Review by ereason -- The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro

[ereason]

[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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David Mauro describes his adventures that led to writing The Altitude Journals as “a seven year journey from the lowest point in my life to the highest point on earth”. The prologue explores his early life after the family’s abandonment by his father. He was raised by a mother who explained that they were special, hence their money (food stamps) looked different and people brought groceries to the door. By the age of 44, while dealing with the break-up of his own marriage, Dave felt that he was a failure as his father had been. At that point his brother-in-law, with greater confidence in Dave than the author felt in himself, invited him on a filmed expedition to climb Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). Each chapter of the book then follows Dave on his attempts at one of the so-called seven summits – Denali, Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Vinson Massif, Carstensz Pyramid and finally Everest. In each chapter the physical struggle to climb the mountain is mirrored by some turbulence in his private life.

I enjoyed this book immensely and found it inspiring. I also found it essential to finish each chapter in one sitting due to the gripping nature of the narrative. Naturally some chapters are more exciting than others just as some summits are more deadly than others. Dave’s honesty about his personal struggles draws the reader in as they know they are dealing with a normal man with human flaws rather than a perfect classical hero type. A natural slightly dark humour also shows through in places, in particular in the Carstensz Pyramid chapter where one can read a five page defence of cannibals and leeches.

There is nothing I did not like about this book although it could be improved by the inclusion of colour photographs and more illustrations, perhaps with plans of the mountains and the routes taken. There is a small amount of strong language. However, it is a very small amount and quite probably justified: the author is recounting his immediate reactions to dangers that most people will never face.

Undoubtedly there are some people who would not like The Altitude Journals. After the author had started becoming known in his home town for successfully climbing the world’s toughest mountains, some accused him of doing it only to show off. Those are the people who definitely would not like the book – ones who are unwilling to try their own limits to such an extent and so respond by denigrating the efforts of others. Some readers may prefer more danger and probably mountain climbers would like to see more technical detail, but I think most non-fiction/adventure readers would enjoy the book.

I rate The Altitude Journals as 4 out of 4 stars. This is because it is a highly entertaining and gripping read; it does not romanticise climbing but neither does it magnify the dangers unnecessarily. I spotted a single spelling mistake – “gate” instead of “gait” on page 143. I believe it is a book that will encourage some people to attempt to conquer their own Everests, whatever they may be.

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The Altitude Journals
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