Review of The Altitude Journals
Posted: 25 Apr 2022, 07:10
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
The Altitude Journals is a gripping narrative by David J Mauro, one of the only mountain climbers in the world to have completed The Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. This isn’t just a book about climbing. It’s also a very personal story for Mauro, as he deftly weaves his emotional challenges into his account of his climbing experiences.
Mauro begins to climb when his marriage ends. At age forty-four, with a successful financial planning career, two sons, and a soon-to-be ex-wife, he finds himself accepting an invitation to climb Denali. His brother-in-law was filming a documentary on the expedition and wanted Mauro to join him as a novice. I was inspired by Mauro’s willingness to accept this daunting invitation, particularly at a difficult time when most people would simply lay low and nurse their wounds.
There were many aspects of The Altitude Journals that I loved. It was fascinating to read about what it was like to conquer each summit and Mauro does an excellent job describing what each adventure entailed. The preparation, the physical discomforts, the climbing team dynamics, and the emotions he faced were all integral to the story. I also enjoyed how Mauro leveraged his background in improv comedy and his sense of humor to poke fun at himself at times. I was laughing out loud before I even made it through Chapter One.
I appreciated Mauro’s honesty and courage in sharing his emotional state in the book. I felt that he demonstrated bravery in recounting the personal challenges he faced, from being abandoned by his father as a child, to going through a painful divorce while raising two sons, to trying to be open to love again. He was able to integrate these challenges into the book in an insightful and uplifting way, showing us that we can use our challenges as fuel for accomplishing something spectacular as well.
I loved every aspect of The Altitude Journals and there was no part that I didn’t like. The story was outstanding, and it was also exceptionally well-edited. For these reasons, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I only hope that Mauro continues to go on epic adventures and to write about them, as I am anxiously awaiting more from this gifted author.
This book is for any adult who enjoys reading about adventure and overcoming physical or emotional challenges. Whether you’re looking for adventure, inspiration, or both, you will find them in this story. I highly recommend The Altitude Journals for those who want to create a big vision for their life.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Altitude Journals is a gripping narrative by David J Mauro, one of the only mountain climbers in the world to have completed The Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. This isn’t just a book about climbing. It’s also a very personal story for Mauro, as he deftly weaves his emotional challenges into his account of his climbing experiences.
Mauro begins to climb when his marriage ends. At age forty-four, with a successful financial planning career, two sons, and a soon-to-be ex-wife, he finds himself accepting an invitation to climb Denali. His brother-in-law was filming a documentary on the expedition and wanted Mauro to join him as a novice. I was inspired by Mauro’s willingness to accept this daunting invitation, particularly at a difficult time when most people would simply lay low and nurse their wounds.
There were many aspects of The Altitude Journals that I loved. It was fascinating to read about what it was like to conquer each summit and Mauro does an excellent job describing what each adventure entailed. The preparation, the physical discomforts, the climbing team dynamics, and the emotions he faced were all integral to the story. I also enjoyed how Mauro leveraged his background in improv comedy and his sense of humor to poke fun at himself at times. I was laughing out loud before I even made it through Chapter One.
I appreciated Mauro’s honesty and courage in sharing his emotional state in the book. I felt that he demonstrated bravery in recounting the personal challenges he faced, from being abandoned by his father as a child, to going through a painful divorce while raising two sons, to trying to be open to love again. He was able to integrate these challenges into the book in an insightful and uplifting way, showing us that we can use our challenges as fuel for accomplishing something spectacular as well.
I loved every aspect of The Altitude Journals and there was no part that I didn’t like. The story was outstanding, and it was also exceptionally well-edited. For these reasons, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I only hope that Mauro continues to go on epic adventures and to write about them, as I am anxiously awaiting more from this gifted author.
This book is for any adult who enjoys reading about adventure and overcoming physical or emotional challenges. Whether you’re looking for adventure, inspiration, or both, you will find them in this story. I highly recommend The Altitude Journals for those who want to create a big vision for their life.
******
The Altitude Journals
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon