Tom French is a lifelong mountaineer, cross-country skier, and lover of the outdoors. A senior partner emeritus of McKinsey & Company, he is currently board chair of the Trustees of Reservations, a director of Corning Incorporated, and serves on several other nonprofit boards. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Jill.

"Tom takes us on an inspiring journey and so much more in his beautifully written book. He has penned a mountain climber's white-knuckle thriller all the while closely examining the arc and purpose of life. To read it is to be moved!"

--James Gorman, chairman of the Walt Disney Company

"It's not too late for extraordinary adventure! Tom French makes a compelling case that trying hard things when you're older offers different rewards than in one's youth--this is a beautiful account that will almost certainly get you out the door!"

--Bill McKibben, author of "Long Distance"

"In The Gap Years, French shows it's never too late to reignite old passions. His journey is a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to rediscovering what truly makes us feel alive."

--Bill Koch, 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist and 1982 Overall World Cup Champion

"The Gap Years is engaging, exciting, and revelatory--an adventure story that will take the reader to some of the remotest places in the world and yet remains grounded in the more familiar terrain of the human heart."

--Nathaniel Philbrick, author of "Travels with George"

"An inspiring and thrilling account of a quest to fulfill the dreams of youth and summit the most challenging mountains of the world, from Mount Washington to Aconcagua to Everest. A story not just about the power of determination, but more importantly about the restorative power of the outdoors."

--Nicole Zussman, president and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club

"In The Gap Years, French embarks on a profound journey that resonates with anyone who has ever felt the pull of their passions amidst the demands of life. This inspiring exploration of aging, adventure, and self-discovery reminds us that it's never too late to reconnect with the dreams that define us."

--Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and CEO, Corning Incorporated

"French has provided conclusive proof that sixty is the new forty. The Gap Years is a tremendous adventure story and vibrant travelogue. It is also a poignant and sensitive insight into one man's efforts to balance family and occupational commitments with a life-long passion for testing himself on some of the world's highest mountains."

--John Morton, author of "A Medal of Honor and Sports Life"

"Joy floods Tom's life and his writing; with climbing logistics and impossible weather, with friendships built with fellow climbers, guides, and Sherpas. He writes for himself, but also for those who prefer the proverbial armchair to read what it took to descend Everest's Lhotse face in a snowstorm, or to stand on Cholatse's summit in bright sunshine."

--Laura Waterman, author of "Calling Wild Places Home"

"As French returns, at age sixty, to the Nordic trails of New England and the peaks of the Himalayas, he reminds us that the most elegant outdoor journeys always end where they begin. The Gap Years is a riveting must-read for any mountain athlete wishing to keep the fire burning."

--Michael Wejchert, author of "Hidden Mountains: Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong"

"As a veteran of fifteen Everest expeditions I was moved by Tom's description of this special region of Nepal. The Gap Years allows armchair adventurers a glimpse into climbing and skiing at the highest level, while chasing the zeal of youth."

--Mike Hammill, author of "Climbing the Seven Summits"

"A gripping story of high-altitude mountaineering, competitive cross-country skiing, and real-life risk; in a multiyear quest pursuing life's dreams head on without regrets. Tom highlights the importance of knowing 'why!'"

--Garrett Madison, founder of Madison Mountaineering

"In The Gap Years, French shares an inspiring tribute to what draws us to the mountains, and to why we need to protect them for future generations."

--Kristin Harila, 2022 European Adventurer of the Year

"The Gap Years takes us on a captivating journey from corporate boardrooms to the summits of the highest mountains of the world. Along the way, it vividly confirms how much meaning and joy remain to be discovered in the latter chapters of our lives."

--Max Landsberg, author of "The Call of the Mountains"

"The Gap Years is an inspiring tale of one man's rediscovery of the physicality that once defined him."

--Scott Johnston, author of "Training for the Uphill Athlete"

"A riveting personal adventure story."

-- "Kirkus"

"A skilled storyteller, French redefines what retirement can look like. Recommended for outdoor enthusiasts, cross-country skiers, and mountaineers, plus older readers who will be inspired to reacquaint themselves with past interests and embrace new experiences in their golden years."

-- "Booklist"

Publisher: Brandeis University Press

Pub date: 2026-04-14

Length: 256 pages