Whether you're new to hiking or a seasoned high-altitude adventurer, this book invites you to climb with greater preparation and descend with deeper awareness.
A witty and deeply personal field guide to walking in the mountains — responsibly, safely, and with wonder.

More than a classic outdoor manual, Mountains. A User’s Guide offers a sharp, engaging, and eco-conscious look at what it means to hike today. Giulia Negri, naturalist, ski instructor, and science communicator, shares real stories, smart advice, and surprising science in a warm, conversational voice. From what to pack (and what not), how to read a map, deal with animals, plan routes, manage altitude sickness, or cope with overtourism and climate change, this book speaks to the modern mountain lover — novice or seasoned. What sets the book apart is its narrative style: each chapter opens with a vivid story — sometimes curious, humorous, or (un)fortunate — drawn from the author’s personal experience. These anecdotes become the launchpad for exploring real, practical issues: how to prepare a route, what to bring (or leave), how to interact with flora and fauna, or how to deal with mountain hazards in a changing climate. The result is a book that blends storytelling with guidance, offering concrete tips to avoid common mistakes and enjoy the mountains more fully and respectfully. 
With humor, humility, and insight, it blends nature writing, storytelling, and environmental awareness. Because going up is never the goal. Coming back — changed, and a little wiser — is.