Title: Beyond Possible: One Man, 14 Peaks, and the Mountaineering Achievement of a Lifetime
Author: Nimsdai Purja
Year published: 2022
Category: YA nonfiction (memoir, sports)
Pages: 168 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Location: (my 2022 Google Reading map): Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, China
Summary: In this action-packed memoir, young readers will not only learn how Purja physically accomplished this incredible feat, but also how his attitude, leadership skills, and willingness to learn from mistakes took him to the top. From his childhood growing up in Nepal, to a career as an elite soldier in the British army, Purja shows how his early life shaped him and enabled him to go beyond what people though was possible.
Review: I really like a good extreme sport/survival story and when TLC Tours asked if I was interested in the young reader's edition of this one I jumped at the chance. Coincidentally, a friend mentioned that I should watch the documentary "14 Peaks" because it's so good. And, they are about the same man/project. It was meant to be. I haven't watched the documentary yet, but plan to.
Nims is confident. In fact, it can come off as arrogant, but he is entitled since he has accomplished so much. He is straightforward in telling his story, which can come off as arrogant as well, but I got used to that style as his story progressed. He really did amazing things. As someone who came to mountain climbing later in life (around age 30), he discovered he has an amazing lung capacity and could naturally climb more quickly and easily than others. This allowed him to climb multiple major mountains in a very short time.
Reading about someone mountain climbing can get to be a bit much, with all the details bogging down the story, but Purja is a good story teller, weaving in mountain details, the stress of climbing and rescuing climbers, and his interactions with other climbers. I found this last bit particularly interesting as he was often disappointed in the wider climbing community when they wouldn't rush to help those in distress as he felt they should.
I think students would really find this book fascinating and inspirational. Purja also talks about his mother and how she inspired him to do the things he has done in his life.
Challenges for which this counts:
- Alphabet Soup (Author)--P
- Alphabet Soup (Title)--B
- Literary Escapes--Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, China
- Nonfiction--Geography
- Pop Sugar--2022 publication
Tuesday, January 4th: Helen's Book Blog - Young Readers' Edition
Tuesday, January 4th: Instagram: @nurse_bookie
Wednesday, January 5th: Instagram: @nurse_bookie - Young Readers' Edition
Monday, January 10th: Instagram: @meghans_library
Tuesday, January 11th: Write - Read - Life - Young Readers' Edition
Wednesday, January 12th: Instagram: @gracereads82
Thursday, January 13th: Instagram: @joannasbookshelf
Monday, January 17th: Instagram: @babygotbooks4life - Both
Tuesday, January 18th: Instagram: @arrow_reads - Young Readers' Edition
Wednesday, January 19th: Instagram: @shook_sbooks - Young Readers' Edition
Thursday, January 20th: Instagram: @reading_with_nicole
Monday, January 24th: Instagram: @reading_with_nicole - Young Readers' Edition
Tuesday, January 25th: Instagram: @jenniaahava - Both
Wednesday, January 26th: Instagram: @pickagoodbook - Young Readers' Edition
Wednesday, February 16th: Instagram: @bookishly_overdue
No comments
Post a Comment