The memoir’s central figure is Jordan Romero. At age 10, he climbs to his first summit, and he summits the world’s eight tallest mountains by age 15. He was the youngest person to ever achieve this and earned massive recognition from the mountaineering community and worldwide media for his decision to attempt this at such a young age. Jordan states early on that when he gets an idea, he doesn’t hold back: “When I get interested in something, I become a fanatic and learn everything I can about it” (5). He has always enjoyed the outdoors and loves skiing, and mountain climbing became his passion when he told himself that it was worth doing. The Power of Setting and Achieving Goals is Jordan’s primary mission in life, and his patience, perseverance, courage, and work ethic enable him to do whatever he sets his mind to. In addition, Jordan expresses how lucky he was to grow up with loving, supportive parents who believed in him as much as he believed in himself.

Jordan begins his quest with Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and concludes with Vinson in Antarctica. He wisely takes it one step at a time, gradually increasing difficulty with each climb, training for any and all special skills required, and taking his time.