Not everyone can ask their parents to show them how to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. But Tommy Caldwell did, completing the Salathé Wall with his dad, Mike, in 1997. Here, Caldwell chronicles his life both on and off the rope, detailing how his dad introduced him to climbing, and summers spent at various American climbing meccas with his family. After high school, Caldwell left Colorado and became an itinerant climber. In 2000, on an expedition to Kyrgyzstan, Caldwell and three others were taken hostage by rebels. That story is related here as is his growth as an athlete, including his free climbs on Yosemite's walls after years of dedication and training. Later chapters cover his continual evolution as Caldwell returned to alpine climbing, met his current wife, and worked assiduously to ascend Yosemite's Dawn Wall, which he completed with partner Kevin Jorgeson in 2014 after seven years of preparation. VERDICT Climbers will inhale Caldwell's book and want more; adventure readers will love his descriptions of climbs and techniques, even if they are new to the sport.—Margaret Atwater-Singer, Univ. of Evansville Lib., IN