
A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto: "Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory." It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers, as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.
No Shortcuts to the Top is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and the beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.
©2006 Ed Viesturs and David Roberts (P)2006 Books on TapeCritic Reviews
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 2007
What listeners say about No Shortcuts to the Top
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paul
- 06-01-2017
A great story
Would you consider the audio edition of No Shortcuts to the Top to be better than the print version?
Never read the printed version
Who was your favorite character and why?
Ed Viesturs is the hero , his triumph over all the adversities makes the book a great story about human endeavour
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Annapoura summit he finally get to the top YAYYY!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I am training for Everest and go on very long walks so i completed the book it in 2 walks
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Skye
- 05-08-2024
Absolutely Fascinating
I loved this book. Such an insightful look at Ed Viesturs life and his climbing achievements. Really enjoyed all of the detail of his climbs and the unique challenges of each 8000 metre peak.
it was also interesting to hear about his life in general and it gave a more full picture of his life and climbing.
I feel the narrator was a bad pick - it didn't suit Ed at all and I feel had a negative impact. I forced myself to ignore it because I was enjoying the book so much but I found myself constantly wishing it had been read by someone else!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher Strange
- 23-10-2018
Must Read (listen)
This book had me hooked from the first page! What a story and want an achievement.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lloyd
- 24-04-2018
Loved it
I've been reading mountaineering books for a couple years and this was right up there the best I've read. I love Eds point of view and insights into his own climbs and that of others and also loved that it wasn't just about one mountain but a variety of the 8000m peaks. Some good history on first ascents, etc as well. I spent a couple hours trying to find a book I wanted and am definitely glad I picked this one. I will definitely be reading/listening to some of his other books!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-12-2018
Addictive!
The preview hooked me and the book didn't disappoint! Mountain adventure from start to finish. Well done Ed.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Aaron
- 20-08-2016
professional mountaineer. professional book
story of exceptional mountaineering. both on the mountains and big picture. quite polished writing however.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- warick
- 30-08-2016
Entertaining, inspiring and a raw account of an amazing achievement.
Everyone should listen to this. Ed proves that you don't need to be reckless to be incredible.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Graham
- 14-04-2016
i really enjoyed it!
A great book for climbers or anyone wanting some inspiration. A great book about a really amazing sounding guy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MrGerard
- 19-07-2023
Epic life story
Great read. Very interesting. Hard to stop listening. I’d love to meet him. A+ book
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-09-2020
His greatest love is himself.
Given his experiences, this should have been a wonderful read. However Viesturs’ interest in promoting his omniscience and perfection is grating. According to him he sees every error before it happens. No one else is as wise as he. And as for his comments on the late Chantal Mauduit - she summits, but the focus is her ‘tits’ and him being the one she chose to sleep with - intimate information she may have wished to stay private.
Unfortunately the very ‘corny’ narration style does not help at all.
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