The Third Pole

Reviews

One of the 57 Most Anticipated Books of 2021—Elle
Summer's Most Transporting Books list—Newsweek
One of 5 Action-Packed New Nonfiction Books for Summer—AARP
Ultimate Summer Reading List Pick--E!

“Almost seventy years after my father, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, climbed the summit of Chomolungma with the British 1953 Expedition, Western narratives about Mount Everest continue to be haunted by the question whether it was Mallory and Irvine who had been the first to stand on the summit. Mark Synnott’s The Third Pole pursues this mystery and brings us closer to closing this chapter of mountaineering history. I learned a lot from this book.”  
—Norbu Tenzing Norgay

“[A] vivid, heart-pounding dispatch from the top of the world.”
—Liz Baker, NPR

"This account of climbing Mt. Everest from the Tibetan side in search of a climber lost ninety-seven years ago and a camera that might change everything is both a gripping adventure story and an engrossing historical mystery."
—Maggie Shipstead, author of Great Circle

“The author and adventurer Mark Synnott skillfully describes early-twentieth-century exploration, then dives into a story about Everest that merges mystery, adventure, and history into a single tragic bundle. . . . Synnott knows how to keep readers turning the pages, and they will speed their way to his mystery’s resolution.”
—The New York Times

“If you’re only going to read one Everest book this decade, make it The Third Pole. . . A riveting adventure.”
—Outside

“Uncovers the dangerous obsession that tackling this behemoth holds today.”
—Newsweek

“A hold-your-breath story that features the author's own hazardous journey and exploration of the motives behind climbers’ obsession with reaching dangerous heights.”
—AARP

“Captivates with mystery and adventure.”
—National Parks Traveler

“The book is a fascinating tale and forces the reader to constantly ask themselves, What would I do? in each situation.”
—Fodor's

“Mark Synnott’s new book . . . is as rewarding as any Everest book can be, with history and geography wonderfully woven into the author’s own climb, in 2019.”
—Air Mail

“As in his previous book, the author’s writing comes alive when he recounts life on the mountain. . . . This is a must-read for outdoor enthusiasts and readers of Everest and exploration history.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“[A] hair-raising mountaineering story . . . A fine tale of adventure and exploration sure to please any fan of climbing and Everest lore.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Synnott weaves back and forth between the early climbing pioneers' experiences and his 2019 expedition, harrowing in its own right. A gifted storyteller, he proves firsthand the irresistible lure and perilous dangers of climbing Mount Everest.”
—Booklist

“The Third Pole is an elegy of extremes, a white-knuckle tale of obsession and survival. From the archives of London’s Royal Geographical Society to a tent battered by howling winds on the edge of the Death Zone, Mark Synnott puts it all on the line in his quest to solve Mount Everest’s most enduring mystery.”
—Susan Casey, author of national bestsellers The Wave and Voices in the Ocean

“A hundred-year-old detective story with a new twist. A high-altitude adventure. The best Everest book I’ve read since Into Thin Air. Synnott’s climbing skills take you places few will ever dare to tread, but it’s his writing that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.”
—Mark Adams, author of Tip of the Iceberg and Turn Right at Machu Picchu
 
“Join Mark Synnott on a quest for an artifact that could change Everest mountaineering history. Part detective story, part high adventure, Synnott engages obsessed historians, dodges Chinese bureaucrats, and ultimately risks his life high on the mountain’s North Face. As the tension rises, he discovers astounding strengths in his fellow climbers, tragic frailty, and an ineffable truth he never imagined.”
—Andy Hall, author of Denali’s Howl Expand reviews