Best Books about Everest

Mount Everest has captivated the imagination of climbers, adventurers and readers for over a century. The world's highest mountain has been the setting for extraordinary human achievement, devastating tragedy, and everything in between. Whether you're planning your own expedition, fascinated by mountaineering history, or simply drawn to tales of human endurance, there's an Everest book waiting for you.

The literature of Everest falls into several distinct categories. Classic expedition accounts document the early attempts and first ascent, offering invaluable historical perspective. Modern disaster narratives examine what happens when conditions turn deadly on the mountain. Personal memoirs provide intimate views of what it's really like to climb the world's highest peak. Sherpa perspectives give voice to the people whose culture and labour make most Everest ascents possible. And investigative histories explore the broader context of how and why people climb Everest.

For British readers with a particular interest in the mountain's history, The Ascent of Everest by John Hunt remains the definitive account of the successful 1953 British expedition. Hunt's leadership and his team's achievement represent a watershed moment in mountaineering history, and this book captures it with clarity and grace.

If you're drawn to more recent events, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is essential reading. His firsthand account of the 1996 disaster that killed eight climbers in a single day remains the most widely-read Everest book of all time. For a different perspective on the same events, The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev offers a contrasting view that sparked considerable debate.

Those interested in what motivates people to risk everything for the summit should explore High Exposure by David Breashears, which combines stunning photography with profound insights into the climbing life. The books in this guide will help you understand not just what happens on Everest, but why the mountain continues to exert such a powerful hold on the human imagination.