Rating: 
Summary: Stick with the facts, Jon
Review: I fully enjoyed reading this book - until I later read other related books, magazine articles, book reviews, articles on the web, etc. How disappointed I was to realize that one of my favorite climbing authors was willing to bend the truth in order to make his story more thrilling to read. It's a pity, but I guess Jon decided it was more important to sell a ton of books than it was to treat others with the respect they deserved or to just stick to the facts.
Rating: 
Summary: Human errors, tradgedy -- and also great beauty
Review: This is a fascinating, journalistic account of the Mt. Everest climb in 1996 which left six climbers dead. Krakauer was sent on the expedition to write an article about the commercialization of climbing Everest. He was an experienced climber and in good physical shape. He expected the climb to be difficult but had no idea of what was really in store of the group.I learned a lot about mountain climbing in general, Everest in particular, and the passion of the mountaineers to reach the top. I personally can't see the appeal, but that's not the fault of the book. Climbing Everest is expensive ($65,000 climbing for each person to start), takes a minimum of two months, is torturous to the body (from gastro-intestinal parasites and respiratory ailments to serious illnesses resulting from oxygen deprivation, crippling frostbite and accidents from falling rocks and slippery terrain. There were a few details which I wish he would have described better -- such as the food they ate, their mountain climbing gear, general bathing and toileting accommodations. There was also such a big cast of characters, that I sometimes got them confused. Also, the paperback edition of the book I read had very few pictures and I couldn't quite follow the route However, the writer did a good job of describing the physical torture and hardships as well as the beauty and the majesty of Everest. He especially did a good job of describing the politics, the personalities, the in-fighting and the moral choices. Especially when things went wrong, it was chilling to read about some of the individual's insensitivity. He makes no excuses, but the human errors in judgment which led to the tragedy as well as the unpredictability of nature are deeply explored. There are no easy answers and I found his approach wonderful in its honesty and willingness to grapple with some serious issues. I was left with a new appreciation for the forces of nature.
Rating: 
Summary: 1st Rate Adventure Book leaves you breathless
Review: This first-hand account of a Mount Everest expedition is one of the most thrilling books I ever read. I got so into Krakauer's detailed descriptions of the conditions on the mountain, I often found myself experiencing the physical sensation of being on the moutain, cold and in desparate need of air. A gifted writer, Krakauer was on the moutain when tragedy struck members of his climbing party and others. As a result, the reader is easily sucked into the whole experience. This was in strong contrast to the book which is often compared to this one, A Perfect Storm, which was written by a third party observer. I cannot imagine anyone reading Into Thin Air and not experiencing some level of tension as the tragic story of the climbers unfolds. As an unexpected bonus, Krakauer offers insightful thoughts concerning the seductive lure of such extreme pursuits as climbing Everest, and how that contributed to the tragedy in numerous ways.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to read
Review: This is the great book to tell you the tragedy of a group of mountain-climber. The writer has a very own individual style to describe the incident in a very exciting way. Very hard to put down. It might come into your mind when you finish this book whether all of them do the right or stupid thing. You should read and decide by yourself
Rating:
Summary: ENGROSSING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING
Review: Jon Krakauer's narrative of the 1996 disaster on Mt. Everest is excellently written and extremely engrossing. Although the events are true, the book reads like a top action/adventure thriller, keeping us turning pages until the end. This is definitely a first-person account, though, and Krakauer makes sure the attention is centered on him, as he alternately extolls his virtues and reveals his faults. I felt extremely saddened when reading this book and I think we must look closely at how and why this tragedy happened. I cannot help but fault, in part, the two guides, Hall and Fischer. Both were experienced climbers and both had previously been on Everest. As guides, these men were running a business for profit and were desirous of satisfied customers--that meant making the summit. But these two men had also accepted the responsibility of caring for their clients' safety, as well as for the safety of those in expeditions not their own. The fact that they ignored self-imposed turn-around times simply cannot be forgiven. Ultimately, however, each person must take responsibility for his or her own actions. Technically, Everest is an easy climb, but the physical demands are enormous. The bulk of climbers were untrained, unfamiliar with their equipment, and simply not in the top physical condition needed to withstand the rigors of high-altitude climbing, a fact of which they certainly must have been aware. And if they weren't, then certainly Hall and Fischer were. Many of the previous reviewers have faulted the climbers for turning their backs on Beck Wethers and Yasuko Namba, but once you have actually engaged in high-altitude climbing, as I have done, you know Everest is not the place to become your brother's keeper. No one should have died and had Hall and Fischer turned around, as they should have, in all probability no one would have. Into Thin Air is a fascinating tale and one that poses many thought-provoking questions each man and woman must answer, not only on Everest, but in the course of his or her day-to-day life.
Rating:
Summary: wow not me
Review: Great for anyone who likes adventure. Try this and find out what reaching your dreams is all about. The people who climbed would read this book and still attempt their climb.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: This was a thoroughly riveting account of the 96 Everst disaster. I didn't know a thing about mountain climbing but ended up completely enthralled by the story. Really just fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent--Poses Many Questions
Review: This book poses many questions as to why the disaster on Mt. Everest even happened. Why did experienced guides ignore their own turn-around time? Why were inexperienced climbers allowed to attempt this physically demanding task? Krakauer has written a riveting account of the disaster--a real page-turner. I enjoyed it more than "Climb" however both books offer different views of the disaster and both are worth reading. Krakauer alternately sets himself up as both hero and villian, but it's obvious his soul is torn and he will never forget the events of May 10, 1996. Excellent in every way.
Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: I would like to write a book about this book, but instead I will just say - Give us more!
Rating:
Summary: 1996 Disaster
Review: A story about a guided expedition with a group of punters who all had different reasons and desires to achieve a sniff at the summit of Everest.The story raises many issues of venal leadership.An excellent account of a tale of tragedy.A fair perception of this tale is to also read 'The Climb' by Anatoli Boukreev.
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