2018 Colorado Book Awards finalist in Creative Nonfiction, and National Bestseller and Honorable Mention Award Winner in the Outdoor Literature category of the 2017 National Outdoor Book Awards (NOBA) “A beautiful book about family and finding a way to achieve more than you ever thought possible.” —Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author Erik Weihenmayer is the first and only blind person to summit Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Descending carefully, he and his team picked their way across deep crevasses and through the deadly Khumbu Icefall; when the mountain was finally behind him, Erik knew he was going to live. His expedition leader slapped him on the back and said something that would affect the course of Erik’s life: “Don’t make Everest the greatest thing you ever do.” No Barriers is Erik’s response to that challenge. It is the moving story of his journey since descending Mount Everest: from leading expeditions around the world with blind Tibetan teenagers to helping injured soldiers climb their way home from war, from adopting a son from Nepal to facing the most terrifying reach of his life: to solo kayak the thunderous whitewater of the Grand Canyon. Along the course of Erik’s journey, he meets other trailblazers—adventurers, scientists, artists, and activists—who, despite trauma, hardship, and loss, have broken through barriers of their own. These pioneers show Erik surprising ways forward that surpass logic and defy traditional thinking. Like the rapids of the Grand Canyon, created by inexorable forces far beneath the surface, No Barriers is a dive into the heart and mind at the core of the turbulent human experience. It is an exploration of the light that burns in all of us, the obstacles that threaten to extinguish that light, and the treacherous ascent towards growth and rebirth.
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“Erik Weihenmayer’s life is so rich, so full of accomplishments, that his story alone is interesting. But paired with a seasoned narrator, the blind adventurer’s tale becomes even more alive. Narrator Holter Graham does more than simply recount the physical challenges of climbing mountains and conquering rapids while blind. He also brings to life the emotional challenges of Weihenmayer’s life…Graham gives each person in the book a distinct vocal identity, complete with varied tones, inflections, and accents. While ensuring that listeners always know who’s who, he also reflects the dignity of the many people who are part of Weihenmayer’s life. A discussion between the author and a pal follows.”
— AudioFile
“An inspiration to other blind people and plenty of us folks who can see just fine.”
— Jon Krakauer, New York Time bestselling author“No Barriers is more than an incredible adventure story—it’s a beautiful book about family and finding a way to achieve more than you ever thought possible.”
— Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author“A shining testament to the truth that both on rivers and in life, it is within the pockets of turbulence—the places where chaos reigns greatest—that discovery, wisdom, and growth await. Weihenmayer’s powers of discernment are acute, startling, and deeply inspirational.”
— Kevin Fedarko, New York Times bestselling author“Weihenmayer presents an exhilarating adventure story of arduous mountain climbing and whitewater kayaking, but he also offers broader life lessons. A wonderful tribute to the greatness of the human spirit.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Chronicling a grueling journey navigating eddies and rapids while paying homage to the complexity of families and bonds of friendship forged through shared experiences…the author also offers a poignant account of adopting his son from Nepal and details fascinating medical advances concerning neuroplasticity, the brain’s capacity to change…Guaranteed to inspire.”
— BooklistErik Weihenmayer's life is so rich, so full of accomplishments, that his story alone is interesting... He also brings to life the emotional challenges of Weihenmayer's life--the frustrations of dealing with a difficult brother and of trying to adopt a boy from Nepal. Graham gives each person in the book a distinct vocal identity, complete with varied tones, inflections, and accents.
— AudioFile MagazineBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Erik Weihenmayer is a world-class athlete: an acrobatic skydiver, long-distance biker, marathon runner, skier, mountaineer, ice climber, and rock climber. In 2008 he became the first blind person to climb the world’s Seven Summits, including Mount Everest. He is the author of Touch the Top of the World and The Adversity Advantage. He is a co-founder of No Barriers USA, which helps those with special challenges to live active and purposeful lives.
Buddy Levy teaches writing and literature at Washington State University and is the author of numerous books, including No Barriers (with Erik Weihenmayer), River of Darkness, and Conquistador, which was a finalist for the 2009 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award. Levy’s essay “Leaps of Faith” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2006. He lives in northern Idaho.
Bob Woodruff was named coanchor
of ABC’s World News Tonight. While
reporting on US and Iraqi security forces, he was seriously injured by a
roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq.
Holter Graham, winner of three of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voice of the Year awards, is a stage, television, and screen actor. He has recorded numerous audiobooks and earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actor, his film credits include Fly Away Home, Maximum Overdrive, Hairspray, and The Diversion, a short film which he acted in and produced. On television, he has appeared in Army Wives, Damages, As the World Turns, Rescue Me, Law & Order, and New York Undercover. He received a BA degree from Skidmore College and an MFA from Vermont College.