Rating: 
Summary: Superbly written. Best nonfiction book in the past 5 years.
Review: If this book is judged by the merits on which a book should be judged, then there is one and only one conclusion to be reached. IT IS without question a damn good book. Period. End of story. The writing is especially good for its honesty and clarity of thought and the story is as gripping as it is educational. We even get the bonus of the historical perspective which is one of the hallmarks of a truly great book. I recently ordered the illustrated version of this book. I was not let down in the slightest degree. The photography is vivid and haunting in contrast to the David Breashears and Ed Viesturs' IMAX film which I found disappointing and lame. If you liked the paperback version of this book, then you'll love the illustrated version even better. I will admit that I found Krakauer not entirely sincere in his statements of guilt and sorrow, but that is not the point. The salient point here is that he allows himself to be vulnerable to criticism by presenting the facts and letting the reader decide his guilt or innocence in the diasater that followed. It is clear that Boukreev, on the other hand let his ego run unchecked and this cost lives. Boukreev's refusal to use supplemental oxygen while guiding his clients, getting ahead of his clients instead of behind them, and leaving summit while his clients were still there was clearly negligence on his part. So, don't be swayed by those who condemn this book by judging Krakauer instead of his writing. Krakauer is by no means completely free of guilt, but he never said he was. In fact, he says just the contrary. So while Krakauer is not perfect, his book "Into Thin Air" is certainly close to being just that.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting but slanted
Review: When I first read this book, I thought it was an interesting although not outstanding bit of reporting. Then someone gave me a copy of Boukreev's "The Climb," which appears to be an honest but completely non-self-aggrandizing account of how Boukreev, in the face of spectacularly awful conditions, single-handedly rescued other climbers who surely would have died otherwise. It objectively recounts what one can only, realistically, call heroism. But while Boukreev risked his own life to save others, Krakauer slept in a tent; and afterward, despite receiving much direct evidence to the contrary, Krakauer insisted on casting aspersions and innuendo on Boukreev. Realizing Krakauer's lack of honor detracts significantly from any enjoyment of his work.
Rating: 
Summary: Krakauer suggests far more questions than he answers
Review: As part of the audience Krakauer presumably was trying to reach (non-climbers who are interested in Everest and the 1996 tragedy) I don't know all that much about climbing in general or Everest in particular. Given that, it would have been easy to applaud the book and say, great job, terrific account. Having read two (better) books on the 1996 tragedy after I read this book, I simply can't be enthusiastic about the story overall. Krakauer does a terrific job of making the experience of climbing something people who doesn't do it can relate to, but his account of the tragedy quite frankly comes across as a desperate attempt to place blame. And given his nonexistent high-altitude experience prior to this climb, Krakauer is the last person who should have been making judgments. Essentially, it's a story of "this decision was bad, that decision was bad, this person and that person were both wrong in doing this and that." Krakauer claims that everyone involved in the summit attempt, storm, and subsequent rescue attempts was operating under impaired judgment from lack of oxygen and exhaustion. One is led to wonder just exactly how he escaped these problems to pass judgment on the decisions of climbers and guides with far more Himalayan and high-altitude experience than he had. Lastly, it seems ludicrous that a man who makes a living as an author can claim to give an accurate account of the disaster when he has missed so many crucial facts. Definitely NOT the best choice if you want an objective assessment of what happened and only want to read one book about Everest in May of 1996.
Rating: 
Summary: YOU GOTTA LOVE IT, BUT IS IT THE WHOLE STORY?
Review: I read the hardback; I read the paperback; I read the (Illustrated Edition); and still I am impressed. Without a doubt this is one of the most extraordinary adventure stories ever written. Krakauer's skill at spinning at tale is exceptional. But, still, I have several questions. Why so much focus on Scott Fischer's expedition and not his own? Why was Beck Weathers not given more attention after he wandered into camp? What's the deal with the Russian, Anatoli Boukreev? The American Alpine Club recognized his efforts on Everest as heroic, but in his book Krakauer never says a thing about it. Did Krakauer offer to take Beck Weathers down the mountain? Krakauer says yes. In "Salon" I read that Weathers asked for Krakauer's help, but Krakauer declined. -- As impressed as I am with INTO THIN AIR, I am left with these nagging questions. I wonder if we will ever have the whole story.
Rating:
Summary: Jon Krakauer is a fighter and a writer.
Review: Jon Krakauer is alive today because of his will to fight and his passion for living. Much like Hemingway's "DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON" Krakauer chronicles the play by play of this deadly sport, but unlike Hemingway, Krakauer drowned himself in the middle of the madness. They say "only the strong shall survive" and Kraukauer is one of those rare beasts that pushes on while others fail..... at life, climbing and in writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating, but not fulfilling
Review: I wish that I shared the enthusiasm for this book that most of the other reviewers have expressed. Unfortunately, I found the book interesting because it described the tragegy that ensued, but disappointing because I wanted to know more about the skills and techniques that are necessary to attempt something of this endeavor. I wanted to know more about Everest.
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe my eyes
Review: I can not believe what I am reading. All of the reviews written here, besides the one from the reader from New Hampshire, all glorify the deaths of these climbers. None of you seem to realize that this really did happen and lives were lost. This was not a movie where anything can happen and the actor walks away at the end. Krakauer should be ashamed of himself, writing a glorified and "Hollywood" account of one of the worst expedition experiences in recent memory. The only reason for two stars is because Krakauer survived and maybe one person will get the true picture of the story. Amateurs do not belong on Everest.
Rating:
Summary: Writing as self-help?
Review: I've read Krakauer's earlier book ("Into The Wild") and found this latter work hauntingly similar. Rather than being an unflinching account of the facts, his books seem to be based more deeply in his ongoing struggle to figure himself out. I don't know where his faith lies, but he seems tortured by the compulsions to blame (alternately; others and himself, generally the former). In both books I scanned through the paragraphs that seemed self-serving to the author. I kept reading because I found his descriptions of nature and events to be very well crafted. Anatoli's account of the expedition seems to have been written to defend against the attack by Krakauer. Even at this, Anatoli's version seemed much more factual. I appreciated Anatoli's stoicism (contrasted to Krakauer's blaming). I laughed on reading the quip: "$6.98 - Into Thin Air" in one of the other reviewers comments. Krakauer - Please, next time spare the psychodrama, it comes off as daytime TV set in the mountains.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding book - Jon puts you THERE!
Review: This is an excellent book. Jon brings to life an understanding of the ascent of Everest in a way that puts you in the tents with the climbers. You have to wonder why anyone would subject themselves to this experience. A must read. I can't remember when I've been more enthralled by a non-fiction book.
Rating:
Summary: A well written, slick portrait of some of the facts...
Review: I have read this book, dozens others about Everest and the account by the guide Anatoli entitled The Climb. It seems to me, that the facts that John Krakauer chose to include and the ones that he chose to leave out misinformed the public about the horrible tradgedy on Everest. Anatoli's discription of events, albiet less well written, not slick, picturesque writing, was much more convincing of the facts. I feel heart sorry for any of the survivors of the victims that Everest claimed on that fateful journey. Even more sorry now that John Krackauer has belittled the vicitms themselves in his story version of the event. It is sad when Disney choses to dramatize historic events, it is far sadder when a good writer like John Krackauer does it. If you like this book, and I am sure that you will, please do yourself a favor and read the real story by Anatoli entitled The Climb. It is the real deal
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