Every person who has climbed a mountain, especially if there was some risk in doing so has been asked, "Why?". Many a mountaineer cannot answer, at least in a way the questioner might understand. "The Will to Climb" contains many terrifying accounts of amazing climbers blazing new and perilous routes on the most dangerous and most difficult to climb mountains in the world. These accounts alone, well written in a riviting style, are reason enough to read this book. But beyond this, Viesturs attemps to explain the "why." He does so by incorporating the writings of many of the trail-blazing mountaineers, most known to him personally. Climbing is often felt as a personal emotional experience so the "why" often differs with each mountaineer. There are many "whys" but there are also many common threads. Reading this book will bring you to a better understanding of human nature and why some will risk everything to summit a dangerous and daunting mountain. This is a book that anyone who has ever climbed or thought about doing so will immensely enjoy. It's also an especially good book for anyone, and that's most of us, who finds vicarous pleasure in reading great adventure. "The Will to Climb" is a great read as told by one of America's most accomplished and outstanding mountaineers. There is action along with amazing insight on every page.