Book Review: Against the Wind by Reinhold Messner (2025)
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I make a real effort to read some of the books which come through the shop. Recently, I received a small package of books from a guy I've both bought and sold from before. These were mostly narratives, and nothing I was too familiar with. Amongst them was Against the Wind by Reinhold Messner, which came out in English just last year. I know Messner has written about fifty books, but I had never read one in full. Figuring that this was the most recent book, I thought maybe it would offer a fuller, richer perspective on the life and accomplishments of this most famous of mountaineers.
It does not.
This book is 100% concerned with revisiting Messner's past grudges and conflicts. And not in a way that adds new value or context, generally in a way that says - hey, I was right. Fuck these guys. Mostly, he seems irate over articles published in the South Tyrolean press decades ago. In fact, this book is so tightly connected to the drama and politics between Messner and his homeland, I am surprised it got translated into English. Does anyone really care? The way I see it, the publisher is just trading on Messner's famous name to sell books.
I am afraid to critique this book too thoroughly. Partly, because it doesn't deserve the efforts, and partly because this text almost seems to imply Messner will come after me if I say anything too harsh against him. It is astonishing that a man with such a breadth of accomplishment and experience appears to be so hung up on so many past, petty conflicts.
This is not just a backwards book, it is also a lazy book. Much of the text is comprised of excerpts from old writings and interviews: magazine articles, legal letters back and forth, etc. It must have been quick to write, because it did not require much writing.
The (only) good news here is that it's also quick to read. Each chapter is only a few pages long, and none of the topics does it touch in depth. I read the whole thing in two days of light work - hating it most of the way.
0/5 stars.
You can buy it from me for $5. Please do.
2 comments
You are correct Norm, it did come from you! It is sad, I am shocked no one along the way had the guts to tell him how he comes off. But they are in the business of making money, and know Messner is a name which sells, I suppose. My favorite book of his, so far, is The Big Walls. Perhaps because I encountered it in a mountain hut in Peru where the reading material was limited. But a beautiful book full of potential and vision… sorely lacking in this one.
Thanks for reading my humble thoughts!
Hi Dan, yeah that book might have come from me. After reading most of it I thought to myself how sad it is that Reinhold has turned in to such a bitter old man. Life is too short. Move on Rheinhold you were such an inspiration when you were at your peak. IMO his best book was the Seventh Grade.