Into Thin Air

Rating:
Summary: Read the book, stay off the mountain
Review: While Krakauer's book (and the article of the same name in Outside magazine) has been the source of much debate and second guessing on the part of reviewers and other climbers, my review really isn't intended to address these issues. Instead, I just want to ease the concern of Outside readers (which I shared before I read it) that the book would be nothing more than an extended version of the original (and lengthy) article. While it obviously covers some of the same ground, the book is much more expansive and shouldn't be missed by anyone who has even the slightest interest in mountaineering and/or what occured on that tragic climb up the world's highest peak

Rating:
Summary: Riveting chronology of the everest disaster
Review: As a native Seattlite and outdoor enthusiast, I appreciated Jon's fair and detailed account of the ill-faited expedition. He co-mingles personal sketches and mountaineering information with actual events of May 1996. I've found it difficult to think of much else over the last week since finishing the book. The eery confluence of impaired judgements, guiding competitiveness and unpredictable high-altitude weather brought this promising expedition to a tragic conclusion. I've found it difficult to seperate controllable v. uncontrollable factors and like Jon am filled with many postulated questions: like why did the guides violate their own tenants of climbing, failing to stick to their own prescribed turnaround times? Why did the IMAX team forego an ascent on May 10 due to the jet stream location and not inform other ascending teams? Why did Hall go to such lengths to get Hanson to the top? Why didn't the 2 sirdar sherpa's from Hall and Fischer's teams proceed ahead of everyone to set ropes, as planned? Many, many questions. The discouraging thing is that few if any lessons may be learned. It appears the publicity may generate more climbing interest by marginally capable high-altitude climbers. The other compelling part of this story is Jon's own mental pain and suffering. His feeling's are palpable. As a reader , it was hard not to feel his pain which for me was indicative of a well-told story.

Rating:
Summary: Page by Page Suspense
Review: Even if you already know the story of the deadly Mt. Everest expeditions of 1996, you will appreciate Jon Krakauer's own first person account of the Adventure Consultants and the Mountain Madness groups. Both of these expeditions were led by well-seasoned Everest climbers---Rob Hall from New Zealand and Scott Fischer from the States--and had the aid of expert guides, Sherpas from Nepal and "outsiders". But we soon find that even these experienced people are not immune from the human frailties of greed, denial and self-serving. Those Achilles' heels will cause both expeditions to completely fall apart. At the same time, human error combined with the unforgiving terrors of high altitude climbing sets the scene for heroism in many of the climbers and crew.

Krakauer, a journalist who signed on with Hall's expedition to do a story for Outside magazine, doesn't disappoint as weaver of a tale. I took the book everywhere with me while reading it, always eager to find out what would happen next.

If a book that explores deftly our desire to reach an unreachable summit appeals to you....especially when that book does not shy away from the tragedy caused when the desire to reach it undoes common sense and humanity....I highly recommend "Into Thin Air."

Rating:
Summary: Riveting chronology of the everest disaster
Review: As a native Seattlite and outdoor enthusiast, Iappreciated Jon's fair and detailed account of the ill-faited expedition. He co-mingles personal sketches and mountaineering informationwith actual events of May 1996. I've found it difficult to think of much else over the last week since finishing the book. The eery confluence of impaired judgements, guiding competitiveness and unpredictable high-altitude weather brought this promising expedition to a tragic conclusion. I've found it difficult to seperate controllable v. uncontrollable factors and like Jon am filled with many postulated questions: like why did the guides violate their own tenants of climbing, failing to stick to their own prescribed turnaround times? Why did the IMAX team forego an ascent on May 10 due to the jet stream location and not inform other ascending teams? Why did Hall go to such lengths to get Hanson to the top? Why didn't the 2 sirdar sherpa's from Hall and Fischer's teams proceed ahead of everyone to set ropes, as planned? Many, many questions. The discouraging thing is that few if any lessons may be learned. It appears the publicity may generate more climbing interest by marginally capable high-altitude climbers. The other compelling part of this story is Jon's own mental pain and suffering. His feeling's are palpable. As a reader , it was hard not to feel his pain which for me was indicative of a well-told story.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't stop reading it...
Review: This tale is Jon Krakauer's personal account of his attempt to summit Mt. Everest. Rob Hall is the leader, a guide with impeccable credentials who is also a man of caution...yet a daring individual, as anyone would have to be to climb Everest (especially time and time again). Rob leads the team up the mountain, and everything is going fairly well until that fateful day where everything seemingly went wrong. It's almost hard to read this book knowing there's a tragedy coming, but I couldn't put it down to find some heroism also involved in this story...the will to survive is amazing, and it is demonstrated clearly in this book. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: SUSPENSE
Review: I thought that this book was one of the most interesting non-fiction books that I have ever read. We all know many stories about people that have climbed the mountain. The IMAX film was also made on the trek. Krakauer keeps us in suspense of the events of what happened and the events that led to the death of 5 out of the original 11 climbers. I really enjoyed this book and encourage people to read it over and over.

Rating:
Summary: Awsome!
Review: I have now read this book twice and it will probably go down as one of the great outdoors books of all time. And deservedly so.



Rating:
Summary: Absolutely and thoroughly haunting...
Review: What a book... Krakauer paints a highly visual tale replete with the agony, suffering and human cost of launching an assault on the vaunted peak of Mt. Everest. I simply could not put this book down, although the horror and hopelessness of the situation begged for me to do so. Very interesting use of personal experience within the context of a heart-wrenching disaster which could have easily been avoided.

Rating:
Summary: A great book!
Review: This is an excellent book. My boyfriend made me read it a few years ago when I was in high school and now I am dying to read it again! I am not even remotley interested in mountain climbing--but this book was so well written and incredibly interesting it didn't matter! You must read this book. Also check out Krakaur's book Into the Wild. It is also good!

Rating:
Summary: I'll read it again
Review: Any book that I consider reading again before even finishing is one that I will treasure on my bookshelf. Contrary to the belief of my mother, this book actually got me interested in climbing. It was interesting and well written and I recommend it to anyone who can read.