I read a lot of outdoor books, most notably by Jon Krakauer and Ed Viesturs. Expeditions to the mountains, the success and the failures, have always fascinated me and kept certain dreams alive, and provided material for writing. What I find lacking to a degree, is the more personal inner struggle, and the spiritual awakening that can arise from the human seeking a higher place next to nature, the being pushed to limits where we become our true self.
I see this in great detail and depth in the books by Reinhold Messner. His book “The Crystal Horizon” is about the first solo ascent of Mount Everest in 1980 and is steeped with raw emotion, the body and mind punished, and the spirit set free.
Other books I am currently reading by Mr. Messner:
- My Life at the Limit
- The Naked Mountain
- All Fourteen 8,000ers
2 responses to “Current Reading List”
Hi William,I was asked to have work published in an anthology for this fall by the Chanhassen writer’s group. If this gets accomplished I will let you know.They will ask for essays, poetry. Short memoirs. am not officially a member.There is also a writer’s fair on April 11 at the Chanhassen Library. I have read haiku poetry for a video for the Chaska Herald online edition with other poets. April is poetry month/…………………………………………………There is no greater struggle than putting your life on the line such as climbing a difficult mountain. It is even more of a struggle when one doesn’t plan on putting one’s life on the line and one actually has to do so. Kristin
Congratulations on your upcoming publication. That is the true test of one’s strength, character, and belief.