Into Thin Air

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Summary: why I climb
Review: there was a guy from Boston who asked if there was an explanation of why climbers risk thier lives in pursuit of a summit. the answer, at least for me, is that I am not there on a death wish. I would rather turn around and head back down from a summit than risk my life in the pursuit. the mountain will still be there next season. the book is a narrative about people who had a strong belief that conditions were ok, that they should keep climbing. they did not go up there saying "summit or death" the most important part of mountaineering is making it back down.

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Summary: At the Top
Review: This book is truly one of the most fascinating stories in modern literature.The authors'description allows the reader to make many judgements on the intriguing world of human decision making in times of stress,survival,life and death.The recent book,"SHEER WILL" by Australias'MichaelGroom,sheds another fascinating insight and perspective from a professional guides viewpoint.

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Summary: Great Book
Review: If you enjoy hiking or mountain climbing you definitely have to get this book. I first saw "Everest" at the IMAX theater. From there I was lead to Krakauer's book which I found very difficult to put down. There isn't a dull moment. You will become very intimate with what went on that fateful day when 8 climbers lost their lives on the highest mountain in the world. The events leading up to the disaster almost sounded like it was made for a novel. Plenty of negative foreshadowing occurs before the disaster, including a Puja that normally gets performed before each and every ascent. This Buddhist ceremony is considered very important and some Sherpas will not ascend unless one is performed. It just so happened that the Rinpoche was sick so it couldn't be performed. You will also get a glimpse of the heroics of America's foremost high-altitude climber, Ed Viesturs and the IMAX "Dream Team" as they helped to rescue Beck Weathers and Makalu Gau from almost certain death.

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Summary: The Mount Everest Disaster
Review: Into Thin Air is a wonderful book about how one man escaped tradgedy unlike many of his expeditions members. In 1996, Jon Krakauer was sent to Mount Everest to write a review about the commercialization of Everest for his employer, Outside Magazine. Krakauer jumped at the oppurtunity because climbing Everest was a boyhood dream. The expedition would be led by the expert Rob Hall. Into Thin Air is very enjoyable to read after you struggle through the beginning of the book. The book consists of too many side stories about previous Everest climbs and the mountains history. Despite these distractions, the story of life and death captures your heart knowing that this is a true story.

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Summary: One of the best TRUE adventure stories of all time
Review: I remember hearing about this disaster in the news, seeing the ravages of frostbite on Jon's fellow climer Beck. Hear about THE worst climbing season on the roof of the world. 12 people dead, many with debilitating and disfiguring frostbite. But to hear a concise accout from the terrible events at 29,060 feet above sea level is astounding. 6 people leave in the climbing team only 2 return. Hear the enthraling story of the events leading up to this disaster.

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Summary: Into Thin Air
Review: Into Thin Air is a wonderful book dealing with the trials and tribulations of Jon Krakauer and his team climbing the high peaks of Mount Everest. The team that he belonged to, called Adventure Consultants, was a respected and prestigious team. As Jon and the team climb Everest the team begins to fall apart and many unexpected mishaps happen at the high elevations. This book is one that you cannot put down because you want to know what is going to happen to Jon and the team. The author Jon Krakauer, who is the main character, writes vivid descriptions of the horrors that occurred upon the Everest decent. Into Thin Air is a book for mature readers that are not afraid to use the dictionary. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is passionatly reccommended to all libraries. As the Wall Street Journal says, "It ranks among the great adventure books of all time."

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Summary: Tough to put down
Review: Very compelling book- well written, exciting. Covers technical details in a way which makes them exciting and understandable to non-climbers.

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Summary: Engaging. Mesmerizing. Disastrous.
Review: Gripping true account of an expedition to Everest gone wrong. We get to know some of the folks on the trip and the egos of those leading the way up the hill. The missing element is the author's inability to define or describe why people are obsessed with climbing in the first place. What motivates climbers to risk their lives. The audience demands more than the Mallory explanation "because it's there."

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Summary: Sheer Terror
Review: When I first read this novel, I let the rest of the world pass by. I was caught in a terrible nightmare, but determined not to wake up until the end of it. I recommended it to my future husband, who experienced the same fascination. My second reading of the book let me latch onto some details I had missed in my original state of fright.

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Summary: EVEREST, THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE
Review: ON MAY 10TH, 1996, JON KRAKAUER ASCENDED TO THE SUMMIT OF MT. EVEREST. ALTHOUGH HE HAD NOT SLEPT FOR FIFTY-SEVEN HOURS AND WAS SUFFERING FROM OXYGEN DEPLETION, HE SAFELY RETURNED TO HIS CAMPSITE THAT NIGHT. AS HE COLLAPSED IN HIS TENT, HE WAS QUITE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT NINETEEN MEN AND WOMEN WERE CAUGHT ON THE SUMMIT AT 29,028 FEET, IN A DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR THEIR LIVES. TWELVE PEOPLE WOULD LOSE THEIR LIVES THAT NIGHT IN AN INCREDIBLY BRUTAL STORM. IT WOULD BE A NIGHT THAT HE WOULD TRY VERY HARD TO FORGET. I THOUGHT THAT THIS BOOK WAS VERY WELL WRITTEN AND DESCRIBED THE STORY OF CLIMBING EVEREST VERY WELL. I MUST SAY THAT IT LEFT A SICKENING FEELING IN MY STOMACH AND GAVE ME A TREMENDOUS FEELING OF LOSS. BUT, DESPITE THE CONTEXT OF THE STORY, I ENJOYED MOST OF THE BOOK AND WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.