Into Thin Air

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Summary: could not put it down
Review: It was almost physically impossible to put this book down. I carried it everywhere with me for two days until I finished it, and then I took two more days to reflect on it. Anyone who likes survival stories will find this a must read.

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Summary: A lucid remembrance of a nightmare
Review: People do stupid things, and INTO THIN AIR recounts a fairly deadly instance of this on one of mother nature's obsticle courses. Read, ponder, and learn from it.

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Summary: Riveting!
Review: Jon Krakauer's account of what transpired on Mt. Everest on May 11, 1996 is superb. I admit that I was drawn into his tale and could not put down the book until I finished. However, I do feel that Krakauer himself is an egomaniac. He spent too much time trying to prove to the reader that he was a far superior climber than his teammates. It also seemed trivial that he ridiculed the paying clients just for the mere fact that they were wealthy. It is possible for a wealthy individual to be an excellent mountain climber. Luckily, the actual tale outshines his ego and the final product is a marvelous read.

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Summary: Morality -- does it exist at high altitudes?
Review: Hi. I am a senior in high school and I read this book for my Advanced Contemporary Literature class. I'd heard only good things about it from my friends so I thought it would be a good choice. Although it starts off slowly, which is necesary to provide the background to the trip, the climax becomes more and more anticipated with each page. The battle for survival at the summit makes the last 200 pages seem like 20. Krakeur writes with such passion and honesty, the reader is drawn into the delicate balance of life and death and feels the ups and downs of small accomplishments, then disatrous downfalls, with the climbers. One comment made in the book by a climber in another expedition, Shigekawa, poses an idea that seems to be an underlying issue of the book: "'Above 8,000 meters is not a place where people can afford morality.'" This is a scary statement because it advocates the "you're on your own" principle high atop Everest and that is a place where many people do need help and cannot survive on their own. I wonder, though, after reading of the severe effects of high altitude on the human mind, if it is even possible for morality to exist above 8,000 meters. Morality involves the conscious ability to determine what is the right action to take (the one beneficial to mankind, in the larger sense) and the wrong action to take. Hypoxia does not allow for this type of cognitive thinking to occur at high altitudes. Krakeur is having trouble forgiving himself for actions he did not take on the mountain that could have saved lives and, in retrospect, he realizes he should have taken them now, but how can he be held responsible for neglecting them when his brain was not functioning? One of the paradoxical aspects of Everest is that quickness of wit and sharpness of mind are necessary to conquer the mountain, yet the mountain denies its conquerors these things by restricting oxygen. I defintely recommend this book.

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Summary: This book proofs that we are not as Invincible as we think
Review: Mr. Krakauer's account of the tragedy he lived, shows us, normal humans, that we have limits, and that we aren't "Kings of the World". This is the kind of book that you don't want to put away. The description of the events that happened almost two years ago are incredible. The tale of all these adventurers is well described... It is a breathaking book.

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Summary: An amazing story told in a gripping way
Review: I found Krakauer's account of his expedition to Everest absolutely riveting. I couldn't put it down and managed to finish it in just two days. Mr. Krakauer has an amazing gift for story telling. He puts us there on the mountain with him to see and feel the agony and the ecstasy of the expedition. I highly recommend it!

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Summary: As good as writing gets.
Review: Ah, to be in thin air with the fierce winds and desolate beauty . . . it was a shock to the system to finish Jon Krauker's book. He made his harrowing experience real to the armchair climber. I admire his objectivity, his compassion and his concise writing style. He does not patronize but rather educates the reader. The book is a masterpiece!

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Summary: Each succeeding page stimulates more reader anxiety.
Review: This is one of the best true life drama/adventure stories I've read. The excitement builds higher with the ascent and reaches a crescendo with the descent. Krakauer is certainly a very sympathetic player. It is very obvious that his story is also his confession of the guilt he suffers for being a survivor. I want him to know that I believe he has no reason to feel guilty. He was incredibly stron

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Summary: A perfect example of the adventure-novel genre
Review: Jon Krakauer does a beautiful job of recounting the terrible accident that occured on Mt. Everest. Although at some point throughout the book his poor literary skills do shine through, in this genre of writing they are not necessary. Reading this book made me realize both the beauty and anger of nature in a way which I have never thought of. I highly recommend it.

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Summary: Provoking and Well Written
Review: Written in an excellent, straightforward journalistic style, this book is interesting, exciting and provoking. Conveys the feeling of an experience in the "death zone". I believe that Krakauer is sincere and has attempted to thoroughly present an account of the events. The accuracy of his analysis is subject to question. In fact, anyone's account of the events would be subject to question, given the conditions and the effect of the altitude on human perception. On thing appears to be certain, the guides made some serious mistakes here and it cost dearly. A good read and an interesting book.