The Push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits by Tommy Caldwell

The Push: A Climber's Journey of Endurance, Risk, and Going Beyond Limits by Tommy Caldwell is a memoir that recounts the life and climbing career of one of the world’s most accomplished rock climbers. The book centers on Caldwell's remarkable journey to push the boundaries of physical and mental endurance, as well as his personal struggles and triumphs, including the extraordinary challenge of free-climbing El Capitan's Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park, one of the most difficult and daring feats in the world of climbing.

The narrative begins with Caldwell’s early life, growing up in Colorado as a passionate climber, and follows his evolution into one of the leading figures in modern rock climbing. Throughout the book, Caldwell reflects on his personal experiences with climbing, sharing both his love for the sport and the obstacles that come with it, including physical injury, mental challenges, and the risks that climbers take in pursuit of their goals.

One of the key focuses of The Push is Caldwell’s journey to complete the first free climb of the Dawn Wall in 2015, a project that took him years to plan and prepare for. The Dawn Wall, located in Yosemite's El Capitan, is considered one of the most difficult and iconic climbs in the world. Caldwell and his climbing partner, Kevin Jorgeson, faced numerous challenges during their attempt, including physical exhaustion, harsh weather conditions, and the mental strain of enduring such a difficult task. Caldwell recounts how the climb required not just technical skill and strength, but immense perseverance and belief in himself and his team.

In addition to the physical and technical aspects of climbing, the book delves into Caldwell’s personal life and struggles. He reflects on the traumatic experience of being kidnapped by militants while climbing in Kyrgyzstan in 2000, a harrowing event that left him with lasting emotional scars. He also shares his journey through difficult relationships, including his marriage, and how climbing served as both a refuge and a source of strength during times of personal turmoil.

As a whole, this was a well-liked book by the group as most of us enjoy sport climbing to a degree. None of us could deny that what he accomplished was a major undertaking, and his remarkable dedication to pursuing something that was considered impossible was highly inspirational. Hearing the journey, struggles, and accomplishments from his childhood through adulthood also humanized Tommy significantly.

Our conversations focused more on the parts leading up to his ascent rather than of the actual achievement; it was difficult to have any other opinion of the climb other than it being epic and impressive. So, we discussed the horrific hostage situation that bonded him with his first wife, including what we would do if we were also in that situation. We talked about his failing marriage and whether or not this needed to occur for him to consider climbing the Dawn Wall. Complaints from this book varied depending on whether someone was more of a climber or more of a climbing-appreciator: climbers wished there was less of the slow, mundane life and relationship content and more of the technical climbing details. For folks less into climbing, criticism came with the climbing jargon.

Fortunately, this book also had a movie, The Dawn Wall, so our book club temporarily enjoyed an outdoor screening to pair with the book. Together, the book and movie greatly complimented each other, each putting emphasis on slightly different perspectives and topics.

Group mean rating: 7.4/10