Thank you to @RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #TheColorOfEverything. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is a very compelling memoir. Part coming of age, part travel log, all with the undercurrent of living with bipolar disorder. Richards writes honestly about living with mental illness and how it impacts everything - the positive (discovering photography) and the negative (strained relationships, addiction). When he writes about his childhood, you can feel his desperation to understand his racing, raging mind. And when he's climbing and taking pictures, you sense the calm it brings him. Richards owns his mistakes and he doesn't gloss over the messy parts and it's an enlightening read.

I wasn't familiar with Cory's work when I got this ARC, but I'm certainly going to check out his photography and documentary.

Part adventure manual, part textbook on mental health, part philosophical introspection, Cory Richards shares an honest and heartbreaking look into his life in this memoir dealing with so many personal issues he's faced while trying to find his way. If the reader is a National Geographic junkie, they will have heard of Cory who did some truly amazing climbs of Everest, K2 and many other famous mountains around the world all the while capturing his climbs through a camera lens. Any person who is climbing these ridiculous altitudes will be compromised by the cold, the danger, altitude sickness, the mental twists due to the fatigue and enormous challenges to their bodies, now add onto it a bipolar disorder and all that does to the brain and you have Cory Richards whose facing even more challenges as O2 , cold, and altitude messes with his mind and well being. This part of his story is really just the middle of the whole book as he shares the complicated relationship with family members while growing up in Utah. He spends much of the book trying to understand why he felt he was always chasing his feelings of inferiority and as he puts it "lack of" confidence. He never felt like he measured up though I never felt like he explained exactly where that feeling came from. After he is diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager, his life goes into a spiral and he lives as a homeless person for a while thinking that he isn't worth much. He lands in a psychiatric hospital multiple times, becomes estranged from his family, especially his brother. Eventually, his life turns around when he discovers photography and follows the joy of mountain climbing that his dad and he enjoyed while he was growing up. Photos and mountains seemed to be a good match and finally he finds acceptance at Nat Geo and for several decades of his life, is a celebrated photo journalist for them. One would think this would be good enough but NO, it's not and he falls down the rabbit hole again and again due to his drinking, drugs and bad decisions. This spiral eventually sabotages a marriage, his job, his friendships and leaves him in a wasteland of unknowns.
It is a brave thing to put your life down on paper and have it there for the world to see, to mock or criticize or devalue but that's easy. The hard part is finding the road out which with a lot of help and healing he does. Richards writes from his heart and shows all of his flaws and grand mistakes as he tries to find the way to Happy. He is introspective and philosophical as he tries to explain his mental health issues and the behaviors/decisions that were a product of that. He clearly spent a lot of time researching to get into all the psychology and behavioral science that goes into someone like him trying to navigate life and relationships. Aside from his bipolar issue, I just could not understand his childhood issues. He explains the intense fights with his older brother who would never be part of his life into adulthood. He seemed to have a very good and supportive relationship with his parents during his growing years and it just doesn't seem plausible to me that all of his anger issues could stem from his brother which then turned him into the young man he became, running away, getting involved with nefarious stuff even before he reached 16. This part of the book just wasn't clear to me. I enjoyed his writing about his climbs, the photo taking, the extensive traveling he did on assignment and how he tried to find love in all the wrong places.
The cover art was actually very symbolic and metaphorical depicting a lone individual on the top of a mountain as he looks up at even higher mountains and the isolation he must have been experiencing.

I devoured this book, like I do every other book about mountain climbing. But as much as this book is about climbing, it's also about mental health and the struggles the author has had throughout life dealing with different mental health issues. For those expecting a book entirely devoted to climbing, this might come as a bit of a shock. However, it was quite insightful reading about Richards' struggles with depression and bipolar disorder. Even though he's known for achieving some pretty big things in the climbing world and struggling to attain those achievements, his struggles and achievements when dealing with his mental health are just as impressive.

The writing has a certain poetic nature to it, though it can feel choppy at times. However, I think it works with the story the author is trying to tell. The story itself is choppy; jumping from the avalanche that nearly took his life, to his childhood, to different climbs and the aftermath of quitting climbing, all while interspersed with stories of him crumbling under the weight of his mental health crises. At times you really feel for him, but then there are times you don't. We all are responsible for our actions, but it feels as if the author doesn't always take responsibility for his. And while there are times when his struggles with mental health may be to blame, I don't feel as if this is always the case. However, I do applaud him for speaking candidly and openly, especially during his allegations of sexual harassment.

While I do wish there had been a little more regarding climbing, I was surprised on how much I enjoyed the rest of the book. Recommended for those who want a deeper look not only into the struggles of climbing, but the struggles of battling yourself.

THE COLOR
OF EVERYTHING

CORY RICHARDS






An interesting story about an interesting fellow as he struggles with a lifetime of mental illness. World travels and serious mountain climbing surround his internal demons that affect his ability to function in this interesting but hazardous life style. Working for National Geographic he struggles and elevates himself to a position of respected contributor only to misstep and lose it all.


4 Stars



I have received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.



Spencer Birt

I found this book wildly inconsistent in its trajectory and content. That may well reflect the understandable challenges the author faces with his bipolar disorder. It was, however, sort of like watching a train wreck...being unable to look away. Clearly a talented photographer, Cory is also an accomplished mountain climber and has many successes, in both fields, of which to be proud. He struggles to get out of his way, however, when he experiences bouts of mania or depression and that makes this book a challenging read. The section about the Me Too movement was not memoir material but a lecture, and felt inappropriate in this context. I certainly ended rooting for him and being able to find an equilibrium that provides him joy personally and professionally.

I've been familiar with Cory Richards's mountain climbing career ever since I became obsessed with Mt. Everest several years ago. I loved the Snapchat content he put out live during his ascents with Adrian Ballinger. I've read other books about climbing Everest, but this memoir has so much more to it and is extremely vulnerable and personal. There are a lot of dark themes, and Richards does not shy way from exploring them in ways that don't always reflect well on him, which is very compelling to read. I think readers who want to hear about the gritty underbelly of a complex individual's life and what motivates them to take such bold risks with their lives will be very intrigued by this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I was drawn to this book because I love National Parks and with Cory Richards being an award-winning photographer for National Geographic, I couldn't pass this one up. I don't often read memoirs because somewhere along the read there is always that haunted past that comes out that some people chose the never want to remember. What I didn't expect was how traumatic his past was. This part of the book was hard to get through. But want make me keep reading was when you get to the details about the mountain climbing, that you only dream of doing; he really did! I did enjoy reading this one, even though it took me a little longer to read than most. You will keep coming back to it because your curious mind wont let you forget his words.

Thank you Netgalley, Cory Richards, and Random House for letting me review this book.

The Color of Everything by Cory Richards rings to a heightened level of perception. To see the things Cory describes takes a lot of focus and attention. Not just on the ground but on everything in the air, wind, sunlight, and earth. He shares his multitude of episodes concerning his mind and his substances. His characters develop into his own true story. Cory as a climber and athlete is at one of the highest levels. His photography has been sought after by the most revered publications. Yet he still seems unhappy. He has accomplished feats. But he has not accomplished freedom. He knows this by his practice in Buddhism. He claims that mountains will help him heal. But the mountains and climbing and conquering them are for the mad. To live in madness all of the time results in anger and anguish.

Cory has a lot of people in his life who depend on him for their safety and success. When Cory falls, they all fall. So to not let that happen, what would someone with such challenging circumstances do to prevent falling into danger?

Thank you, Net Galley, Cory, and Random House for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

Candidly, I will say this book is not what I expected. It took me a bit to get into it, as it was more life story/self reflection/mental health than I expected. At times, it felt a little disorganized (stories jumping around, past reflections, etc). That said, by the time the book ended, I loved it. I love how forthcoming Cory Richards was about his struggles. I love how he explicitly discusses the complexities of mental health. I love that he had the strength to share stories that had to have been difficult to disclose (he even admits that in one chapter). I feel that he is a true testament to the impact of mental health because, for all intents and purposes, he was living a fabulous life. He made incredible opportunities for himself and there were often compromised because of what was happening inside of his mind.

On another note, he talks about climbing Everest without oxygen in such an objective, straightforward way. I am just amazed that he has the ability to conquer the world's tallest mountain (more than once!). His accomplishments as an athlete, a photographer, and a writer are truly commendable.

I went to a Christian school from pre-school through ninth grade. This school was very small and not well-funded, so they were open to anybody even though, technically, you had to be a professed Christian to attend. The school attracted parents of "troubled" kids because they probably hoped the Christian education would whip them into shape. It didn't. Most of them lasted a year or two then either got expelled or went back to public school. The kids cursed and threatened teachers and acted up in class and were always causing, well, trouble. I remember a few of them by name, standouts who were always getting detention and suspension. One got expelled for threatening a teacher with a plastic butter knife. Another I saw over a decade later at the college where I tutor and teach, and he told me he'd spent time in prison between middle school and when I saw him again.
Reading the first third of The Color of Everything was like reading about one of these kids' lives. Cory was a "troubled" kid, and he "acted out" and caused heartache for his parents and for the other adults in his life. He talks about his birth and his early childhood and the trauma he experienced. He provides context for his behavior, and he takes ownership for the wrongs he committed. However, I still didn't particularly like Cory or feel much sympathy for him because it felt like he made a lot of excuses.
Once Cory got into his early adulthood, the book vastly improved for me. Even when I'm reading fiction, I don't like the early parts of the story when the main characters are kids if I know they're going to grow into adulthood in the book. I know those stories are foundational, but I feel that authors, in memoir or in fiction, spend way too much time on the context, thinking it's more important than it is. Once Cory is 19 or 20 and begins traveling, his story really takes off. I grew to know him and to really like him, even to love him. I appreciated that he no longer made excuses and was very open and honest about his choices and mistakes. He talks about climbing and photography and love and mental illness. I learned a lot from this book about psychiatry and climbing and mental health in general. I really enjoyed the journey, especially the ending.
What drew me to this book is that I've been watching a lot of climbing docs with my dad after reading a book about the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson (title escapes me at the moment), but I'm glad this book wasn't just about climbing. I enjoyed those parts, too, but it was refreshing to read about the person involved in the climbing and not just about the expeditions themselves. I started following Cory on Instagram early on in this book, and his page is fascinating for this reason, too.
The intro to this book touches on these topics: mental health, climbing, and photography. It ends with Cory's most famous photo, one I'd never seen before. I cried looking at it after reading about the context. Cory's prose is impactful. It made me stop and think often, contemplating how I felt about identity or bipolar or trauma. I wish I'd read a physical copy, so I could have dog-eared pages to refer back to. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I recommend this book to people who enjoy memoirs, climbing, photography, love, travel, and more. There are triggers, though: suicide, loss, grief, trauma, violence, strong language, sexual harassment, and others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review.

I really had trouble getting into this book, because it was kinda all over the place. The author had so much to say, but to me it rambled a bit. I know a lot of people loved it, but it’s just not for me.

"Climbing is an act of overcoming through reduction and refinement and occasionally brute force." - Cory Richards

This quote fits as a description of Cory Richards' life. To sum it up in a sentence - this is the story of a man who becomes a well-known photographer while dealing with his mental illness.

It took me a while to warm up to Richard's storytelling style. He's very wordy and to be honest, the chapters on his childhood were disturbing to me as he was very detailed, very self-absorbed and his description of the effect his behavior had on his family was horrible. He was subject to and participated in domestic abuse and it affects his life from his relationships to his academics and, I imagine, his self-esteem. I found the pace to be slow in the beginning as he describes the trauma he endured during childhood. Eventually, the book picks up the pace after he receives a diagnosis and ends up getting some medical treatment although there are times when he gets bogged down in details. He is known as a photographer who takes great risks - climbing mountains and living through the avalanche that he describes during the first chapter of the book.

One aspect of Richards' writing I did enjoy was the quote at the beginning of each chapter which helps set the tone. Richards make a point of letting the reader know that he is well-read and that he used to quote texts in high school, so it is apt that he begin each chapter with a fitting quotation.

I didn't know who he was prior to receiving this ARC, but found his memoir to be okay. It didn't pull me in and hold my attention as other memoirs have, but it might be that I just don't relate to him. The chapters I found most interesting were the ones in which he came to terms and sought treatment with his mental illness (bipolar). I haven't known anyone around me that has bipolar disorder so it was interesting to learn more about it from a person living with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I haven't heard about Cory Richards before reading his memoir. It's a very frank discussion of his various mental health problems, rooted in his early life and family history, and various steps undertaken to manage these problems. Some fragments are very interesting. The sections about mountain climbing and taking photographs were particularly fascinating (even though I am not very much into mountain climbing). The fragment about #metoo - eh. Not sure if it works. But overall, it's an interesting, engrossing book.

The color of everything was a quick read for me! I really like the writing and prose to this book! 4/5 rating for me! I will read books again by the is author!

The Color of Everything is the personal memoir of Cory Richards. He is a renowned climber and photographer for National Geographic. His father is a math teacher and ski patroller and he spends many years teaching Cory and his brother how to ski and climb.

Richards has a tough childhood. He clashes with his brother constantly. He has a hard time relating and getting along with others. As a result of the violence in the household, it eventually becomes determined that Richards has mental illness, particularly bipolar disorder. He drops out of HS and uses the skills he has learned from his father to emerge himself in photography, particularly climbing and filming the highest mountains of the world. He does this to help suppress the darkness that he feels inside of him.

He eventually makes a name for himself by being the only American to climb the highest mountain peaks, over 8000 mts, in winter, with and without oxygen. His pictures get picked up by National Geographic and he is sent by them on many filming expeditions. He started out by flying all over and climbing these peaks. It is unclear to me how, in the beginning, he was able to do this without a job or money.

No matter how much he tries, his mental illness still rises to the surface and for awhile he is debilitated by it. Much of the story is about mental illness. Getting through the psychological part of it was sometimes tough as it is at times very technical. He also goes off on tangents on patriarchy, feminism, and sexual humor. These parts I found hard to get through although I did find his life experiences to be interesting. His writing is good. Some of his pictures are strange but his mountain views are amazing.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy.

Probably the most soul-searching, revealing and honest memoir I have ever read. With the immediacy of the author's writing, you truly experience what he is feeling, emotionally and physically. His bi-polar diagnosis as an adolescent had to have colored his whole world gray, but this is not a negative story (even though it is intense to read). The author takes responsibility for his own actions. I would be very interested in reading a "follow-up" memoir twenty years hence. (Richards is just approaching middle-age.) His work for National Geographic magazine and his drive to always challenge himself makes for exciting reading.

This autobiography covers the life events of the renowned mountaineer and photographer Cory Richards. The book commences with the author’s childhood, giving much insight into who the author genuinely is and how his relationship with his parents and brother would play a role in who he would become. Unfortunately, he does not have a healthy relationship with his brother, who seems to constantly pick fights with Cory.

Throughout his childhood Cory’s father taught he and his brother how to explore nature, to include mountain climbing. This would later be a gateway for Cory to escape the noise in his life. However, there are demons within and Cory finds himself becoming more and more defiant against his parents. He is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and placed in an institution for treatment, which ultimately does not solve the struggles he faces within.

Later on, Cory strives to become a photographer for National Geographic. He joins friends on expeditions across the globe to climb the world’s highest mountains in an effort to get that one photo that would set him apart. But mountain climbing gives Cory so much more: a temporary outlet for the noise in his life and a life changing event as well!

Throughout his life, Cory deals with substance abuse, failed relationships and family tragedy! Finally, he seeks refuge in treatment in Thailand. It is here that he learns to meditate and comes to grips with accepting who he is instead of trying to “fit in.”

I did enjoy this book! It gained momentum for me as the storyline progressed. I’ve always been fascinated with books on mountain climbing. This book is that and so much more, worth the read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

The Color of Everything By Cory Richards
Overall Grade: A
Writing: A
Details and explanations: A
Coverage of the main topic: A
Best Aspect: A wonderful memoir full of so many interesting stories and wonderful insight on life. Very insightful and full of emotion.
Worst Aspect: Descriptions are so good you may feel like you are climbing a cold mountain.

First, thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I absolutely LOVED this memoir! I had never heard of Cory Richards, but picked this book because I enjoy memoirs, and I have always been enthralled by people who attempt Mount Everest. I have no interest in doing it myself, but I am fascinated by the stories. This book is so much more than just a story about climbing a mountain (really several mountains, and many Everest climbs).

Richards is not only an adventurer and climber, but also a gifted photographer, artist, and writer with many tales to tell. I really enjoyed his prose style. He captures the people in his life in beautiful vignettes so perfectly, I feel I've met them. His gift for writing puts the reader on the mountain with him and his companions and inside his head as well. Not only that, but he includes research relevant to his topics--PTSD, Mental Illness, the search for Happiness to name just a few.

I have read many memoirs. It's one of my favorite genres and this book ranks with the best I've ever read. RIchards doesn't paint a flawless picture of himself while blaming others for his trouble, He shares his experiences, warts and all, and seems genuinely reflective and contrite for misdeeds and hurts he's caused. He learns from the experiences even when they are painful to remember. I have tremendous respect for him, and will be looking for any future works he releases. I'm hoping when this book released, he includes an audio book as well. I would love to hear him narrate his own story.

While from the outside, Cory Richards looks like someone who has everything--talent, good looks, great jobs and adventures, he has suffered many traumas in his life and is open in sharing the results and impact it has had on his life. His openness about his conditions and therapies are generous and important to help us understand and accept mental illness as a real thing, not a lame excuse for bad behavior or to get out of doing something.

I am already recommending this book to everyone I know and will be offering it to my book club as a next great read. Through some kind of serendipity, I was finishing this book on a visit to my son who lives across the country from me. During the long drive from the airport to his home 2 hours awaym we had a discussion on happiness and what it really means. I had highlighted the passage in this book where Richards talks about that very topic, so I pulled out my tablet and read several pages to my son. It enriched our discussion greatly. There's a lot of wisdom shared in this book. I think I highlighted and bookmarked more pages in it than any book I can remember. Really impressive research and useful information on so many topics. It's a book I will be re-reading.

This book will take you on a thrilling adventure. The story of Cory Richards' life is one fraught with mental health, grief, violence, trauma, and self-discovery.

As someone dealing with depression, I found Richards' story so interesting. Although Richards is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, his struggle was still relatable in parts. Turning his love of photography into a career in adventure photography, Richards travels all over and experiences the most thrilling things.

That is until an avalanche changes everything he tried to put behind him. He finally has to face his past trauma and learn to see his pain as part of his story instead of something to hide from. This was an amazing and moving story, and I loved it!