So it was a wonderful delight to come across the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks. In the film, Nepali mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his team have a goal of climbing the 14 tallest peaks in the world in seven months. Now, if that seems like a challenge, most climbers take months to cover just one. The film goes back and forth between achieving their goal and Purja’s life and his decision to undertake this quest. And, oh, while they climb, Purja and his team get involved in rescue efforts for other team members, because that’s what you do for your fellow humans. It’s an incredible testament to what humanity can do. So here are eight books that explore mountain climbing, with a natural focus on Mount Everest. These are just eight titles to whet your appetite for books about mountaineering. And if you are inclined towards cinema, both 14 Peaks and The Summit of the Gods are well worth watching, too. Want more? Here’s a list of 100 nonfiction adventure books. Or here’s a list of books from another adventuring part of the world: books about the Arctic. But it’s more than that, it’s an exploration of why people feel compelled to do these things, including Krakauer himself.
