Sherpa: Stories of Life and Death from the Guardians of Everest

Sherpa” is the book written by home-grown Nepali authors who have brilliantly portrayed the struggle and staggering experiences and achievements of Sherpa mountaineering communities (pre and post mountaineering evolution). Frankly, I felt on top of the world reading to real life stories of Sherpa as they play different roles being porters, weather experts, technicians, medics, climbers, etc.. leading to best expedition companies in the whole world. Most importantly, the book showcases the tremendous role played by female Sherpa living in harsh conditions by taking care of family and handling their hotels, it’s not only that some go beyond social norms and traditions to achieve the feat one could never imagine. Besides these, as mountaineering have been booming like never before, authors highlight the present challenges such as melting glaciers, dead body and litters plying in the one of the majestic places in the earth. After reading the book, I have no doubt that their for Sherpa, Climbing is in their blood as they are Superhero or X-Men of the Mountains. This book doesn’t only glorify Sherpa’s summits feat, but also provide the the back story on what goes behind achieving greatest feat in the world. If you are interested in reading first-hand Sherpa stories which feels like Sherpa themselves sharing their stories, then this is definitely a must highly recommended read.

Good book

A fascinating series of chapters focussing on a different Sherpa and their experience of how they came to the mountains and in many cases what they did after.It is easy to think of Sherpas as natural passionate climbers, but this book reminds you it is often just a means of earning a living in some of the most dangerous environments in earth.The authors focus on the development and achievements of the individual Sherpas and their communities, the story’s are not hung on the efforts of western climbers which makes them all the richer.A mixture of tragedy, inspiration and achievement. Recommended to anyone interested in the wider climbing community, and these essential actors in achieving the most difficult summits.

The authors tell such amazing stories, but I really did not like the writing style. Lots of other reviewers have raved about the authenticity of the storytellers' voice, but I found it distracting. Each story comes across as a poverty-to-global-success tale without much in between. I was hoping that the book would have been written by climbers, with more insight into the mountains and the difficulty in learning the craft, but actually it came across as a little voyearistic, with city people pushing their way into the lives of the sherpas to ask questions. But that doesn't stop it being a fascinating book.

For me, this is how history should be told. A fascinating exploration of the culture, history, mountaineering achievements and tragedies of the Sherpa people of the Himalayas. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and how it placed their human stories at the heart of the book.In 1953 Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary became the first to summit Everest. It was the first expedition where a Sherpa was considered as an equal climber and not only viewed as a skilled porter, and shot them both to fame. Since then the mountaineering tourism industry has boomed, providing an economic lifeline to the Sherpa people; employment which is an ever tipping balance between opportunity and danger. I was overwhelmed by the hardships faced, their endurance and their strength and kindness of community.I enjoyed experiencing Sherpas’ mountaineering record-breaking, entrepreneurship and investment in their communities. It was also amazing to become aware of the realities of the challenge that is Everest to climbers and how it takes months to reach the point of "going for the summit."I sincerely hope there will be many more books like this out there.

WOW WOW WOW What an incredible book, I never knew much about Sherpa's but after reading this book I have so much respect for them. It is such an incredible journey that you go on when reading this book, I really feel for these men and women who are trying to provide for their families but are risking their lives every time they make the journey not just up Everest but down too. I found this book a really interesting and knowledgeable read and the pictures bring the stories of these men and women so much more to life, every single one of them are incredible and I am so in awe of them and what they do on a daily basis. After reading this book it is not something I would ever want to do because of some of the sights that you see but anyone that does it and comes back safe is incredible. Sherpas are unsung heroes in my book.

Every page is inspiring and so easy to read. I am hooked beyond the book and following half of the Sherpas mentioned here on YouTube and Instagram. And I am planning a trip to atleast Lukla or Namche Bazar just because of this book.It's is very well documented and will definitely make you wonder about Sherpas Math.

The iron men and women in the mountains.Saviour, breadwinner, family.Amazing people.Amazing grit.