They form the backdrop of beautiful landscape paintings, photographs, and scenery. When you approach them closely, their stature and magnificence are so great, it takes a moment for your brain to register that you’re viewing them in 3-D. Whether you have developed a love for mountains by being outdoors and exploring them yourself, or you’ve enjoyed them from afar, sitting on a porch swing, breathing in the fresh air they send, mountains are easy to marvel at.
There are so many different types of books about mountains for you to explore. Some cover the personal accounts of those who have braved scary weather and steep climbs to find themselves in the peaks and valleys of well-known mountains. There are books that tell fictional stories about individuals and families who live in mountainous areas, and those who travel to mountains to take in the great outdoors. There are books that offer guidance on all the best places to camp (and glamp!) so that even if you’re new to adventures, you can find all the best spots. Below, we cover the best books about mountains available today.
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Check Amazon- Modern reenactment of the Lewis and Clarke expedition by a former technology executive
- Blend of emotional storytelling and descriptive prose
- Customers rate this book 4.3 out of five stars
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Check Amazon- Great book for kids
- Available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle versions
- Customers rate this book 4.9 out of five stars
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Check Amazon- Captivating work of fiction
- Uplifting story about friendship, love, and struggles
- Customers rate this book 4.6 out of five stars
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Check Amazon- Essential planning guidebook for camping trips with friends
- Budget-friendly and diverse set of over 300 amazing outdoor accommodation destinations
- Customers rate this book 4.3 out of five stars
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Check Amazon- Series of journal entries by mountain men
- Gives you an idea of how the West was won
- Customers have rated it 4.5 out of five stars
A-Z Animals Top Picks for Books About Mountains
#1 Best Overall: Lost on Purpose: The Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man by Patrick Taylor
The best overall book about mountains is Lost on Purpose: The Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man by Patrick Taylor.
This is a nonfiction adventure book that follows the story of a former technology executive. He decided to leave what he thought was the real world behind to reinvent himself. That is how he became a 21st-century mountain man. This happened back in 2013 when Patrick Taylor decided to cross the Rocky Mountains alone and on foot. His aim was to retrace the route of Lewis and Clark in the winter.
He managed to pass through one of the vastest wilderness areas in the lower 48. He learned a lot of lessons on the way. His intimate encounter with the Rocky Mountains is sure to leave you breathless. He made vocational sacrifices to start. Then came the financial sacrifices and emotional sacrifices as he scaled this treacherous path to experience the other side of everything he thought he knew. It’s an intimate story sprinkled with humor and tons of refreshing honesty. It blends the secrets of these mountains with the thoughts of a man finding his purpose.
Customers describe it as a fabulous story and lean on the understanding that truth is so much more fascinating than fiction. It’s an amazing story and an amazing feat that inspires readers. Taylor is very honest about the struggles he faces in the mountains and the lessons the mountains teach him. This is the type of book you can appreciate if you know what it’s like to be out in the wilderness. Preparation and survival become the most important guiding concepts, especially when trekking alone.
Unfortunately, some reviewers said that they thought the book became a bit repetitive.
Pros and Cons of Lost on Purpose: The Adventures of a 21st Century Mountain Man by Patrick Taylor
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a non-fiction adventure book about a man crossing the Rocky Mountains on foot. | Some reviewers thought the book became repetitive. |
| The author is honest about the struggles he faced. | |
| It is sprinkled with humor. |
- Modern reenactment of the Lewis and Clarke expedition by a former technology executive
- Blend of emotional storytelling and descriptive prose
- Customers rate this book 4.3 out of five stars
2. Best for Kids: The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Great Smoky Mountains by A.N. Eason
If you have a kiddo in your life that is interested in exploring mountains and the great outdoors then we recommend The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Great Smoky Mountains by A.N. Eason.
This book is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle versions. This is the first book in a series about pygmy goats that enjoy traveling together. It incorporates rhythm and rhyme to make it fun to read, whether your little one is already picking up books on their own or you are doing story time just before bedtime.
The Grands are the pygmy goat family that enjoys travel and adventures. They plan their vacations carefully, but life is always unpredictable. They always have a good attitude to make sure that they stay on track, even if they get slightly derailed. The book is filled with cute and colorful illustrations that kids love and that you find charming. The message here is that even as they plan to visit the great smoky mountains, sometimes plans got interrupted and those interruptions can turn into fun, happy surprises.
Pros and Cons of The Grands Go – Oh No!: The Great Smoky Mountains by A.N. Eason
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is a humorous book about a family of pygmy goats travelling together. | None |
| It incorporates rhythm and rhyme to make it fun to read. | |
| It is filled with colorful illustrations. | |
| There are Kindle, hardcover, and paperback versions availble. |
- Great book for kids
- Available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle versions
- Customers rate this book 4.9 out of five stars
3. Best for Mountain Women: Hearts and Souls by Carole Ervin
The best book about mountain women is Hearts and Souls by Carole Ervin.
This book is just one in a series and is available in Kindle and paperback versions. The main character, May Rose, is burdened by several different troubles. Those troubles include issues among friends and the potential of losing loved ones. She experiences and expresses discontent and discomfort but finds herself uplifted by the people who surround her. She’s surprised by two people she never thought she’d see again, and that encounter encourages her. This is a story about friendship, love, and struggles. It’s set in the early 1900s in West Virginia where these women coexist in a small town.
Pros and Cons of Hearts and Souls by Carole Ervin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This is an engaging story about a woman’s struggles in the 1900’s. | None |
| It is a story about friendship, love, and struggles. | |
| The book is just one in a series. | |
| There are Kindle and paperback editions available. |
- Captivating work of fiction
- Uplifting story about friendship, love, and struggles
- Customers rate this book 4.6 out of five stars
4. Best Guide Book: Where Should We Camp Next? by Jeremy Puglisi and Stephanie Puglisi
If you don’t want to read about a mountain but experience the mountains yourself then check out Where Should We Camp Next? by Jeremy Puglisi and Stephanie Puglisi which is a 50-state guide.
This book covers the amazing campgrounds and other unique outdoor accommodations you can explore throughout the United States. It’s an essential planning guidebook for camping trips with friends and family-friendly RVs. You can explore different camping spots and even some glamping spots throughout the US.
In recent years, outdoor adventures have become even more popular. You can’t blame the outdoorsy folks because being cooped up at home is no fun. With this book, you get a budget-conscious and diverse set of over 300 amazing outdoor accommodation destinations. Bring your yurt, check out a treehouse, enjoy a cabin, or set up your RV to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. You get a state-by-state breakdown of all campgrounds and RV resorts along with an introduction to the different campsite types, the prices you can expect, and the best time to book. You even get details on how to complete your booking!
However, this guide predominantly features campgrounds with a lot of amenities, so may not be suitable for people who want to find a quite and secluded spot to enjoy nature.
Pros and Cons of Where Should We Camp Next? by Jeremy Puglisi and Stephanie Puglisi
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book covers campgrounds and outdoor accommodations to visit throughout the US. | It features mainly campgrounds with a lot of amenities, rather than quiet, peaceful ones. |
| It is an ideal guidebook for planning camping trips. | |
| It provides a state-by-state breakdown of campgrounds and RV resorts. |
- Essential planning guidebook for camping trips with friends
- Budget-friendly and diverse set of over 300 amazing outdoor accommodation destinations
- Customers rate this book 4.3 out of five stars
5. Best Historical: The Adventures of the Mountain Men: True Tales of Hunting, Trapping, Fighting, and Survival by Stephen Brennan
If you’re looking for a good historical book then check out The Adventures of the Mountain Men: True Tales of Hunting, Trapping, Fighting, and Survival by Stephen Brennan.
You can pick up this book either in paperback format or in the Kindle version. It is an insightful look into the early 19th century from the eyes of mountain men. It’s a fascinating read that teaches you a great deal about how difficult it was for these men to survive, not just because of inclement weather but also as they encounter various tribes.
Unfortunately some reviewers found parts of this book repetitive.
Pros and Cons of The Adventures of the Mountain Men: True Tales of Hunting, Trapping, Fighting, and Survival by Stephen Brennan
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book provides an insightful look into the early 19th century through the eyes of mountain men. | Some reviewers found parts of this book repetitive. |
| It shows how difficult it was to survive on the mountains in the 19th century. | |
| There are Kindle and paperback versions available. |
- Series of journal entries by mountain men
- Gives you an idea of how the West was won
- Customers have rated it 4.5 out of five stars
Criteria: What to Look For in Books About Mountains
You see how books about mountains can cover a variety of topics, moving from genre to genre. Below, we invite you to consider some criteria that can make your next mountain book purchase even better.
Intended Audience
If it’s you, you already know what you like. You might even be challenging yourself to explore a different genre this time around. However, if it’s a book you intend to purchase for someone else, you may need to take a moment to consider what type of book would make the best gift. Does the person typically stick with fiction novels, getting lost in the pages day after day? Or are they the type who prefers true stories from real people, be they modern folks or historical accounts? Knowing this upfront helps you move into the right genre. From there, you can begin making your selection.
Topics Covered
A book that covers the 19th century is going to be vastly different than a book covering the 21st century. There may be some overlapping themes, but the contents won’t compare. Consider the different topics each book covers and if they fall within the realm of interest of the person you’re purchasing a book for. If you’re the one adding to your library, consider how far you want to explore outside of your usual books. You may find that a jump to a book about similar themes, but different topics piques your interest enough for you to take a leap in a new direction.
The Different Types of Books About Mountains
There are certainly more than three different types of books about mountains, but we focus on the types of books we highlighted in this list.
Fiction
Fiction novels can transport you to new worlds, they can transcend time, and feed your imagination with original imagery you create collaboratively with the author. These works can keep you glued to your favorite chair or hammock as you devour each page with an unquenchable thirst for more. They’re the types of works that make you feel as if you’ve lost a loved one when you finish the last page. It’s like a life you lived vicariously through fictional characters gets ripped away from you, and you struggle with returning to face your reality. When the author is good, the book is enchanting.
Non-Fiction
There are fascinating non-fiction books about mountains that cover real-world events and personal accounts. These stories add an extra chill to your spine as you read through them, realizing they aren’t filled with flower prose or descriptions of imaginative scenarios. These books can be gut-wrenching, leaving you in awe of the endless potential of the human spirit, and inspiring you with the lessons imparted via text on flimsy pages.
Children’s Books vs. Adult Books
Children can also explore fiction and non-fiction books about mountains on their own. These books are written for young readers (be sure to check the reading level), so they can also enjoy reading about mountains and the people courageous enough to hike them. Even babies and toddlers can enjoy books about mountains during bedtime stories as you read out loud, following along with rhyming verses as your kiddos enjoy the colorful, illustrated images.
