num_pages: 320
description: My father's greatest living heroes were John Glenn and Jim Whittakera physical giant with a huge heart a decent soul and inspirational courage. We can all be grateful that Whittaker has finally put his extraordinary life on paper. Whittaker's story is a riveting saga of high adventure by one of history's greatest climbers. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. * Special anniversary edition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first American ascent of Mount Everest* New foreword by Ed Viesturs and a new afterword by the author* More than 100 photos including several never-before-published imagesIn May of 1963 Seattle mountaineer Jim Whittaker stepped into world history by becoming the first American to summit Mount Everest. Fifty years later he is still regarded as a seminal figure in North American mountaineering as well as an astute businessman who helped create the outdoor recreation industry.A Life on the Memoirs of Everest and Beyond is Jim's courageous no-punches-pulled autobiography and a look at a peripatetic sometimes difficult life. Beyond the glory of the Everest summit and his other extraordinary climbing feats including the first American summit of K2 he openly describes his personal everyman experience of social upheaval in the 1960s and 70s an early divorce family strife a passionate new love later in life near-bankruptcy and business triumphs and losses. Jim tells it all with verve and honesty and true to his nature turns every setback into the stage for new adventure. This special 50th anniversary edition celebrates the story of Jim's life and features a new foreword by Ed Viesturs as well as a new final chapter that brings readers up-to-date including details of his trek to Everest Base Camp in 2012 and his son Leif's recent successful summits of Everest.
language: English
title: A Life on the Edge: Memoirs of Everest and Beyond
publisher: Mountaineers Books