Sacred Mountain Everest

Reader reviewed by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, The Original H.I.R. (Historical Investigative Reporter)

Sacred Mountain Everest, by Christine Taylor-Butler, is a dashing book that celebrates all things Everest. It has more unique features than can be listed in this review, but the most striking of these is its focus on the many lives that Everest has touched, not just the lives it has taken.

Taylor-Butler begins with a long-overdue lesson on the Sherpa, a gentle and unassuming people with a unique ability to adapt to Everest's harsh climate and rugged lifestyle. She offers a compassionate tale of their lives, their beliefs and their bond with the mountain. She even touches on current efforts to improve their futures, including scholarships for their education, and donations to raise awareness about Sherpa history and culture.

This book is chocked full of juicy tidbits, like how the Sherpa say the days of the week in their language; how the Himalayas were formed; how Everest was first measured; and how the mountain got its name, including a historical photo of its namesake, Sir George Everest. There are surprises, too, like Taylor-Butler's inclusion of the mysterious photo of the footprint left by that elusive creature many people call, "The Abominable Snowman," which first appeared on Everest in 1951.

This is one of the most delightful, most meticulously-written books I've read in a long time. Every conceivable topic is covered, then backed with carefully chosen black-and-white and color photographs. There is even a section on Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa guide who saved the life of mountain climber Edmund Hillary, and later made history with him when they became the first humans known to have set foot on the top of Mount Everest.

If you're looking for the perfect inspiration for that future mountain climber in your home or classroom, Sacred Mountain Everest is definitely the book for you.

Congratulations Christine Taylor-Butler, for a job well done.