Review by daydreaming reader -- The Altitude Journals

daydreaming reader · Post by **daydreaming reader** » 16 Jul 2018, 13:09

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Altitude Journals" by David J Mauro.]

4 out of 4 stars

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For every living creature, life is an undulating journey. One moment we are enjoying freedom as everything seems to align in our lives. In the next, we are suffocating in various hardships. Nevertheless, there is always an escape from these low points, and David Mauro reminds us of that.

In the Altitude Journals, author David J. Mauro takes us with him in a journey from the lowest point in his life to, at first, the summit of Denali. Even then, David does not escape all his demons. What follows, is a person who learns to listen to his calling. Soon enough, he finds himself trekking to the six other summits. He culminates his journey on the peak of Mount Everest. After each climb, David goes home having learnt something new about himself, and eventually, he comes to perceive himself as more than the failures and struggles he once thought defined him.

Altitude Journals is a book that is best enjoyed over a period, as it cannot be hastily read. Instead, it has to be slowly consumed by the reader in order to bash in its glory. The pace of the book, thus, is set to ensure that the reader reads slowly. If the reader reads the book too quickly, the risk is that the book will become difficult to comprehend. Regardless, the flow of the book is great. I felt confusion in one instance, but this does not take away from the overall flow or reading experience.

Additionally, the details offered regarding his own struggles on the various climbs were clear and sincere. I also appreciated the description of the struggles of the other individuals on the climbs as this helped me comprehend the dangers that were present at each climb. The description of the routes taken during the ascent and descent of each mountain was also exceptional. At times, I felt as though I actually climbed with him and his various team, and that I had also reached the summit each time. There were also pictures of the summits, as well as other persons and items that Mauro mentioned in the book.The lessons and messages experienced during the climbs, were well articulated, allowing for the understanding of the relevance of these lessons to life.

The book was informative, as it mentions information about the preparations for each climb including exercise, diet, training, equipment and so on. David also mentioned the various illness that may affect individuals at high altitudes.

Altitude Journals is a biography/ memoir, which, is not my typical, preferred genre. I often perceive that the pace of these types of books is too slow. This holds true with Altitude Journals, as my biggest issue was its pace. As I mentioned before, this book requires slow and patient reading. This is, however, a personal preference and not pronouncement of the quality of writing. Altitude Journals appears to have been edited by a professional.

Overall, I rate the Altitude Journals by Dave Mauro 4 out of 4 stars. While I did have an issue with the pace of the book, it is more of personal preference than a flaw, especially in this genre of books. David brings his journey to life, and even more, he gives life to lessons learnt during these journeys. Persons who are looking to learn about life’s lessons, who like biographies and who are interested in mountain climbing would find this book enjoyable.

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The Altitude Journals
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Morgan Jones · Post by **Morgan Jones** » 24 Jul 2018, 14:30

Very detailed and insightful review! Encourage me to check the book out even though it's not my usual pick

AmySmiles · Post by **AmySmiles** » 27 Jul 2018, 07:10

When I first saw the cover of this book I thought it said Attitude Journals. The slow pacing would bother me at this juncture of my life, but it may be one to consider in the future. Thanks for the review!

Northernbird84 · Post by **Northernbird84** » 27 Jul 2018, 07:17

Thank you for your review. This book sounds fascinating. I thoroughly enjoy this kind of memoir, it sounds similar to Wild by Cheryl Strayed which I also loved. I am adding this to my Want to Read shelf.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 02 Aug 2018, 14:39

I'm not a big fan of memoir/self-help-type books, but it seems like this one has a lot to offer. Imagine climbing mountains in order to find yourself. Kudos to the author. I struggle to climb out of bed in the morning, so I'm probably not the best person to read this book.
Great review!

Abigail R · Post by **Abigail R** » 02 Aug 2018, 16:04

I love the sound of this book so much! It seems like a story I would enjoy. Thanks for the review!

jcoad · Post by **jcoad** » 25 Sep 2018, 20:22

This is my favorite book I have read on this site. I loved the different experiences offered up by each summit. It was cool how each summit offered such a different type of journey and experience. Thanks for your review!

Allyseria · Post by **Allyseria** » 01 Oct 2018, 08:35

I like biographies however, I don't have a particular interest in mountain climbing. It does sound a bit interesting to read about his journey up Mount Everest though.