100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Auckland Bookstore open Sunday 8:30am-5:00pm πŸ“š

Mountains Of The Mind

A History Of A Fascination
4.09 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 5,322 ratings, 580 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Mountains of the Mind, Robert Macfarlane explores the complex fascination humans have with mountains, blending personal narrative with historical analysis. The book delves into the psychological and cultural reasons behind our desire to climb these natural wonders, examining the evolution of mountaineering and the allure that peaks hold over the human imagination. Through insightful anecdotes and philosophical musings, Macfarlane uncovers why these landscapes captivate adventurers and thinkers alike.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2600
Elsewhere:
$2799
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the allure and mystery of mountains, appreciate adventure, and have an interest in the psychology behind our attraction to these majestic landscapes. It's perfect for those who love exploring the relationship between humans and nature, blending history, psychology, and the spirit of mountaineering.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'The most exhilarating history of mountaineering ... a riveting read' Jeremy Paxman

'The most exhilarating history of mountaineering ... a riveting read' Jeremy Paxman

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD

Once, we thought monsters lived there. In the Enlightenment, we scaled them to commune with the sublime. Soon, we were racing to conquer their summits in the name of national pride.

In this ground-breaking, classic work, Robert Macfarlane takes us up into the mountains: to experience their shattering beauty, the fear and risk of adventure, and to explore the strange impulses that have for centuries led us to the world's highest places.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mountains of the Mind by Robert Macfarlane has been described as an inspiring and marvellous work that deeply explores the allure and dangers of mountaineering. Critics have praised its evocative writing and gripping narrative, offering insights into humanity's fascination with mountains. The book is commended for not only being beautifully written but also having the power to instil a desire in readers to explore and experience the grandeur of the mountains.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783786794

Publisher: Granta Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 May 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Granta Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 226g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Robert Macfarlane was born in Nottinghamshire in 1976. He is the author of Mountains of the Mind, The Wild Places, The Old Ways and Landmarks. Mountains of the Mind won the Guardian First Book Award, the Somerset Maugham Award and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. The Wild Places won the Boardman-Tasker Award and the Sundial Scottish Arts Council Non-fiction Award. He is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and writes on environmentalism, literature and travel for publications including the Guardian, the Sunday Times and The New York Times.

Also by Robert Macfarlane

View all
  • The Old Ways
    Immerse yourself in the lyrical and evocative world of The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane, a Top Ten bestselling book renowned for its poetic exploration of Britain's landscapes and heritage. Through this captivating work, Macfarlane takes readers on a mesmerising journey along the ancient paths, holloways, drove-roads, and sea paths that form a vast network criss-crossing the British Isles. As...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Underland
    Underland by Robert Macfarlane is a captivating and profound exploration of the subterranean world that lies beneath our feet. This Sunday Times bestselling masterpiece takes readers on an unforgettable journey, delving deep into the hidden realms of the earth – from the intricate mycelial networks through which trees communicate, to the icy blue depths of glacial moulins. This mesmerising voyage...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Is a River Alive?
    From the celebrated writer and observer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new book - which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title At its heart is a single, transformative idea- that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beings - who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law. Inspired by...
    Hardback
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Gifts of Reading
    An autobiographical essay on the importance of giving and receiving books - from the bestselling author of Landmarks and The Old Ways. Every book is a kind of gift to its reader, and the act of giving books is charged with a special emotional resonance. It is a meeting of three minds (the giver, the author, the recipient), an exchange...
    Paperback
    $899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Lost Words
    From Acorn to Weaselβ€”a gorgeous, hand-illustrated, large-format spellbook celebrating the magic and wonder of the natural world. All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. Words like Dandelion, Otter, Bramble, Acorn, and Lark represent the natural world of childhood, a rich landscape of discovery and imagination that is fading from children's minds. The Lost Words stands against...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • The Lost Spells
    The unmissable sequel to the bestselling, award-winning, multi-adaptation hit The Lost Words. Kindred in spirit to The Lost Words but new in form, The Lost Spells is a pocket-sized treasure, a new collection of spellsβ€”acrostic poetry and artworkβ€”by beloved creative duo Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. Written to be read aloud, calling to forest, field, riverbank, ocean, and also to...
    Hardback
    $4000
    (1)
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Landmarks
    Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane is a captivating exploration of the intricate relationship between language and the natural world. This extraordinary book weaves together the words and landscapes of Britain, revealing how language shapes not only our identity but also our perception and appreciation of the environment. Join Macfarlane on a mesmerising journey across the diverse terrains of Cumbria, the Cairngorms,...
    Paperback
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The World to Come - World to Come – A Times Book of the Year 2024
    On my way through the wood wound a thread through the dream... Take a lyrical journey through nature with this sumptuous blend of words and pictures that showcase a poet and illustrator at the heights of their craft. Follow a father and son as they walk together through every season - hailing owl and otter, blackbird and silver birch -...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Coming Into The Country
    In this astutely observed travel account, Pulitzer Prize-winner John McPhee plunges into the wild frontiers and frigid climate of Alaska, exploring the varied regions and people of this Northern US state. Travelling by foot and canoe, McPhee moves from urban landscape to the remote Alaskan bush, drawing a rich and comprehensive history of a vast land and its inhabitants. With...
    Paperback
    $3699
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Night Creatures: Firefly
    From two of the UK's best-known book makers, Robert Macfarlane and Luke Adam Hawker, comes a stunning picture book to ignite wonder in readers everywhere. In the darkness of December, Through the winter's deepest snowing, When the world is steep in camber, And all hope is downwards-flowing - Then's the time to seek what's glowing... Written in lyrical verse, this...
    Hardback
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Is a River Alive?
    From celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane comes this brilliant, perspective-shifting new bookβ€” which answers a resounding yes to the question of its title. At its heart is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use, but living beingsβ€”who should be recognised as such in both imagination and law. Is a River Alive? takes the reader on...
    Paperback
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Wild Cards
    A 100-postcard compilation of gorgeous hand-painted artwork from the bestselling and genre-busting phenomena The Lost Words and The Lost Spells. In 2017, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris broke the mould with The Lost Words, a book of paintings in watercolour and gold leaf accompanied by acrostic spell-poems. This work captured the unique essence of common but underappreciated species like Otter,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Sports

View all
  • Formula One 2026
    The world's bestselling Grand Prix handbook is back for the new season. This is the definitive guide to Formula One 2026 β€” a complete examination of all the teams, drivers, and tracks featured in the packed Grand Prix calendar. Also including a full review of the 2025 season and a breakdown of the new rules and regulations for 2026, this...
    Paperback
    $3800
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Legends and Soles
    The brilliant autobiography from the β€˜saviour of Nike’ If you’re a sneaker head, you know him as the saviour of Nike. If you’ve watched Air, you saw Matt Damon’s portrayal of the man who discovered Michael Jordan and how he revolutionised the payment structure of endorsements for athletes. Legends and Soles tells Sonny’s story – his blind-sided firing by Nike...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Surviving to Drive
    A hugely entertaining access-all-areas account of a year inside Formula 1, from Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, star of Drive to Survive, one of the most successful Netflix series of all time. THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Gripping to read. Funny, real, exciting. It's a brilliant book.' - Chris Evans 'Fearless and candid... A gleeful guide to...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Good, the Bad & the Rugby – Unleashed
    The long-awaited book from rugby stars Alex Payne, James Haskell and Mike Tindall. Rugby megastars James Haskell, Mike Tindall, and Alex Payne get together to discuss the highs and lows of their podcast, friendship, and rugby. Among the key questions answered: What happened when Mike took their shambles of a podcast inside the walls of Windsor Castle to meet the...
    Hardback
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Gloves Off
    The unflinching autobiography from the two-time world heavyweight champion and British People's Champion, Tyson Fury, now out in paperback, Gloves Off is an enthralling journey into the life of one of boxing's most charismatic and controversial figures. From his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise and dramatic falls, Fury’s story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit. In this...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Salt Path
    The Salt Path is a deeply moving and profoundly inspiring true story that captures the essence of human resilience and the profound impact of nature on our well-being. This compelling narrative, a Sunday Times bestseller and shortlisted for the prestigious Wainwright Prize, recounts the life-changing journey of Raynor and Moth Winnβ€”a couple who, facing monumental life challenges, find solace and...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Salt Path
    The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • States of Play
    The International Bestseller & Winner of the Football Book of the Year Award A Times Sports Book of the Year A Telegraph Book of the Year An Irish Times Book of the Year An Irish Independent Book of the Year 'Important, perfectly timed and hugely necessary.' The Guardian 'A monumental piece of investigative journalism.' Irish Times 'A must-read on how...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Swimmer of Auschwitz
    Pre-order
    The Swimmer of Auschwitz
    'Propulsive... Readers will be hooked' - Publishers Weekly Based on the extraordinary true story of Alfred Nakache, subject of the Oscar-nominated short film Papillon. Alfred Nakache, a Jewish child from Constantine, never imagined that he would one day swim for France at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, nor that he would achieve a world record, as he did...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Pre-order
    Out 11 Aug 2026
  • The Formula
    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'HANDS DOWN THE GREATEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ABOUT F1.' - Sam Walker, author of The Captain Class 'MODERN F1 IS THE SPORTS STORY OF THIS ERA AND NO ONE COULD TELL IT BETTER' - Kevin Clark, ESPN 'THE FASTEST READ YOU WILL EVER PICK UP' - A.J. Baime, author of Go Like Hell F1 is...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Breath
    Discover the transformative power of breathing in Breath by esteemed journalist James Nestor. This revolutionary book delves into the science and history of one of the most fundamental human activities - breathing. From the bustling streets of SΓ£o Paulo to the serene temples of India, Nestor embarks on a global journey to uncover the secrets of ancient breathing techniques such...
    Paperback
    $2100
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Forever Forward
    With a foreword by McLaren CEO Zak Brown and written with inside access, this is the real-time, unfolding story of one of F1's greatest ever teams, as they rise back up from oblivion. Few names in motorsports carry the same authority as McLaren, and with their remarkable victory in the 2024 constructors championship, they are now returning to form in...
    Hardback
    $4000
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.