The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest

by Bear Grylls

A British Army officer chronicles his ascent of Everest at the tender age of twenty-three after recovering from a broken back just a few years earlier.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Biography, Memoir, Travel, Mountaineering, Survival

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Bear Grylls has become known around the world as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. His journey to this acclaim started in the UK on the Isle of Wight, where his late father taught him to climb and sail. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, serving with 21 SAS. It was here that he perfected many of the skills that his fans all over the world enjoy watching him pit against mother-nature. Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places, and after enduring months in military rehabilitation, Bear went on to become one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Bear went on to star in Discovery Channel's Emmy nominated Man Vs Wild and Born Survivor TV series, which has become one of the most watched shows on the planet. Off screen, Bear has lead record-breaking expeditions, from Antarctica to the Arctic, which in turn have raised over £2.5million for children around the world. In recognition of his expertise and service, Bear was appointed as the youngest ever Chief Scout to 28 million Scouts worldwide, awarded an honorary commission as a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy, and has authored 10 books, including To My Sons.

Reviews

[Cami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this knowing it was written not by a writer but by a man trying to tell his story, I really enjoyed it. There were lots of typos and several boring parts but it is a travel log so those were somewhat expected. I had a small idea of what climbing a mountain entailed but was struck by all the preparations, waiting, and climbing up then back down it takes to acclimate to those remarkable heights. I enjoyed Bear's insights and sense of humor that he's now famous for on Man vs. Wild. I drew several parallels between his journey and our personal struggles to climb through life. He had to be respectful of the mountain and was continually humbled by its control over the situation.

I have no desire to climb Everest but have a new respect for those that attempt it. This is the ultimate story of facing your fears--their catchphrase was "Just let fear be your guide."

I love that he prays and thanks the Lord for protecting him. He had faith long before beginning this journey and carried scripture verses with him on the trip.

This book would have gotten 5 stars if it had come with his British accent.

[Claxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My good friend Payton B. loaned me this book. It is not really my type of adventure writing -- a page-turner fueled mostly by action, not so much by the "why's" or philosophical/ecological takeaways of the journey -- but the last fifty pages or so made it all worthwhile. Obviously, he climbs Everest and lives to tell the tale.

Toward the end, Bear tells us what sort of person it takes to be a mountaineer: "truthful, distinguished and modest" with "faith in themselves, great determination and endurance." I finished the book within hours of a chat with Payton's mother about him preparing to set out on his own great adventure, and thought a lot about these words, how Payton embodies these virtues, much more than I did at his age, much more than I do still today, and how thankful I am that my three little adventurers have Payton to look up to. Heck, I look up to him too. Thanks for loaning me the book, young man, and for inspiring us all to run our own race, to enjoy the journey, to be good to one another along the way. Can't wait to see what mountains you climb.

[RJ Eszura RJ Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read from Bear's POV on his journey to the summit... like he said you don't conquer Everest,
She lets you stay alive and pass thru her.. loved this book!

[Troy Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible story and a good read if you want to hear about why you should never try and hike Everest. Leave it to the professionals.

[Jeff Mikules · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger, in my late teens and early twenties, I never really believed I would climb Everest, but the idea, the fantasy, was certainly there. I imagined being among the elite few, the only one in my social group to do something so amazing. As I grew older, the optimism and dreams of youth faded, and what might have once been a burning desire, an unwavering determination, cooled to barely a flicker, a sad remnant of a larger flame. I soon realized that I would never be able to afford such an adventure. The staggering amount of prep, conditioning, courage, and determination needed to undertake such a venture are no longer within my reach - at least not as I sit here, typing a book review from the warmth and comfort of my living room. That, and my increasing aversion to the cold, do not bode well.
At the moment, I must live vicariously, taking part in such exploits through the stories of others. I've viewed many episodes of Man vs. Wild, and thourougly enjoyed watching Bear teach survival (and of course, entertain). I can't remember where I saw or heard that he had a book about his summit of Mt. Everest, but when I saw it on the shelf at a local used book store, I quickly snagged it up, using the remainder of my store credit. The book, as so many others, sat on my shelf for a few years. After watching Bear's newest show, Running Wild, I finally decided to dive in, thirsty for an adventurous true story. I found The Kid Who Climbed Everest a great read. Bear, as so many sarcastic and pretentious others have pointed out, is not a "writer". He doesn't fill his prose with metaphor and allegory, he doesn't approach his account with "beautifully crafted sentences" and fancy word choices, and he does't pretend to be something he is not. What Bear does is tell his story. I'm honestly not sure why so many reviews I cruised feel the need to harp on the editing and structure so much. It's as if they're personally offended somehow, or want the world to know just how "learned" and "intelligent" they are by nit-picking every little thing, instead of simply trying to enjoy what is there.
That's not to say there aren't a few issues here and there, or that in the hands of a more seasoned and talented writer the story could have been told "better", but those aren't the things I cared about. What I cared about, and really enjoyed, was Bear's honest storytelling. He takes us from the beginnings of his journey, which include his parachuting accident, recovery, finding sponsors, preparing, flying to Nepal, and making his way to base camp, to his ultimate summit, decent, and homecoming. Throughout the book I learned of the perils of climbing, the fascinating logistics involved in every facet of such an endeavor, and many of the down-and-dirty truths others might have glossed over for the sake of sparing the readers certain mental images. Bear isn't afraid to lay bare his thoughts, anxieties, and perceptions, or to express his faith and how important it is to him. I also beleive he did a great job of conveying the uncomfortable struggles faced on the mountain, as well as the experiences and feelings of those he was with. It was easy to imagine myself on the mountain with him. If nothing else, his story showed me exactly how much I would have to give of myself if I ever one day decided to actually pursue my own long forgotten dream of summiting the highest peak on earth.
I do wish there were more pictures for specific parts of the book. After a short reading session, I often found myself web searching, wanting to see what this amazing icefall or treachorous route actually looked like. I was certainly able to imagine them, but I longed to see if the actual sights matched what my mind had conjured. Not being a climber, I also had to pause every so often to look up a word for the exact definition, pronunciation, or even visual representation, but that's par for the course. I enjoy reading about something, and then researching deeper to gain a better understanding. And if I truly wanted a book with citations and notes and so on, I'm sure there are countless others that dive further into the intricacies of the vernacular and satisfy the need for a more "educational" experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and it did stoke that dwindling flame inside me. Though my dreams of actually summiting Everest are still buried deep, I think it might be enough for me to at least one day make it to Base Camp. I very much want to see some of these fantastic sights with my own two eyes, even if the dangers of going beyond keep my feet firmly off the ice.

Happy Reading!
JAM

[Tom Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot...and, generally, when I finish one book I turn right around and start a new one. But, every once in a while, I read a book that I enjoy so much I feel I have to take a short break from reading. For me, this is one of those books that other books cannot live up to and, so, I am just reluctant to start anything new because I know I will just be disappointed.

I am a sucker for non-fiction - true stories of people who did something extraordinary. This book is not classic literature - it is not necessarily "brilliantly" written - however, it is extremely compelling. Bear is, actually, quite an amazing storyteller. I was sucked into the story...I could visualize what was happening. I was disappointed when the team was disappointed, scared when the team was scared, and joyful when the team was joyful.

I consider "The Kid Who Climbed Everest" to be one of my favorite books.

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, he puts you right there with him. It was also slightly religious, in a not so in-your-face kind of way. I really enjoyed it.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I had no idea what it took to climb Mt. Everest. So thanks to Mr. Grylls I can honestly say I will cancel all plans to hike that Monstrous Mountain, yep, won't ever even think about it now.
Those that do are just crazy, crazy I tell you. Yeah, I knew about needing oxygen, the last part and how Sherpas help carry the load, what I didn't know was they hike up to a camp, hang out in the freezing cold tent for a few days, hike down, yep you read that right, they go down before they go up again, so up and down, up and down all the time, freezing, starving and being dehydrated, let alone the boredom and scariness of making a wrong climb or bad weather. Thousands have died attempting this and this young buck succeeded. His story is amazing, what an incredible athlete.
I wish there were more pictures is all

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear Grylls was just 23 when he summitted Mount Everest.  He showed incredible climbing skills as he spent over 70 days on Everest's southeast face with
extreme weather conditions, sleep deprivation, and extreme dehydration.  He is a great storyteller describing his trek with diary entries and vivid detail of the harrowing effort it takes to achieve the hike.  He accomplished a remarkable feat after recovering from a broken back after a parachute accident while serving in the British army 18 months prior.  Bear honestly describes his fears and faith that helped him achieve his dream. "My experiences on Everest are now just memories; they may fade, but they will never leave me...Everest allowed us to reach her summit by the skin of our teeth, and let us go with our lives where others died...Everest never has been nor ever will be conquered."

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading books about Mt. Everest expeditions. And I love Bear Grylls from watching all his TV shows. This book hit the mark on many places, and its low points are really only with the writing - not the storytelling. Grammatical and spelling errors minimally detract from the story, which was engaging, especially since it was told by the person who actually did the climbing! Bear explains some areas that I have never seen in other books (if you ever wonder where climbers go to the bathroom and what happens afterward, you'll get some answers in this book!) His personal journey was told simply and with heart and it was a good read.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son checked this out from the library. I picked it up to thumb through a few pages and after a few days ended up finishing it. As an avid hiker and mediocre rock climber, it was a fascinating glimpse into what it takes to climb Everest (which, for the record, especially after reading this I have no desire to do).

[Gajjar Shivam · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the name of the book, I definitely got the hope that this would definitely an interesting and adventurous book. And yes this book opened up one dream for me to at least climb the mount Everest once in life, though will it be costly, difficult with so much adventure and new experiences that I would definitely like to have.

[John R Mattingly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best telling of reality of climbing Everest

This was a great read, telling what it's really like to climb Everest! Pulls no punches about the good and bad aspects about what it takes including luck to reach the summit. And how much the weather plays in reaching that goal!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several books about Everest expeditions but have learned more about the realities of it in reading this one! Did not know that Grylls is also a writer - and a very good one! Very candid, honest and a real pleasure to read.

[Rakshith Kunchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read so far. For years to come, I'm sure this book will shape my life; atleast I wish so. I suggest everyone to read this book; I guarantee that everyone will have something to pick up from his book.

[Conan Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the book a lot. I’ve always been a fan of Bear Grylls anyway, so to imagine his voice as I was reading was fun. His description of the mountain and his experiences as he climbed, put me on the mountain with him. Good narrative, and good story.I would like to read more from him.

[Michael Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Books about Everest are a guilty pleasure. What makes Bear’s account different is that he shares his daily experience during his three months on the mountain. If you love Into Thin Air, I highly encourage this as your next Everest read.

[Debbie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea the difficulty of climbing Everest. An amazing adventure!

[JTrav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising intelligently written, Bear tells a chronological tale of his training and success of climbing Mt Everest. Does not read like the writing of a reality tv personality.

[Sarah Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such great writing. I couldn't put this book down.

[Edwin B Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me want to climb Everest!

[Fayette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is as close as I'll ever get to climbing Everest, and that's OK with me! I've read other books about Everest but this was an especially well done first hand account of what it is like.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm writing this review a year and half late. Honestly can't remember much about the book. Bear Grylls is cool though so three stars.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of my favorite topics - Bear Grylls and Mt. Everest.

[Susan]

Loved this adventure book. Just the straight story telling of anyone climbing Everest is exciting. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Eitan Tuchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noice

[Chris Desirey · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Bear is not going to win any literary awards for this book he can tell a captivating store. Tough to put down.

[Jessica Woo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot and enjoyed it more than I thought I would! He is very inspiring!

[Chelsea Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gets five stars not for the writing, but because I just adore him. Quality human being, and it shows in his experiences on the mountain.

[Nainika Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

....wow. Just wow. I literally can't love Bear Grylls even more than I already do.