Beyond Possible
One Man, Fourteen Peaks, and the Mountaineering Achievement of a Lifetime
-
-
4.5 • 24 Ratings
-
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
Nepali climber Nims Purja is the first man ever to summit all fourteen of the world's 8000 meter "Death Zone" peaks. He did so in less than seven months, breaking the previous record of seven years. In this spellbinding memoir , tied to the acclaimed Netflix documentary "14 Peaks," Purja reveals the man behind the climbs, explaining how his early life in Nepal and training as a soldier in Britain's elite Gurkha and SBS units allowed him to achieve a mountaineering mission few thought was attainable. Purja shows how leadership, integrity, and collaboration drive world's greatest climbing feats, including the first-ever winter ascent of Pakistan's K2—another mountaineering milestone that he achieved in January 2021. Both profound and inspiring, this intimate book reveals what it takes to go miles beyond the possible.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Nepalese climber Purja debuts with a propulsive account of successfully climbing the "Earth's fourteen Death Zone peaks" in record-breaking time. In 2018, after years of serving as a Gurkha soldier in the British military, he embarked on a "wild effort" to reach the pinnacles of the world's 14 tallest mountains in fewer than seven months, an attempt that would "shatter" the previous world record of seven years. With the summits of each rising above 8,000 meters, Purja writes, "the air is so lacking in oxygen that human bodies and brains wither and fail." His exhilarating narrative captures the physical and mental toll he experienced while careening down the sides of mountains and ascending lethally steep slopes in "brutal, whiteout conditions." In addition to recounting topping Everest in Nepal and K2 in Pakistan, Purja writes memorably about his time in the Nepalese regiment of the British Armed Forces, reflecting fondly on a career that both sharpened his skills as a climber—giving him "access to a variety of highly specialized courses"—and deepened the pride he felt around his culture, an aspect of mountaineering that has often gone overlooked. This is a fascinating and inspiring look at a life lived on the edge.
Customer Reviews
A great read
Truly an inspirational story for all! Once I started this book it was hard to put it down. Adventure at every turn of the pages.
Leadership
This is a true example of leadership. Extremely inspiring. A must read.
Very Inspirational 🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔
Incredible insights inside the mindset of Nims after watching 14 Peaks on Netflix. Watched again after reading and a higher level of respect is due. Beyond Possible.