The Gap Years, Tom French
The Gap Years, Tom French
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The Gap Years
Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back

Author: Tom French

Narrator: Jason Culp

Unabridged: 9 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/13/2026

Synopsis

An inspiring story of adventure and endurance in a quest to rediscover the passions of youth.At the end of 2019, Tom French retired from a four-decade career in business, determined to return to interests that had defined his youth and see what meaning they still held. One of these interests was mountaineering. Another was adventure travel, with a particular focus on Nepal. A third was cross-country ski racing. Having taken “gap years” between school and university, and again before he started work, he decided to take a gap year before settling into the expectations of retirement. One year turned into three as he rebuilt his athletic strength, competed in cross-country ski marathons, and climbed some of the world’s highest mountains, including two expeditions to Mount Everest. On the first Everest climb, a cyclone forced him to turn around high on the mountain and descend the treacherous Lhotse Face in a blizzard. On the second, he approached the mountain through the remote Makalu Barun region, the first climber ever to do so, and climbed to the summit on a moonlit night.But this is an audiobook about much more than Everest. It is about beauty and joy found in wild places, about cross-country ski racing and mountaineering more broadly, and—most of all—about a journey to find meaning in life and reconnect with the passions of youth.

About Tom French

Tom French is a lifelong mountaineer, cross-country skier, and lover of the outdoors. A senior partner emeritus of McKinsey & Company, he is currently board chair of the Trustees of Reservations, a director of Corning Incorporated, and serves on several other nonprofit boards. He lives in Massachusetts, with his wife, Jill.

About Jason Culp

Jason Culp, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, has been acting since the age of ten, and his credits include a variety of television, theater, and film roles. He is best known for his role as Julian Jerome on General Hospital. In addition to audiobooks and voice-over work in national commercials, he has also narrated documentaries for National Geographic and the History Channel.

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Quotes

“A riveting personal adventure story.” Kirkus Reviews

“Recommended for outdoor enthusiasts, cross-country skiers, and mountaineers, plus older readers who will be inspired to reacquaint themselves with past interests and embrace new experiences in their golden years.” Booklist

“The Gap Years is engaging, exciting, and revelatory—an adventure story that will take the reader to some of the remotest places in the world and yet remains grounded in the more familiar terrain of the human heart.” Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Travels with George

“It’s not too late for extraordinary adventure! Tom French makes a compelling case that trying hard things when you’re older offers different rewards than in one’s youth—this is a beautiful account that will almost certainly get you out the door!” Bill McKibben, author of Long Distance

“An inspiring and thrilling account of a quest to fulfill the dreams of youth and summit the most challenging mountains of the world, from Mount Washington to Aconcagua to Everest. A story not just about the power of determination, but more importantly about the restorative power of the outdoors.” Nicole Zussman, president and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club

“As a veteran of fifteen Everest expeditions I was moved by Tom’s description of this special region of Nepal. The Gap Years allows armchair adventurers a glimpse into climbing and skiing at the highest level, while chasing the zeal of youth.” Mike Hammill, author of Climbing the Seven Summits

“Tom takes us on an inspiring journey and so much more in his beautifully written book. He has penned a mountain climber’s white-knuckle thriller all the while closely examining the arc and purpose of life. To read it is to be moved!” James Gorman, chairman of the Walt Disney Company

“In The Gap Years, French shows it’s never too late to reignite old passions. His journey is a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to rediscovering what truly makes us feel alive.” Bill Koch, 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist and 1982 Overall World Cup Champion

“Joy floods Tom’s life and his writing; with climbing logistics and impossible weather, with friendships built with fellow climbers, guides, and Sherpas. He writes for himself, but also for those who prefer the proverbial armchair to read what it took to descend Everest’s Lhotse face in a snowstorm, or to stand on Cholatse’s summit in bright sunshine.” Laura Waterman, author of Calling Wild Places Home

“As French returns, at age sixty, to the Nordic trails of New England and the peaks of the Himalayas, he reminds us that the most elegant outdoor journeys always end where they begin. The Gap Years is a riveting must-read for any mountain athlete wishing to keep the fire burning.” Michael Wejchert, author of Hidden Mountains: Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong

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