Blind Corners: Adventures on Everest and the World's Tallest Peaks

This book caught me by surprise. I would not have noticed this book on my own, as the title does not grab me. However a friend recommended it to me, and I like adventure books, so I picked it up. It is extremely well written, taking the reader along on fast paced and humerous adventures-from Africa to Antarctica to New Guinea; from the invention of Bungee Jumping to scaling the last unclimbed face of Mt Everest. So on one level it works brilliantly as a fast paced, interconnected collection of short stories describing amazing and crazy adventures by the author and by a cross section of his amazing and crazy acquaintances. But it is more than that. As I read the various vignettes, I found myself viewing adventuring from the unique perspective of the author. Not "thrill seeking", but as a life long quest to maximize life's experiences while maintaing deep respect for the physical and human landscapes encountered along the way. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the events and personalities that led to the recent tragedies on Mount Everest, a view perhaps clearer and certainly different from that gained by reading "Into Thin Air". Finally I was extremely impressed by the authors description towards the end of the book of the author's recent efforts to cure cataract blindess among the peoples of the Himalayas. These passages are not written as self-aggrandizing, but rather continue the themes of the rest of the book, atking the reader into a different part of the world with both humor and insight. Throughout, the book emphasizes that one does not need to go to the ends of the world or be a world-class athlete to live adventures. By the end, the adventure stories and the descriptions of the humanitarian efforts together left me inspired to think about my own life and how I might try to maximize my own fun quotient and perhaps do more good at the same time. Any book that leaves you rethinking your own life while fantasizing about doing more has to be at the top ones read list. This is a wonderful book-and given its limited exposure, it is a hidden gem.

Blind Corners is the most fun adventure book I have read in a long time! It sucked me in from the start, had me laughing out loud and held me in suspense. I did not put it down until I finished. My only complaint was that it was too short. I wanted more. It brings you along for a wide range of adventures from the invention of Bungee Jumping to the first ascent of a new route on Mt. Everest to starting an eye hospital in a remote area of Pakistan. It gives a different perspective on climbing Mt. Everest from "Into Thin Air" and other tragedy oriented accounts. "Blind Corners" focusses on the joy of climbing, the joy of adventure and the joy of life. It is a must read.

Tabin is a FREAK! :-) Blind corners recounts Geoffs many adventures around the globe. An excellent mixture of mountaineering and other adventures; an inspiring book. It'll make you want to quit your job and move to Iran Jayra. The book will keep you wondering how Tabin ever found time to earn his doctorate.