6 soul-stirring memoirs that show us how to keep climbing

Some losses feel like mountains you’ll never climb. Some griefs linger in the quiet corners of your heart. And some questions have no easy answers. Yet in those moments, certain books become companions, guides, even lifelines.

The following memoirs do exactly that. They explore grief, faith and the stubborn courage it takes to keep moving forward when the world feels heavy. Some take us to literal peaks, where trails and cliffs mirror the steep paths of sorrow. Others lead straight to the heart, where vulnerability, reflection and fleeting moments of grace reveal that hope can exist even in the darkest valleys.

These are not tidy stories. They are honest, sometimes raw, often heartbreaking, but each one leaves a mark, reminding us that being strong isn’t about denying pain, but about finding the strength to keep climbing anyway …

My Mountains by Chris Smith

Set against the rugged beauty of the Rockies, this tender memoir follows a mother navigating devastating loss. Smith doesn’t offer easy answers or platitudes; instead, presence is found in the trees, on the trails and in the quiet whispers of God. "My Mountains" is for anyone who’s stood at the edge of grief and wondered if joy could ever feel real again — and it reminds us that sometimes the steepest paths lead to the most luminous views.

In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez Lavado

Silvia Vasquez Lavado climbs more than just mountains in this courageous memoir … she scales the heights of trauma, survival and recovery. After enduring years of abuse and addiction, Vasquez Lavado channels her resilience into mountaineering and deep self-reflection. The result is a story that is as thrilling as it is heart-wrenching, and ultimately, profoundly inspiring.

Zero at the Bone...