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Summary: Intellectually compelling adventure story
Review: Bereft of reliable knowledge, of being able to rely on one's usual ways of knowing, and of knowing what reality actually is, how does one respond to crisis in the extreme conditions of Mt. Everest? On Mt. Everest, especially in the Death Zone, the brain is functioning at such a minimal level that the senses cannot be trusted, nor can perception of the physical world, and one is slow to respond to the stimuli of this rarified environment. Though climbers are outfitted with highly sophisticated gear, internally, Mt. Everest strips them bare. What remains is their character. Into Thin Air vividly explores the way each climber's essential character is magnified on this climb. Each choice, each deed, is mortal; we, as readers, experience each deed and its chain of consequences. Krakauer's prose is taut. His reflections are tough-minded and tender-hearted. He is uncompromising as he tries to sort out the many moments of heroism and failure that made this climb an extraordinarly complex chapter in the history of Mt. Everest expeditions. This book stimulated my mind and my adreneline: it ranks as one of the very best books I've ever read.
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Summary: Into Thin Air vs. The Climb
Review: I can't remember two books that stirred up so many strong feelings as "Into Thin Air" and "The Climb." To understand why, you need to read both books. Once you've read both, you'll have a better idea why certain Amazon reviewers have slandered Krakauer so viciously and unfairly. First of all, if you're going to read these books, read the new expanded "trade paperback" editions of both titles. The new versions are in a bigger, "deluxe" format that costs a little more but is definitly worth the extra money. Each of these updated 1999 editions includes the addition of a totally new epilogue that answers charges made in the other book. These added chapters are incredibly helpful if you want the real story. The 1999 edition of "Into Thin Air" takes some major digging find at Amazon (for some weird reason there is no direct link to if from the other paperback, hardback, or audio editions-they are all linked to each other, but not to this newest and best edition), but it's worth the effort. I recommend reading "The Climb" first, and then "Into Thin Air." After reading both books, I was convinced that "Into Thin Air" is definitely the more honest book. "The Climb" should certainly be read in order to get both sides of the story, but you need to keep your BS detector on full alert. G. Weston DeWalt, who ghost-wrote "The Climb" for Boukreev, uses all sorts of shameful tactics to distort the truth. Although DeWalt's prose is plodding and inept, he does have a knack for spinning the facts and pandering. He succeeds at making readers feel that Boukreev was wronged by Krakauer, when actually Krakauer did no such thing. DeWalt's attacks on Krakauer may convince the gullible, but careful, intelligent readers will be able to discern who is being honest and who is not.
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Summary: The Krakauer Disaster
Review: I have to admit that I was rather frustrated with this book. Krakauer actually shows how thin hir report of the 1996 Everest desaster is. Nothing against his points of view but this book contaisn too much the word "I". I did this, I did that... Not to mention that Anatoli Boukreev's heroism is totally overlooked. Nonetheless this is a book worth reading. However, if you are interested in the persue of what really happened above 29,000 feet on the Everest summit, please don't stop at this book. Read also "The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest" by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston Dewalt. I would personaly start with the Boukreev account.
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Summary: Charcter assassination on Everest
Review: Jon K fails to get the point, writing a good story is not enough when it comes to mountaineering books. This book is a great read, but read The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev and you will feel as if JK has taken you for a ride with his good story. This is because a good story does not need to stick to the facts. It is clear from the reaction of the American Alpine Club to Boukreev - awarding him a high honour for his actions on Everest- that they did not share JKs view of Boukreevs conduct.In short JK uses Boukreev as a stooge/villian around which to base his most gripping narative and in doing so absolves himself of blame. Read The Climb after you have read this book and you will get the point.This book will grip non climbers but it a slur to the memory of one of the greatest High Altitude Climbers the world has ever seen - shame on you JK
Rating: 
Summary: Jon Krakauer should be ashamed of himself
Review: Being that many of the main people of the ascent on Everest died and can not refute any of the "so-called" facts of this story, Mr. Krakauer has molded a very self serving picture of what took place on that mountain. Somehow, with many more experienced climbers with him he tells a fable of how he made it to the summit first, and with relatively little discomfort, as opposed to say Beck Weathers, who was frozen in a block of ice. He casts a very dim picture of the actions Hall, Harris & Fischer. Saying that he believes Robert Hall selfishly pushed his team to go further than it should have just to beat Scott Fischer. A man with Robert's credentials would not just sit on a freezing mountain and wait to die. I could go on and on about what a deplorable human being Jon Krakauer is but I will just say 3 last things, 1, Most of what took place on the top of Mt. Everest was done as Jon sat in his tent drinking hot tea and feeling sorry for himself as his fellow climbers desperatly searched for safety and fought to stay alive. 2, Jon's lack of participation with Fischer , the Sherpas and the Imax team to help Hall, Harris, Weathers, Namba and the others displayed an act of cowardice I have not seen in my 30 years. And 3, I would like to send my sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives on Mt. Everest.
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Summary: Into whine air
Review: The book "into thin air" is unabashedly depressing, thoughtless, and droll. Though adept at whining, Mr. Krakauer does not focus on the real story, that of himself, rather the book quickly degenerates into a self gratifying attempt to remove blame from himself and place it upon others. Page upon page of statements beginning with "if only" does not benefit the survivors or dignify those who lost thier lives. In short, Mr. Krakauer has done little to honor those who died and much to hurt those who survived.
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Summary: It made a lasting impression.
Review: I finished Into Thin Air in one sitting, and subsequently developed a mini-obsession with Everest. If you enjoy books that evoke a frisson of horror every few pages, you'll love this one.
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Summary: A Picture Well Painted
Review: Before reading the book, Into Thin Air by John Krakauer, I expected to go in and find a Hollywood-type story. I am glad to say that my assumption was incorrect. From the beginning Krakauer paints a picture of Mount Everest, and the degree of difficulty it involves. With virtually no knowledge of high-altitude climbing or Mount Everest, I was shocked to learn of the condition of the mountain and how HAPE effects the human body. The state of Mount Everest, including the overcrowding and the ignorance of some, directly plays a role in the tragic day of May 10, 1996. Jon Krakauer tells his story with such an emotion that you cannot help being caught up in the mystique the mountain possesses. Never before have I been drawn to a story the way I was with this novel.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I feel that the book Into Thinn Air was one of the greatest books of all time. Into Thin Air is a story of a climbing expedition to the top of Mount Everest. One of the many reasons I liked this book was the fact that it was a true account written by Jon Krakauer. The story starts out very uniquely, where as the first chapter is actually telling you what happens when Jon Krakauer and his team of inexperienced mountaineers are at the top of Everest when all the trouble starts. Jon Krakauer makes it to the top of the mountain, celebrates his life long goal, and begins his decent. With many other people on their way to the top,(and only one rope for all of the people who are going up or down) Jon is forced to stop his decent and wait for people to get off the rope. He sits down and notices a storm rolling in that would change him and his fellow mountaineers lives forever. This story goes from happiness to sadness, and from laughter to regret. It tells of a young man and his life long obsession to climb quite possibly the most dangerous mountain of all, Mount Everest. Into Thin Air is a great book that I recommend to people of all ages that like to read true stories and adventure books.
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Summary: A unique insight into Jon Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air"
Review: The book,"Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer tells of his perils of reaching the peak of Mt. Everest. In the book, Krakauer describes different factors that caused a number of people to die. Krakauer used enough detail and information for you to easily follow the story line without making the reading dry and boring. Krakauer also supported his book with large amounts of research. Krakauer used an interesting format that jumped around to different parts of the climb. For example, the story began with him and two of his teammates reaching the peak. Then in the second chapter, he talked about the history of Everest such as where it got its name and how it was eventually found to be the tallest point on earth. In my opinion, the storyline could have run more smoothly if Krakauer had done the story starting from the true beginning. By the true beginning I mean from when "Outside Magazine" sent him to do a story. I read Krakauer's newer edition that was illustrated and had information about "The Climb" a book that was written by Bourkreev, a guide on the disastrous Everest climb, who made contradictory claims as to of those in Krakauer's book. A quote from the postscript states," What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients."
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