Mountains of the Mind

By Robert Macfarlane,

Book cover of Mountains of the Mind

Book description

WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD

Once we thought monsters lived there. In the Enlightenment we scaled them to commune with the sublime. Soon, we were racing to conquer their summits in the name of national pride.

In this ground-breaking, classic work, Robert Macfarlane takes us up into the…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked Mountains of the Mind as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ve been drawn to the mountains since I was a child and reading this book helped hugely in explaining my fascination with this terrain.

It details how man was initially fearful of the mountains and how that situation changed from the 17th century on, and looks at early attempts to explore and understand these highlands, with a particular focus on mountaineering. It’s beautifully written and very engaging.

From Peter's list on man’s exploration of the mountains.

Nobody uses language like Robert Macfarlane, and I’m always amazed (and a little envious!) when I’m reading his transportive prose. All of his books are fantastic, but this history of the mountaineering movement, mixed with his own experiences navigating trails, is a nice introduction to his masterful way of stringing words together.  

Want books like Mountains of the Mind?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Mountains of the Mind.

Browse books like Mountains of the Mind

Book cover of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Book cover of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Book cover of The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,413

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in mountaineering, mountains, and geography?

Mountaineering 44 books
Mountains 16 books
Geography 38 books