Psychovertical

This was a great read. The descriptions of big wall climbing were very detailed and make you feel like you are right there with him. If I had read this 20 years ago I would have stopped what I was doing and started climbing mountains! Andy's development from a complete novice to being able to climb difficult walls was interesting to follow. The struggles are not just physical but include the anguish in the mind upon tackling an enormous solitary task: the admission of fear, the acknowledgement of the self-centered nature of climbing. All of these emotional and mental conflicts are well described. Loved it.

Everyone should read. I’m grateful he shared his stories. I’m learning more about climbing and the amount I know makes me appreciate the boldness and accomplishments these climbers have undertaken.

Good book but stories were broken up. He wrote a lot about his wife in the book and then left us dangling about what happened to their relationship after he completed the Reticent Wall.

This is one terrific read. Andy reveals his thoughts, fears, and insufferable drive to succeed. Descriptions of his falls are hair-raising, and when this world class climber wisely retreats, or tops out with purpose and satisfaction, we can only stand to applaud and tip our hats (helmets) in respect.

Climbers will def enjoy. Great read. It captures the love, excitement, thrilling effort and mind of a climber very well. Not too technical for non-climbers to read and not too "explainy" for knowledgeable readers to be annoyed. More of a memoir and reflection of a very interesting, introspective, climber persona. Dig it.

If you ever wondered why people are possessed with mountaim climbing Andy Kirkpatrick's book will help you understand. Andy explores his inner self with a discerning eye toward answering the "why do I do it" question. This memoir is well written and properly edited and is a worthwhile read. He brings the reader along with him on a number of interesting journeys. Highly recommended

Supper good book. With a unique writing style Kirkpatrick takes you thru the alpine and Yosemite in a way that will make you want to tie in and send.

Andy is a funny guy. Who writes of the terror and hard climbing he's done, in a psychotic driven fashion. I love his honesty about why he climbs and what he does. A very good read that will make you appreciate being warm and a soft bed while at the same time make you long for the mountains.

Great read although sometimes repetitive. Insight to a climber that I had not read previously.Honest account of his climbing life thus far and how self absorbed he was/is and that his focus is 100% on himself. In someways understandable as one mishap could be serious injury or worse. On the other hand minimal consideration to his partner and daughter is , well, different. Peo0les values are interesting as are their belief systems , I ended the book by disliking the guy but respecting his focus and ability to achieve what he wansed at seemingly whatever the cost to others

Psychovertical charts the life of Andy Kirkpatrick, from a happy life in rural Wales to the rough docks of Hull, a squat, a climbing shop and finally becoming realised as a climbing phenom. Throughout the book he steps back in time from a present moment then returns, weaving it all into a very clever and intriguing narrative.A thread throughout is his self awareness and questioning of himself; feeling the desire to do these insane climbs but wondering why, questioning how he can leave a woman he loves for something so dangerous, and often being fully aware of how ridiculously dangerous his situation is.As a whole it's a very good book with lots of interesting, and often hilarious, side tales. I don't think the climbing detail in it is too much - a quick google for some of the terminology and it helps you appreciate the scene even more. I would definitely say though *do not mimic this*! Though not touched upon in the book Kirkpatrick has clearly been phenomenally lucky to come away unscathed from a great many situations where he was unprepared or inexperienced; in fact, situations where he was wholly irresponsible. This takes nothing away from the man though.. he is after all legendary for being a little bit mad...Worth a read for sure.

If you only read one book about climbing, this may be it. Spare, stripped to the core, with incites and personal revelations this account of a life defining solo epic climb is interspersed with the author's life story.

Human, showing all the strengths and weakness of a mortal driven to climb. Not for me, but really interesting to read what drives someone else

Though far from conventional it is pleasing, after a couple of years with conceptual winners, to have the 2008 Boardman Tasker Award presented to an uncomplicated climbing book telling terrifying tales of epics in the mountains. `Psychovertical' is a welcome addition to the ever expanding legacy of literature left by leading climbers. It is a gripping read with perhaps the only disappointment being its high proportion coverage of aid climbing.Andy Kirkpatrick covers what is expected in an autobiography, embracing literally his birth in 1971, his deprived childhood, his early climbs initially with more failures than successes, and some of his world class exploits in the Alps and Patagonia, and particularly in Yosemite - all with continuing failures amongst many magnificent achievements. Difficulties when growing up were not helped by dyslexia not being addressed until Andy's schooldays were over; yet within a few years he set himself to write a story on his first escapades. He aspired to match the quality of writings by the likes of Joe Simpson and Jim Perrin - he hasn't! However Andy Kirkpatrick seems able to inveigle readers into sharing his moments of doubt - but then to support his `up-or-off' commitment as positive rather than recognise anything as insane or suicidal. Though his raw writing style may be limited and his storyline includes minor mistakes and some repetition, Andy Kirkpatrick's descriptions are graphic, his sense of humour shines through, his mood is self-effacing, and any shortcomings are offset by an innovative approach.As an author Andy interweaves sections of `my life' with `my climbs', and within these he uses italics to insert queries, to construct commentaries, to deliver homilies, and to direct the reader to specific issues. Also interspersed are references to family, particularly to his wife's fears - readers may ponder how `psycho' climbers choose to risk their own necks but it is relatives and friends who are left to grieve. His unusual intertwining technique continues with an ongoing chronicle serialising a frightening solo ascent of Reticent Wall on El Capitan - then reckoned to be the most difficult and dangerous route ever soloed by a British climber. Reticent Wall is at the heart of `Psychovertical' and if individual parts of the ascent had been delivered together the story may have been somewhat tedious, but slipped cleverly into the narrative it adds vigour and becomes alive. The book is further animated by introduction of hand drawn topos for various pitches - a flip side of Andy's dyslexia is an ability to draw, and in addition to customary blocks of colour photographs his delightful black and white sketches are scattered throughout to identify mountains/routes and to explain gear/techniques.Andy Kirkpatrick has survived and evolved to become one of Britain's top mountaineers with emphasis on wild big-wall climbing, yet he admits to "a scary and fraught learning curve". `Psychovertical' confirms he is lucky to be alive. It reveals an urge to extend his limits, but on many occasions this means courting disaster as he exhibits a form of blind confidence and he deliberately punches above his weight. But Andy's book is not just a jumble of hair-raising accounts, it is an open and conscientious assessment of what his climbing is about and what drives him on to break barriers and to grasp for greater and greater rewards. From start to finish `Psychovertical' is an inspiring and thrilling read - but even so some readers may feel relief when he tops out from Reticent Wall.