- Hardcover: 374 pages
- Publisher: Virgin Books; 1st edition (5 Mar 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1905264542
- ISBN-13: 978-1905264544
- Product Dimensions: 15.7 x 3.2 x 23.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 417,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
ONE MAN'S EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE EARTH TO THE TOP
Product Description
The Longest Climb is the utterly compelling account of Dominic Faulkner's expedition from the Dead Sea to the peak of Everest. Dominic and his team, EverestMax, were the first ever to make this journey – a dangerous one, both politically and personally. Following much of the ancient Silk Road they cycled five thousand miles across Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India on the way to Tibet and the bottom of the world's highest mountain, where they prepared for the climb of their lives. From escaping the Syrian army and confronting Iranian mullahs, to deciding whether or not to share the little oxygen they have and risk their own lives in order to save another climber, The Longest Climb is a high-octane combination of the huge personal risk, fascinating cultural insight, and momentary farce that make up a major expedition. The Longest Climb is not solely the story of an expedition. It is also the moving account of Dominic's struggle to finally accept the heartbreaking loss of his father when Dominic was just six. As he fights illness, broken equipment, lack of money and the gruelling demands of climbing Everest, Dominic also reflects upon what has driven him up this mountain. The answers are as affecting as they are extraordinary.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In this book Dominic Faulkner tells the story of an expedition he undertook to travel from the lowest place on earth - the Dead Sea to the highest - the sumit of Everest. Known as the Everestmax Expedition, the team members travelled initially by bicycle and then later on foot. Dominic sets the scene by telling us his life story so far thereby explaining the inspiration to undertake such a journey. He then recounts the entire expedition in excellent detail. He is frank about his feelings throughout the journey and makes some conclusions at the end of the book that are still resonating with me. I especially like books about travel, mountaineering and endurance. This ticks all three boxes for me. I would highly recommend it.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Longest Climb is an expedition from the lowest point in the world at the shores of the Dead Sea, to the peak of Mount Everest.
Faulkner is the expedition's leader and something of an adventurer in the Ranulph Fiennes mould (Fiennes actually writes the book's forward).
He was a member of the SAS, although we learn very little about his experiences in that most famous regiment.
In fact we learn very little about the author at all, in terms of what makes him tick, and he seems to suffer little in the way of introspection and soul searching. But then, that is probably why he's taken part in an expedition like this, while others of us sit writing reviews of his book. Like Fiennes, whose books also suffer little in the way of self doubt, explorers tend to find ways of doing things, rather than agonising whether something's a good idea or not.
It's a book of two halves - the first a really engaging travelogue of the 5,000 mile cycle ride from the Dead Sea to Everest Base Camp across 'no-go' parts of the Middle East. It's interestingly told and very enlightening, as the author reveals the amazing reception his team, which includes two hardy women, receives, expecially in Iran.
The second half, the climb up Everest, is compelling. The first real drastic problems arise - Faulkner's retinas start bleeding because of the altitude, although he seems to shrug it off without too many worries. Also the team, which is reinforced with some 'proper' climbers has a few problems, mainly focusing on an argument over how many oxygen cyclinders the cash-strapped team should buy.
It is a testament to the quality of the individuals that seven make the summit of Everest. The dangers they overcome are shown by the number of deaths - eleven - on the mountain that year. They are forced to climb past the bodies of the fallen, and rescue the wedding ring from one man they know. Faulkner also distinguishes himself by helping a Canadian climber in trouble - and in one of the book's most emotional passages reveals how a well-equipped Russian team refuses to lift a finger.
A great travel book in the finest tradition of England's great explorers.
Faulkner is the expedition's leader and something of an adventurer in the Ranulph Fiennes mould (Fiennes actually writes the book's forward).
He was a member of the SAS, although we learn very little about his experiences in that most famous regiment.
In fact we learn very little about the author at all, in terms of what makes him tick, and he seems to suffer little in the way of introspection and soul searching. But then, that is probably why he's taken part in an expedition like this, while others of us sit writing reviews of his book. Like Fiennes, whose books also suffer little in the way of self doubt, explorers tend to find ways of doing things, rather than agonising whether something's a good idea or not.
It's a book of two halves - the first a really engaging travelogue of the 5,000 mile cycle ride from the Dead Sea to Everest Base Camp across 'no-go' parts of the Middle East. It's interestingly told and very enlightening, as the author reveals the amazing reception his team, which includes two hardy women, receives, expecially in Iran.
The second half, the climb up Everest, is compelling. The first real drastic problems arise - Faulkner's retinas start bleeding because of the altitude, although he seems to shrug it off without too many worries. Also the team, which is reinforced with some 'proper' climbers has a few problems, mainly focusing on an argument over how many oxygen cyclinders the cash-strapped team should buy.
It is a testament to the quality of the individuals that seven make the summit of Everest. The dangers they overcome are shown by the number of deaths - eleven - on the mountain that year. They are forced to climb past the bodies of the fallen, and rescue the wedding ring from one man they know. Faulkner also distinguishes himself by helping a Canadian climber in trouble - and in one of the book's most emotional passages reveals how a well-equipped Russian team refuses to lift a finger.
A great travel book in the finest tradition of England's great explorers.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What an achievement for all involved. A book that has you gripped from the first page. I loved it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The longesr Climb
As a lover of hill walking and the great out doors, I found this book totally riveting. The challenges they meet are sometimes almost unbelievable. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tiger Tim
somewhat overpowering
an interesting read but the whole book left me in frustration in some ways. What do I mean? Well when I watch horror movies that are supposed to ' scare' the viewer I always... Read more
Published 6 months ago by zoom
Fantastic read.
I've read just about all of the mountaineering / true adventure books available and can honestly say that this one is one of the very best. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. R. Peers
A dictionary of cliches
What should have been a great adventure read turned out to boring and bland with more cliches per mile than you can 'shake a stick at' lol
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Andy Adams
A great read
I know the author so had an idea what to expect. This is a great book as you would expect from the "A" List endorsements.
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by Mr. Peter Hastings
A perfect gift for anyone for any occasion
I read this while sitting on the beach in Florida on a spectacular day, and yet the book was so engrossing that I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2009 by Kirwan B. Price
The Longest Climb by Dominic Faulkner
The Longest Climb is, to me, far more than a riveting documentary of an epic journey. It is an incredibly well crafted story which has educated me while keeping me on edge and... Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2009 by Betty V. King
Great adventure story
This is a great story of an epic journey by bike and on foot from the lowest point on Earth to the highest point. Read more
Published on 19 May 2009 by Booklover
Inspired by madness!
I'd just finished reading the Ghosts of Everest (Jochen Hemmleb) when I was told about Dom's book. Where Mr Hemmleb bored the living daylights out of me, Dom's recounting of the... Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by Simon Cunningham
A great account of an amazing adventure
I couldn't put this book down. Safe in the warmth and comfort of home I thoroughly enjoyed cycling 5000 miles with the EverestMAX team, through Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Pakistan,... Read more
Published on 19 April 2009 by L. Ballantyne
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