Above the Clouds: How I Carved My Own Path to the Top of the World

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 471 ratings

Price: 16.53

Last update: 10-09-2024


About this item

"Kilian Jornet is the most dominating endurance athlete of his generation." (New York Times)

"Inspiring and humbling." (Alex Honnold)

The most accomplished mountain runner of all time contemplates his record-breaking climbs of Mount Everest in this profound memoir - an intellectual and spiritual journey that moves from the earth’s highest peak to the soul’s deepest reaches.

Kilian Jornet has broken nearly every mountaineering record in the world and twice been named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. In 2018 he summitted Mount Everest twice in one week - without the help of bottled oxygen or ropes.

As he recounts a life spent studying and ascending the greatest peaks on earth, Jornet ruminates on what he has found in nature - simplicity, freedom, and spiritual joy - and offers a poetic yet clearheaded assessment of his relationship to the mountain...at times his opponent, at others, his greatest inspiration.


Top reviews from the United States

Daniel Rankin
4.0 out of 5 stars All Kilian Front to Back
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021
Kilian is a top mountain athlete. Buy this book if you want insight into his life and what goes on inside his head. He is not a world-class author and the events captured in this tale aren’t particularly inspirational. It’s a series of somewhat connected stories from his life that is a piece of who he is. If you idolize him and respect his accomplishments it’s worth the read.
Trailpope
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting stories by Killian
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2020
Stories were interesting but writing lacked smooth flow. Seemed to jump around with no common thread. Could be because of translation challenges. However; Killian is probably the world’s best endurance athlete presently and interesting to read some of his challenges.
LSmith
4.0 out of 5 stars Good mountaineering memoir
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2021
Kilian Jornet is an athletic marvel. He climbs the tallest mountains; he runs races at various distances on these mountains as well as more level ground and he puts himself through punishing training sessions. He hadn't yet conquered the ultimate challenge for any climber: reaching the peak of Mount Everest. His journey to do so is told in his own words and manner in this book.

One aspect of the book that may turn off some readers is that there is not a good flow or sequence in the book – the stories of the Everest expeditions (there was more than one) are in order, but the other tales and reflections Jornet shares are random and seem to be written on whatever emotion he was feeling at the time he was sitting in front of his keyboard. While that does make it a little more challenging to read in as few settings as possible, I find them brutally honest. That is a good trait to have, as I find that type of writing hard to put down, especially in some of his darker times when he wonders if all his training and work is worth the effort.

But that training DOES produce results – if you don't know about the awards he has won, he does share some of them, but doesn't come across as arrogant. He shares some more tender moments, such as the three people whom he believes were the most important to help him become the climber that he has become (another dark moment comes here when he describes how one of them became another climbing victim). His partner Emilie is a climber as well and the story of when they were scaling Everest together and her fall is both terrifying and riveting.

While these stories can be considered downers, there are plenty of triumphs and great prose about climbing as well. A reader just has to take them in carefully and enjoy them as they come in the book. This will never be confused for a work of great writing, but it is an interesting look at the duel sports of mountaineering and running (much more of the former) that is worth the time to read.
Therese A SItiko
2.0 out of 5 stars not what I was expecting
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2020
Rather a self-serving book about all the "trials" he went through to reach Mt. Everest. Not saying they weren't merited (I certainly wouldn't even attempt it!!) But it did read like a "LOOK AT ME" story. My sisters' in laws (since they did scale it a few years back) could probably relate more than me! I'm a couch potato!! I frankly think "7 Years in Tibet" is a much better story. I sent "Above the Clouds" but I am very biased!
Ann Mills
1.0 out of 5 stars Most tedious boring Everest book EVER
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020
Got 22 % into it hoping it would get better. Not. Author whines repeatedly that others climbing styles aren't fast enough for him yet his book is the dullest slowest ever account of mountain climbing I've ever read. Couldn't even grind through to when he actually climbs Everest because his writing and outlook is so bizarrely self focused and negative I just couldn't give a damn if he climbs Everest or not. Don't waste your money or time.
DianeL
4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed reading this book very much.
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020
"To me, sport doesn't mean a life full of sacrifices but rather one full of choices."
Above the Clouds by Kilian Jornet is an in-depth story of his lifetime of running mountains from his earliest childhood days. I enjoyed reading this book very much.
Kilian Jornet has a disciplined focus on goal-oriented training for competitions and expeditions.
In writing this book, the author wants to share what has been his personal life goals which help explain his almost compulsive drive to race and climb in the mountains.
As I read the book, I often wondered how his body could continue to perform in the running and climbing competitions with very little nutritional support for his physical endurance. The extremes of training seemed to be relentless, but for the author, it was his life. He enjoyed pushing the limits of his body.
He had a dream while on the flight to the Himalayas for his ascent on Everest. Could this have been a warning to him for the experience soon to come? His second unsupported ascent on Everest a few days after completing the first could have been disastrous. I won't post spoilers.
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Adrianne S
3.0 out of 5 stars Endurance story
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
Above the Clouds is a great endurance story and how the body pushes itself. It reinforces how I never want to climb Mt Everest or really any mountain. There is great risk and I think that gets overlooks a lot. There were some awkward transitions but overall I felt like the book was fairly good. Kilian brings up things that aren't always talked about in endurance such as eating disorders. And really brings up knowing his body best and how to perform best for him. I think that's excellent advice because we all are different.

Thanks Harper Collins and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
Daryl Philipp
2.0 out of 5 stars Such a bad book
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2020
I have very rarely left a negative review on anything ever. But this book is just so bad. I had read about Kilian Jornet in articles of his feats and various races and thought it would be so cool to read his memoir becasue sports memoirs are my favorite. Well this book is rambling and negative and draining to read. I don't know how he was able to take such interesting material and make it so bad. I feel especially bad that I bought this book full price at a local bookstore. It was written more like an Amazon 99 cent book or Kindle unlimited suprise.

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