Lighting Out: A Vision of California and the Mountains

by Daniel Duane

A recent college graduate describes his search for meaning in his life while climbing the mountains of California

Genres: Climbing, Nature

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

Daniel Duane is the author of two novels and four books of non-fiction, including the memoir Caught Inside: A Surfer’s Year on the California Coast. He hosts the Sony Music podcast Reunion: Shark Attacks in Paradise, a co-production of HyperObject Industries and Little Everywhere. Duane has written journalism about everything from politics and food to rock-climbing and social justice, and for publications ranging from The New York Times Magazine to Wired, GQ, Esquire, Outside, and Bon Appetit. Duane won a 2012 National Magazine Award for an article about cooking with Chef Thomas Keller and has twice been a finalist for a James Beard Award. Duane holds a PhD in American Literature from UC Santa Cruz and has taught writing for the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference, University of California Santa Cruz, and the MFA program at San Francisco State University. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, the writer Elizabeth Weil, and their two daughters.

Reviews

[Andrea Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the writer when I read this book, what more can I say.

[Laken Bose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I have read plenty of climbing & mountaineering books and this one stood out as different. I appreciated that this story was about learning, failing, and accepting mistakes (in both life and climbing). There is much about life that climbing parallels and I feel that Duane beautifully portrayed this.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough....

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really appreciatd the author's writing style, but the protagonist's behavior -- as mirroring, shall we assume, the author's? -- was excruciating to observe. I once said the same thing to someone who turned out to be the author's father; fortunately, he agreed with me, and I wasn't as embarrassed as I could have been!

I can't imagine reading his book on repeatedly failing to climb El Cap...

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duane narrates his obsession with climbing the Nose in Yosemite and his strange relationship with a new-age hippie girlfriend. A quick read that gives you a good idea of the physical and mental stress of outdoor climbing.

[Leslye · Rating 3 out of 5]

reminded me of the days i tried confronting my fear of heights and tried climbing.

[shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a light, quick coming of age story, it was ok. I'm not recommending it, but I wouldn't avoid it, either. Especially if the subject matter appeals to you.

[Richard Kravitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, lots of familiar territory and some names I recognize. Surfing and Climbing, doesn't get much better.

[JTM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing storytelling

Daniel Duane has a way with words. Unpretentious and concise, he tells the story of his post college climbing years better than most. Highly recommend the book.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid book by Duane.