Summary Of The Book

Alone on the Wall is a story about the free solo rock climber Alex Honnold. Alex is an expert in a specialized style of big wall rock climbing called, free soloing. Free soloing is when someone climbs a wall without any ropes, harnesses or safety equipment. This style of rock climbing is extremely dangerous and a single mistake could cost the climber their life.

Alex Honnold is a one of a kind free solo specialist because he successfully climbs huge walls with only rock climbing shoes and a bag of chalk. There are very few rock climbers in the world as skilled, experienced and inspiring as Alex Honnold.

So in this book, you will learn about Alex Honnold’s background, his greatest achievements and actual stories based on his experiences on and off the wall. As he is an extreme athlete, this book is not for people with weak stomachs because in this book Alex will take you on a thrilling journey through some of his greatest challenges and accomplishments.

About one year ago today, I fell in love with a new sport called, rock climbing. I have become so obsessed with rock climbing that I spend many hours every week climbing, getting stronger and conquering walls. I haven’t had the chance to go big wall outdoor rock climbing yet because I don’t have enough experience. But I have already been able to try outdoor bouldering and I can see why so many people fall in love with the outdoor climbing experience.

Rock climbing is an amazing sport as it challenges both your mind and body. The physical aspect of rock climbing requires both strength and endurance for boulder problems, top rope climbing, lead climbing and training. But rock climbing also engages the mind because it forces you to solve complex problems while using a variety of techniques. So becoming a great rock climber doesn’t result from sheer strength, it also requires the ability to read and break down complex problems and utilize a variety of techniques.

Furthermore, since I became fascinated and immersed in the rock climbing world I have grown to idolize famous rock climbers such as Alex Honnold. Thus, when I found out that he wrote a book, I had to read it. Alex Honnold is the Michael Jordan of rock climbing, it’s that simple. If you are a rock climber, you know and respect the feats of the great Alex Honnold.

Key Takeaways From This Book

This book was not only inspirational but very fascinating because Alex takes you behind the scenes of his life and walks you through some of his greatest challenges and achievements. He shows the reader that anything is possible if you prepare yourself and put your mind to it, anything at all. Furthermore, one of the most inspiring elements about Alex Honnold is the fact that he made a great living doing something that he loves even though people said it was impossible. This idea of “impossible” is also consistent with how people have told him that some of the walls that he wanted to free solo were “impossible” until he successfully did it and made history.

In addition, this book takes you into the mind of Alex “No Big Deal” Honnold who supposedly has no fear when it comes to climbing. But in this book, you get a taste of what it takes to become a world class athlete through his mindset, lifestyle, and relentless determination.  Personally, I was simply in awe when reading this book especially when Alex showcases what it takes to be successful and the internal complex that a lot of top achievers have.

Furthermore, some of the stories about Alex’s life will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to read on because they are simply amazing. Honestly, his meditative approach to conquering some of the most unfathomable climbs is what I often reflect about when it comes to my own personal goals and struggles. Alex Honnold’s ability to stay calm and push through some of the craziest and most dangerous situations while rock climbing, is what I strive for in regards to school, my career, my personal life, and sports.

Additionally, one of the concepts I realized through this book was that Alex often says, he is not the strongest climber in the world physically. But it is clear that his mental strength when it comes to assessing risk, overcoming difficult situations, staying focused in both training and performance and achieving personal goals, is what truly matters for world class performance. This idea is noteworthy because in life our mindset and perspective is often the only thing stopping us from achieving a goal.

Who Should Read This Book

My Rating Of This Book

I rate this book a 10/10 because it was definitely one of my favorite books to read. It was very motivational and enjoyable as it engages the reader’s imagination while providing valuable life lessons through stories. I honestly think of this book as both as an inspiring biography and a self-help book on how you can accomplish your biggest goals, as Alex Honnold has done.