‘SHERPA: Stories of Life and Death from the Guardians of Everest’ by Pradeep Bashyal and Ankit Babu Adhikari is nothing short of a literary triumph, a breathtaking account of human resilience, spiritual depth, and raw emotion that takes readers into the thin air of the world’s highest peaks. This award-winning, bestselling masterpiece transcends the boundaries of mountaineering literature, weaving an unforgettable narrative that resonates with the heartbeat of the Sherpa people—the determined guardians of Everest whose lives are etched into the ice and stone of the Himalayas. With prose that soars like the peaks themselves, Bashyal and Adhikari have crafted a work of staggering empathy, earning global accolades, including being shortlisted for the prestigious Boardman-Tasker Prize, often hailed as the “Booker of mountain literature”— and receiving the revered 2025 Tenzing-Hillary Award from the government of Nepal.
The authors, a dynamic duo whose synergy illuminates every page, invite readers to step into the homes, hearts, and minds of Sherpas from the rugged terrains of Nepal’s Everest, Makalu, and Rolwaling regions to the vibrant Sherpa diaspora in India’s Darjeeling. Bashyal, a seasoned journalist with an eye for detail, and Adhikari, a passionate researcher and musician whose soulful perspective infuses the narrative with poetic resonance, have created a work that is as much a cultural revelation as it is a storytelling marvel. Their journeys between 2020 and 2022, coupled with years of deep friendship with Sherpas, form the foundation of the book’s authenticity. What began as an ambition to document the superhuman feats of Sherpa climbers evolved into something far greater: a soul-stirring exploration of the human condition, where courage, faith, and survival interplay against the backdrop of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
SHERPA shatters the myth of the Sherpa as a monolithic hero, revealing instead a vibrant mosaic of individuals, each with their own dreams, fears, and destinies. The authors’ decision to forgo a single biography in favor of a kaleidoscope of stories is a stroke of genius, capturing the diversity of Sherpa life with unparalleled depth. From the quiet introspection of Phurba Tashi, a climber seeking spiritual solace after years of defying death, to the awe-inspiring saga of Kushang Sherpa, who rose from bonded labor in Bhutan to conquer Everest’s fearsome Kangshung Face, the book brims with narratives that are as humbling as they are exhilarating. These are not mere tales of conquest but profound meditations on love, loss, and the eternal dance between humanity and the divine.
However, it is its emotional and spiritual undertones that make SHERPA so distinctive. Bashyal and Adhikari beautifully explore the complex dynamic between the Sherpas and the mountains they respect and fear in equal measure. Mountain climbing, typically portrayed as an adventure sport demanding immense courage, is instead depicted as a livelihood, one that sustains entire families at tremendous personal cost. SHERPA also delves into spiritual notions deeply embedded within each Sherpa’s psyche, namely whether the gods are angered with humans’ intrusion into their sacred spaces, presenting a philosophical side.
The book also centers the voice and perspective of the Sherpas themselves making it more authentic. One of the more touching moments in the book unfolds in Darjeeling, where they visit the home of Tenzing Norgay’s son, Jamling, and enter a family museum filled with his climbing suits and equipment.
Personally, knowing the authors and seeing their friendship over the years, I can say SHERPA is a shining example of the collaboration, a perfect fusion of Bashyal’s journalistic precision and Adhikari’s poetic flair. One can almost imagine SHERPA on the big screen, but the authors rightly note that the written word offers an intimacy no film could replicate—the luxury of exploring the inner tides of their characters’ experiences.
SHERPA is more than a book on climbing; it is a shining ode to humanity itself. It encourages the reader to look beyond the sensationalism of success and tragedy on the world’s tallest peak and honor the remarkable ordinary people who make these stories possible. Bashyal and Adhikari have done more with their book; they have left a legacy in their celebration of the spirit of the Sherpas that will reverberate for the centuries to come.
That is why the story of Nepal’s small Himalayan tribe, though rooted locally, carries a universal resonance with people across the globe. Last year when I was trying to buy a hard cover in Zurich’s Orell Füssli bookstore, and Ex-libris in Bern, both offered only online orders, as copies were sold out. I ordered one online for my teacher, it arrived within five days. My teacher was overjoyed to gain such deep access, through this book, to the hearts and homes of the Sherpas.
Title: ‘SHERPA: Stories of Life and Death from the Guardians of Everest’
(By Pradeep Bashyal & Ankit Babu Adhikari)
Pages: 336
Publisher: Octopus/ Hachette UK
Price: Rs. 1120/ £10 (paperback)
