Rules to Live By

In Rules to Live By, New York Times bestselling author, National Geographic photographer, and Academy Award–winning filmmaker of Free Solo Jimmy Chin turns to ten icons who have helped him think more deeply about how we choose to live, how we endure, and, in the end, what really matters.

Twenty-five years ago, as I headed out on my first expedition, I had a lot of questions. I’ve found a few answers since, but one question remains: In the end, what really matters?

A few fundamental truths are worth examining again and again, because we evolve and so does our understanding. When I have needed guidance, I’ve gone back to my mentors. The wisest of them never gave me straight answers: They asked me their own questions, and I arrived at things I never could have been told.

This book is ten conversations with ten extraordinary people—Lynsey Addario, Annette Bening, Simone Biles, Yvon Chouinard, Alex Honnold, Bill King, Yo-Yo Ma, Ridley Scott, Kelly Slater, and Kristine Tompkins—each of whom has earned the exceptional life they chose to live and the understanding that has come with it.

None of them gave me rules. They gave me honesty.

Good conversations, like good books and good films, make you feel a little less alone. I hope these do that for you. Maybe you’ll even find a few rules to live by.

Much love,
Jimmy