Rating: 
Summary: A good coffee table book
Review: The story of the IMAX team on Everest in the year of the tragedy in 1996. A large format coffee table style book with plenty of pictures and more text than a typical coffee table book. The book is beautifully bound. The cover and paper is top quality. The text covers about half on the actual expedition, and about half on the life, customs, and beliefs of the Sherpas. This book isn't just about the tragedy. It concerns itself more with the Sherpas. Some of the technical aspects of filming at high altitude was covered as well as effects of high altitude mountaineering on the human body. If you are looking for different viewpoints on the tragedy, this book doesn't really throw any more light on the subject. If you're interested in Sherpa culture, high altitude mountaineering, and a beautiful coffee table book, this is it.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book, from all angles
Review: This book has incredible pictures, and an incredible story. I was deeply taken by the humanity and bravery of the subjects of the book. I cannot wait to see the IMAX movie that they were involved in making. I also read Into Thin Air, which was great also, but told the story from a different angle. Mountain Without Mercy is aptly named, emphasizing the deep respect the local culture has for the mountains and the gods that they believe inhabit them. This book emphasizes how humans are subject to the will of nature, and that not all areas of the world are so easily conquered. I know I will never attempt to summit Everest, but I would love to see the views from Base Camp!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Everest, Mountain without Mercy
Review: This book is a companion to the Imax film of the 1996 Everest climb, made famous by the tragedy detailed in the Jon Krakauer book, Into Thin Air. This book is up to the usual standards of its publisher, the National Geographic Society. It contains spectacular photographs, and a narrative that contains both detailed technical information for the mountaineering junkie, and a gripping story.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating story; beautiful pictures
Review: This book is about the IMAX team's filming during the same climbing season the famous 1996 disaster chronicled in "Into Thin Air" occurred. The book includes some information also discussed in "Into Thin Air," but also lots of interesting stories about the IMAX team's climb. It also has gorgeous pictures of the climb [although there appears not to have been a still camera at and near the very top, because presumably it wasn't working in such high altitude.] I could have done without the detailed descriptions of how an IMAX camera worked, but it's a small quibble, and probably necessary to the story. There is also a list in the back of statistics and names of people who have summitted, which is terrific for climbing afficianados like me. I would highly recommend this book to any fan of climbing and adventure books to add to their collection.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: This book is an educational learning tool along with an amazing story. Any person interested in Mt. Everest and the tragic story must add this to their book collection. Outstanding photos included.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Pictures, Deadly Story
Review: This book is an excellent companion piece to Jon Krakauer's epic Everest tale "Into Thin Air" as well as the Everest IMAX film that was being shot at the time that the May 1996 trajedy occurred. The book is coffee table size, and full of spectacular photographs of the mountain, mostly taken by the IMAX team. The narrative that accompanies the images documents what happened during that terrible month, from the horrific deaths to climber David Breashears's team's successful summitting of the mountain with IMAX camera in tow. The words read like a National Geographic article, however, giving only an overview of the events that occurred. Krakauer's book is essential for a complete understanding of what happened.Overall, a fine coffee table book for those with an interest in mountaineering as well as those fascinated by the May 1996 disaster.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Pictures, Deadly Story
Review: This book is an excellent companion piece to Jon Krakauer's epic Everest tale "Into Thin Air" as well as the Everest IMAX film that was being shot at the time that the May 1996 trajedy occurred. The book is coffee table size, and full of spectacular photographs of the mountain, mostly taken by the IMAX team. The narrative that accompanies the images documents what happened during that terrible month, from the horrific deaths to climber David Breashears's team's successful summitting of the mountain with IMAX camera in tow. The words read like a National Geographic article, however, giving only an overview of the events that occurred. Krakauer's book is essential for a complete understanding of what happened. Overall, a fine coffee table book for those with an interest in mountaineering as well as those fascinated by the May 1996 disaster.
Rating:
Summary: Great Work
Review: This book is for everyone. It has a wonderful story line, along with an amazing insight into Sherpa culture, as well as little sidebars about Hinduism, high-altitude, and the logistics pof mountaineering.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: This book is INCREDIBLE!!! First off, the pictures are so clear, and so beautiful, it gives you an idea of how AWESOME Everest really is! This is the perfect, "put in your collection to show off book." I read the book "Into Thin Air" (another awesome book) and this book should be the "pictures" of that book. GET IT!!
Rating:
Summary: 1996 IMAX Expedition
Review: This is a beautiful, large coffee table sized book. The photography is sharp, clear and the colors are beautiful. What is most impressive is the range of the text. It takes up the culture of the Sherpas, Buddhism, some geological and physiological findings as well as the climbing and filming of the Everest IMAX movie. Sponsored by the National Geographic, and led by David Breashears, a highly respected leader and photographer, this was a dream team in operation. Lead climber was Ed Viesturs, brilliant U.S. climber who has attained 12 of the 14 highest peaks in the world, all without supplemental oxygen. I am happy to report he is not just a myth; his favorite meal on the mountain is Spam, yes Spam. Also this grueling trip was his "honeymoon." His bride accompanied him to Base Camp (about 17,000 feet) and got to worry about him for a solid month. I enjoyed reading about sparkling Aracali Segarra, attempting to be the first Spanish woman to summit Everest (she made it!) She is living proof that female mountaineers can be pretty and vivacious as well as awesome athletes. The IMAX team was of enormous assistance to the beleaguered Hall/Fisher teams. They supplied oxygen, helped rescue and support the injured climbers on the South Face. Some of the pictures are brutal of the rescue attempts. The pictures of the mountain are splendid. The viewer will get an excellent sense of Everest's brooding size. To me, Everest is a Godzilla of a mountain. It does not have the proportioned beauty of K-2; it is one enormous hulk. But this does not take away from its majesty and awe. To the Sherpas, climbing Mt. Everest is a spiritual experience, something that is done with many prayers and much reverence. Everest: Mountain Without Mercy will give you hours of enjoyment. It covers so many aspects of the area, and is beautifully printed and bound. I recommend it for your own reading or an excellent gift.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
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