Into Thin Air

Rating:
Summary: Great book to read
Review: This is the great book to tell you the tragedy of a group of mountain-climber. The writer has a very own individual style to describe the incident in a very exciting way. Very hard to put down. It might come into your mind when you finish this book whether all of them do the right or stupid thing. You should read and decide by yourself

Rating:
Summary: ENGROSSING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING
Review: Jon Krakauer's narrative of the 1996 disaster on Mt. Everest is excellently written and extremely engrossing. Although the events are true, the book reads like a top action/adventure thriller, keeping us turning pages until the end. This is definitely a first-person account, though, and Krakauer makes sure the attention is centered on him, as he alternately extolls his virtues and reveals his faults. I felt extremely saddened when reading this book and I think we must look closely at how and why this tragedy happened. I cannot help but fault, in part, the two guides, Hall and Fischer. Both were experienced climbers and both had previously been on Everest. As guides, these men were running a business for profit and were desirous of satisfied customers--that meant making the summit. But these two men had also accepted the responsibility of caring for their clients' safety, as well as for the safety of those in expeditions not their own. The fact that they ignored self-imposed turn-around times simply cannot be forgiven. Ultimately, however, each person must take responsibility for his or her own actions. Technically, Everest is an easy climb, but the physical demands are enormous. The bulk of climbers were untrained, unfamiliar with their equipment, and simply not in the top physical condition needed to withstand the rigors of high-altitude climbing, a fact of which they certainly must have been aware. And if they weren't, then certainly Hall and Fischer were. Many of the previous reviewers have faulted the climbers for turning their backs on Beck Wethers and Yasuko Namba, but once you have actually engaged in high-altitude climbing, as I have done, you know Everest is not the place to become your brother's keeper. No one should have died and had Hall and Fischer turned around, as they should have, in all probability no one would have. Into Thin Air is a fascinating tale and one that poses many thought-provoking questions each man and woman must answer, not only on Everest, but in the course of his or her day-to-day life.

Rating:
Summary: wow not me
Review: Great for anyone who likes adventure. Try this and find out what reaching your dreams is all about. The people who climbed would read this book and still attempt their climb.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: This was a thoroughly riveting account of the 96 Everst disaster. I didn't know a thing about mountain climbing but ended up completely enthralled by the story. Really just fantastic.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent--Poses Many Questions
Review: This book poses many questions as to why the disaster on Mt. Everest even happened. Why did experienced guides ignore their own turn-around time? Why were inexperienced climbers allowed to attempt this physically demanding task? Krakauer has written a riveting account of the disaster--a real page-turner. I enjoyed it more than "Climb" however both books offer different views of the disaster and both are worth reading. Krakauer alternately sets himself up as both hero and villian, but it's obvious his soul is torn and he will never forget the events of May 10, 1996. Excellent in every way.

Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: I would like to write a book about this book, but instead I will just say - Give us more!

Rating:
Summary: 1996 Disaster
Review: A story about a guided expedition with a group of punters who all had different reasons and desires to achieve a sniff at the summit of Everest.The story raises many issues of venal leadership.An excellent account of a tale of tragedy.A fair perception of this tale is to also read 'The Climb' by Anatoli Boukreev.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT, ENGROSSING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING
Review: Jon Krakauer's narrative of the 1996 disaster on Mt. Everest is excellently written and extremely engrossing. Although the events are true, the book reads like a first-class action/adventure thriller, keeping you turning pages until the very end. This is definitely as first-person account and Krakauer makes sure the attention is forever focused on him as he alternately extolls his virtues and reveals his faults. But we must not forget that Into Thin Air is true. This is the recounting of a tragedy, not a work of fiction. As such, we must take an extremely close look at the people involved. I felt enormously saddened when reading this book. A life can never be replaced, and in 1996, lives were lost, both callously and needlessly, on Everest. I think we need to look closely at how and why this tragedy happened. I don't think there can be much doubt that greed played an enormous factor in this series of events. While no one deserved to die on Everest, I cannot help but fault, in part, the two guides, Hall and Fischer. Both were experienced climbers and both had previously been on Everest. As guides, these men were running a business-for-profit. A good businessman garners satisfied customers, hence Hall and Fischer's desire to take their clients to the summit. But these two men had also accepted the responsibility of caring for their clients' safety, as well as for the safety of those in expeditions not their own. The desire to reach the summit won out as both guides ignored self-imposed "turn-around" deadlines and knowingly endangered the safety of all involved. In the end, Hall and Fischer both paid for their recklessness with their lives. But are they, then, to blame? Only in part. Ultimately, each person must take responsibility for his or her own actions. Technically, Everest is an easy climb, but the physical demands are enormous. The bulk of the climbers were untrained and unfamiliar with the equipment and simply not in the top physical condition needed to withstand the rigors of high-altitude climbing--a fact of which they must certainly have been aware. Many, Krakauer notes with horror, were wearing new hiking boots and Yasuko Namba didn't even know how to use her crampons. What was it that made these people believe they could tackle the strenuous demands of any mountain, let alone Everest? And if they weren't aware of their shortcomings, then surely Hall and Fischer were. Were they shirking their responsibilities to safety, hoping to make the summit only because their clients had each paid $65,000 for the thrill of standing on top of the world? Is that what a life is worth? Once the storm hit, Krakauer gives us fine examples of heroism, but he also shows us more examples of man's inhumanity to man. Yes, we must all take responsibility for our own lives, but we are all also our brother's keeper. The fact that the expeditions (and especially the Japanese) turned their backs on both Beck Weathers and Yasuko Namba is an act for which all involved will ultimately be held accountable, if not in this life, then in the one to follow. Into Thin Air is a fascinating tale, but at its heart it poses many thought-provoking questions each man and woman must answer, not only on Everest, but in the course of his or her day-to-day life.

Rating:
Summary: Super
Review: You will not put it down until the end. Amazing. Simply the BES

Rating:
Summary: The most absorbing book I've ever read.
Review: I've heard too much criticism on this book. Four stars isn't enough. This book is so full of human emotion, I read the last 200 pages without putting it down. It would be an amazing story even if it was fiction. It left me so speechless, all I can think to say is Buy It And Read It.