Rating: 
Summary: Questionable motives
Review: While I found INTO THIN AIR a gripping story which had me quickly turning pages until I had read every line, I am left with mixed feelings about the authenticity of the account. I find thin Krakauer's claim that he wrote this book so quickly after the accident as a catharsis for his guilt. More likely the possibility to capitalize on the money to be made from such a harrowing incident was the stronger incentive. Parts of the book are unnecessarily "gossipy" such as the discussion about one of Fischer's climbing clients having an extramarrital affair on the mountain (it didn't take much discernment on the reader's part to determine the involved party). This detracted from the overall story. I also feel the account of what happened in May 1996 is skewed by pride on the author's part...Krakauer's writing is designed to ensure the reader knows he was at the head of the pack for his climbing group, and that he was forced to slow down to wait for the ones his writing shows he undoubtedly felt had no business being on Everest. He attacks an American woman climber on Fischer's team in particular. I can understand his point about wealthy people with limited climbing experience having no place on Everest, but Everest is an extremely dangerous place even for very experienced climbers! I wonder whether ANY of us has a place on Everest. Out of all the excuses Krakauer gives for not assisting other climbers who eventually died, you finish the book wishing he would have stated the obvious...they were simply scared--scared they couldn't get their own selves off the mountain alive, much less having to help severely incapacitated people. Honestly stating that everyone was afraid would have left me with a better perception of the author besides his constant finger-pointing at others and (valid) excuses about muddled thinking due to the high altitudes. His holier-than-thou attitude took away from an otherwise gripping story. Krakauer can write a good story, but I'm left with the feeling that due to questionable motives on his part, we may be getting an incomplete or even inaccurate accounting of the May 1996 incident. Readers will have to read and decide for themselves. I plan to read Boukreev's accounting of the incident next. Krakauer's book makes light of the heroic actions of Boukreev, and even treats Boukreev unkindly in places. Reading between the lines, however, it appears to me that Boukreev was the true hero on Everest that day. Could Krakauer's unkind treatment of Boukreev in his book indicate jealousy?
Rating: 
Summary: AWESOME
Review: I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. I was glued to the pages from the beginning. Krakauer is an excellent author with a chilling account of the Everest tragedy. Even if you do not care about mountaineering, this book will grab your attention.
Rating:
Summary: A riveting personal chronicle of a mountaineering disaster
Review: This book is a riveting chronicle of a mountaineering disaster. Although a terrible storm was the direct cause of six deaths on Everest in 1996, Jon Krakauer describes from first experience the character of the expedition participants, and their individual circumstances, the sequence of events, and errors in judgement (some by expert climbers) leading to tragedy. The indomitable force of a mountain storm in "the death zone" at the top of the world and the various physical and emotional responses of the climbers are dramatically portrayed. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mountaineering, the decision-making process, and human courage and emotion. The IMAX movie EVEREST, filmed by an expedition present on the mountain, forms a great visual companion, as well as the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photography book which was made for the movie. In addition to wonderfull photographs, the National Geographic book has great illustrations which clarify the route, situation of the camps, and sequence of events. As an aside, I have also had the pleasure of seeing Dr.Beck Weathers, who survived after being givenup for dead, and was later rescued in the highest helicopter rescue ever attempted, describing his miraculous survival. He is very well spoken, sincere, and one can not only see the physical scars, but feel the emotional ones as well as sensing his moral transformation. If anyone has a chance to hear him speak, do not miss it ! There is an excellent videotape of one of his lectures, but I don't know how to obtain it. Hearing him gave me much to think about, especially since I am also a mountaineer. (I am however, NEVER attemting everest--or--well, maybe, just basecamp)
Rating:
Summary: Egosentrisk, men gripande
Review: Gir eit godt bilete av eit svaert saa kommersielt ekspedisjonsmiljoe. Kanskje forfattaren burde ha venta litt lengre foer han starta med aa skrive boka? Anbefales!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: The best book I have ever read!
Review: Into Thin Air is the most thrilling, impossible to put down book that I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful true story that is well worth reading!
Review: Yes, I say that this is a beautiful story! John Krakauer's recreation of the events that he was a witness to was a beautifully written story. Fatal as the expidition to Mount Everest was, it was also a harrowing event for those that survived. The fact that any human being can live through such a horrendous event is amazing. I am always suprised and greatful to hear of such will to survive from other human beings.The writting is excellent and easy. It normally would take me about two to three weeks to read such a book, but I was glued to the story and finished it in about three days. As for the events, well, you will just have to read it for yourself. I am glad that there are people that are able to survive such events and then be recount the story to others. If it were not for such events, most of us would not know how preacious our lives really are and how much the earth is in control of our lives.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent read, but facts have been skewed
Review: This is a very good book, however, in fairness, if you do read it, you must also read The Climb, by Boukreev to gain a true perspective of what really happened and where blame, if any, should be placed.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing what a person will put themselves through.
Review: I just finished this account of what a person will go through to achieve what they believe is a worthy goal. It appears mountain climbing (which I have never done nor am likely to do) is similar to any other behavior that is allowed to become self destructive. When you are compelled to damage your mind and body, lose your humanity and put your loved ones to the test it is time to take a close look at yourself. This book was very thought provoking as to how this behavior is exhibited not just in mountain climbing but in everyday life. I must applaud the IMAX crew for their genorosity, and Dr. Beck Weathers must have the most extraordinary will to live. He is truly a role model for those who are tempted to just give up. Another aspect of this story is the commercialization of what should truly be a wilderness.. Does human kind really have to leave their mark on every square inch of the earth? Never the less this is a very good read.
Rating:
Summary: Bought by accident; turned out great
Review: I thought the title of this book was INTO THIN HAIR and bought it by mistake. (I am starting to lose some hair around my scalp line.) Instead of being about coping with MPB, it actually wound up being a gripping adventure tale about explorers encountering tragedy on Mount Everest. I stayed up late and couldn't put it down. Highly recommended. (On a sad note , it was such an exciting read I think I lost a bit more hair from the stress.)
Rating:
Summary: Well written and troubling
Review: "Into Thin Air" is an excellent read. Even if Krakauer is exposed as a selfish, hypocrite (which I'm not at all certain he is) the book will still be an adventure classic. On one level, I found myself feeling oddly indifferent to the fate of those who perished. Of course I'm sorry it happened, but on the other hand they were taking an enormous risk and should have expected such an outcome. On the other hand, I was shocked at the staggering indifference the climbers themselves had toward the dying and the dead. The Japanese climbers who passed the dying members of Indo-Tibetan Border Police team, simply ignored them. Then, having accomplished their goal, they ignored them on the way down as well. Why? Was this a high altitude version of the Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere? Similarly, I'm wondering, why in God's name did the rescue party leave Yasuko Namba and Beck Weathers for dead when they were still alive? Why was Beck Weathers left for dead or neglected repeatedly? Ironically enough, his principles of rugged individualism were put to the test. Then again, if the Neapalese Colonel who volunteered to rescue Weathers had shown the same sort of selfishness advocated by radical Republicans, then he would have perished in Camp 3. Of course not all of the climbers behaved with such indifference, and not being a mountain climber, my own accessment of the situation is questionable. But, if those people were still alive, I would have brought them to the camp and done what I could for them. Saving a person's life is far more heroic than climbing a mountain.
|
