Rating: 
Summary: A gripping first person account
Review: Krakauer's own climbing expertise does not impede his writing an account that has universal appeal. His recounting of the Everest expedition is both triumphant and tragic. The details of the experience are thorough, including elaboration on everything from the physical necessities of the rigorous climb to the culture of the sherpas and respect for the mountain. The only drawback to this book (and the only reason it receives four stars instead of five) is the large number of names one must keep track of as a result of the several teams which were attempting to summit the mountain during that period of time.
Rating: 
Summary: An outstanding rendition of a gripping tale
Review: The problem with most mountineering books is that they are written by men and women for whom the adventure and danger have become almost routine (see, for example, Anatoly Boukreev's account of this same expedition). Jon Krakauer, however, is no professional climber, and he is clearly (and justifiably) terrified throughout this amazing account of his disastrous trip to Everest. Even readers not especially interested in adventure reading will find the story fascinating and the moral questions troubling.
Rating:
Summary: A classic of the genre
Review: By now, the events chronicled in "Into Thin Air" have passed into the popular culture and books have appeared from just about every climber who survived the events on Everest in 1996. But it was Krakauer's incredible storytelling that popularized the story in the first place. Krakauer is a good climber, and an even better writer. That he seemingly possesses little of the cockiness often associated with mountaineers is a big plus. He was truly devastated by what happened on Everest that year and writing this book was obviously theraputic for him. As a reader, you find yourself thankful that if the trajedy had to occur, that at least a first rate journalist was there to witness it first hand. This book is destined to be a long-remembered classic.
Rating:
Summary: THE Everest Book to Own
Review: I, like milliones of other American's, knew little about Mount Everest before reading Krakauer's account of the 1996 Everest Tragedy. This book, is so well written and absorbing you will not want to put it down until you have read the entire book. Krakauer pulls you in to the adventure with info on the mountain's history and will not let you go until you have finished the last page. Upon compleating this book, I went on the read other accounts of the 96' tragedy and they do not touch Krakauer's. This is the 96' Everest book to own and is miles above the competiton. Adventure fan or not, everyone must read this wonderful piece of literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Article not a book
Review: The obvious interest in human tragedycompels us to move quickly through this story which races toward a tragic conclusion. While I enjoyed the author's style and commentary on the various climbers and what htey brought to the tragedy, I believe this story was just that--not a full length book. It was better as just a magazine article. A book is a stretch.
Rating:
Summary: Climbers will particularly like it
Review: Although Into Thin Air is an excellent read for anyone interested in the true account of the Everest disaster of 1996, I think it will particularly interesting for climbers. I say this because much of the book is written in a way that assumes some knowledge of the terms, techniques, and landscape of ice climbing. I loved the book and finished it in a day and a half, but I don't think I ever really developed as effective a mental image of what it must have been like as I have with other books of this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Krakauer puts Anatoli Bourkeev's The Climb down!
Review: Into Thin Air is a wonderfully told story. None of us back here knew what was happening, and me being 13 at the time, not caring. But when Jon described the horror of his oxygen running out at 29,000', I felt myself there. Anatoli Bourkeev, although a great climber, was responsible for the deaths of many people. Not Krakauer. Jon was climbing with oxygen and couldn't get up, as I imagine most of us would be. Anatoli, climbing without oxygen, and being a guide, was very irresponsible and cost the lives of 8 people. In his book, The Climb, he critisizes Jon for not getting up and saving Yasuko Namba. Whatever. Jon did everything he could do to save himself. This is a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Into thin air; pretty thin (written by jen h.)
Review: While trying to get comfy in my chair, and about to open the book assigned to me for the 9th grade spring break week I was extactic to get started. The way Jon wrote this book was great, I was completely all for this book because he talked in first person. A very adventurus guy; I'll give him credit for climbing, but how he built up the suspence... well kind of reeked. It was now a task to get my spring break reading done. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad. In fact he had a great story, but the way he wrote it didn't grab me in any "ooohh now I gotta climb everest to be just like him" it's more "yup. Read his book." BOT. LINE: Compelling story... not so well written.
Rating:
Summary: wow!
Review: Before I read this book, I did not have the slightest interest in mountains or mountaineering. Now I crave for more information about Mt Everest. This book is a wonderful account of a season on Everest, following the paths of various climbers on the mountain. Krakauer's telling of the disaster which ensues at the end of the book is brilliant. I also enjoyed reading his mentions of the history of mountain climbing, and of the race to summit Everest. Even if you know nothing about climbing, you will love this book. It's like a trip to the real Himalayas, but without the danger factor.
Rating:
Summary: Pulls you in from the start.
Review: I picked up this book after reading one of Krakauer's other books, Eiger Dreams, because of his fantastic and moving style of writing. This book caught my attention in the first few pages and I finished reading it the day after I got it. Krakauer's version of what happened may be criticized by others who were on the mountain, but nevertheless he does a magnificent job in allowing the reader to get a sense of the great tragedy that happened on Everest. If you have an adverturous spirit or an interest the discovering how the mind and body are pushed to their limits then I would most certainly recommend this book.
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