No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon - Softcover

Weihenmayer, Erik; Levy, Buddy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1250088798 ISBN 13: 9781250088796

Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin, 2018

Synopsis

2018 Colorado Book Awards finalist in the Creative Nonfiction and National Bestseller and Honorable Mention Award Winner in the Outdoor Literature category of the 2017 National Outdoor Book Awards (NOBA) ― “A beautiful book about family and finding a way to achieve more than you ever thought possible.” ―Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author

Erik Weihenmayer is the first and only blind person to summit Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Descending carefully, he and his team picked their way across deep crevasses and through the deadly Khumbu Icefall; when the mountain was finally behind him, Erik knew he was going to live. His expedition leader slapped him on the back and said something that would affect the course of Erik’s life: “Don’t make Everest the greatest thing you ever do.”

No Barriers is Erik’s response to that challenge. It is the moving story of his journey since descending Mount Everest: from leading expeditions around the world with blind Tibetan teenagers to helping injured soldiers climb their way home from war, from adopting a son from Nepal to facing the most terrifying reach of his life: to solo kayak the thunderous whitewater of the Grand Canyon.

Along the course of Erik’s journey, he meets other trailblazers―adventurers, scientists, artists, and activists―who, despite trauma, hardship, and loss, have broken through barriers of their own. These pioneers show Erik surprising ways forward that surpass logic and defy traditional thinking.

Like the rapids of the Grand Canyon, created by inexorable forces far beneath the surface, No Barriers is a dive into the heart and mind at the core of the turbulent human experience. It is an exploration of the light that burns in all of us, the obstacles that threaten to extinguish that light, and the treacherous ascent towards growth and rebirth.

About this title

About the Author:

BUDDY LEVY is a journalist, speaker, and the author of numerous books, including Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs; River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana’s Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon;Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior (with Mike Leach); and American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett. He was a cast member in all 24-episodes of HISTORY’s Brad Meltzer’s DECODED television series. He teaches writing at Washington State University. He lives in Idaho.

Review:

"Erik Weihenmayer's life is so rich, so full of accomplishments, that his story alone is interesting. But paired with a seasoned narrator, the blind adventurer's tale becomes even more alive. Narrator Holter Graham does more than simply recount the physical challenges of climbing mountains and conquering rapids while blind. He also brings to life the emotional challenges of Weihenmayer's life--the frustrations of dealing with a difficult brother and of trying to adopt a boy from Nepal. Graham gives each person in the book a distinct vocal identity, complete with varied tones, inflections, and accents. While ensuring that listeners always know who's who, he also reflects the dignity of the many people who are part of Weihenmayer's life." -AudioFile Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1250088798
• ISBN 13: 9781250088796
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480