Touch the Top of the World, Erik Weihenmayer
Touch the Top of the World, Erik Weihenmayer
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Touch the Top of the World
A Blind Man’s Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See

Author: Erik Weihenmayer

Narrator: Nick Sullivan

Unabridged: 11 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/17/2002


Synopsis

Erik Weihenmayer was born with retinoscheses, a degenerative eye disorder that would leave him blind by the age of thirteen. But Erik was determined to rise above this devastating disability and lead a fulfilling and exciting life. In this poignant and inspiring memoir, he shares his struggle to push past the limits imposed on him by his visual impairment—and by a seeing world. He speaks movingly of the role his family played in his battle to break through the barriers of blindness: the mother who prayed for the miracle that would restore her son’s sight and the father who encouraged him to strive for that distant mountaintop. And he tells the story of his dream to climb the world’s Seven Summits—and how he turned that dream into astonishing reality, something fewer than two hundred mountaineers have achieved.From the snow-capped summit of McKinley to the towering peaks of Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro to the ultimate challenge, Mount Everest, this is a story about daring to dream in the face of impossible odds. It is about finding the courage to reach for that ultimate summit and transform your life into something truly miraculous.

About Erik Weihenmayer

Erik Weihenmayer is a world-class athlete: an acrobatic skydiver, long-distance biker, marathon runner, skier, mountaineer, ice climber, and rock climber. In 2008 he became the first blind person to climb the world’s Seven Summits, including Mount Everest. He is the author of Touch the Top of the World and The Adversity Advantage. He is a co-founder of No Barriers USA, which helps those with special challenges to live active and purposeful lives.

About Nick Sullivan

Nick Sullivan has narrated audiobooks for over twenty years and has recorded over four hundred titles. An Audie Award winner, he is also the recipient of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards. His TV and film credits include The Good Wife, The Affair, Bull, Boardwalk Empire, 30 Rock, Our Idiot Brother, and Private Life.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Aimee on April 16, 2015

As a blind person, my most recurrent thought while reading this book was "Holy crap, why is he risking his fingers this way?" Sub-zero temperatures, even lower windchills, and clawing your way over jagged rocks by hand? Not for me, thank you very much. Actually, even if I had 20/20 vision I'd still h......more

Goodreads review by Nancy on August 20, 2014

The human part of the story, having sight and Erik's memory, and then the trouble started at a young age since he was blind at 13/14. This poignant and optimistic tack in lieu of other family tragedy would encourage anyone and perhaps have them closing the book and more grateful of what they do have.......more

Goodreads review by Fabio on January 23, 2009

This guy is blind and has climbed every mountain on earth. I cant even fit in my pants. This book really helps you realize how lazy you are. which is why I burned it and ate some ice cream.......more

Goodreads review by Kristopher on November 08, 2008

This was a decent read that had me laughing at times. Thanks to his very graceful acceptance of his condition, he tells the story in a way that doesn't draw attention to his disability in the expected sense. He continually places it in a reducible context...which is very odd, considering that most p......more

Goodreads review by Kelly on March 23, 2017

My sister LOVES Eric Weihenmayer; he is her hero and she talks about him on a daily basis. She surprised me recently with a signed copy of this book. It was a very effective way to force me to read it so we could talk about him together. Weihenmayer -who went blind by the time he started high school-......more


Quotes

“Weihenmayer’s experiences, above all, remind readers of what the blind and the sighted have in common.” Barnes & Noble, editorial review

“Weihenmayer tells his extraordinary story with humor, honesty and vivid detail, and his fortitude and enthusiasm are deeply inspiring.” Publishers Weekly

“Author and narrator combine to tell you Erik’s unusual story…Self-pity never sufaces in the text or the reading; what comes through is Weihenmayer’s sense of humor and love of practical jokes.” AudioFile

“Reader Nick Sullivan carries the narrative smoothly and distinguishes the quotations from some quirky characters. Recommended for listeners interested in climbing, blindness, and travel.” Library Journal