Rating: 
Summary: Writing as self-help?
Review: I've read Krakauer's earlier book ("Into The Wild") and found this latter work hauntingly similar. Rather than being an unflinching account of the facts, his books seem to be based more deeply in his ongoing struggle to figure himself out. I don't know where his faith lies, but he seems tortured by the compulsions to blame (alternately; others and himself, generally the former). In both books I scanned through the paragraphs that seemed self-serving to the author. I kept reading because I found his descriptions of nature and events to be very well crafted. Anatoli's account of the expedition seems to have been written to defend against the attack by Krakauer. Even at this, Anatoli's version seemed much more factual. I appreciated Anatoli's stoicism (contrasted to Krakauer's blaming). I laughed on reading the quip: "$6.98 - Into Thin Air" in one of the other reviewers comments. Krakauer - Please, next time spare the psychodrama, it comes off as daytime TV set in the mountains.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding book - Jon puts you THERE!
Review: This is an excellent book. Jon brings to life an understanding of the ascent of Everest in a way that puts you in the tents with the climbers. You have to wonder why anyone would subject themselves to this experience. A must read. I can't remember when I've been more enthralled by a non-fiction book.
Rating:
Summary: A well written, slick portrait of some of the facts...
Review: I have read this book, dozens others about Everest and the account by the guide Anatoli entitled The Climb. It seems to me, that the facts that John Krakauer chose to include and the ones that he chose to leave out misinformed the public about the horrible tradgedy on Everest. Anatoli's discription of events, albiet less well written, not slick, picturesque writing, was much more convincing of the facts. I feel heart sorry for any of the survivors of the victims that Everest claimed on that fateful journey. Even more sorry now that John Krackauer has belittled the vicitms themselves in his story version of the event. It is sad when Disney choses to dramatize historic events, it is far sadder when a good writer like John Krackauer does it. If you like this book, and I am sure that you will, please do yourself a favor and read the real story by Anatoli entitled The Climb. It is the real deal
Rating:
Summary: This was a powerful, disturbing book
Review: This was one of the most distressing books I have ever read. I read it twice in two days and then bought copies for everyone I know. It was an experience, but I still can't understand why anyone would want to climb that mountain. Buy this book and read it. You will never forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars is inadequate!I give it six, with two thumbs up!!
Review: A MUST READ!!!! No words can do justice to the story behind this book. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, had placed me as an observer in one of the most horrific struggles for life atop Mount Everest. Once I began reading, I would become so entranced that I could not put the book down until I was forced to do so. At the end of the book the details intensify so greatly that no one, no matter how strong they may be, can be pulled away from the mountain and its bewildering powers. No matter what sort words I write in this review, they cannot even come close to doing this incredible story justification. I feel that there are only two ways for one to truly understand this extraordinary book. To find out, one would have to either read the book or climb Mount Everest. If you choose to climb, be sure to begin your summit push when a storm hits, and the storm has to be so severe that it leaves you stranded atop the mountain, it's unruly forces are unleashed, with no hope of rescue. Feeling disoriented, and your brain begins to turn into mush (from the deprivation of an adequate amount of oxygen). You find yourself having to make the most difficult decision you have ever been faced with, life or death? Weighing the reasons, in order to make this decision you ask yourself, is life worth such relentless anguish, with only the mere possibility that I may one day return home to all that I know and love? Or should I give up, and allow death to overcome my practically lifeless body so that the suffering will stop? Personally I suggest you read the book, because it dangerously brings your mind into the "Death Zone" and gives you a feeling for "Summit Fever," without putting your physical well-being at risk. A story that hits you deep within is one that you will never forget. Books with this character seem to be about firsthand accounts in the struggle for life. Other books I have read and recommend are The Diary of Anne Frank, Number the Stars and Zlata's Diary.
Rating:
Summary: The best book about setting goals and never giving up!
Review: This book was so awesome because Krakauer made you feel like you were there climbing with him. The way that he gives you background information and what was going on with definitions was cool because you can understand and visualize what he was talking about. This book was great because you hear this smazing story plus it also make you look at yourself and analize what you would have done. I really got to see what was important in my life and to think about how we complain daily over things that many don't even have. This is a great book!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, disturbing, a real page turner
Review: Although I'd heard about this book I was not going to read it as I am not interested in mountain climbing, but my book group decided to read it. So to be a good sport, I plunged in. It was fascinating. I had no idea what all was involved in climbing a mountain. I'd read a little bit, discuss it with my husband and then read some more. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. A great book.
Rating:
Summary: A balanced, painfully honest account of a disaster
Review: I was deeply moved by this book. I'd already read the paperback version, but when the Illustrated Edition came out I decided to spring for it in order to see the pictures. The pictures are great, but another reason to read this edition of the book is the new postscript, where Krakauer answers the charges leveled against him in The Climb, by Boukreev and DeWalt. Another reason to buy this book is that Krakauer has donated all the proceeds to a memorial fund that helps needy Sherpas. I thought that was pretty cool. I don't understand the reviewers who think Krakauer was unfair to Boukreev, or those who think The Climb is more honest than Into Thin Air. I suspect that people who think The Climb is honest have not read the Illustrated Edition of Into Thin Air (and its postscript). This postscript convinced me that The Climb is a manipulative, dishonest, self-serving book, designed to boost Boukreev's reputation and generate controversy in order to sell more copies of the Boukreev-DeWalt book (the blame for this probably belongs to Weston DeWalt, IMHO, not Boukreev). DeWalt apparently decided that the best way to generate controversy and sell his book was to claim that Krakauer was unfair to Boukreev, and to level personal attacks on Krakauer and his credibility. The Climb presents the illusion of being honest because it is raw and rough and crudely written, sort of like the literary version of Cinema Verite. But it is a mistake to equate poor writing with credibility. My biggest problem with The Climb is that it's impossible to tell when the writing is really Boukreev's and when it's DeWalt pretending to speak for Boukreev. Don't get me wrong. Anyone who is interested in the Everest disaster should read both books. Boukreev was a hero (which Krakauer pointed out quite clearly, I thought), and his version of what happened is interesting. But you should take what Boukreev writes (or what DeWalt writes claiming to speak for Boukreev) with a big grain of salt. I wish Boukreev had found a better writer than DeWalt to do his book for him. What a wasted opportunity. The Illustrated Edition of Into Thin Air is by far the most interesting and credible version of what happened on Everest.
Rating:
Summary: Just the best book ever written!!!
Review: Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer, has been the best book ever written!! Totally inspiring, and incredibly written by Mr. Krakauer, who not only focuses on the problems everyone might have had, but also, and in a very humble way, admits how his actions might have caused the death of a few of his partners. I feel great admiration for a man who has the guts to live with this burden and also puts it together for us in a superb way!! Only thing left to say is, THANK YOU MR. KRAKAUER!!!! For being, original and most important of all for being a human being!!
Rating:
Summary: "A gripping page-turner with a depressing conclusion."
Review: Have you been above 25,000 feet, in the so-called "Death Zone?" At this unbelievable altitude, your body is in a tremendous state at which you are deteriorating and dying every minute. This book leads you from the town of Kathmandu to the pinnacle of the summit. You are lead by depictive details so that you feel that you are actually on the journey to the summit. Through vast knowledge of the terribly haunting past that Everest accounts for, Jon takes you through the first climbs and important deaths that Everest is responsible for. Every chapter, you are informed of the history of each section that this enormous mountain holds. He also coaches you on his teammates and their climbing experiences along with his. You are introduced to the basics of climbing to help you better experience the climbing of the largest mountain in the world and the treacherous section, known as the Khumbu Icefall, that is so dreaded by the author. Once you have experienced acclimatizing the mountain, you are lead through the wait until, the SUMMIT DAY! You are taken to the summit, while Jon informs you of the terrible effects of this climb, such as HAPE and HACE. Both of which severely affect the mind and body, which make it hard for you to do everyday things that you used to be able to do. You are in a hypoxic-state, in which you need to be aware of every little thing you do, so you do not put your life in jeopardy. I feel that you will never, I mean never, want to put this book down. You are informed of every little tragic event that occurs on the mountain and almost as though you could suit-up and join the team. This may even change your outlook on life and give you a better understanding of the mysteries that Everest holds. I can tell you this, that after reading the book for the ninth time, I still want to learn more about one of the events I hope to accomplish in life. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
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