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Overview
A legendary trailblazer, Arlene Blum defied the climbing establishment of the 1970s by leading the first all-female teams on successful ascents of Mount McKinley and Annapurna and by being the first American woman to attempt Mount Everest. At the same time, her groundbreaking scientific work challenged gender stereotypes in the academic community and led to important legislation banning carcinogens in children’s sleepwear. With candor and humor, Breaking Trail recounts Blum’s journey from an overprotected childhood in Chicago to the tops of some of the highest peaks on earth, and to a life lived on her own terms. Now with an index, additional photos, and a new afterword, this book is a moving testament to the power of taking risks and pursuing dreams.
Synopsis
[Blum / BREAKING TRAIL bcc]
By the author of the bestselling Annapurna: A Woman’s Place
"A magnificent and compelling story . . . [Blum’s] inspiring story is as much about leadership as it is about living life fully and overcoming obstacles to reach one’s goals."—Lynne Cox, author of Swimming to Antarctica
Arlene Blum defied the climbing establishment of the 1970s by leading the first all-female teams on successful ascents of Mt. McKinley and Annapurna, and was the first American woman to attempt Mt. Everest. At the same time, her ground-breaking scientific work challenged gender stereotypes in the academic community. With candor and humor, Blum recounts her journey from an overprotected childhood in Chicago to the tops of some of the highest peaks on earth, and to a life lived on her own terms. Breaking Trail is a testament to the power of taking risks and pursuing dreams.
"Compelling . . . Blum exudes possibility."—Los Angles Times
"Personal and disarmingly honest . . . [Blum] simply tells her nourishing and deserving story, quietly reminding us that a woman’s place is indeed on top."—New York Times Book Review
Arlene Blum is a leadership and intercultural trainer and author of Annapurna: A Woman’s Place, named one of the 100 best adventure books of all time by National Geographic and one of Fortune’s "75 books that teach you everything you need to know about business." She has a doctorate in biophysical chemistry and has taught at Stanford University, Wellesley College, and the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in Berkeley, California.
The New York Times Book Review - Holly Morris
The romantic notion of climbing foremothers with cinched-up petticoats and loads of moxie is not one that applies to Blum. She simply tells her nourishing and deserving story, quietly reminding us that a woman's place is indeed on top.
Editorials
Holly Morris
The romantic notion of climbing foremothers with cinched-up petticoats and loads of moxie is not one that applies to Blum. She simply tells her nourishing and deserving story, quietly reminding us that a woman's place is indeed on top.— The New York Times Book Review