Review by readerbec94 -- The Altitude Journals

[readerbec94]

[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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I turned each page and felt myself fighting for breath as each word transported me to far reaches of the earth. I was plunged into the frigid cold of Antarctica and enveloped by the stifling humidity of the tropical jungles of Papua New Guinea, all from the comfort of my own home. David Mauro’s book The Altitude Journals was a masterfully written testament to the human spirit and its sheer resilience in the face of great obstacles. It was an important reminder to the reader to trust one’s instincts and allow the powers that be to guide him.

After his divorce, Mauro realizes he has reached his nadir. In addition to the grief he feels after losing his brother to alcoholism, he is also trying his best to recover a deeply fractured relationship with his father. While struggling to overcome these obstacles, his brother-in-law, Ty, proposes he tackle a physical challenge instead—climbing Denali, the highest summit in North America.

Mauro can’t help but feel both inspiration and trepidation. Putting his body to the ultimate physical test could be just the catharsis he needs, but he has no idea how to climb a mountain, let alone whether or not he is physically or mentally capable. Despite this, he heeds the call, and discovers it to be an invaluable part of his healing process, and thus begins our powerful journey with him.

The Altitude Journals absolutely blew me away. I would, without hesitation, give this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was certainly one of the best nonfiction works I have read. The story of Mauro and his call to the Seven Summits was well-told; it flowed easily both geographically and emotionally, and Mauro gave us permission to become a part of his struggle, so that when he was triumphant we could celebrate right alongside him. Mauro’s comedic talent was evident throughout the story, and provided the reader with much-needed relief from the tension of summiting the seven tallest mountains in the world.

While it was clear that Mauro’s technical knowledge developed rapidly, I found that he was able to convey this knowledge in such a way that it served its purpose of providing context to the reader and conveying the real dangers the climbers faced very well, without confusing the reader or distracting him from the story.

I think this work deserves 4 stars and nothing less. Yes, it was a book about climbing the Seven Summits. Yes, it was entertaining because it provided an escape from our daily lives and took us somewhere exotic. But for me, what makes this story exceptional is Mauro’s ability to connect with the reader on a human level. It’s okay if our healing doesn’t come from climbing the tallest mountains. More than likely, it won’t. It’s okay if we don’t hear the call of Everest in the night. More than likely, we won’t. It reminds us that each and every one of us has our calling, whether we know it or not; our own unique way of facing our daily demons, of fighting through to our highest point when it feels as though we may never escape our lowest. It reminds us that we’re stronger than we think we are, that we can do more than we ever thought possible, if we just allow ourselves to try.

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The Altitude Journals
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