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Summary: Don't miss this book!!
Review: Most non-fiction can be dry. This book's a tropical depression. Put on your raincoat and hang on for the ride.
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Summary: Emotionally Gripping
Review: The cold days that I dread here in my homestate of Ohio now seem like a day in the tropics, compared to what I have just read. "Into Thin Air" gives a chilling (literally) account of the courageous and, ultimately, tragic ascent of Mount Everest. Jon Krakauer, along with the other members of the expedition, experiences every emotion in the spectrum as he makes his ascension and descension of the world's highest mountain. Krakauer was met with undeserved criticism when he arrived back in the U.S., and he says that the event still haunts him today. He needs to put the event into perspective. He should not have any regrets over what happened. It is easy for someone who has never been in this situation to criticize. But, given the circumstances, there is little that he could have done to save the lives of his fellow climbers, like Andy Harris. I doubt that any one of us (myself included) could have done any more. Although this book ends on a tragic note, I still feel compelled to give mountain climbing a try after reading it. Maybe not Mount Everest, but perhaps some other mountains, just to experience the thrill of the accomplishment.
All that I can think of right now is the frightening image of those climbers, stuck in the freezing, bitter cold, watching their limbs turn blue. With the snow falling outside right now, I feel a greater sense of appreciation for the warmth inside my house.
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Summary: A thought provoking book.
Review: I read this book while on vacation in a fairly remote location (of course, nothing like Everest). The book made me take a good look at the selling of adventure travel. Should people really be able to sign a check and buy adventure trips? Or, should they have to earn the right to participate? I came away hoping that people will try harder to earn their way onto trips like Everest; however, I'm not in favor of someone (governments, for example) telling people whether or not they can take such a trip. People who buy adventure travel should realize that they might have to accept the ultimate risk. I'm not sure that most paying adventurers really believe that they are taking much risk. It's just a vacation, right? Afterall, they paid to have someone make it "safe." I think that people who want to buy trips like this need to examine their motives. Statistical adventure travel can be hazardous. People who sell adventure travel need to make their clients really understand that adventure travel carries certain risks. It cannot be made as safe as a trip to the amusement park.
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Summary: Captivating!! I ignored all else until I finished reading it
Review: A great read for anyone with a love of adventure. He truly brought a feeling of being there to the reader. It was great.
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Summary: Superb Book - Jon is an excellent mountain writer
Review: All three of Jon's books are very good, but this is at the top of the list. I am currently finishing "Eiger Dreams". I'm really interested in visiting some of the far away places he describes. Another good book on the life of a more down to earth mountaineer is TJ Burr's "Rocky Mountain Adventure Collection."
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Summary: Soul searching and morally complicated
Review: This book kept me awake for nights even after I finished reading it. Before reading this book I wrote the members of this Everest team off as thrill seeking morons who could buy their way to the top of the world. Now, I admire every person, especially those who survived for dealing with their memories. This book was wonderfully written and at times very upsetting. A must read.
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Summary: Jon hit's gold once again!
Review: A riviting tale of an author willing to do anything for an exciting story, but this time he almost pushes himself to far. This book kept me reading and on the edge of my seat.
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Summary: Great reading, A must!!!!
Review: I found that I was not able to put this book down. It keep me on the edge of my seat. Once finnished, I bought "The Climb" by Anatoli Boukreev,who was also on the same climb, only with a different team. Kelev Schoening, who was also on this climb with Anatoli Boukreev, was speaking in my town and had this to say about "Into thin air" I quote from our local newspaper, "Schoening called Krakauer's book, probably the most accurate and honest - brutally honest - of those books that are out there" end quote. "Into thin air" is a must read.
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Summary: The most amazing and fantastic book about real life
Review: One of the most important things I have read until know, was said by John, when men get thoughts mixed up between achiving a goal and loosing real sence of dangerous. Beside, the book shows us about determination and risks that we face in everyday life but not less dangerous than Everest. Thank you John.
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Summary: Excellent story, dont miss it !
Review: What impressed me was that you can look at the pics of those who died, and wonder about them, about what happened there ... if you enjoy being touched by a true, human story, this is the book for you. It really emotioned me. Dont bother by the previous comment, its obvious that the author did lots of RESEARCH before writing. Anyway, I will try to read The Climb too to get another side of the story.
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