A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond

A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond
by Jim Whittaker

A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond
List Price: $26.95
Buy Used: from $0.46 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Buy A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond at Amazon.com
(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Jim Whittaker
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-09
ISBN: 0898865409
Number of pages: 271
Publisher: Mountaineers Books

Book Reviews of A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond

Book Review: A Memorable Memoir
Summary: 5 Stars

We usually cautiously enter a memoir/autobiography work such as this. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a decent writing style, excitingly detailed stories, and a sharing of intimate knowledge.

The many epics in Jim Whittaker's life were outlined with sufficient detail to describe the epic, but not so much that it forced us to skip the remainder. I suspect that few secrets were not revealed about the Whittaker family.

There were numerous color and black and white photos in the hardcover edition to help support the memoir, with a focus on the epic adventures and less on early family life.

We give this work a rare five stars.

Summary of A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond

There have been many "firsts" in Jim Whittaker's life. He was the first North American to summit Mount Everest. As the first manager and employee, and ultimately the CEO, of fledgling Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), he guided the company through years of record-setting growth. He guided Bobby Kennedy up the newly named Mount Kennedy, helping him to become the first person to summit the Canadian peak. He led the historic International Peace Climb, which put climbers from the U.S., Russia, and China on the summit of Everest in the name of world peace.

Jim Whittaker's achievement on Everest and his many successes before and after are the natural outcome of a life driven by a passion for outdoor adventure combined with strong leadership qualities and a commitment to making a difference.

This honest, revealing autobiography features all the major events in Whittaker's life: his formative years spent climbing with his twin brother Lou; the creation of REI and years of work growing the company; his intimate friendship with the Kennedys and the new world into which he was launched after his success on Everest; his major expeditions on K2 and Everest; a business partnership that resulted in bankruptcy; a failed marriage; a new marriage and a new family; and his new challenges beyond the mountains. In A Life on the Edge, readers will discover a true hero-someone who tells his story not to boast or preach but to share his love of the environment and outdoor adventure and to inspire others to seek challenges in their own lives. Featuring a 24-page color photo insert and 50 b&w photos.

General Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Personal Heroes
It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life ImageIt's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life
by Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins
Berkley Trade; Published: 2001-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops: $15.00
The Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition ImageThe Illustrated Brief History of Time, Updated and Expanded Edition
by Stephen William Hawking
Bantam; Published: 1996; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.99
Price in other shops: $40.00
The Theory of Relativity: & Other Essays ImageThe Theory of Relativity: & Other Essays
by Albert Einstein
MJF Books; Published: 1998-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.50
Price in other shops: $5.98
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns ImageBatman: The Dark Knight Returns
by Frank Miller
DC Comics; Published: 1997-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops: $14.99
Ender's Game ImageEnder's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Tor Books; Published: 1986-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.45
Roll Me Over: An Infantryman's World War II ImageRoll Me Over: An Infantryman's World War II
by Raymond Gantter
Presidio Press; Published: 1997-05-28; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.85
Price in other shops: $7.99
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl ImageAnne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Bantam; Published: 1993-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.36
Price in other shops: $5.99
Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography ImageAlexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography
by Peter Green
University of California Press; Published: 1992-10-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops: $22.95
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) ImageSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)
by Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton
W. W. Norton & Company; Published: 1997-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.75
Price in other shops: $15.95
A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond ImageA Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond
by Jim Whittaker
Mountaineers Books; Published: 1999-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops: $26.95
Similar Books and other products
Minus 148 Degrees: The First Winter Ascent of Mount McKinley ImageMinus 148 Degrees: The First Winter Ascent of Mount McKinley
by Art Davidson
Mountaineer Books; Mountaineers Books; Published: 1999-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.24
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Boys of Everest: Chris Bonington and the Tragedy of Climbing's Greatest Generation ImageThe Boys of Everest: Chris Bonington and the Tragedy of Climbing's Greatest Generation
by Clint Willis
Carroll & Graf; Published: 2006-08-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.58
Price in other shops: $27.95
In the Shadow of Denali: Life and Death on Alaska's Mt. McKinley ImageIn the Shadow of Denali: Life and Death on Alaska's Mt. McKinley
by Jonathan Waterman
The Lyons Press; Published: 1998-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops: $14.95
The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest ImageThe Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
by Anatoli Boukreev, G. Weston DeWalt
St. Martin's Paperbacks; Published: 1998-07-15; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: $7.99
The Last Step: The American Ascent of K2 ImageThe Last Step: The American Ascent of K2
by Rick Ridgeway
Mountaineers Books; Published: 1999-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.74
Price in other shops: $21.95
High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places ImageHigh Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places
by David Breashears
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2000-05-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.28
Price in other shops: $16.00
No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks ImageNo Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
by Ed Viesturs, David Roberts
Broadway; Published: 2007-11-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.90
Price in other shops: $14.00
Annapurna ImageAnnapurna
by Maurice Herzog
Herzog; The Lyons Press; Published: 1997-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.75
Price in other shops: $16.95
Addicted to Danger: A Memoir About Affirming Life in the Face of Death ImageAddicted to Danger: A Memoir About Affirming Life in the Face of Death
by Jim Wickwire, Dorothy Bullitt
Atria; Published: 1999-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.20
Price in other shops: $15.00
Lou Whittaker: Memoirs of a Mountain Guide ImageLou Whittaker: Memoirs of a Mountain Guide
by Lou Whittaker, Andrea Gabbard
Mountaineers Books; Published: 1995-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.31
Price in other shops: $18.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories