Seven Summits

Seven Summits, General Editor Steve Bell, publisher Mitchell Beazley RRP £20

'During the 21st Century, more exciting adventures of this kind will be contrived to test our strength and spirit in an age when such challenges are no longer forced upon us' - Steve Bell

I found this book simultaneously inspiring and frustrating, which is a pretty good trick really. Inspiring because scattered here and there among these fragmented accounts from climbers pursuing the goal of climbing the highest peak on every continent are some genuinely interesting observations and emotions to be picked through. Frustrating because even after not one, but two forewords and an extensive introduction by Steve Bell, I was still no closer to understanding why any of the protagonists felt it necessary to pursue 'the seven'.

It seemed somehow fitting that the master of the contrived challenge, media adventurer David Hempelman-Adam should pop up talking about Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica. It's all a bit 'because it's there' with tinkling brass balls on. Or maybe it's just 'because we're bored.'

That said, it's an attractive and well-illustrated book that takes you in turns through each of the seven summits through different eyes, if you've ever wondered what Elbrus, Carstensz Pyramid or Vinson look like and whether you could climb them, then this is the book for you. Everest has been dragged through the media mill over the past few years, but on less familiar ground, there's a freshness to the photography that even if it doesn't motivate you to tackle all seven, will still fire a few dreams.

Truly great mountain writing this isn't - much of it is a little too pedestrian - but it's readable enough especially if you choose to sit back, dip into the little self-contained episodes, look at the pictures and dream. More practically, it's the first English language book I've some across that has given a feel for what Aconcagua, Denali or Vinson are really like and that alone will make it a must have for some.

If that sounds a little negative, it's not meant that way. Suspend disbelief and treat it as an attractive informative coffee table book and you won't be disappointed.

To buy this book from amazon.co.uk where it's currently selling for four quid below the RRP click here.

The Seven Summits

At the time of publication some 65 people had climbed all seven summits including Steve Bell, the editor of this collection. Steve was actually Brit number six, the five who beat him to it being in order: Keith Kerr, Rebecca Stephens, David Hempleman-Adams, Doug Scott and Ginette Harrison. Bell runs the well known Sheffield-based mountaineering outfit Jagged Globe.