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Summary: Into Thin Air
Review: A marvelous account of greed and arrogance. I was left without feeling for any of the participants. I recalled the words of a British journalist when commenting on the loss of Mallory and Irvine on Everest. "For what reason? It's only a feat." This whole story is without meaning.
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Summary: Many lessons to be learned
Review: Into thin Air, as the book and the article in Outside magazine, left me with a feeling that I won't soon forget. I am full of admiration for a man who so vulnerably puts himself on the line as he seeks to understand and give meaning to the events of the 1996 Everest Tragedy. Krakauer leaves you unable to do anything but read from the moment you pick up the book. I really think his subjectivity is what makes this account so readable and so whilst I understand that others may be put off by his personal interest in writing this book, I don't think I could have read it any other way. I felt as though I was, in some way, there and at the same time was incredibly grateful I was not! Into Thin Air carries a lesson for us all. This book is a must read.
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Summary: I couldn't sleep until I finished it.
Review: I have wanted to read a comprehensive account of this disaster since I heard of it last year; in part, is was so compelling because of the survival of Dr. Beck. I wanted to know what happened, and why. When I saw that network television was carrying their version of Mr. Krakauer's book, I decided to read it AFTER watching the film. The film served as an appetizer for the main course, and I couldn't wait to read the book. The movie necessarily left voids I wanted filled in; obviously this story could not be told in less than 2 hours. The book was thrilling as I had expected, and the depth so much greater than the movie. Additionally, it was kind of fun to compare the inconsistencies in the film versus the book (the climber sliding down the side of the mountain without his boots is brought to mind, and the apparently fabricated-for-the-movie discussion between Doug and Rob on summiting after 2 p.m., plus many more). I literally stayed up all night long to finish this book; I did not want to let go. In fact, at one point my eyes closed involuntarily, but I managed to rouse myself later and go back at it. I really devoured this book, but, like the movie, it has left me hungry for more. I want to read more on this story; I want to know what everyone is doing now, and so forth. This book is utterly fascinating, and I had never, ever, thought about mountain-climbing in any way whatsoever before. Now I intend to read everything I can on Everest, the rest of Mr. Krakauer's books, and other books that he mentioned in this fascinating, dramatic account.
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Summary: Krakauer vs. Boukreev debate
Review: I read "Into Thin Air" with more than a passing interest and also read reviews regarding the Boukreev reviews. In the prologue to Krakauer's book he quotes friends and colleagues who urged him to gain some distance before writing this book. He chose not to and subsequently produced a bookthat has many emotional undertones as well as overtones.It was a catharsis for him and from where I sit, perhaps painted poor judgement for many (including himself) on this trip to Everest. Regarding the other author, I do not judge Boukreev's choices,because this is a personal account of the mountain from John's point of view, no matter how many people he spoke to after the trip, the pain, anguish and guilt are still there. Heroes come in all forms and perform heroic deeds mixed among deeds they wish (in hindsight) they could have chosen not to do or do otherwise as they look back. Often heroism arises out of stressful situations. All present on that mountain who survived have a story to tell of personal tragedy. I don't judge any who chose not to attempt to save others because I do not pretend to understand the harshness of the situation at hand. It is more valuable to read as many accounts as possible to get a better sense of how it might have been during those fateful days in May 1996. I have only empathy, as well as respect, for both authors and all associated with many on that mountain, both now and in the future. I look forward to the IMAX version to further fill in missing details. Readers should give both authors a bit of a break. I thank them for choosing to share what must be an incredibly anguished memory for each of them. Both are worth reading.
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Summary: Great reading!
Review: A gripping true account of the expedition to Everest that had me reading it in practically one sitting. Wonderfully well written! The author pulls you into the story from the get go and explains in fascinating details the events that occured and the way people reacted to the mountain, and with each other. Definitely recommended reading.
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Summary: The Mountain God
Review: Into Thin Air is a story of man against nature and man against himself (where man=human). Whether that was his aim or no, Krakauer lays bare the human condition. This is how we are under extreme physical duress. It is an important reminder that in this day and age of technological wizardry we are still at the mercy of nature: the god of the mountain will take his own. To form judgments against any of the participants is ludicrous and arrogant. Only those who were there, and maybe not even they, have that right. Many of the readers' comments point this out very well. As writing it is honest and direct, and interspersed with enough background information to put us in the context of the events. That is enough. The title creates a wonderful image: men and women ascending the ultimate heights, then leaving their bodies behind and ascending even further, into thin air. Yes, it was a tragedy, but was it not a beautiful tragedy, to die for what you love? How many of us will ever get to do that?
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Summary: BEAUTIFULLY GRIPPING
Review: Like Krakauer's "Into The Wild", this book is a stunning description of the events leading up to unnecessary tragedy. The manner in which he writes brings the reader closer to these events than you can ever imagine and leaves you yearning for more. It is without question one of the most incredible pieces of literature I have had the priviledge of reading (several times).
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Summary: A compelling book
Review: This is a book that will leave you breathless. The writing is fluid and not contrived. The author achieves drama without being manipulative. You will discover a place you never want to be but that you still think is beautiful.
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Summary: He was there and survived, and writes adequate prose
Review: Since so much has already been said about this book here, I'll just add a couple of things: 1) Jon Krakauer didn't set out to write Augustine's Confessions. Yes, he did some things which hindsight can tinge with a distinct moral repugnance (if hindsight is twisted properly, like it so often is.) Yes, he left Beck to die. Yes, he lay in his own tent while Dr. Hutchinson was frantically trying to be a beacon in the storm. Yes, he was unkind to Sandy Pittman without being fully self-aware of his own complicated motives and consequences. Frankly, however, I'm really glad that Krakauer found that fine line between wallowing in guilt and self-hatred, and not exploring his own sense of sin at all. Personally, I forgive Krakauer - I'm willing to believe that it took every ounce of his own energy and blind willpower to survive, and in such a state, helping others was not in his own self-interest. Self-sacrifice is noble, but life is worth living. 2) Ok, so if Hemingway had been on the 1996 expidition (and I get the sense that Krakauer's sparse and taut prose was deeply inspired by Hemingway), the book would have been a masterpiece. Nonentheless, Hemingways are rare, and Hemingways who are in a position to be able to climb into the death zone and escape alive out of epic tragedy are even rarer (although if Hemingway were reaching his prime right now, I think he would have done this climb). Give credit to Krakauer for being there, surviving, and being able to write better prose than most of us.
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Summary: Stop Tormenting Yourself, Jon
Review: I'm glad for the popularity of Jon Krakauer's book because it introduces the genre of mountaineering literature to a wider audience. When you read all the mountaineering books you can get your hands on, as I have, you'll learn that the chances of dying on a high altitude climb are EXCELLENT. The fact that they go to an area called "the death zone" should be a clue to this. You'll also find that on trip after trip of "professional" mountaineers, climbers die-sometimes many of them (read about the '82 season on K2, or the Russian Invitational climb in Pamirs (ALL pro climbers, LOTS of deaths) for some perspective. The debate over whether the deaths on this particular climb had to do with the participation of "non-professional" climbers is irrelevent.Also--interesting to read the press participant Sandy Pittman has gotten. With her espresso beans and laptop computer she's just a modern version of expedition pioneers to who brought fine wines and table linens on treks. t
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