What Emily Harrington Is Reading Right Now

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Emily Harrington might just be one of the most well-rounded professional mountain athletes alive today. The five-time U.S. national champion was the first female climber to ascend multiple 5.14 sport climbs, she summited Mount Everest in 2012 and Cho Oyu in 2016, and she has free-climbed the Golden Gate route on El Capitan. She’s also an avid ice climber and backcountry skier. When she’s not hitting the mountains hard, she’s likely tucked inside her home in Squaw Valley, California, with one of these five books.

“My friend who recently passed away recommended this one to me. It’s the story of the evolution of humanity, going all the way back to the Stone Age. The book illustrates how Homo sapiens came to dominate the world through various revolutions (cognitive, agricultural, and scientific). It’s a bit slow for me at times, but I find it totally fascinating despite that.”

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“This is the second book by this author I’ve read—or tried to read. His books are challenging for me. They are hard to follow and confusing and a bit all over the place, but I was drawn to try again. I enjoy the nuances of daily Japanese life that the author throws in, as I have never been to Japan and have always wanted to experience the culture. Thankfully, I am headed there soon!”

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“What is there to say? The woman is a total icon and one of my idols. Her life before, during, and after being First Lady is inspiring and intriguing.”

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“My friend Paige Claassen recommended this to me. It’s a really heartbreaking story based on true events [about five siblings being placed in foster care and fighting to stay together], but a good one.”

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“I am learning Spanish, which is super hard to do as an adult. I take online lessons, listen to podcasts, and read. I’m really shy about it though, and I need to start speaking more, but right now my reading and comprehension are coming along decently well.”

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