The Greater Fool: Brad Gobright and the Blinding Shine of Originality

Auteur
Alex Honnold, born on August 17, 1985, is a renowned American rock climber, distinguished for his unparalleled free solo ascents of colossal rock walls. His global acclaim skyrocketed in June 2017 when he achieved the unprecedented feat of free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, scaling the 2,900-foot Freerider route at 5.13a grade. Described by the New York Times as "one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever," this climb etched Honnold's name in history. He further solidified his legacy with the fastest ascent of the "Yosemite Triple Crown," completing the Mount Watkins, The Nose, and Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome link-up in a remarkable 18 hours and 50 minutes. In 2015, Honnold received the prestigious Piolet d'Or in alpine climbing for the Fitz Traverse in Patagonia, a five-day enchainment of the Cerro Chaltén Group. Alongside co-author David Roberts, Honnold penned the memoir "Alone on the Wall" (2015). His extraordinary achievements also inspired the 2018 BAFTA and Academy Award-winning biographical documentary, "Free Solo."

Texte du rabat

The Greater Fool follows renowned climber and accomplished Free Soloist, Brad Gobright, on his wondrous path of becoming. From the soil of his youth, born 8-weeks premature and miles away from the nearest vertical flank of granite, to the endless roadtrip he crafted in his quest for discovery, The Greater Fool ventures with Gobright up the tallest heights, and follows him into his quietest, most solitary lows. The perpetual dirtbag and seeming anomaly to much of society, Gobright shines in spite of his many setbacks, injuries, and odds to overcome. From his numerous free-ascents up the mighty Too-tock-oh-noo-lah (El Capitan) to the toils of looking for love and a balanced life, The Greater Fool details the unique magic of Gobright's recipe on life. A recipe which, beyond its monastic rudiments and its spartan discipline, is tied, ultimately, to the purity of his heart, the singleness of his quest, and the lightness-that contagious buoyancy-with which he floats across the whole of the human experience. The Greater Fool follows Gobright up to, and beyond, his untimely passing, where he continues to challenge and inspire the community of outside seekers who fostered him along the way.

Résumé

For as long as stories have been told, we’ve had a peculiar fascination with the wayward among us, with those we call the fools.

Our histories are flush with those who stand at the edge of reason, of those who see what others cannot. Among the archetypes, the Greater Fool holds a most special place within the canon. Standing there unphased after the dust and the punchlines settle, the Greater Fool is the one who hangs on when all others let go, the one who turns into the storm when all common sense and foot traffic points the other way. Where the world around them sees only an empty promise, the Greater Fool maintains there is yet worth to be discovered still.

Intrepid and unwitting as they may be, they’re also the ones we need. As irony would have it, in every Greater Fool there’s just enough magic to pull us back in their direction. Just enough light for truth to shine an arc of redemption. This is the story of Brad Gobright, one such anomaly who shined for us all a most special and unending light.

At the heart of this tale is Brad Gobright, an embodiment of the Greater Fool, whose story unfolds with an irresistible blend of intrepidness and unwitting magic. In a world often skeptical and driven by common sense, Gobright becomes the beacon turning into the storm when all signs point the other way. "The Greater Fool" reveals the enchanting paradox that lies within these individuals – the ones we need, who, in their pursuit, manage to infuse just enough magic and light to pull us into their extraordinary orbit. This narrative is a celebration of the unconventional, an ode to those who defy the odds, and a testament to the enduring light that shines even in the face of the most challenging circumstances.

Échantillon de lecture

INTRODUCTION

Brad Gobright’s eyes were categorically disarming. For those who knew him, especially those who loved him, to be held by his undivided attention and to be the recipient of his cherubic smile were among life’s most righteous affirmations. There was a certain assurance in his gaze, and, as his closest loved ones speak of it, his smile offered the type of stillness found in an alpine meadow. It was not the assurance of tall and mighty and endless forests; it was not an indomitable thing. It was something precious, unlikely, and beautiful, often unseen by most. Full of light, delicate and generous, those were the attributes of Brad’s love cast upon others. 

Overflowing with love, Brad Gobright’s life was also full of devotion and what I can see now as a great sense of ordinance. The truth is, while often fox-holed into a profile that was comic, absurdist, and even unintelligent, Brad’s life was flush with these broad and glorious and, ultimately, very human plots. He was a most unique, truly inimitable person—something I learned in friendship with him, years back, and learned again through the process of writing this book. But as unique as he was, he was also strikingly familiar. Seen by most people as an outrageous climber—as the subject of mostly sensational climbing media—there was a lot about Brad that the world did not know; that most of us did not know. It wasn’t anything overtly secret, as there was no shameful list of liabilities. Instead, behind the shroud, unseen to most, was just the good stuff, the best stuff. At the underbelly, Brad’s life had richness and humanity and, at times, exquisite vulnerability. The crux of it, as I came to find out, would be how to present this delicate love, this endless devotion, this great ordination, on the pages in a book.

In early 2020, after having read a short piece that I had written about Brad online, Di Angelo Publications reached out with an offer. Due to Brad’s unlikely heroism, his lightness of being, and his quizzical, sometimes inscrutable persona, they were transfixed with him. A more detailed, full-length biography, they suggested, was needed. At the time, I was just beginning nursing school, and having never written anything beyond the length of a short story, I was largely overwhelmed. The truth is, up until 2020, I had only ever written to personally practice what felt like a discipline of mindfulness. Having a project at scale, deadlines to meet, and the thought that any of my work could suddenly turn into something up for public review, felt largely nauseating. Still, after suggesting we first publish a collection of short works to help ease me into the landscape, I agreed—with one caveat: Brad’s family needed to be on board. That summer, while shaping the rough drafts on what would become Aperture Alike, I met with Brad’s parents, Jim and Pamela Gobright, to discuss the prospective book. 

After a few fond get-togethers and my being the beneficiary of Jim and Pamela’s great hospitality, we had spent enough time learning about each other to issue what felt like respective votes of confidence. Little did I know these would be the fortuitous beginnings of a deeper friendship. With profound love and encouragement, they told me that two of the greater lessons they had learned from Brad were to never shy away from an adventure and to always lean into the long journeys of the human heart.

Lights green, we looked ahead. Quickly, a year passed, Aperture Alike was published, and nursing school went into its second season.

In January of 2021, with Pamela’s help, I was given a list of Brad’s closest climbing partners and friends, …