Book info

• Title Ascent
• Author Chris Bonington
• Year 2017
• Genres Autobiography, Sports, Adventure

Sir Chris Bonington memoir Ascent will chart not only his many triumphs in the climbing world - such as the Eiger, and the Himalaya - but also the struggles he has faced in his life bringing up a family, and maintaining a successful and loving marriage over the decades of travelling the world to conquer mountains.

Thoughts

I’ve read a handful of mountaineer and adventurer books and I think I want to read more, but I had to re-start with one of the stalwarts of British climbing, Chris Bonington. This book charts his entire life so each of the main expeditions isn’t written about in too much detail, I think I would have liked more, but it’s a good way to get an overview of what an interesting and sometimes exciting life Bonington has had.

Also, when you read about it in brief like this, it makes it seem even more amazing that he hasn’t had more injuries or worse – considering how many of the names we are introduced to are killed in action on the mountains.

But it’s nice also to see how Bonington managed to make a living out of climbing, how the sport has changed over his time involved, and what extra-curricular activities he’s indulged in. Plus, how the life of an adventurer impacts on the family back home. Not completely enthralling but a good place to start.

Rating: 3 / 5