Rating: 
Summary: THE Everest Book to Own
Review: I, like milliones of other American's, knew little about Mount Everest before reading Krakauer's account of the 1996 Everest Tragedy. This book, is so well written and absorbing you will not want to put it down until you have read the entire book. Krakauer pulls you in to the adventure with info on the mountain's history and will not let you go until you have finished the last page. Upon compleating this book, I went on the read other accounts of the 96' tragedy and they do not touch Krakauer's. This is the 96' Everest book to own and is miles above the competiton. Adventure fan or not, everyone must read this wonderful piece of literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Article not a book
Review: The obvious interest in human tragedycompels us to move quickly through this story which races toward a tragic conclusion. While I enjoyed the author's style and commentary on the various climbers and what htey brought to the tragedy, I believe this story was just that--not a full length book. It was better as just a magazine article. A book is a stretch.
Rating: 
Summary: Climbers will particularly like it
Review: Although Into Thin Air is an excellent read for anyone interested in the true account of the Everest disaster of 1996, I think it will particularly interesting for climbers. I say this because much of the book is written in a way that assumes some knowledge of the terms, techniques, and landscape of ice climbing. I loved the book and finished it in a day and a half, but I don't think I ever really developed as effective a mental image of what it must have been like as I have with other books of this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Krakauer puts Anatoli Bourkeev's The Climb down!
Review: Into Thin Air is a wonderfully told story. None of us back here knew what was happening, and me being 13 at the time, not caring. But when Jon described the horror of his oxygen running out at 29,000', I felt myself there. Anatoli Bourkeev, although a great climber, was responsible for the deaths of many people. Not Krakauer. Jon was climbing with oxygen and couldn't get up, as I imagine most of us would be. Anatoli, climbing without oxygen, and being a guide, was very irresponsible and cost the lives of 8 people. In his book, The Climb, he critisizes Jon for not getting up and saving Yasuko Namba. Whatever. Jon did everything he could do to save himself. This is a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Into thin air; pretty thin (written by jen h.)
Review: While trying to get comfy in my chair, and about to open the book assigned to me for the 9th grade spring break week I was extactic to get started. The way Jon wrote this book was great, I was completely all for this book because he talked in first person. A very adventurus guy; I'll give him credit for climbing, but how he built up the suspence... well kind of reeked. It was now a task to get my spring break reading done. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. In fact he had a great story, but the way he wrote it didn't grab me in any "ooohh now I gotta climb everest to be just like him" it's more "yup. Read his book." BOT. LINE: Compelling story... not so well written.
Rating:
Summary: wow!
Review: Before I read this book, I did not have the slightest interest in mountains or mountaineering. Now I crave for more information about Mt Everest. This book is a wonderful account of a season on Everest, following the paths of various climbers on the mountain. Krakauer's telling of the disaster which ensues at the end of the book is brilliant. I also enjoyed reading his mentions of the history of mountain climbing, and of the race to summit Everest. Even if you know nothing about climbing, you will love this book. It's like a trip to the real Himalayas, but without the danger factor.
Rating:
Summary: Pulls you in from the start.
Review: I picked up this book after reading one of Krakauer's other books, Eiger Dreams, because of his fantastic and moving style of writing. This book caught my attention in the first few pages and I finished reading it the day after I got it. Krakauer's version of what happened may be criticized by others who were on the mountain, but nevertheless he does a magnificent job in allowing the reader to get a sense of the great tragedy that happened on Everest. If you have an adverturous spirit or an interest the discovering how the mind and body are pushed to their limits then I would most certainly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely stunning!
Review: Having recently read Ernest Shackleton's book about the doomed Endurance expedition to the South Pole, I was interested in reading another adventure story of humans pitted against the cold and snow. Krakauer delivered in spades. I had no particular interest in mountain climbing in general or Mount Everest in particular, but once I started reading Into Thin Air, I could not put it down. It accompanied me everywhere for 24 hours; to the swimming pool, at meals, at bedtime, until I had finished it. Rarely have I been so entirely absorbed by a book. There are moral dilemmas aplenty to ponder as you read the book; Krakauer even lays bear his personal sense of responsibility for the death of one of the guides that fateful spring at the summit of the highest place on earth. Each chapter is introduced by a wonderfully apt quotation from a prior Everest account or other great literature. But what really makes this book hum is Krakauer's style as a writer; simple, direct, literate, graceful. You will come away from this book knowing a lot about the history of Everest exploration and the tragic events of the spring of 1996 at the top of Mount Everest, but more than that you will have new insights into the greatness, and the limitations, of all too fragile humanity.
Rating:
Summary: why is tragedy so fascinating?
Review: I have yet to understand why humans so much enjoy reading about tragedies that have happened to others. I am not saying this to criticise, I do it myself. This book is about a horribly tragic event, yet I found myself recommending it to other people as a book they would enjoy! Enjoy--a book about physical deprivation, mental hardship, suffering, and death. Yet it's true, I did enjoy it. Enough to want to read other viewpoints on the same event. I am sure other reviewers have already mentioned this, but this story, were it not for the tragedy it ended in, would often be laughable. I found myself reading pieces out loud to others in disbelief at the idiocy or short-sightedness or arrogance involved. Yet, there is true heroism here too, and I wanted to share those bits with others just as much. Buy this and read it if you want to share in the experience of high altitude climbing without ever having to actually do it. Krakauer does a good job on conveying what it must be like. This is not an extreme sport that people indulge in for an adrenalin rush. This is extended hardhip and suffering with high risks. While I may never understand why people do something like this, it is astounding to be able to share the experience vicariously.
Rating:
Summary: Got Me, A Couch Potato, Hooked on Climbing Books
Review: I enjoyed this book so much, I became totally hooked onclimbing books, even though I get winded going over a speedbump. Now I've read books on climbing Everest, K2, Annapurna, etc., and am a walking encyclopia of climbing. Into Thin Air remains the best book in this genre. Not a dull moment, and you feel like you are there on the mountain. Krakour's account is concise, like a good journalist, but also intensely personal, a perfect mix.
|
