Review of The Altitude Journals

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Macha Marumo Mphela
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Review of The Altitude Journals

Post by Macha Marumo Mphela »

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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A life lived in quest, is a life realised. I always say this. I believe this. It is what fuels us. For some of us, this quest comes with chasing dreams, chasing peace and joy, and a long, fruitful life. But for some, like David J. Mauro, this quest came as a need to chase mountain peaks. Aptly named, The Altitude Journals is a recollection of the author's life as he ascended the seven continental peaks. He details his extraordinary experiences. He recounts each climb in painstaking detail. And he takes us along the long, tough journey to touch the heavens.

There are very few things more symbolic of the human achievement than the summit of the highest mountain tops on Earth. It speaks of the lengths we go to achieve the very height of human possibilities, and David J. Mauro is that symbol of human tenacity and strength.

The book is so well-written. It gave such great detail, I could almost vividly see everything the author felt, did and saw. It was like I was walking alongside him as he climbed each mound of rock. And the pictures he scattered across the book gave this feeling more depth. And the usage of the odd humuorous moments and thoughts, even the dreams and hallucinations that went with the experiences, gave a whole other dimension to the book that I wasn't expecting at all.

I loved that whilst this book was set to detail the climbs, it also showed us the human experience that preceded and succeeded each expedition. His own personal life, which he shared generously, is what fascinated me more. As a person, I'm always intrigued by the motivation of others and the force that keeps them waking up each day to live. And David Mauro's motivation for climbing these ridiculous heights is what made this book special for me.

The editing for this book was also not too bad, although I did come across a very few problems with comma placements (something I struggle with myself). But this wasn't bad enough to discourage me to rate the book at 4 out of 4 stars. I simply enjoyed the experience of reading this.

The book may seem like a typical adventure piece that would probably appeal more towards lovers of nature and thrill-seekers, but I found it inspirational more than anything else. And that's the reason that I'd strongly recommend it to people who are seeking a little push in life to take the next step. This book might give you the mind-set needed to move forward in whatever sphere of life (or even make you interested in climbing mountains).

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The Altitude Journals
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