High Achiever: The Life and Climbs of Chris Bonington by Jim Curran (1999)

Sir Christian Bonington was probably Britain's best-known climber from the 1960s to the 2000s. Although no slouch as an individual climber, Bonington really shined in his role as expedition leader for large Himalayan trips, including several attempts for new routes on Everest, Annapurna South Face, Changabang, The Ogre, Menglutse, and many more.

This was the age of the national expedition to win glory in the greater ranges, making the summit by any means. Bonington proved to be a genius both at the climbing and organizing, as well as the self-promotion and people-pleasing required to fund this lifestyle — and eventually earn himself a knighthood. 

Although Bonington himself wrote about twelve books including a three-volume autobiography, sometimes true perspective comes from outside the self, which is where this book comes in. It is a biography, not an autobiography, and should provide a good introductory point to this extremely important figure in world mountaineering history.

Hardcover with dust jacket in perfect shape. 264 pages with two inserts of b&w photographs.