High Infatuation: A Climber's Guide to Love and Gravity

The book moves along well, weaving a thread of personal struggle in intense situations. The author makes it easy to visualize climbing at an extreme level. I was engaged and appreciated both the internal doubts and the drive to succeed. Definitely a top book for any climbers shelf.

I read High Infatuation as a way to gain some inspiration to keep me rock climbing and also to get some insight into the sport. Steph Davis is one of the top female climbers in the world and has accomplished several firsts for women in the sport so I was excited to get her book and read about her experiences. When I bought the book I had expected it to be more of a memoir, but I have to say I was really pleased with the essay format.High Infatuation is a collection of journal entries, photos and published articles by Davis as she finished difficult climbs through the years. While I probably would have preferred the essays to be in chronological order, or at least given more background so we understood where she was at the time and where she was coming from, I don't think it was necessary. Once I got to the end of the book I could see why she ordered it the way she did. If I had to read six essays about Patagonia in a row, I may have ended up getting bored with the book. Each of her quests was amazing to read about, with the last one (the Salathe wall in Yosemite) being my favorite. Her attempt of the Salathe in Yosemite was a difficult climb for her and it made me realize that even the pros still have challenges when it comes to climbing (that's why they're still climbing, right?).The photos in the book really helped me to understand better what she was talking about. They also made me want to get out and climb right away. Unfortunately my climbing partner has a bruised rib so we haven't been out in a few weeks, but hopefully we'll get out there before the weather gets too much warmer (it was 103 here yesterday!). This book definitely inspired me as much as I hoped it would ... but it also made me realize how much I still have to learn about rock climbing. There are about ten techniques I have written down that I have to go look up now and beg someone to teach me about. But then I just have to remind myself that Steph Davis has been climbing for more than 15 years and I feel a little better about my novice climbing skills.In the book I also loved the short clips she included. There was one about running that was only about two paragraphs long, but it was a beautiful image of running and why it feels so great. If you're a climber and want some inspiration (and tons of words you may not have heard before), then I'd recommend checking out this book.

I ordered this book last week and received it just in time for prime rainy weekend reading. First off great book. Steph describes climbs in Pakistan, Patagonia, Kyrgyzstan and across the United States in great detail and with a different lens (read female) than most climbing books. I was so pleased to see that she included information not just about the rock and routes, but about the cultures she visited and the people she met. I like reading about climbing, but for me climbing has always been a vehicle, or a reason to travel and keep moving, to lead a healthy life, to be a good person. I think Steph captured this notion in her book. There are short essays included on a variety of topics that seemed like they were journal entries at one time. She has such a unique view of things sometimes so different than myself, but other times just the same. I gave the book 5 stars but I wish it was longer. Her description of her trip to Pakistan could have been a decent length book by itself. Great work Steph! I hope I can convince my sister to read it.

The book is gripping! Full of intense stories of summit conquests, climbing adventures, and even deeper life questions that probably we all have pondered from time to time. I liked Steph's approach to life -- simple focus on nature, a very non-materialistic existence, and obsession of climbing projects. It gives a very true depiction of how grueling, hard and demanding climbing actually is. It takes a special type of person to continuously engage in something so painful and demanding but also rewarding. Inspirational book and a very fast read.

Great read! I appreciated the look into her life and not just a bunch of climbing beta.... as much as I like to talk about climbing, I also want to read about the lifestyles and hardships of being a climber.

Excellent book written by world class climber Steph Davis. I am also a climber and some of the prose really speaks to me. Steph is a talented writer, rare for a world class athlete. my only criticism is that this is a collection of articles and they are not dated, making it hard for me to follow. This is an exceptional read, a must for all climbers, an inspiration.

This is one of the best stories you will ever read in your entire life, buy this right now...go on, buy it!

Great read from a very intense and talented woman.

I bought this as a gift for a polish work colleague who is a ambitious rock climber and avid traveller.I think she will like this book as it will sustain her liberty and free thinking attitude to life.It will also aid her learning of the English language 😊

Steph Davis is one of those writers whose text fully captures one's attention. She is honest, intelligent, has a wonderful sense of humor and she knows how to write interestingly. Most of all, she really understands the subject. She is also able to turn that insight into words that are understandable to everyone.My humble opinion is that her writing achieves the same level of credibility and poetic beauty as do the best writings of the legendary French mountain guide, Gaston Rebuffat and American top level alpinist, Mark Francois Twight. The most common fault I often find in the climbing literature is the mindless egoism and heroism. Steph Davis avoids all this. I salute her integrity, honesty and internal strength. To a reader reasonably well acquainted with climbing and alpinism, it seems that the writer is climbing and writing for the 'right' and sustainable reasons. To me, this book draws a wonderful picture of a very interesting climber who has a warm heart, experience and wishdom to share with her readers.I am warmly recommending this book to everyone. You do not need to be a climber or alpinist to get an insight into climbers mind when you are guided by Steph Davis.

Just what I needed to read, she has a great writing style nice mix of informative and emotional.

A beautifully written book providing an honest insight into Steph, her lifestyle and philosophy. A fascinating and inspirational woman.

Fascinating insight into the life of a "dirtbag" climber. Just shows how climbing can become a life's obsession-if you let it