On May 10, 1996, nine climbers perished in a blizzard high on Mount Everest, the single deadliest day ever on the peak. The following day, one of these victims was given a second chance. His name is Beck Weathers. The tale of Dr. Weathers's miraculous awakening from a deep hypothermic coma was widely reported. But the hidden story of what led the pathologist to Everest in the first place, and his painful recovery after his dramatic rescue, has not been told until now. Brilliant and gregarious, Weathers discovered in his thirties that mountain climbing helped him cope with the black dog of depression. But his self-prescribed therapy came at a steep cost: estrangement from his wife, Peach, and their two children. By the time he left for Everest, his home life had all but disintegrated. Yet when he was reported dead after lying exposed on the mountain for eighteen hours in subzero weather, it was Peach who orchestrated the daring rescue that brought her husband home. Only then, facing months of surgery and the loss of his hands, did Beck Weathers also begin to face himself, his family, his past, and his uncertain future. Candid and uncompromising, Left for Dead is a deeply compelling saga of crisis and change, and of the abiding power of love and family.
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Left for Dead is a deeply personal story, told in first person by a variety of people who contributed to the survival of Beck Weathers during the Everest accident of 1996 that left nine climbers dead. It goes past the tragedy to discuss why Weathers got involved in climbing in the first place, his lengthy and painful recovery, and the all-important relationship with his wife, Margaret (commonly referred to as Peach). Without Peach's hope and tenacity, it's likely that rescue efforts would not have been continued, and Weathers may never have recovered from the hypothermic coma and its dreadful results. The story of their relationship--they were estranged at the time of the accident--is told from both perspectives, and his obsession with mountains seems almost like another family member. The overall tone is straightforward and conversational: children, pets, and clothing feature as prominently as reconstructive surgery and heroic rescues. But no matter how plainly they are told, the events of that climb are sure to bring tears. Rob Hall's last conversation with his wife, climbers disappearing into the storm, Anatoli Boukreev's rescuing three people, and Weathers and climbing partner Yasuko being left for dead are just a few from a long list. Still, you'll find yourself laughing just pages later, when Weathers gets his rescue team to sing "Chain of Fools" while hiking back to safety--you can imagine Peach being in full agreement of that song's appropriateness. The Everest deaths affected people around the world, and this chronicle of one survivor and his family is a hopeful reminder of the good that can result from such tragedies. --Jill Lightner
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Publishers Weekly
A survivor of the disastrous Mt. Everest expedition described in Jon Krakauer's bestseller Into Thin Air, Weathers is the climber many readers will remember from searing media photos of a man with heavily bandaged hands and a face so badly frostbitten it scarcely seemed human. In fact, Weathers had been abandoned by his fellow mountaineers as dead and spent some 18 hours on the mountain in subzero temperatures before miraculously regaining his senses and staggering into camp. Back in the U.S., Weathers, who is a physician, lost both hands and underwent extensive facial reconstruction. But there were other wounds to heal: he had neglected his family so much in pursuit of his hobby that his wife had decided to end the marriage once he returned. Co-written with Michaud (The Evil That Men Do; The Only Living Witness), this book deals in part with the climb but mainly with Weathers's life before and after the catastrophe. The man who wrote this book doesn't seem any less self-absorbed than the one who climbed Mt. Everest. In the years before the disaster, Weathers spent every spare moment pursuing his own interests as his wife and children became strangers to him. Now he claims to have rediscovered his family, but, unfortunately, the reader learns very little about them. Ultimately, this engrossing tale depicts the difficulty of a man's struggle to reform his life. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
On the evening of May 10, 1996, a killer blizzard exploded around the upper reaches of Mount Everest, trapping me and dozens of other climbers high in the Death Zone of the Earth's tallest mountain. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
On the evening of May 10, 1996, a killer blizzard exploded around the upper reaches of Mount Everest, trapping me and dozens of other climbers high in the Death Zone of the Earth's tallest mountain. Read the first page
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By NorthVan Dave
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I bought this book hoping that Beck would provide some valuable insight in to what it was like to be, literally, left for dead. Instead I was forced to read about his personal salvation, his life struggle etc.
This is NOT a book about climbing or the Everest tragedy. If that's what you are looking for, then pass by this book. But even if you are looking for a book in which a man grew from adversity, I'd say bypass this book. It really is not engaging. I finished the book, if only because I hate starting book only to never finish them.
Overall comments - pass on this one.
This is NOT a book about climbing or the Everest tragedy. If that's what you are looking for, then pass by this book. But even if you are looking for a book in which a man grew from adversity, I'd say bypass this book. It really is not engaging. I finished the book, if only because I hate starting book only to never finish them.
Overall comments - pass on this one.
By T. Moore III
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The subtitle is "My Journey Home From Everest" which should actually be the title. By page 99 out of page 340, Mr. Weathers is out of the mountains trying to cope with being back in civilization after going through lleh.
I didn't read the subtitle when I was buying the book and was expecting most of the book to be about his time on Everest. Unfortunately it wasn't to be. By page 160 when he is battling with his psychological demons, a problematic family life, etc., it was time for me to put the book down and move on to other books. While he was successful with most of his battles and no doubt is inspiring, he uses his Mount Everest experience to springboard into his personal spiritual battle.
If you want to read this book, read it as a spiritual conquest by someone who happens to climb mountains.
Do not read this book as a mountaineering book.
I have listened to a speech that Mr. Weathers gave to the American Bar Association and think the world of him and what he went through on the mountain. Unfortunately I think very little of his book here. :-(
By Mary Nears
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Somehow, Beck Weathers managed to write a book about the tragic climb and descent and death and coming back to life atop Everest totally boring. Enjoyed Beck and Peach's chapters on their cats more than anything.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beck's Bagagge
Was hoping for more of his take on the events preceeding and immediately following the disaster rather than just a grocery list account the details of which I am already familiar... Read more
Published on July 22 2008 by John C. Marshall
2.0 out of 5 stars
"this book is boring me ****less." - a comment to my wife
To be perfectly clear, I am glad I read this book. The problem is that I'm only glad to have read about 20% of it, the rest is stuff that I frankly could care less about. Read more
Published on July 1 2004 by Steven Tursi
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not much of an Everest book
I read this book and was severely disappointed in the story. I've read a lot of the accounts from the 1996 tragedy and Beck Weathers story was particularly fascinating. Read more
Published on April 23 2004
3.0 out of 5 stars
The adventure and the recovery
When reading other books about the May 1996 tragedy on Mount Everest I got more interested in the man who was declared dead, but then miraceously escaped the maountain. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2004 by Andreas Bjärlestam
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Psychology of a Climber
This is not a typical mountaineering book. If you are looking for detailed descriptions about Camp 4 or the Hillary Step, this is not the book for you. Read more
Published on Nov 4 2003 by D. O. Becker
4.0 out of 5 stars
After Into Thin Air, this is a MUST READ
If you haven't yet read Into Thin Air, do it before reading this book; it'll help put the necessary perspective to Dr. Weathers' incredible survival tale. Read more
Published on Oct 26 2003 by Peggy Vincent
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty good overall
This is a pretty good book. However at least half of the book is dedicated to Weathers' home life and problems with his marriage. Read more
Published on July 7 2003 by K. Nelson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why climb a mountain?
Pretty much the autobiography of how a man almost lost his life on Everest, but somehow recovered his body and soul in the end. Read more
Published on April 2 2003 by Ryan Yeung
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some insight as to what happened
You kind of have to dig to find out what Dr. Weathers really thinks about the whole Everest 96 disaster. Bottom line: He was climbing when he should have been husbanding. Read more
Published on Jan 21 2003 by D. Yasko
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ah, so that explains it!
I have always looked beyond the flippant "Because it is there" to understand why people climb mountains like Everest. Read more
Published on Jan 11 2003 by Linda Unger
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