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Nothing Venture, Nothing Win
The remarkable life story of one of the greatest adventurers of our century - conqueror of Everest, Antarctic explorer, friend of the Sherpas and tireless traveller. A man of outstanding physical bravery and skill, yet heart-warming modesty. A man whose triumphant achievements will ave a permanent place in the records of human endeavour.
319 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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About the author
Edmund Hillary
94 books44 followersSir Edmund Percival Hillary KG ONZ KBE was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. From 1985 to 1988 he served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and concurrently as Ambassador to Nepal.
Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school. He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II. Prior to the Everest expedition, Hillary had been part of the British reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest.
Following his ascent of Everest, Hillary devoted himself to assisting the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he established. His efforts are credited with the construction of many schools and hospitals in Nepal. Hillary had numerous honours conferred upon him, including the Order of the Garter in 1995. Upon his death in 2008, he was given a state funeral in New Zealand.
Hillary became interested in mountaineering while in secondary school. He made his first major climb in 1939, reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier. He served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a navigator during World War II. Prior to the Everest expedition, Hillary had been part of the British reconnaissance expedition to the mountain in 1951 as well as an unsuccessful attempt to climb Cho Oyu in 1952. As part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He subsequently reached the North Pole, making him the first person to reach both poles and summit Everest.
Following his ascent of Everest, Hillary devoted himself to assisting the Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he established. His efforts are credited with the construction of many schools and hospitals in Nepal. Hillary had numerous honours conferred upon him, including the Order of the Garter in 1995. Upon his death in 2008, he was given a state funeral in New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 23, 2023
This is Sir Ed Hillary's autobiography, written in 1975, (with an updated epilogue in 1988) and written in the typical understated way we come to expect from a very humble man. He is at least moderately gentle on the faults of others (with a few exceptions), yet picks fault in his own thoughts and actions and readily owns up to them.
I enjoyed reading about his early life and time in the NZRAF, spending time in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, mostly training and performing search and rescue unrelated to the war. If I had known he was in the RAF (as a navigator) I had forgotten, but I suspect this was something I was unaware of. It was nice to read about some of the experienced people in mountaineering that Hillary looked up to as well, famous names in the NZ mountaineering scene, but unlikely to be known outside our shores - Harry Ayers and Mick Bowie, for example.
With a chapter to each section of Hillary's life (European Alps; The Himalayas; Prelude to Everest; Top of the World; Aftermath of Everest; etc, although three chapters are dedicated to the Trans-Antarctica Expedition) this book does well to concentrate the story of each of his major achievements, where other books (by Hillary and others) go into greater detail on these individually - a strength in a book looking to summarise.
The writing is largely pretty simple, and perhaps Sir Ed doesn't have the flair for writing an exciting adventure book, but it fits with his personality that he isn't going to overdramatise an event, and for me I engage with his laid back factual approach with simple analysis. He adds anecdotes that are simple but amusing, and doesn't mind a wry dig at someone who he feels deserves it. Fuch's is probably the one who gets the most needling, as their relationship was never very stable. As an example of his wry dig where Fuch's looked to pioneer a new sea route against the advice of the captain, page 229 (my edition):
After Antarctica, the narrative gets a little slower (as, I suppose did life for Sir Ed) and he spent time on lecture tours, minor expeditions and family holidays before finding his next mission of schools, air fields and then a hospital in Nepal. Another trip to Antarctica, then back to Nepal, this time with Hamilton jet boats to jet up several rivers in Nepal! (This turned out to be a trial for his epic jetboats-up-the-Ganges in a future book. Even approaching fifty years of age Hillary was still lining up new ways to keep himself involved in pioneering exploration. He wraps up in his final chapter with a positive outlook for his family and looking to new ways to contribute. If anything this autobiography peters out a bit towards the end after the big events of Hillary's life.
The epilogue however, is added to this edition in 1987, after the event of the plane crash which took Sir Ed's wife Louise and youngest daughter Belinda. And so Hillary explains that he took time to deal with that, and was by this point the New Zealand High Commissioner in India.
There was one quote in the epilogue that i thought was very "Sir Ed".
For those interested in the overall story as a once over, Hillary's autobiography is probably a good read. He has, of course written many other books, specific to his expeditions or undertakings, and I would recommend those to readers who are interested. There are also biographies of Hillary, most recently by his good friend Michael Gill (Edmund Hillary - A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest), who also wrote the very good Himalayan Hospitals.
For me 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I enjoyed reading about his early life and time in the NZRAF, spending time in Fiji and the Solomon Islands, mostly training and performing search and rescue unrelated to the war. If I had known he was in the RAF (as a navigator) I had forgotten, but I suspect this was something I was unaware of. It was nice to read about some of the experienced people in mountaineering that Hillary looked up to as well, famous names in the NZ mountaineering scene, but unlikely to be known outside our shores - Harry Ayers and Mick Bowie, for example.
With a chapter to each section of Hillary's life (European Alps; The Himalayas; Prelude to Everest; Top of the World; Aftermath of Everest; etc, although three chapters are dedicated to the Trans-Antarctica Expedition) this book does well to concentrate the story of each of his major achievements, where other books (by Hillary and others) go into greater detail on these individually - a strength in a book looking to summarise.
The writing is largely pretty simple, and perhaps Sir Ed doesn't have the flair for writing an exciting adventure book, but it fits with his personality that he isn't going to overdramatise an event, and for me I engage with his laid back factual approach with simple analysis. He adds anecdotes that are simple but amusing, and doesn't mind a wry dig at someone who he feels deserves it. Fuch's is probably the one who gets the most needling, as their relationship was never very stable. As an example of his wry dig where Fuch's looked to pioneer a new sea route against the advice of the captain, page 229 (my edition):
During the next two days we weren't successful in moving and inch for the heavy pack had set solidly around us. [...] Our explosive experts set off four small charges around the ship, but there still wasn't any movement. I think we all accepted now that Bunny's route was a failure and all we could hope to do was escape to the north into open water and try the traditional route further east. It didn't help to know the Royal Society's Tottan which was also establishing a base in the Weddell Sea had found open water and easy going along the coast [...] It must have been a tough time for Bunny - I couldn't help admiring his stubborn refusal to admit any loss of confidence or to show the slightest sign of weaknessOuch!
After Antarctica, the narrative gets a little slower (as, I suppose did life for Sir Ed) and he spent time on lecture tours, minor expeditions and family holidays before finding his next mission of schools, air fields and then a hospital in Nepal. Another trip to Antarctica, then back to Nepal, this time with Hamilton jet boats to jet up several rivers in Nepal! (This turned out to be a trial for his epic jetboats-up-the-Ganges in a future book. Even approaching fifty years of age Hillary was still lining up new ways to keep himself involved in pioneering exploration. He wraps up in his final chapter with a positive outlook for his family and looking to new ways to contribute. If anything this autobiography peters out a bit towards the end after the big events of Hillary's life.
The epilogue however, is added to this edition in 1987, after the event of the plane crash which took Sir Ed's wife Louise and youngest daughter Belinda. And so Hillary explains that he took time to deal with that, and was by this point the New Zealand High Commissioner in India.
There was one quote in the epilogue that i thought was very "Sir Ed".
The media had created a heroic figure 'Sir Edmund Hillary - the great Explorer and Humanitarian' and nothing I could do seemed to be able to stop it. I tried to present a more accurate picture of myself as an enthusiastic individual with modest abilities. Indeed I sometimes felt embarrassed at the prestige I seemed to be accumulating...And that, of course, is the reason he was held in that prestige.
For those interested in the overall story as a once over, Hillary's autobiography is probably a good read. He has, of course written many other books, specific to his expeditions or undertakings, and I would recommend those to readers who are interested. There are also biographies of Hillary, most recently by his good friend Michael Gill (Edmund Hillary - A Biography: The extraordinary life of the beekeeper who climbed Everest), who also wrote the very good Himalayan Hospitals.
For me 3.5 stars, rounded up.
February 26, 2009
A most enjoyable book - I had no idea that Sir Edmund was just a regular guy who liked tramping around mountains, became quite experienced, and was invited to the Everest expedition. He was quite the adventurer, even on family vacations, and seemed like a really good person, too.
He describes some of the most amazing close calls in such a matter of fact way - comes across as very down to earth.
He describes some of the most amazing close calls in such a matter of fact way - comes across as very down to earth.
Read
December 27, 2023Started this one in the NZAC Ruapehu hut (highly fitting!). Great read despite the sometimes dull Antartica passages.
March 21, 2025
Started reading this in New Zealand whilst doing lots of hiking and ended up buying the book and finishing it at home in Dorset! Really good autobiography and the first one I have ever read. I learnt a lot more about Hillary and now think he is even more amazing!
January 30, 2016
"If my life finished tomorrow I would have little cause for complaint - I have gathered a few successes , a handful of honours and more love and laughter than I probably deserve."
Over 300 pages of pure adventure penned by the humble bee farmer Sir Edmund Hillary. His autobiography follows his life through hardships growing up, the military, near-death experiences, a heavy dose of mountaineering, and current throughout is the great drive of adventure. He tells tales of such magnificent feats in the humblest and most matter-of-fact way which makes them seem all the wilder for it! It's such an apt book for the 'common man' as Hillary himself was a bee farmer who simply loved rambling, then hiking, then mountaineering, and eventually got invited on some pretty spectacular expeditions - Everest, the Antarctic.
A profound thought on nature's purest sights... "There are plenty of tamed wonders for all to goggle at through vehicle windows - we must also retain our wilderness areas where nature can develop in its own calm way and where only those humans who are prepared to walk and sweat a little qualify to go."
Over 300 pages of pure adventure penned by the humble bee farmer Sir Edmund Hillary. His autobiography follows his life through hardships growing up, the military, near-death experiences, a heavy dose of mountaineering, and current throughout is the great drive of adventure. He tells tales of such magnificent feats in the humblest and most matter-of-fact way which makes them seem all the wilder for it! It's such an apt book for the 'common man' as Hillary himself was a bee farmer who simply loved rambling, then hiking, then mountaineering, and eventually got invited on some pretty spectacular expeditions - Everest, the Antarctic.
A profound thought on nature's purest sights... "There are plenty of tamed wonders for all to goggle at through vehicle windows - we must also retain our wilderness areas where nature can develop in its own calm way and where only those humans who are prepared to walk and sweat a little qualify to go."
January 18, 2018
Ed Hillary has become another person with attributes I desire to emulate in my life. He loves his family. He loves an adventure. And he cares deeply about helping and serving the less fortunate.
I’m sure their have been other explorers on earth since then, but after reading this I consider him to be the last of the great explorers of yesteryear. He is up there with Shackleton, Lewis and Clark, and other great explorers that have come before.
As a civil engineer I was able to relate to him and his experience having to count pile blows and working with a crew that did not have the same standards/work ethic.
I loved the little tidbits of wisdom he would interject while telling his life story. I felt like he made his story telling more personal in that way.
I loved this book and if you get the chance I would highly recommend it.
I’m sure their have been other explorers on earth since then, but after reading this I consider him to be the last of the great explorers of yesteryear. He is up there with Shackleton, Lewis and Clark, and other great explorers that have come before.
As a civil engineer I was able to relate to him and his experience having to count pile blows and working with a crew that did not have the same standards/work ethic.
I loved the little tidbits of wisdom he would interject while telling his life story. I felt like he made his story telling more personal in that way.
I loved this book and if you get the chance I would highly recommend it.
October 3, 2025
It’s a 5 Star story but unfortunately, a 2 Star book. Took forever to read, it’s not very well written and is mostly boring except for the 3 chapters about Mt Everest. Still a big fan of Sir Edmund and all his accomplishments and philanthropic activities but may need to find another book on the subject.
April 16, 2018
Although I really enjoyed all of it, I found the last few chapters, about his family travels and philanthropic ventures, and his personal outlook on life, very endearing. “A good and decent man,” as Ted Kennedy once said about Bobby. I can’t think of a better summary of Edmund Hilary.
January 25, 2021
Classic from Sir Edmund Hillary, first to conquer Mt Everest. He is precise writer and does not over-emotionalize hard things.
December 3, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book, not for the writing (which wasn't really very good) but for the story (which was excellent). Some o the stories were a little disjointed but the author can hardly be blamed for not remembering every single detail of an expedition. Sometimes funny things stick in your mind and need to be shared, I suppose.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a love of mountaineering or arctic exploration.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a love of mountaineering or arctic exploration.
November 21, 2013
I expected this to be more about his Everest climb in 1953, but that was relatively a small part of the book. But reading about his life before and after that feat was interesting. I didn't find this an incredibly easy or gripping book to read. And it was written long before he died, so it excludes about half his life.
December 1, 2013
This book is a great story of Sir Edmund Hillary's life of adventure from it's humble beginnings to about halfway through his life. I enjoyed it immensely, especially his voice and personality and he wrote of his adventures. He writes with modesty and gives credit where it is due. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tales of adventure and exploration.
September 16, 2007
Originally read this in 1975 and re read it in 1990. It is a witness to perseverence. The probability of failure was emense.
December 27, 2007
Very interesting autobiography of Sir Edmund Hillary, first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest peak on earth. Had personal interest to me because it is where my name comes from.
April 3, 2008
Made me appreciate his humility and his faith that all things are possible, even if they seem unlikely.
January 4, 2009
an amazing life...
December 1, 2009
Possibly some of the worst writing ever, but that's not the point.
July 5, 2010
A book which goes beyond simply mountaineering. A great simile to life's struggles
February 11, 2012
Sir Edmund Hillary has always been one of my hereos so I am slightly biased but love everything he has written. A great memoir about his life up to 1976.
May 26, 2014
Life and times of Sir Edmund Hillary. Excellent read. One of the best autobiographies I have read.
Read
August 18, 2016Hero. Need to get my hands on a more modern biography.
November 18, 2017
Sehr interessant zu lesen. Besonders beeindruckend, wie er seine Erfolge und Exkursionen einordnet und was für ihn wichtig ist im Leben!
January 6, 2013
Pretty inspirational- very matter of fact- obviously a very humble great man
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews