Rating: 
Summary: Everest Disaster
Review: Into Thin Air by John Krakauer is a book that anyone could immerse themselves in. It was a wonderfully told story. The way Krakauer writes leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. It gives excellent insights into the sport of mountain climbing, and the consequences of mistakes made in such a hostile environment. This novel was about a Mt. Everest climbing disaster that happened in 1996. Krakauer was on this climb which would later be called one of the worst Everest disasters of all time. Krakauer was assigned to write an article for a magazine about the commercialization of Mt. Everest. To experience this first-hand, Krakauer would go meet one of the world's leading Everest guides, Rob Hall, and head out on the ill-fated quest to climb the mountain. Krakauer soon found that climbing Everest would prove to be a very difficult task that would wind up taking the lives of several of his companions including Rob Hall, their experienced guide. One would think that climbing the mountain in the spring when it is slightly warmer would be simple. In actuality it is just as dangerous at this time of year because of violent storms that arise with allmost no notice. At about 25,000 feet up the mountain there is a section called the "death zone" where bottled oxygen is required to stay alive due to the air being so thin. All of the natural problems were there but also you have to factor in the human error associated with making such a large ascent. Combine the human error with the killer storm that swept over this expedition, with ice and freezing temperatures and you have a deadly situation. Every decision that is made by every person during a climb is absolutely critical to the survival of the party. A decision to allow a climber to stay too long near the top cost the climber his life, the life of his potential rescuer, Rob Hall, and others. I do believe this was a very well written story that exposes truths about the tallest mountain ever climbed and how only total cooperation among the group will achieve success and save lives. Krakauer did a very good job of recounting the events of that harrowing day and opens the world's eyes to the dangers associated with trying to climb the world's tallest mountain.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book You Must Read
Review: I give "Into Thin Air" book four stars. While I was reading it, it kept me into the book all of the time. I was on the edge of my seat through the many dangerous incidents that happened throughout the climb to the summit of Everest. Definitely read this book if you are into climbing or are looking for a real good book to read. Twenty-six people went up on a mountain to obtain their goal. They all faced many challenges, some became sick, others were not able to acclimate to the harsh conditions and altitude and some were not able to survive the windstorms. The one major challenge was the storm that the team encountered one day while at a camp. Over all, thirteen out of the twenty-six passed away and were not able to tell about their experiences on the mountain. Many people became sick and were not able to obtain their goal, the summit. A select few were able to try for the summit but they did not. This book had astounding imagery that made you feel as if you were standing right on top of the summit. It was very dramatic when people were airlifted and some had separated ribs, which made it hard for them to breathe normally or cough at all. People couldn't eat any thing but soup, M&M's and other freeze dried foods. This book was very inspiring to me and it made me realize that all of my goals could be achieved if I tried hard enough. Krakauer wrote an overwhelming rendition of a true story that is enjoyable reading to anyone. Definitely read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Into Thin Air
Review: The book Into Thin air was very good. I enjoyed reading about the real life account of Jon Krakauer. I disliked the part were he stated facts about Mount Everest. Some of the facts were intresting but after reading a few pages it got boring. After that I highly enjoyed reading it. The Book was very action filled. It contained a great real life experience about a climb to the top of Mount Everest. I didn't know much about mountain climbing untill I read the book. His acounts of climbing down the mountain contain great detail and are very intresting. My favorite part was the very begining when he was talking about his first account at the top of the Mountain. I would recommend this book to anyone. Its tough reading but very exciting and fun to read.
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Summary: Krakauer Delivers Magic
Review: Ranking high on the list of literary favorites, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer captivates the reader's attention from the moment it opens until it closes. The powerful imagery and strong emotional content of this book makes reading enjoyable and addictive. Krakauer, writer for Outside magazine, was sponsored by Outside to take a trip to Everest in exchange for a story about his experiences. He went under the supervision of New Zealand expedition leader Rob Hall. Upon return, Krakauer sat down to write a book accounting the tragic and heroic events that took place on Everest in 1996. The experiences that Jon and the twenty six members of his team went through made for a fiction-like story. The hardships described as the different groups climbing the mountain endured a harsh sub-zero storm at 30,000 feet breathing bottled oxygen, are breathtaking and apprehensively involving. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this book was it's way of making the reader seem as if he were right next to Hall on an icy ridge, bracing for another wind storm. Krakauer's ability to describe scenery and a character's actions in relationship to the setting create a lucid picture in the reader's mind. Despite this book's appeal to the hard-core "outdoors" type of people, I believe that reading would be enjoyable to anyone because the book recalls a hardship endured by many rather than just a wilderness experience. Everybody can relate to some of the emotions felt during this trip on some level. Not only do the expeditioners go through personal hardships but the process of having to make critical decisions for the benefit of the group. There were situations in which individuals literally had to decide if it was someone else's life or theirs. Although this book was powerfully written, the recollection of Krakauer's summitting experience leaves the reader with somewhat of and empty feeling. "... but now that I was here,actually standing on the summit of Mount Everest, I just couldn't summon the energy to care... I hadn't slept in fifty-seven hours. The only food I'd been able to force down over the preceding three days was a bowl of Ramen soup and a handful of peanut M&Ms. Weeks of violent coughing had left me with two separated ribs that made ordinary breathing an excruciating trial..." Despite the clear but painfully factual writing, the reader finds themselves wishing things would have turned out better for the expeditioners. The Spring of 1996 season ended with thirteen people dead and many injured beyond reasonable mobility. Into Thin Air is a tragic, yet wonderful book. Kraukauer's Into the Wild is similar to this book in many ways. Once again, Krakauer stayed with non-fiction. They both involve the reader in an fascinating, yet depressing ride along with a group of characters that everyone can relate to in some way. I'd definitely give Into Thin Air a strong recommendation to anyone. You don't have to enjoy exclusively non-fiction to have a good time reading this book. It's a fascinating and inspiring story.
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Summary: A Thriller That Kept Me Up All Night Flipping Pages
Review: Shivering, frostbitten, and stupefied you trudge through a strong hurricane 29,000 feet above sea level. You are blind in one eye and your sight in the other is limited to a meter or two. Your brain has been deprived of oxygen for six hours. The wind chill makes it feel like 100 degrees below zero. If you don't make it back to camp soon, you will surely die! This cannot even begin to describe the conditions that existed atop Mt. Everest in May 1996. Twelve people died as the result of a fierce hurricane near Everest's South Summit. Jon Krakauer relives his experience as a client of respected guide Rob Hall in the epic novel Into Thin Air. Krakauer, a journalist from Seattle who works for Outside Magazine, is swept off his feet by a phone call that gives him a chance to realize his childhood dream, climbing Mt. Everest. Along with Rob Hall, a famous and respected guide, he and seven clients strive to reach the summit. Among his fellow climbers are Beck Weathers, a U.S. doctor, Doug Hansen, also from the U.S., Yasuko Namba of Japan, Stuart Hutchinson of Canada, Frank Fishbeck of Hong Kong, Lou Kasiscke another American, and John Taske of Australia. Accompanying Hall, as assistant guides are Mike Groom, from Australia and Andy Harris from New Zealand and several climbing sherpas, or helpers. The adventure starts at Lobuje where the team spends a couple of nights before heading to Base Camp. Lobuje is a disgusting area at the foot of Mt. Everest where feces is piled high. The heroes then ascend to Base Camp where Hall instructs them on how to train their bodies to adapt to the thin air. After many ascents and descents to various altitudes, Adventure Consultants, Rob Hall's company name, is ready to begin another successful year of putting clients onto Everest's summit. Hall is not the only group climbing though. Mountain Madness led by rival Scott Fischer is also attempting to put eight clients at the top of the world. After a few complications occur, assigned days are given out to ascend to Everest's summit so that the mountain is not crowded. Both Hall and Fischer are scheduled to climb on May 10th, supposedly the best weather on Everest all year falls on this day. Hall tells his group that if they don't reach the peak by 2:00 PM, they will turn around. However, the oxygen must be more thin than usual this year and the last client of Hall, Doug Hansen, doesn't reach the top until 4:15 PM. To make matters worse, storm clouds coat the sky and wind speeds are starting to pick up. If you want to discover the aftermath of this disaster, I highly encourage you to read this book. This personal account of the Mt. Everest disaster in May 1996 was very heart breaking and depressing. I thought the book was very well written and I enjoyed the fact that he put the perspectives of so many people into this book. If you are looking for an edge of your seat thriller that will weigh your heart down and leave you choked up for the lives of the individuals you get to know so well, I recommend this novel, Into Thin Air.
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Summary: everest- following a dream or an obsession
Review: Many of the reviewers have already used words which I would use in describing the story, riveting, compelling,intriguing,true life adventure....yada yada yada. Journalist and mountaineer Jon Krakauer was commissioned by Outside magazine to write a story about the commercially guided trips to Mt. Everest. Krakauer provides insight into the mountaineers psyche and explains why he has always wanted to climb Everest. The average person would like to follow their dreams to have that once in a lifetime opportunity. Dreams quickly become obsessions. The person who chooses Everest as their dream is poised on the precipice of obsession. It is a taxing mistress, claiming money, family, breath and lives. Krakauer describes the many paths which lead to the "goddess". He respectfully introduces the reader to the many individuals who visited Everest that May. The reader grows to appreciate and care for many individuals some who sadly did not survive. Krakauer's narrative leaves room for the readers own view, which makes the book all the more compelling. I am glad I read this book. Mountain climbing is not something I would ever do or even consider, but I have learned a deep respect for those who choose this as their particular dream.
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Summary: Feel Like You're There!
Review: Krakauer does a great job of bringing the reader into the story. I have never mountain climbed in my life, but really felt that I could relate to and understand the challenges this crew faced during their disastrous trip. Krakauer also does a nice job of filling in the story with some mountain climbing history. This helps the reader understand some of the motivation behind these brave souls' need to climb that mountain. Even if you are not an outdoors enthusiast, you will have a hard time putting this book down.
Rating:
Summary: A deeply moving book
Review: I stumbled across this book when my sister brought it home. Before the disaster, one of the men who died on the mountain had visited her school and they had written him letters at base camp. I started reading the book, not really knowing what drama this book contained. I couldn't put it down until I was done and I found myself in tears several times. When you hear about a disaster like this, it is always sad, but when one of the people involved in something terrible is someone from your community, it is depressing. The book was wonderfully written, Krakauer makes you feel like you are on the mountain with them and you are personally experiencing the heartbreaking losses. If you know someone that has perished on Everest, you have to read this book. If you don't know anyone who has, you still must read this book, you will be amazed by what they went through.
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Summary: A very descriptive, very real story
Review: This book is very discriptive including every fine detail that had an impact on the big picture. When I had finished reading it I felt like I had been on everest myself because I had learned so much about it.
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Summary: An unbelievable book for all ages.
Review: I am a 14 year old teenager who isn't your typical "bookworm." As a matter of fact I sat down with this book for a project just expecting to breeze through and write a simple report. I had no idea what I was about to read. Throughout the entire epic tale Jon Krakauer writes his thrilling experience of climbing Mt. Everest. This was a book I just couldn't put down. I know you all hear this one often, but I truly did feel like I was climbing along with him. I gasped I laughed and cried throughout the book. The climax is full of suspense and you feel releived after it is over. For anyone who loves adventure books of the outdoors, if you are 14 or 94. This is an unbelievable book.
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