Must-Read Books for Skiers

While rowdy dives and aprés-ski parties are a staple of winter evenings after a day on the slopes, sometimes you just want to kick back, relax, and enjoy a quiet evening with a good book. Add in a fireplace and a warm bevvy, and it’s the perfect end to a big day of winter adventures. So we’ve put together a list of some of the best books, both non-fiction and fiction, for skiers and riders. Continue reading for our complete list of the best books for skiers and snowboarders.

Non-Fiction Books For Skiers

Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing, by Ayja Bounous

Junior Bounous has had quite a life of skiing, from fashioning his first skis out of barrel staves on his family’s Utah fruit farm to working with Alf Engen to lay the foundation of modern ski instruction to later becoming the ‘World’s Oldest Heliskier’. Bounous recently turned 100 in August of 2025 and he’s still skiing. Dive into the story of this skiing trailblazer in Junior Bounous and the Joys of Skiing, written by his granddaughter, Ayja Bounous. It wonderfully captures Bounous’ legacy with heart.

White Planet: A Mad Dash Through Modern Global Ski Culture, by Leslie Anthony

Ski journalist and adventurer Leslie Anthony, in White Planet, takes readers on a whirlwind journey through the slopes, backcountry trails, and après-ski scenes that define modern global ski culture. From the powder havens of the Rockies to the remote peaks of Asia, Anthony blends personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and vivid storytelling to capture skiing not just as a sport, but as a way of life around the globe. With humor, insight, and a deep love for the mountains, Leslie Anthony shows you how skiing connects people across borders, generations, and terrain. White Planet is essential reading for anyone who’s ever felt the pull of fresh snow.

Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, by Bruce Tremper

Widely regarded as the definitive guide to avalanche safety, Bruce Tremper’s Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain blends decades of professional expertise with clear, practical advice for anyone venturing into the backcountry. Drawing on his years as director of the Utah Avalanche Center, Tremper explains the science of avalanches, the psychology of decision-making in risky environments, and the essential tools and techniques for survival. With engaging stories, accessible explanations, and step-by-step strategies, this book empowers skiers, snowboarders, and mountaineers to recognize hazards, make smarter choices, and enjoy the mountains more safely. It might not be as appealing as many other ski books on this list, but it’s an indispensable guide for those who spend time in the backcountry.

Higher Love: Skiing the Seven Summits, by Kit DesLauriers

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be the first person to climb and ski from the highest summits on each continent? Look no further than Higher Love, as Kit DesLauriers recounts her quest of becoming the first person to climb and ski down the Seven Summits. From Everest to Denali, Vinson to Kilimanjaro, DesLauriers blends gripping adventure narrative with raw reflections on risk, resilience, and the pursuit of passion. Her story is not only about conquering mountains, but about embracing the unknown, pushing human limits, and finding joy in the wildest places on Earth. With vivid detail and unflinching honesty, Higher Love is both an inspiring memoir and a thrilling testament to the spirit of exploration.

Freedom Found: My Life Story, by Warren Miller and Andy Bigford

Freedom Found, co-written by legendary filmmaker Warren Miller and journalist Andy Bigford, explores the life of the man who brought skiing to the big screen. With humor, candor, and vivid storytelling, Miller recounts his adventures behind the camera, the creation of his iconic ski films, and the philosophy of freedom and joy that defined his work. More than a biography, Freedom Found is a celebration of a life lived on the edge of mountains, capturing the spirit of skiing and the community it built worldwide.

Wild Snow: A Historical Guide to North American Ski Mountaineering, by Louis Dawson

In Wild Snow, ski mountaineer and historian Louis Dawson traces the adventurous evolution of ski mountaineering across North America. Dawson blends meticulous research with firsthand experience to create a sweeping narrative of the sport’s history, from the earliest trailblazers of skiing who strapped on wooden skis to explore rugged alpine terrain to modern athletes pushing boundaries on remote peaks. Rich with stories of daring ascents, cultural milestones, and the development of backcountry skiing, Wild Snow is both a tribute to the mountains and a guide to the spirit of exploration that defines ski mountaineering.

Fiction Books For Skiers

The Slope Rules, by Melanie Hooyenga

Calling all those who like adventurous romantic vacation reads. In The Slope Rules, 16-year-old Cally Ryanne is determined to prove herself on the slopes, but when she breaks her own rules about love and risk, she finds herself navigating more than just icy turns. With sharp dialogue, an authentic teen voice, and the thrill of downhill racing, Hooyenga captures both the excitement of the sport and the emotional rollercoaster of first love. Ideal for fans of sports-driven coming-of-age romances, The Slope Rules blends heart, humor, and high-stakes competition into a memorable read.

Powder Burn, by Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano

Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano’s Powder Burn plunges readers into a fast-paced crime thriller. When a ski instructor becomes entangled in drug smuggling and murder, the pristine slopes turn into a backdrop for corruption, greed, and survival. With sharp dialogue, biting social commentary, and relentless suspense, this novel captures both the allure and the dark underbelly of ski-town life. Powder Burn is a gripping ride down treacherous terrain—where every turn could mean freedom or fatality.

The Chalet, by Catherine Cooper

High in the French Alps, luxury and danger collide in Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet. When a group of friends gathers at an exclusive ski resort, old secrets resurface and a tragic accident from two decades earlier refuses to stay buried. As snow falls and tensions rise, the glamorous setting becomes a claustrophobic trap where trust is fragile and survival is uncertain. Blending psychological suspense with the icy allure of alpine life, The Chalet is a chilling thriller that proves even the most beautiful places can hide the darkest truths.

Shiver, by Allie Reynolds

Five friends reunite at a remote ski resort in the French Alps, but what begins as a nostalgic getaway quickly turns sinister. In Shiver, author and former freestyle snowboarder Allie Reynolds delivers a taut, locked-room thriller where icy slopes and buried secrets collide. As the group is trapped by a blizzard, old rivalries resurface and the truth about a mysterious disappearance from their past threatens to shatter them all. With razor-sharp tension and a chilling atmosphere, Shiver is a gripping tale of ambition, betrayal, and survival in the unforgiving world of competitive snowboarding.

The Resort, by Sarah Goodwin

When a group of strangers arrive at a luxury ski resort, they expect indulgence and escape—but instead find themselves trapped in a chilling psychological nightmare. In The Resort, Sarah Goodwin masterfully blends glamour with menace, as the snowy safe haven becomes a claustrophobic stage for secrets, suspicion, and survival. As tensions mount and trust unravels, the pristine alpine backdrop transforms into a dangerous prison where no one is safe. Atmospheric and unsettling, this book is a gripping thriller that proves paradise can quickly turn perilous.

Confessions of a Chalet Girl, by Lorraine Wilson

If you’re craving a cozy rom-com with a snowy twist, Confessions of a Chalet Girl is the perfect place to start. Set in the glamorous Swiss resort of Verbier, Lorraine Wilson’s first book in the Chalet Girl Series introduces readers to a spirited heroine who’s trading her ordinary life for an unforgettable ski-season adventure. Between flirty encounters, laugh-out-loud mishaps, and the irresistible charm of alpine nights, she discovers that chalet life is full of surprises—and maybe even true love. Packed with humor, heart, and a dash of après-ski sparkle, this feel-good read is your ticket to romance in the mountains.

One by One, by Ruth Ware

Attending a corporate retreat at a luxurious ski chalet in the Alps sounds like a dream to most people, but in One by One, it becomes a nightmare when an avalanche traps the tech startup employees inside. After a raging storm cuts off communication to the outside world, the group realizes the snow isn’t the enemy—someone inside the lodge is. Hidden agendas, long-held grudges, and corporate betrayals bubble to the surface, as the line between colleague and enemy blurs. One by one, trust erodes, alliances fracture, and survival becomes a game of strategy and instinct. In this claustrophobic thriller, the luxurious setting becomes a gilded cage, and the storm outside is merely a backdrop to the psychological tempest within.

Beyond Birkie Fever, by Walter Rhein

Set in the snowy woods of Wisconsin, Beyond Birkie Fever explores “Birkie Fever”—a condition that grips thousands of cross-country skiers each year as they prepare to race a grueling marathon on skis. With a blend of humor and heart, the novel captures the eccentric rituals, intense camaraderie, and personal triumphs that define the American Birkebeiner experience. Although the story is fictional, it draws heavily from author Walter Rhein’s own upbringing in a family of passionate skiers, lending the narrative a sense of authenticity and warmth that resonates with anyone who has ever chased a finish line through the snow.