2% climbing 98% morose love story

If your looking for a story of epic climbing and can stomach endless padding with a morose love story then this might be your book. If what your really after is a story about a naive twenty year old babbling on about how wonderful his current girlfriend is, how amazing his life is, how God and children will make life so amazing then this will be right up your street. Repleat with fist pumping, self congratulatory cliches and naive contradictory messages on happiness and life this book is like wading through treacle. In a word 'vomitous'... stick to climbing tommy, all you've achieved here is to paint a picture of a young man with a poor sense of self clinging to rock and American cliches as the only path to happiness...

11 people found this helpful

The Push by Tommy Caldwell

A tremendous book. I enjoy climbing and mountaineering books but this one is special. The thrill of being out on a climb shines through but there is an honesty about self-doubt which few athletes will talk about. The complexity of human relationships is woven in bringing moments of great joy and also great sadness, feelings mirrored on his climbs. Like all examples of expertise it is clear that Tommy wasn't born and climber but became one, through the now familiar mix of expert coaching, a supportive environment and huge self-belief, commitment and resilience. The narrator also does a great job and is easy to listen too.

3 people found this helpful

Great adventure yarn.

Im not a climber, I’ve only dabbled on an indoor wall. The only reason I say this is that climbing knowledge isn’t necessary to appreciate the candour, spirit, drive and honesty so wonderfully told throughout the story. It’s tough to imagine some of the descriptions at times….so, just pop yourself on YouTube and watch some action. When you go back to the story, it’ll all start to add up! A wonderful 12 or so hours to be accompanied by. Thanks 😊👍

1 person found this helpful

Very enjoyable a good mixture of everything

A good mixture of everything really enjoyed it lots of climbing motivation and family/love a solid read

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant

This book is simply excellent. Part autobiography part tale of a climber's greatest achievement. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of adventure, the outdoors, climbing of life in general.

1 person found this helpful

Superb listen

I enjoyed everything about this book. The reader was easy to listen to and Tommy’s story is captivating throughout.

Heading required

First half was dramatic and gripping, 2nd half is more about the technicalities of rock climbing, but still an overall very good story and well narrated.

Must read for every climber

The story is extremely interesting and I definitely recommend the book for anyone who's into climbing. Even after watching the movie, the book gives much more.. It's just written in a bit too poetic way for my preference.

Inspiring and heartwarming

It made ma cry both happy and sad tears and hide my face behind my hands when describing the difficulties of this incredible climb.

Decent book

This is a mostly excellent book, but is marred by the weird fixation on his ex wife Beth Rodden. This period in his life was understandably a major factor in what was to follow, but T.C spends way to much time going over the relationship with a fine tooth comb. It drags this book down from a 5 to a 3 in my opinion. Performance wise, this is a 5, absolutely perfect narration.