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Postcards from the Ledge: Collected Mountaineering Writings of Greg Child | 
 enlarge | Author: Greg Child
Creator: Joe Simpson
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $10.46
You Save: $6.49 (38%)
New (18) Used (10) Collectible (1) from $3.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 573398
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 0898867533
Dewey Decimal Number: 770
EAN: 9780898867534
ASIN: 0898867533
Publication Date: August 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
Selections of the best writing from elite mountaineer Greg Child-now in paperback. Peeling back the layers to reveal the gritty truth about the elite climbing world is Greg Childs specialty. With clever wit, sharp observations, and insightful reflections, Childs writing covers the full spectrum of the mountaineering experience. Entertaining even to those who have never been above sea level, Childs stories tell of the disgusting daily habits of expedition members; a display of contrasting styles during a climb with Lynn Hill in Kyrgystan; controversies surrounding Tomo Eesens alleged first ascent of Lhotses south wall and Lydia Bradeys solo ascent of Everest; and early climbing days in Yosemite and Australia that helped build his career.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 An Entertaining Book of Essays on the Joys and Tragedies of Mountaineering March 28, 2008
I was searching Amazon for some Joe Simpson books and this one popped up. I thought it was one I missed but then saw that Simpson wrote the introduction to it. It seemed pretty entertaining so I bought a copy.
Greg Child's Postcards from the Ledge is hilarious and touching and informative at the same time. I couldn't stop laughing after reading the essay about him showing his elderly mum just how "safe" mountaineering is. In the end he hobbled away like the hurt little boy his mother knew him to be. I enjoyed learning about the nitty gritty facts of mountaineering, from where and how to use the toilet to stinking to high heaven after being on the mountain for so many weeks.
All joking aside, the mountains can be a dangerous place to be. An example of this is when Childs and his group come across a teenage girl who has fallen to her death into a crevasse. There are also some good essays about Alison Hargreaves' death and the world's reaction to a mother's "selfish" need to climb mountains.
And many things can be learned about other countries and cultures from the small details of his visits to these places.
I'd recommend this book to any mountaineering fans. I'm glad I bought it for my collection.
Postcards From The Ledge is Worth a Look December 8, 2007
Postcards From The Ledge has something for everyone. From artful and hilarious descriptions of the most unpleasant of bodily functions and living conditions, to thoughtful reflection on the beauty and thrill of an epic climb, Greg Child gives you an insiders view of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of climbing. A must read even if you are not a climber.
A MUST HAVE BOOK - RUN, DO NOT WALK, TO GET THIS! September 23, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just recently discovered Greg Child's books and must confess to now being completely addicted. After being in love with THE ASCENT OF RUM DOODLE, the classic [but ancient - i.e. 1950s] mountain humor classic, I thought there could be no rival. Thank God I was wrong and thanks to Greg's mum for whatever she did to contribute to his comic genes. Last week I took this book on a camping trip and each night by the fire would read aloud a few essays to my companions, who looked forward all day to the next hysterically humorous missives the evening campfire would bring from the funniest climber/writer in the world. It makes a person jealous to know that one person can be this fabulously talented, both as climber and writer. Damn, he's good! You will not be able to put this book down. PS Warning: this book often produces side effects of laughing out loud.
Highly Enjoyable Collection March 27, 2001
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a great book of short 'stories' about mountaineering that Child has edited from his articles published in magazines. Each of these stories is a well-written perspective on the art of climbing; they cover a wide range of his experiences ranging from sea-level (island cliffs in the Gulf of Tonkin) to the top of the world in the Himalayas. Each of the stories reflects to Child's own experiences over the last 10-20 years and the philosophy of climbing that he has developed in this time.Many of these stories are written with a dry sense of humor (eg, the 10 rules of bivouacs) that reflect Child's personal experiences. Of course, this humor leavens the drama and tragedy that are described in several of the pieces. With the variety of stories that are included in this book, it is distinctly different from 'Thin Air' which covers three different Himalayan expeditions in depth. I'd recommend both highly; the difference in voice shows the range of perspective that Child can generate with his passion for this sport.
made me late for work March 27, 2001
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I spent most of last weekend reading this book and loving it. I was late for the bus today cause the first thing I did this morning was catch up where I left off. Funnier than hell, descriptive, intelligent, good stuff...
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