The Rock Warrior's Way: Mental Training for Climbers

This is my number 1 recommended book to all climbers. It’s a developmental psychology book on rock climbing. When I first purchased this book, I was climbing mid 10s. After reading this book and by the end of the season I sent my first 5.12a. I’ve purchased this for countless friends, and lent Lily personal book to even more. Experience: 15 years climbing, 7 years running a commercial gym, AMGA certified instructor.

I had so many lightbulb moments while reading this concise, well-researched, eloquent, fascinating book.

Great book! Kinda new-agey but if you can get past it and focus on the true message of the book then it will help your climbing. It helps to be honest with yourself and let yourself take a real, good, hard look in the mirror when you're reading otherwise, you may not take anything away from it. It really helped me get my head right when it comes to taking risks. Since reading this book, i have found myself to be more gritty, more willing to persevere, and more likely to throw for a hold I normally wouldn't have. The author points out different kinds of ways we self-sabotage our "success" on a climb. He tackles the ego and presents various ideas in a simple, direct, and impactful way. After reading this book, my climbing has changed and the lessons i have learned have transferred into other areas of my life. Give it a shot, it'll be worth it.

Illger has clearly done a lot of research in the mental self help training field to put together this excellent mental training for climbing handbook. Lovers of that genre will slip straight in and get the material, but sceptics should approach with an open mind if they wish to see any benefit from the books message. I waded in a little sceptically, but time after time he describes the thoughts going through my head when I fail, and suggests training yourself to be in a mindset I recall from when I was climbing strong and confident. I can't say whether it works, and I doubt even on finishing the book that I could say that it will work for everyone, but such is the nature of mental training. What i can say is that so far he's doing a really good job of telling me why I fail and how to feel in order to succeed, which is something. I can also see why the Espresso lessons book exists - there's a lot of wordy discussion in this one, and a cliff-notes to refer back to at the end might be handy.

Awesome book. I've read it three times already. You always learn something new, regarding your climbing journey. I would recomend even though you are not a climber. Has several philosophical apsects that might come handy to everyone in everydays life.

I've been struggling with taking on sport climbing due to fear of injury/fear of falling. I've only been climbing for a year, so the world of all things climbing is still relatively new to me. I ordered this book after a few climbing trips when I noticed that fear was holding me back from expanding my climbing knowledge. I won't lie -- I am still afraid after reading this book, however, it has provided me with some excellent mental training tactics to use while climbing, especially on climbs outside of my comfort zone. This book will serve as a great reference to look back on for years to come. I've already lent it out to a friend to borrow and can't wait to get it back to read it again. It provides lessons for climbing, but also things that can be applicable to life in general. It's a very inspirational book that teaches you how important it is to explore outside of your comfort zone. 5 stars! Highly recommend. Thank you, The Rock Warrior's Way!

My desk has a pile of mountaineering books, guide books, climbing technique books, fitness books, and other things of the sort. Rock Warrior's Way though was like a needle straight to the vein, hitting the things that were really keeping me from progressing. Fear, wasting your limited mental power, and crap self-talk as an example. A "self help" book for climbing but sound like full on new-agey bs but really, this has as much practicality as a hammer and wrench. You can take lessons from here and use them the next day and you'll improve. It's really remarkable. I got to the top of a route yesterday that was super overhang-y and athletic. There was a top move that required every ounce of the physical me, and required dead-on mental focus. I got to it and howled. I also learned the whole way up, including the 5+ times I got thrown off. This lessons in this book give me the mental attitude to manage all the crap in my head. Can't recommend it enough.

I've been buying off of Amazon for a few years now, and this is the first time I've ever been compelled to write a review about a book or product. I recommend this book to any one that rock climbs regularly or wants to get serious about their climbing. This book addresses so many mental aspects of climbing that I face (and still work on improving) since the first day I ever climbed. I'm only halfway through the book and it's already helped me so much. As I read, I've been highlighting ideas/passages that really hit home for me.. I've been remembering them while on the wall, and they've actually helped me on those walls or cruxes where your mind is holding you back. This is a really interesting read and I suggest it to any one that needs help with the mental aspect of climbing. Especially if you are new to climbing. I've only been climbing about 8 months, so this book has really helped me transform my thinking. I've wanted to lend this book to my climbing partner but I don't want to let go of it, I may just buy her one for herself =)

remplace une psychothérapie, donne un sens à la vie, la meilleure manière de connecter le psychisme aux activités outdoor ou d'ailleurs toute activité je l'ai acheté en x exemplaires pour tous mes amis...que dire de plus

I highly recommend this book for all climbers or ones who want to start to climb

consigliato vivamente a che ama l'arrampicata

I think I would rather read it with a bit more experience as there were many things I did not understand at the time. Still very helpful It's like climbing meditation. :D

Best climbing and mental training book!