Best Book Recommendations

Hi there fellow climbers, 

Although I’ve been climbing for more than a year now, I’ve been feeling like I want to expand my knowledge when it comes to indoor and outdoor climbing. I’ve recently been getting more practice in with sport climbing, and would love some books to read to help expand my knowledge when it comes to outdoor climbing. Love any advice you can offer, thank you!!

PS would also love suggestions for great books for beginner climbers

I would suggest Down: The Complete Descent Manual for Climbers, Alpinists and Mountaineers by Andy Kirkpatrick.

Anything written by Andy Kirkpatrick is a great read. Higher Education and Me Myself and I both are all about Big Wall Climbing. 

Here are some more recommendations from others.

The Rock Warriors Way

Rock Climbing Anchors

Climbing Self Rescue: Improvising Solutions for Serious Situations

Single Pitch Instructor Manual

Crack Climbing: The Definitive Guide by Pete Whittaker

The Crack Climber's Technique Manual by Kent Pease

Walt Peters wrote:

I would suggest Down: The Complete Descent Manual for Climbers, Alpinists and Mountaineers by Andy Kirkpatrick.

Seconded. It’s one hell of a book. Read it, read it again, reread it, and when you’re bored, keep reading. Try to digest as much as possible. Practice on the ground before you do any of the systems up high. Practibolts are good for, well, practicing on, and a six foot piece of old cordekette is great to throw in a pocket to practice knots when you’re out and about. 

Alpine Climbing, Techniques to Take You Higher

Even if you don’t climb alpine, you should really have some of these skills 

Not so helpful for climbing or technical skills, but Hangdog Days by Jeff Smoot is an excellent read on the evolution of harder climbing!

Freedom of the Hills is a good addition to any climbing library.

Here's a list if you have any interest in going down the lore rabbit hole 

• Stone Crusade: A Historical Guide to Bouldering in America
• Climb!: The History of Rock Climbing in Colorado
• Camp 4: Recollections of a Yosemite Rockclimber
• Valley of Giants: Stories from Women at the Heart of Yosemite Climbing
• Pilgrims of the Vertical: Yosemite Rock Climbers and Nature at Risk
• Yankee Rock & Ice: A History of Climbing in the Northeastern United States
• Hangdog Days: Conflict, Change, and the Race for 5.14
• Conquistadors of the Useless
• The White Spider: The Classic Account of the Ascent of the Eiger
• Annapurna: The First Conquest Of An 8,000-Meter Peak
• Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber
• Trad Climber's Bible
• Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World
• Rock Jocks, Wall Rats, and Hang Dogs: Rock Climbing on the Edge of Reality
• High Infatuation: A Climber's Guide to Love and Gravity
• The Push: A Climber's Search for the Path
• Sherman Exposed: Slightly Censored Climbing Stories
• Vantage Point: 50 Years of the Best Climbing Stories Ever Told
• When in Doubt, Go Higher: A Mountain Gazette Anthology

I'd recommend Beginner's Guide To Rock Climbing - Dave Burkhart

I originally got this book because the Kindle version is free lol. But I've actually found it to be written in a way that's easy to follow and understand, and as a beginner, learning the correct terms and safety tips has been great. If you're not a beginner it's probably too simple for you, but it was an education for me. :) 

https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Rock-Climbing-guidelines-ebook/dp/B0BVJVT1ZY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1683137294&sr=8-9