The Zen of Climbing

By: Francis Sanzaro

Narrated by: Michael Dohn

What do Zen masters, sixteenth-century Samurai, and the world’s elite climbers have in common?

– They have perfected the art of awareness, of poise amidst chaos.

Climbing is a sport of perception, and our level of attainment is a matter of mind as much as body.

By philosopher, essayist and lifelong climber Francis Sanzaro, The Zen of Climbing explores the fundamentals of successful climbing, delving into psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and Taoism. Awareness, Sanzaro argues, is the alchemy of climbing, allowing us to merge mental and physical attributes in one embodied whole. This compact volume, by the author of the classic The Boulder: A Philosophy of Bouldering, puts the climber’s mind at the forefront of practice.

©2023 Francis Sanzaro (P)2023 Saraband

Critic reviews

"The Zen of Climbing is...fascinating... We are climbing our best by paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment. The book integrates different forms of practice for developing your physical, cognitive, and mental domains. Highly recommended!" (Udo Neumann, climber, coach, filmmaker, co-author of Performance Rock Climbing)

Surprisingly not cheesy

I really enjoyed this book, especially the final wrap-up section. I was expecting it to be much cheesier and written by someone who doesn't have a ton of experience climbing but I found it was the opposite. Would recommend it for anyone who climbs but possibly more helpful for those who have been in the sport for a while.